Homecoming for a rose
The rose "Souvenir of Wootton," believed to be the first tea rose hybridized in the United States, will return to its home Saturday, April 24, and be planted in Baltimore's Cylburn Arboretum Rose Garden.
The rose was hubridized in 1888 in Baltimore by florist John Cook. A cross between "Bon Silene" and "Louis Van Houtte," it has long been "missing." In fact, only three of the 28 roses Cook bred were found during searches by the Maryland Rose Society following the rededication of a statue to Cook at the Baltimore Conservatory in 1989.
Cook is also well known as the father of "Radiance," one of the most popular hybrid teas.
In 2002, the "Souvenier of Wootton" was discovered along with another Cook rose in a garden in Germany but the cuttings did not survive shipment to this country. Another attempt to ship the cuttings was made and "Sourvenir" arrived safely in February of 2009.
Many of the roses Cook hybridized have distinctly Baltimore names: "Frances Scott Key," "Pearl of Baltimore," "Preakness," and "Baltimore."
There is also a "Souvenir of Miami" because that's where the Cook family vacationed for years.
Comments
How interesting! I'm going to try to learn more about Cook and try some of his roses.
Posted by: Maureen | April 24, 2010 10:17 AM