This month when we celebrate
Valentine’s Day, it is interesting to note that the rose is not only a symbol
of love but a symbol of discretion. Legend has it that Cupid gave a red rose to
Harpocrates, the god of silence, to bribe him to secrecy over the dalliance of
Venus and so the red rose become the symbol of discretion, love, passion and
romance. Roses were henceforth painted on the ceilings of banquet halls to
remind all gathered there that whatever was said there, should not be repeated
which became the expression sub rosa (under the rose). Another legend says that
while Aphrodite was running to the dying Adonis, she was scratched by a rose
bush and her blood falling on the roses turn it red. Other account says that
Adonis turned his blood into red roses.
Whatever legend strikes your
fancy, there is nothing in our garden at this time of the year but the florist
and even the supermarket stores are selling roses grown in South America so
there is no excuse not to give red roses for Valentine’s Day. And how did
Valentine’s Day get started?
A certain Bishop Valentine
started it to replace the Roman festival of Lupercalia. There were several
Bishop Valentines but nobody is really certain as to who is the real Bishop
Valentine. But whoever he is, the tradition continues and we celebrate this day
exchanging gifts and greetings between our loved ones, friends, family but
mostly lovers.
During the Victorian era,
valentine cards were mostly decorated with old-fashioned roses. Even today,
valentines are still associated with roses. For Valentine’s Day, red roses are
arbitrarily the most popular flower.
There are several red roses in
the market nowadays but I can recommend some tried and true varieties that grow
very well in the garden. Plant some of them and give your Valentine red roses
again in June.
HYBRID TEA ROSES:
Carolina Pride – medium red rose
Firefighter – dark red rose
Ingrid Bergman – dark red rose
Lasting Love – dark red rose
Liebeszauber – dark red rose
Let Freedom Ring – medium red
rose
Legends – medium red rose
Marilyn Wellan – medium red rose
Mister Lincoln – dark red rose
Mr. Caleb – medium red rose
Olympiad – medium red rose
Veteran’s Honor – dark red rose
FLORIBUNDA ROSES:
Drop Dead Red – dark red rose
Europeana – dark red rose
Lavaglut – dark red rose
Showbiz – medium red rose
Stadt den Helder – medium red
rose
Super Hero – medium red rose
MINIATURE/MINIFLORA ROSES:
Black Jade – dark red rose
Memphis King – dark red rose
Old Glory – medium red rose
Power Point – medium red rose
Ralph Moore – medium red rose
Ruby Ruby – medium red rose
SHRUB ROSES:
Falstaff – dark red rose
Heathcliff – dark red rose
L. D. Braithwaite – dark red rose
Othello – medium red rose
Tess of the d’Urbervilles – dark
red rose
The Prince – dark red rose
