Rosa Mundi
Rosa Mundi an exquisite old Rose with a history going back many centuries.
This semi double eye catcher with red, white and pink stripes looks as good in the ground as she does photographed. Rosa Mundi an old Gallica Rose also carries the name Versicolor.
Its very strange but even gardeners who would normally find this raspberry ripple effect rather garish in other plants, do in fact sing the praises of Rosa Mundi, has it all to do with the history?
Rosa mundi has been in our round garden for many years and doesn’t show any sign of deterioration. First blooms of this lightly scented Gallica Rose starts to open at the end of June and will usually continue to bloom until early August. It is a strong growing shrub ideal for the North East of Scotland where it grows to a height of four feet. Rosa Mundi is also said to look really good grown as a hedge.
The history of this Rose goes back earlier than the 16th century, in fact some historians place it as early as the 12th century with connections to Henry 2nd and his mistress. I think you should read what The Country Garden Rose Specialist has to say about this.
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The Rose (Angele Pernet) which I planted in a friends garden last year flowered beautifully. I snapped this picture of it at the end of June last year.
It really is the most beautiful shade of orange with hints of yellow. Angele Pernet is a heavily scented HT Rose with a bushy habit and is rather short at approximately two feet in height, bred by Pernet-Ducher in 1924. It is a rare Rose and in the UK is only available from Peter Beales. It performed rather well in its first season in Aberdeen. Will it continue to do so well in future, is it happier in warmer climes, I have no way of knowing for the time being.
—Mail Order—
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Some time ago I was talking of the saga of Aberdeens Union Terrace gardens, (it may have been on my Aberdeen Gallery page.) The sunken gardens were opened to the public in 1879. Surrounded at the moment with controversy. Sir Ian Wood, local tycoon has pledged 50 million pounds to raise the gardens and create a civic square. The total cost of the project is estimated to cost 140 million. The council is keen to proceed, feelings of the people are far from being entirely in favour.
Something like six different plans were under consideration. The winning futuristic (Granite Web design) above by Diller Scofidio + Renfro and Kepple of New York has emerged triumphant chosen by a panel of businessmen and politicians. However the people of Aberdeen have until March 1st to vote and decide whether it should go ahead. (Information Link.) Objections of course are all to do with the current financial crisis which most of us are having to deal with and what with public service cut backs which has created a lot of unemployment it comes as no surprise that people feel miffed.
The current gardens (the sunken gardens of Aberdeen) in the very heart of the town were once very popular, the area is surrounded with granite balustrades and a backdrop of the magnificent His Majesty’s Theatre does give a little grandness to it all. Problem is in spite of my pictures below which may make them look all right, the truth of the matter is the gardens are now hardly used, looking run down and a Mecca for ne’er-do-wells, and the sunken aspect makes them cold even in some days when the temperatures above are acceptable. The jury is still out as to whether or not I back this project, my problem being, is the timing right. We are all good at complaining how the city centre is not what it used to be, so many of the grand stores which once were in our nationally famous Union street have all found themselves locked away in the shopping malls. I know its a worldwide problem, however many of these complainers are the very ones who don’t want to see the gardens changed in spite of the fact that they never visit them anyway.
Do the Americans want to take over Aberdeen, Donald Trumps Billion pound Balmedie Beach golf course is well on its way to completion, the main course to be finished by July this year. A round of golf is apparently going to cost in excess of £200 pounds. Donald tells us this world class development will be his flagship and we would expect visitors like Jack Nicholson, Bill Clinton, and oh I cant remember the list. However Donald is in a bit of a tizzy at the moment, plans to erect rows of wind turbines offshore which will be seen from this wonderful golf course have really got up his goat, cant blame him really. At the moment he is saying he will walk away from the Balmedie project if the turbines go ahead, how many million have you spent on it so far Donald?
Pictures below are how Union terrace gardens looked in the Summer.
Update
The development never went ahead !!
Cathy the whole project takes up much more space than the impression which the picture gives. I think if it goes ahead and on completion it may well have that initial wow factor. However after a short time as with these massive shopping malls we may well be saying, I preferred the town centre as it once was.
Alistair, that Rosa mundi is lovely. I had two in my rose garden in Nashua (sold that home when I married Steve) and adored them – hoping to plant one here this year as we add more heritage roses to our gardens.
As for the proposed garden design, I gasped a bit myself at the price, but then again, I have no concept of the size of the project nor the amount of work involved. As a lover of history, it would be hard for me to become enthusiastic about such a futuristic appearing plan. Perhaps the image doesn’t do the proposed plan justice, but I like the “vintage” look myself. (Of course, that is me, and I don’t live there!)
Andrea, I get great satisfaction when I receive an email that I have a new comment on my blog, appreciate them all, but your right, Carolyns was indeed a classic.
Hi Alistair, i can’t say much about the gardens, but i love Carolyn’s comment! What i can fully relate with is the magnificent colors of those roses. I haven’t seen a variegated rose and that one is really awesome.
WW Looks like the no’s have it, I should forward my blog comments to the council.
I think the sunken gardens look lovely as they are. I am always stunned at the amount of money these big scale redevelopments seem to cost. I don’t think they represent value for money. I think a lot of places suffer from what I’ve termed the Bilbao complex. Councillors, architects and planners seem convinced that everywhere needs an iconic building or development like the Guggenheim in Bilbao. It did work for Bilbao but redevelop everywhere like this and they will no longer be iconic but just another expensive development. A big urban water park is planned for Bradford costing millions and yet they say there is no money to fix the library that is falling down. I do despair sometimes. Beautiful rose photos by the way.
Hello Mrs Bad tempered, your views are always welcome here.
Two of a kind Janet
Yes Jennifer, perhaps making some changes to what we already have makes more sense and less expensive.
Like many commenters, I am not a big fan of striped flowers, but I do like your Rosa mundi. Its relatively compact size is an attractive feature too.
I have mixed feelings about the park re-developement. It strikes me that the new design will not age well. I find that there are lots of dark nooks and crannies in the design (under the raised bridges and staircases) that are likely to draw the ne’er-do-wells right back to their old location.
As far as I can see, it is not so much that you need a new park, but rather more reasons for people to go to the old park: perhaps outdoor summer theatre, a small wading pool/water park for children, a themed summer festival like a Renaissance festival or weekly farmer’s or antique market.
Myra is obviously a woman of taste….bit like myself….
Me too!
hmmmmmmm Alistair I just am not so sure about all this expensive (and maintenance ad infinitum) and almost alien form of landscaping and planting. Have studied landscape but the further I travel from my learning the nearer I seem to get to inding massive expenditure unholistic. Merely perhaps being Mrs badtempered new year? Fill it with R mundi?
Rosa Mundi remind me of my favorite raspberries. I think because of its color. Lovely!
Donna, thanks for your views on this subject, no doubt I am going to return to this again at some time.
Hi Janet, you are not the only one who has a dislike for Rosa Mundi. The sunken garden thing still requires about 70 million of public money. I agree, the new and the old can work well together as long as its done tastefully.
Carolyn, you now have a friend in Myra for life.
Yes Lona, harnessing the wind in such a manner doesn’t exactly appeal to me either.
Mark and Gaz, I think you have the situation summed up accurately.
Masha, thanks for the visit, Angele Pernet did perform quite well in the first year and if anything the Summer was even cooler than normal, however I am not so sure how it will do long term.
Janet, you would get on very well with Myra.
Yes catmint I can see how Angele would be favoured by many.
it just goes to show … one person’s garish is another’s Rosa mundi. For me, I’m more into the aptly named Angele …
I’m not a great fan of Rosa Mundi but I’ll have Angele Pernet in my garden, any day! AS to the recent controversy over the gardens. I don’t think all that money on a new scheme could be justified in the present climate. This great rush to throw money at projects like parks and um some trams somewhere. And as for the “baldie headed one” and his golf course…
Alistair, how wonderful to come to your blog and see a lovely picture of Rosa Mundi. You are so lucky to be able to grow it, gallica roses hate my climate… Your specimen is gorgeous. I am surprised you are able to grow Angele Pernet, I thought Pernetianas love dry heat. I guess I was wrong :). Do you have blackspot?
Thank you for more wonderful picture of Aberdeen and for the story.
What a lovely rose, and good to hear how reliable it has been for you. The sunken garden seems to look good as it is already. I understand the opposition to its redevelopment, as you’ve just said its mostly due to timing. If this development was proposed at, say in 2003 then it would a resounding yes from most of the residents.
Hi Alistair. I just adore the Angele Pernet rose. What a beautiful golden orange color. It is a shame that few go to visit the Sunken Gardens. The picture of it is beautiful. If nothing works out right the “Donald” will file bankruptcy again. LOL! They are wanting to add more of the windmills here too and in most of the states it is just not practical. I am not sure I want to rely on the wind when it comes to technology. I am so old fashioned. LOL!
Alistair, Donald Trump is an embarrassment to me as an American. The bright side is maybe his project over there is keeping him from inflicting another of his monstrosities on us (just kidding, you don’t deserve him either). Who cares where Jack Nicholson plays golf? Maybe your photos are overly flattering, but I love your sunken gardens. The futuristic thing is awful for an historic place like Aberdeen (did Donald design it?) Couldn’t Aberdeen use the money to restore the existing gardens and change them in ways to make them warmer and more inviting, add increased police protection to make them safe until more people start using them, and launch a major publicity campaign encouraging people to visit? Your tycoon could then give the remaining 40 million to people who are truly suffering during this economic downturn.
Hi Alistair, I am obviously rather outnumbered, since not only do I not like stripy flowers in general, I don’t like Rosa mundi either, despite the history!! Ah well, it takes all sorts.
As to the sunken garden scheme, I don’t really feel qualified to judge, since I’ve never visited the city and don’t know what the impact of funding the project would be, though I got the impression most of the money was being donated. Though I have to say that a quick glance at the winning design makes me like it, and I think the new and the old can be combined very successfully if done well.
I am glad you alerted me to this post. As an architect, I can speak to that rendering. Those are done as a utopian view of what is being sold to the public. You will never see crowds roaming around after the ribbon is cut. If the park now is unused, what do they think will happen with this design? To me, it is very hard and cold looking, but I can not properly judge as I have no first hand experience in the locale. And the money…. extreme.
Holley, you have the solution, Donald should only be allowed to complete his current project if he puts up the rest of the cash for the gardens project.
You may be in for a mismatch b-a-g.
I’m in the category of people who don’t like stripey flowers but love Rosa Mundi.
I would vote for the planting scheme to be refreshed by Alastair of Aberdeen Gardening. You wouldn’t charge so much … would you?
Can you believe I don’t have Rosa Mundi?! But, each time I see her picture, I know that must situation must be changed. I just haven’t sought her out. Soon, though. As for the project – here’s my tongue-in-cheek solution: Sell the sunken park to The Donald, and he can put in his gold course there! More seriously, I am always for gardens and parks, but when they are not visited, and are running down, and this one seems to be due to the fact that it’s sunken and cold, then I think something should be done before it becomes a safety concern. How much money to put into it, though, I suppose is a very controversial area. That’s where I think The Donald could help out! 😉
Pam, it is surprising how Roses do so very well in our rather cool Summers.
Soren, the bigger picture does show it to be very modernistic, also not entirely convinced that it is the best choice, however it is so easy to be negative. As for the climate, parks in Aberdeen are generally well used. The sunken aspect of Union terrace does add to the gloom greatly.
Choosing Roses can be difficult Christine.
Alberto, the public space is much larger than the picture which only shows about 30% of the land, there is to be an ice rink, an arts centre and I don’t know what all. With so many cuts at present I am sadly veering towards rejecting the plan.
Hi DD, same old website with a few minor tweaks.
Donna, Whilst I was adding the orange Rose to my post, you did indeed come to mind. I think the controversy with our town centre will continue for some time.
Donald, thank you very much for your comments which truly give food for thought.
I was quite concerned when I heard of these plans when I was in Aberdeen over the summer. The gardens as they currently stand may need a bit of restoration and revitalization, but they fit in perfectly with the wonderful architecture around them on Union Terrace and Rosemount Viaduct. One of the really strong features of Aberdeen are that it has such a well preserved town centre, with very few intrusions into the late 18th/19th/early 20th century character. Speaking as someone who grew up in Aberdeen, but hasn’t lived there for many years, I am pretty much the poster child for someone who didn’t appreciate what was there when I lived there, and took almost all of it for granted. It’s only when I return to visit that I sense what a strong sense of identity and culture the city has, which in large part is visible through the historically diverse and interesting cityscape. Now having lived in Canada for nearly 20 years, in a city where the city planning process appears only to be driven by the philosophy that “so long as the city isn’t paying” it is a go, I would urge real caution on the matter. Whilst each generation needs to leave it’s mark, there are multiple different approaches to that, and you don’t know what a great thing you’ve got until it’s gone.
Alistair what a lovely rose..it looks like striped taffy candy…and that orange rose belongs among my orange blooms…seems the US is keen to change parts of the UK. I can see Donald having a tantrum and leaving…good riddance…the new design is futuristic…I love your historic buildings but we all are faced with trying to update or clean up areas…hope they can add to the history of your beautiful city!!
Dear Alistair, I am a big fan of rosa mundi too, I’m a fan of all gallicas to be honest. You are right: I’m one of those who dislike striped roses (and flowers in general) but I make two exceptions for historical reasons as well as for shades of red that don’t disturb me: one is indeed r. mundi and the other one is ‘Variegata di Bologna’.
What to say about the remake of your public gardens? I think the project doesn’t look as good as it should be considering its cost, but this is only personal. The entire World is having a hard time, why wasting money in a project that could be realized better with less? They should set an example here, they should show to citizens that even during recession they are able to improve public service and save money.
The Rosa Mundi and Angele Pernet are both beautiful! I’m about to buy two roses for a new area in my garden. So many options …
I do like the sunken gardens as they are now, though it’s true you rarely see people using this green space much, even in summer. (Perhaps because Aberdeen summers aren’t all that conductive to park life?) The timing of such an expensive project is one thing – I can’t see it fitting in with an “austerity economy” – but I’m also not convinced the project as it stands will really make the most of this area; as I see it there will be created a large square on the corner by the statue by Union Street, and I’m not sure how they will create life in that open space – or whether it will just be a desert.
Dear Alistair, Your Rosa mundi looks so very healthy! I wish my roses looked so good. How wonderful you planted a rare rose in a friend’s garden … lucky to have you for a friend.
All that money in the scenarios you describe … mind boggling! P x