- The term “Garden Roses” refers to roses bred to be grown in the garden, as opposed to roses grown for cut-flower production. Most Garden Roses are very fragrant, but many are not, or the scent is slight.
- We do not recommend the purchase of garden roses if they do not have fragrance – what is the point? There are so many fabulous modern commercial roses that are superior in every other way. The one exception to this rule would be David Austin varieties, which are generally fragrant, but some are quite mild. What they do offer is a wonderful “olde worlde” cupped form with a full rosette inside, often quartered, and are ideal for pave bouquets. The more recent Austin varieties also have a quite improved vase-life.
- Accept the often very spiny thorns as a necessary evil and manipulate the crooked stems to your advantage.
- It is highly recommended that some research be done to ascertain the type of rose you want. Unlike modern Hybrid Teas, the different shapes, sizes and forms available in Garden Roses is breath-taking. (See Roses – A Brief History) Also, a lot of them tend to flower only once a year, maybe twice, and the fabulous rose you used in late spring will most probably not be available in mid-summer.
- The longevity of garden roses after they are cut from the plant is short. They are a perfect item to use for weddings and parties, as these events are essentially one-day affairs. The roses will be beautiful, and lend fragrance to the event, which is all that one can expect of them.
- Proper care and hydration of the roses is essential. This is also critical so that you can open the rose to the point of perfection. (Link to Flower Care)
- Garden roses are not recommended for weeklies, or bouquets, unless your customer wants to luxuriate in the wafting perfume of the rose, and understands that they are short-lived.
- It is recommended that when you have finished your event that you take some home too!!!
-- Michael McIndoe
For the contemporary florist, never has the assortment of materials available been so varied and so accessible, especially from Mayesh Wholesale Florist.
Take Yves Piaget, now grown year round exclusively for Mayesh Wholesale Florists. The wealth of organic materials with which it is possible to create designs is only limited by the ideas and concepts of the designer. And because today's modern florists are so open-minded and so creative this means there are virtually no barriers as to what and how products can be used.
Garden Roses are surely an essential ingredient in today's weddings, particularly as one of the main trends is a Romantic/Belle Epoque feel with lace, silk, damask in cream and ivory tones, blushes, pinks and peaches. The look of flower arrangements is loose, casual and uncontrived (although it is quite an endeavor to create this look), and the ingredients are ones that hark back to yesteryear: Hydrangeas, dahlias, fragrant herbs and scented roses. Wedding bouquets, reminiscent of Redoute's engravings of roses that delight and excite the brides, when they raise them to their noses…as brides always do!
Continued from above.....
While often overlooked, we should be aware that we all work in a fashion-oriented industry. Ironically it seems, that while the majority of the industry is chasing flowers with straight stems, homogenous blooms, long shelf-life; flowers that are easy to handle and easy to pack, there is a large segment of the industry seeking a romantic alternative that harks back to an era when flowers were more fragrant, and arrangements employed a twisted stem to advantage.
Indeed, when speaking of competitive advantage, these types of traits are important ingredients when the Boutique Florist and the Design Studio strive to differentiate themselves from the Big Box and the Super Market! ![]()
