Billy poses with ramblers BORDEAUX and LA PERLE on the back fence at the home of Anne and Max Bellovich, near Seattle.

By Carolyn Parker

IF TIMED RIGHT, a travel-savvy Bay Area rose lover can savor roses, in their first bloom, from April through August. August? Well that’s when roses bloom in Harstad, Norway. No, I’m not suggesting you travel that far to see roses–there are many other exciting options.

In June of 2001, after enjoying the May bloom in our own rose gardens, my friend Susan and I went on a rose pilgrimage to England. Bloom time in the UK, and most rose-friendly habitats, is in the summer–a month or more after our lush Bay Area spring.

England

For two weeks, we reveled in roses beginning at Hever Castle, Anne Boleyn’s childhood home. We then went on to Sissinghurst, Hidcote, Kiftsgate, Mottisfont, Nyman’s, Wisley, Tintinhull, Kew Gardens, several smaller gardens, and last, but not least, David Austin’s enterprise and gardens in Albrighton. Susan and I were especially drawn to and enamored by the old fashioned roses and we saw them in great abundance. Exquisite collections of Moss roses rarely seen in America, rampant climbers, and shrubs allowed to grow as big as they pleased. Our understanding, knowledge, and interest in roses increased daily. Both fanciful and simple garden structures built for roses also captured our interest. There were many more gardens to see and we’d love to go back.

France

But what about touring the famous rose gardens in France? I dream of going to Bagatelle and Roseraie de l’Hay, to Monet’s garden in Giverny, to Odile Masquelier’s garden in Lyon. Then there’s the Sangerhausen Rosarium in Germany, which is home to more than 8,000 roses, including nearly 3,000 roses unique to Sangerhausen! For years, rose experts have expressed to me what a thrill this garden is.

European rose travel is very intoxicating, but touring rose sites is also pretty exciting close to home. This season, I tested the geographical rose bloom span in California, and most recently in Washington State.

Sacramento, CA

In mid April, my friend Mary and I toured the Historic Rose Garden at the Old City Cemetery in Sacramento. This fascinating site and collection includes roses that were popular from the Gold Rush era through the Victorian/Edwardian era (roughly 1850-1915). Only 75 miles away, the roses in Sacramento were at their peak and mine had only just begun to bloom! For more information, go to www.oldcitycemetery.com/roses.

At the end of May, when my first bloom was over, I made my way up north to Willits for a photo visit to Pamela Temple’s garden. Her thousand roses and more were in full glorious bloom.

Seattle, WA

On June 15 th, Mary and I flew to Seattle. In pouring rain, we drove up to Stanwood to visit Anne and Max Belovich, their 4 dogs, and Anne’s special collection of more than a thousand roses. The picture of this lovely horse was taken at the back fence surrounding their 5-acre property. Anne specializes in rambling and climbing roses. Her collection, which includes many European imports, drapes fencing and lattices, climbs pergolas, scrambles up towering hemlocks and firs, and is self-pegged to tripods. Believe it or not, only a small portion of her rose treasury was in bloom! It rained and misted each day we were there, the sun appeared on two afternoons, and the roses in bloom were unforgettable.

You might wonder how I met Pamela and Anne and how I know about the gardens mentioned here. Pamela and Anne both impressed me as speakers at the 2005 Conference of the Heritage Rose Foundation, which was held in El Cerrito. I just had to get to know them.

Rosa Mundi

The Heritage Rose Foundation is dedicated to the preservation and promotion of heritage roses, and membership includes receiving Rosa Mundi, a gorgeous full-color, 60-page quarterly journal. Exciting articles, rose news from around the world, and beautiful pictures are a staple I look forward to. There are also seminars, tours, meetings, and exhibits. Membership is only $25.00 and you can join at www.heritagerosefoundation.org.

Wouldn’t you know, it was bright and sunny the morning we left Stanwood. Anne Belovich still has at least a million first blooms to look forward to. Back in my garden, the roses are well into their second bloom.

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