Sunday, May 29, 2011

Bring Home a Souvenir!

I suppose everyone has a picture in their mind when the word 'rose' is mentioned.  For some, it is a frilly, multi-petaled bloom.  For others, a simple, five-petaled flower.  I don't know how we get these ideas in our minds.  Perhaps it has to do with what we experienced when we are children.


For me, the word 'rose' brings to mind a soft flower with delicate shading, with petals more than five but not numerous (called semi-double in rose talk), and fragrant.  Like the picture on the rose-scented powder my maternal grandmother used each evening after her bath.


As a child, no one I knew grew roses.  So, the only rose I knew was the picture on that bath powder.  And the fragrance that wafted from that small steamy room each evening when we would stay over for a visit.


For me, 'Souvenir de St. Anne' is the embodiment of that perfect rose in my mind.


And for many reasons other than that, Souvenir de St. Anne is one of the favorite roses in my garden.  It blooms abundantly.  It blooms all summer.  And oh, my, is it fragrant!  So much so, that the fragrance wafts throughout the entire garden.


Sometimes I'll be walking by, lost in thought, and realize I can smell something wonderful.  Then I remember - it's Souvenir de St. Anne!  It's so delightful to have that happen.  Visitors walk by this rose on the way to my front door.  A nice accident, since I certainly didn't know much about this rose when I planted it there.  I hope they appreciate its scent, too.


Souvenir de St. Anne is a rose that was found in a garden at St. Anne's in Dublin, Ireland.  A sport (mutation) of one of the most famous of all roses, Souvenir de la Malmaison.  (There's a lot of roses with Souvenir in their names!)


I love to look at this rose.  It has the most delicate coloring.  Almost like fine bone china, with a touch of pink.


Tested for heat, drought, and pest tolerance, Souvenir de St. Anne is also designated as an Earthkind rose by the Texas AgriLife Extension Service.  The Earthkind roses do well here.  I've heard people in other areas of the country say they are not so impressed, but it's a great idea, and worth looking into if you have hot conditions and want to grow easy-care roses.  I often mention Earthkind roses to people new to roses when they ask me for a general recommendation.


Souvenir de St. Anne is hardy in zones 5b to 10, resistant to blackspot, rust and mildew, and is fairly shade tolerant.  Fragrant and beautiful.  What more could you ask for?

29 comments:

  1. It is beautiful. Amazing that such a pretty rose is also a Earthkind rose.

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  2. It sure a beautiful rose. I enjoyed your memories of your grandmother and think she'd be most touched with this post. I know I was. I so wish I could smell it!

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  3. This is a lovely rose and your comment that it's coloring is almost like fine bone china with a touch of pink is so wonderful.

    Glad to know this is an Earthkind rose.

    Have a lovely holiday ~ FlowerLady

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  4. Lovely Rose. Sounds like one of the perfect ones to have too. Looks delicate with the coloring but obviously it's not.
    Cher
    Goldenray Yorkies

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  5. What a great post about a wonderful rose that should be better known. I am glad it does well where it is hot and humid, and your pictures of it capture its essence very well.

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  6. Holley, I have to admit that usually I am not so much into semi-double roses, but I find 'Souvenir de St. Anne' very lovely. Maybe it is the combination of the few petals with the very delicate color of the rose that is so intriguing? Your post almost tempted me to try it out. May I ask, how tall and wide is your bush?
    Christina

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  7. This is a pretty rose, and I happen to really like the color. It has a very delicate shade of pink that looks to go with most other colors. It has a really feminine appeal.

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  8. Jeannie B - I've found the old tea roses are quite drought tolerant. They had to be tough - there wasn't much pampering back then!

    Tina - I wish you could smell it, also. I don't have a high sense of smell, and I love the way I can smell this rose from a long way.

    FlowerLady - When I saw this rose, I had to have it. Usually I'm drawn to more of a peach color, but I love the pure pink of this rose.

    Cher - I wouldn't be without this rose in my garden, now that I've experienced it.

    Masha - I hoped the photos would do it justice. I am surprised this rose is not more popular.

    Christina - It's wider than tall. About 4' x 5', but I keep it confined! lol I would expect it to be about 6'x8' if there were a bit more room. On the other hand, with hard pruning, this rose could probably be kept to about 3'x4' or so.

    GWGT - Yes, very feminine. It goes very well in the garden with other soft shades. It's a nice change from my other 'hot' colors. (It's in a different bed than the bright shades.)

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  9. The bloom looks delicate as fine china! Very dreamy... (and I'm usually a 'bold color' kinda person?!)

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  10. Earthkind. This is the first time I've seen that term and now I'm wondering if any of my roses are Earthkind. I'll have to check. If any of them are, it would be the hansa roses.

    Nancy

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  11. What a beautiful rose. I think you're got a real winner there. I wish I had more room, I'd plant it in a nanosecond.

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  12. If I were a feminine rose that's what I would be.

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  13. Shyrlene - I usually love bold colors, too, but this rose just spoke to me. I like your description - dreamy.

    Nancy - There is a list of them somewhere on the website that I've linked to. It's a good program, but it's hard to test them all!

    Grace - That's the bad part about gardens. Eventually we run out of room!

    Greggo - hahaha! :)

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  14. HolleyGarden, when I first started growing old roses, so many people said they thought Souv de St Anne's was more beautiful than Souv de la Malmaison. I didn't because I love fat roses, and I had never seen SdSA in person. That all changed last November when I saw it in a friend's garden. Wow! It's beauty can't really be captured with a camera. The color, ruffly petals and luminousness are breathtaking in person. I now grow this rose, and though it is still a baby, it has not disappointed me. Thanks for writing about her.

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  15. What a lovely link to that memory of your grandmother--that put a smile on my face and reminded me of my mother's "Hawaiian White Ginger" powder. I have no idea what actual Hawaiian white ginger is like, but I already love it.

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  16. Your garden must smell wonderful! It is certainly beautiful and exudes romance. I was unfamiliar with Earthkind roses, but they sound like something i should investigate.

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  17. That rose sounds just up my alley! Great post and I'd never heard of Earthkind roses before, I will be on the lookout :)

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  18. Your roses are so beautiful. I am glad that we are all growing them again. I remember a time when it was just not fashionable and they are such a lovely plant. I know what you mean about rose scented talc. I wont have a rose if it doesn't have a perfume. Thank you for a lovely post.

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  19. Sherry - Thanks for stating that someone that loves 'fat' roses could also love this rose. I'm glad you got to see her in person, and I hope yours brings you much joy.

    Stacy - So many memories in smells! Gingerbread always reminds me of my maternal grandmother, too, as well as chicken and dumplings! I am now wondering what a Hawaiian white ginger smells like!

    deb - I'm glad to spread the word about Earthkind roses. They are tested here in Texas, so they are very useful here. I hope you will find they do well for you.

    Jenni - Perhaps I should do a post on Earthkind roses! I think I just might!

    ronnie - Isn't it funny that plants can be 'fashionable' or not. I don't think hydrangeas are fashionable right now, but I still love them. The grasses that are so very fashionable now have not found a place in my garden - yet. I think all gardens should have at least one rose.

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  20. What a lovely rose and a wonderful description. I wish the knock out I have had a strong fragrance.

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  21. That's such a nice post, and a great memory of your grandmother. I think my earliest thought of what a rose "should" look like was a long-stemmed red rose. Of course, now I know there are more colors and varieties than I ever could have imagined. I like the delicate coloring of the Souvenir de St Anne.

    p.s. I was reading your response to an earlier commenter. Are hydrangeas really not fashionable right now? I love them too! Guess I've never been one to stay on top of the latest fashions. ;)

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  22. Marcia - If the knockouts had a fragrance like this, they would be even more popular than they are now!

    Bumble Lush - I really do think hydrangeas are considered 'old-fashioned', like something a grandmother would grow! ;) They are also thought of as water hogs, something else that is not considered 'in' right now. But like you, I love them!

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  23. Jennifer@threedogsinagarden
    I have many plants to which I also attach sentimental memories of family members. This rose is very pretty and it is wonderful that its fragrance reminds you of your grandmother.

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  24. What a beautiful rose. I planted three Blushing Knock Out roses last spring and they are blooming now. I just said to my husband that they remind me of the quintessential rose that you would get for your prom date. They might be ordinary but they are so beautiful.

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  25. Jennifer - I love plants that have sentiment attached. As long as it's not a 'one of a kind' plant - then I'm stressed! :)

    Carolyn - The knock outs are great roses. I planted mine mostly for my husband. He loves red roses, and I love the easy maintenance!

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  26. Mmmm...I can smell the lovely fragrance through the blogosphere! Those old-fashioned Roses have the most amazing scents! Yum!

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  27. PlantPostings - They do, don't they? I have a lot of modern roses, but it is a bit disappointing to stick your nose in one and realize there is no scent. This one doesn't disappoint!

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  28. We are removing some shrubs this weekend to make room for more roses! This would be an excellent selection for us. I love fragrant roses!

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  29. Redneck Rosarian - Congrats on getting more roses! I hope you love her!

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