Biltmore Rose Trials – First Visit
This week Jesse and I took much-needed vacation day and revisited the Biltmore. We were combining a belated wedding anniversary (my accident last month postponed any celebrations) coupled with my first day of judging for the Biltmore Rose Trials. I was terribly nervous about judging, for some reason. I think it’s because anything new gives me butterflies, but also I second guess myself too much, I suppose, and was afraid I would do something “wrong” in my assessments. Jesse had to remind me a bunch of times that my opinion was valid and it was OK to say what I thought about each rose. Gosh.
The rose garden was a lot more crowded than I expected on a Tuesday morning. This was only my second visit to the Biltmore and I was in for a bit of a shock. People everywhere. Buses coming and going. And did I mention it was HOT? There was a touch and go moment where I really thought I might just conk out right there in front of all the tourists. That’s OK, it was worth it. There were ROSES!!! Following are the photos I snapped with my cell phone. Enjoy! ♡
Madame Berkely, Tea, 1898
No 1505 (Floribunda with pretty coloring)
No 1509 (deliciously fragrant Hybrid Tea)
Baronne Prevost, Hybrid Perpetual, 1842
Champney’s Pink, Noisette, 1811
La France, Hybrid Tea, 1867
Lady of Megginch, Old Rose Hybrid/David Austin, 2006
Mother of Pearl, Grandiflora, 2006
No 1419 (exquisite blooms on this Shrub rose)
No 1421 (another lovely Shrub rose)
No 1423 (Shrub with wonderful coloring. You know I love me some single-petaled roses!)
No 1427 (a Climbing rose with very vibrant coloring)
Paul Neyron, Hybrid Perpetual, 1869
Harlow Carr, Old Rose Hybrid/David Austin, 2004
Golden Celebration, Leander/David Austin, 1992
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I believe # 1419 is David Austen’s Corvedale rose! One of my favorites. I adore the perfect cupped shape.
Hi Michaela! It’s funny you mention that, b/c when I was assessing this rose I was thinking how much it looked like an Austin. The trial is set up to allow for “new varieties” i.e. ones that have been in commerce for only a couple of years prior to being included in the trial garden. If you’re interested, you can read more about it here. It’s pretty nifty!
Wow – those roses are amazing. What joy it must be to walk around a garden of roses. So glad you got a chance, and once again, congratulations with being a permanent juror at the Biltmore. Good grief – how exciting is that anyway!
It is SO exciting! It was also so wonderful to be surrounded by roses again. I miss mine so much! If it wasn’t so hot that day we would have spent a lot longer in the garden. Next time…
There are many lovely gardens in nc. Must be all the heat and humidity😀
Well that certainly makes the heat/humidity sound more appealing! 😉
Oh so lovely and good to know you’re feeling well enough for such an undertaking. The David Austin roses Anne and I planted in my new flower bed this spring have begun to bloom and each is amazing in its own way.
Keep healing and don’t be too hard on yourself for needing to take some time away from your “to do” list.
How lovely to see some new David Austin roses in bloom in your garden. Thank you for your visit, Sharon!
Wonderful! Thanks for sharing these! I don’t have many roses (only one of my bands survived the winter 🙁 and the rugosas I’ve planted in the ground have such fleeting flowers). I might follow your instructions and try taking some cuttings of some of the David Austins that my mom planted this spring.
Congratulations on being a judge! Of course your opinion is valid!!
Thanks Anne! Isn’t it so frustrating to lose roses over winter? Been there. A lot.
Which rugosas did you plant?
Wow, didn’t know there were so many variations of roses. It looks like a beautiful garden. Love it!
So much more to see in person, too. My photos don’t do that garden justice. 🙂
I just love the photos… and the roses, of course, they are gorgeous! But the photos look too good to be made with a cell phone. The climbing rose (1427) is simply amazing, the petals look so delicate.
They do look like they’re made of porcelain or something, don’t they?
And thank you for your comment about the photos…they were taken with my iPhone which I find that I am using more and more since it’s so much easier to carry than my big camera. 😉
Congratulations on your role as juror! That is super exciting! Thanks for giving us a sneak peek into the process. Rose 1419 also caught my eye – it reminded me of “Royal Jubilee” – does it seem similar to you as well? This is my first year growing Royal Jubilee – but it sure looks similar.
Yes! I thought Royal Jubilee when I first saw it, as well. We’ll see….. 😉
what a fun adventure! I’m sure you did great!