Women in My Rose Garden: The History, Romance and Adventure of Old Roses

by Ann Chapman, Paul Starosta (Photographer)

Overview

A sumptuously illustrated celebration of 34 remarkable women and the beautiful heritage roses that are named after them

Many of our best-loved heritage roses are named after women and in this charming book, Ann Chapman explores the lives and stories behind the evocative names. We may be familiar with Mary Queen of Scots, Amy Robsart, and Jeanne d'Arc, but who were Adelaide d'Orléans, Nancy Steen, and Nur Mahal? Among the more than 30 women described here are serene queens, duchesses, and aristocrats, courageous heroines and pioneers, as well as the passionate gardeners who contributed much to the cultivation and preservation of the roses named for each one. Each biography is beautifully illustrated with a portrait of the woman and a sumptuous photograph of her rose by the acclaimed French naturalist photographer Paul Starosta. Women in my Rose Garden will make a perfect gift, not only for rosarians and gardeners, but for all those with a love of history, romance, and adventure.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780957148338
Publisher:	Palazzo Editions
Publication date:	02/01/2015
Pages:	176
Sales rank:	574,033
Product dimensions:	6.50(w) x 8.50(h) x 1.00(d)

About the Author

Ann Chapman and her husband established Trinity Farm Living Rose Museum in New Zealand more than 20 years ago. The museum displays more than 1,500 old roses in three acres of garden. Finding and growing old roses has become an obsession and the collection is now of international status. Ann has for some time wondered about the people behind the roses and this book is the culmination of many years of research.

Editorial Reviews

This beautifully illustrated book is a wonderful read, skilfully combining detailed rose descriptions with fascinating accounts about each rose's historical namesake.” —David Austin, David Austin Roses

From the Publisher

02/15/2015
Nurturing roses with names such as Empress Joséphine, Grace Darling, and Aimée Dubucq de Rivéry naturally left author and gardener Chapman (Trinity Farm Living Rose Museum; Missionaries, Wives, & Roses) curious about their female namesakes. First published in Australia in 2012, this volume is an illustrated encyclopedic exploration of the women behind 34 varieties of old roses. Each rose is allotted its own section exploring the history and the mythology of its name alongside a sidebar with its botanical attributes. Photographs, illustrations, and when appropriate, images from art history complement each section. Unfortunately, while Chapman's writing has the air of authority, she is oddly cavalier about the citation of her sources. In the introduction, she apologizes for neglecting to include all of her "700 or so" sources in a bibliography. There are also no in-text citations; however, the title does supply a list of picture credits. VERDICT The lack of citations dictates that this title is not recommended, except for those interested in rose gardening for recreational rather than instructional purposes.—Nerissa Kuebrich, Chicago

Library Journal