We discover more about "Roma's Rose" when we least expect it.
John and I spent some time over the weekend wandering around the Auckland Botanic Gardens. We were up to see Fleetwood Mac at Mt. Smart Stadium and had time to kill. Of course I dragged him to the rose and veggie gardens, and we nosed around the trees.
In the rose garden guess what we came across?
This is Roma's Rose! I'd been calling it "Souvenir de Madame Leonie" based on information from friend Christine Nelson, but recently came across a note in my mother-in-law's handwriting in one of her gardening books referring to it "Madame Leonie Viennot." So both were partially right: the correct name is "Souvenir de Madame Leonie Viennot."
It was amusing to read that this rose was commonly planted as camouflage over "dunnies," or "long drop toilets." Unclear if this was because it grows so quickly and could cover up a visual eyesore, or because the scent masked any odours. But either way interesting to know!
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