Monty Don Tells Us Where To Find The Finest Roses

When Monty Don, famed for his appearances on the BBC’s Gardeners World tells us where to find the best rose displays in the country, then we had better listen.  Having seen most of the exotic plants that the world can offer, he still holds that the traditional rose is his favourite of them all.

We have sat gloomily through the darkest and coldest autumns and winters for many years, and now we need to get out and enjoy the summer days that seemed only a hazy dream a few months ago.

By careful nurturing and pruning, the rose season can be stretched out for most of the warm summer months, but time moves so quickly and it will not be long before the first smells and cold snaps of autumn will be playing around our doors again.

So where should we go to see the best displays, apart from the many beautiful parks around the country. Well Monty has named his top five venues, which are set out below.

And when Monty talks, we had better listen!

To enjoy roses at their most perfect, here are some of the finest gardens to visit this month . . .

Sissinghurst Castle, Cranbrook, Kent
Vita Sackville-West’s garden has a superb collection of ‘Old’ or shrub roses, many planted more than 60 years ago, forming one of the country’s most romantic rose gardens.

Mottisfont Abbey, Romsey, Hampshire
The roses in this National Trust garden were collected by the great rosarian Graham Stuart Thomas, who died ten years ago, and the walled garden was planted in 1972.
To see it in its late-June splendour remains one of the great gardening experiences.

Coughton Court, Alcester, Warwickshire
In 2006, the Rose Labyrinth, which features more than  200 types of rose, was given the Award of Garden Excellence by the World Federation of Rose Societies — the first time any UK garden had received this accolade.

Castle Howard, North Yorkshire
The gardens of this spectacular mansion include a modern rose garden within the 18th-century walled garden, with a wide collection of old and modern roses.

Gardens of The Rose, St Albans, Hampshire
This is the home of the National Rose Society and is dedicated solely to the cultivation and celebration of roses of every kind.
It is open from this Saturday, June 8,  to July 28, though members may visit throughout the year.


                                                                   http://www.rnrs.org/