A Rose by Any Other Name
We’re awaiting two new additions to our rose family this year—our venerable “Peace” bush (from which I cut the flowers I carried when The Broadcasting Legend™ and I were married) gave up the ghost this past summer and we have a spot to fill. Enter “Scentimental” and “Double Delight,” from my favorite purveyor of all things rose, David Austin Roses.
“Scentimental” is the peppermint-striped one—beautiful and unusual, with no two flowers alike. The scent is a very rich rose-spice, ergo the name.
“Double Delight” looks rather like a “Peace” that’s gone over to the dark side—deeper crimson edges to the petals and a creamy-gold heart. It also has a fabulous fragrance (one of our requirements for roses), described as both spicy and fruity.
I’m looking forward to planting these and nurturing them along, although I must say that the names “Scentimental” and “Double Delight” are not as romantic or literary as the names of some of our other roses. How can they compare with “Jude the Obscure” or “Fair Bianca” or “Eglantyne”? Once we have them settled in their new homes, we may have to re-name them so they feel comfortable with their siblings.
January 21st, 2010 at 2:03 pm
“Scentimental” was bred by Tom Carruth for Weeks Roses, and “Double Delight” was Ellis and Swim (for J&P?). I have “Scentimental”, and it’s wonderful. My only Austins are “Heritage”, “Othello” and “English Garden”, but I plan to add “Fair Bianca”.
January 22nd, 2010 at 6:41 am
I am not surprised that “Scentimental” and “Double Delight” were bred by others, as their names are so different. I like the romantic names.
One of my great pleasures as a child was poring over the Jackson and Perkins catalog every year–we never had roses in our yard but I loved looking at the pictures and imagining a rose garden. I can’t imagine how I got on (or stayed on) J&P’s mailing list!