Visions of Roses

A noted expert on roses leads a tour of some of the finest gardens in Europe and North America, providing interviews with the owners, profiles of two classic roses per garden, notes on cultivation, and more than two hundred full-color photographs.

Spectacular, though not necessarily well-known, rose gardens are highlighted in this combined effort by world-class rosarian and premier commercial grower Beales and his cohort, the notable garden photographer Vivian Russell. These gardens offer a journey of surprising locales for both hands-on gardeners and rose lovers alike. Connoisseurs will especially appreciate the approach here. A stunning variety of old (or antique) roses is presented, with reference to placement and usage of specific roses to inspire planting ideas. Informative sidebars spotlight various classes of roses, imparting historical facts, along with nuances of form and culture. And an easy-to-read chart affords expert advice regarding color and design considerations. These 33 gardens include the Windsor home of the Queen Mother and Lee Radziwill's Long Island retreat. Alice Joyce

Here is a delicious feast for the armchair gardener or for the traveler planning a garden tour. Thirty rose gardens in Europe and North America have been photographed gloriously by award-winning garden photographer Russell and described lovingly by Beales, the custodian of the National Collection of Rose Species. Each garden reflects its place and the personality of its creator, and Beales is a master at succinctly setting the scene. He then provides a verbal tour enhanced by closeups and full-page vistas of the roses. We see what the Queen Mother has done over a lifetime at Royal Lodge and what Lee Radziwill has accomplished by the ocean in just six years. Some of these gardens are open to the public; others can be seen only in a book such as this. Enhancements include a chart of rose colors and types and detailed descriptions of two roses from each garden. Recommended for larger garden collections.?Carol Cubberley, Univ. of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.