Roses are among my favourite flowers in the garden, so I was delighted to be invited to the launch party for the Rose of the Year 2024.
And here it is! Meteor is a floribunda rose with golden yellow flowers, flushed red. This is a later than usual bloomer. I’m fact my sample rose is in bud at the moment (14th June) and looks like it won’t be in full flower for another two weeks. This is a good trait, as it spreads the flowering period in my garden.
The prize-wining rose was chosen as rose of the year because it:
Repeat flowers through the season
Has healthy foliage with excellent disease resistance
Has a bushy growth with erect habit and strong stems
It grows to 70cm high and 40cm wide
Lightly scented, fragrance like fruit salad on a summer morning
Meteor is suitable for pots or containers as well as planting in borders.
Plants will be available this autumn from rose nurseries and garden centres. Meteor was bred by Kordes Rosen, a member of the British Association of Rose Breeders.
Roses UK promotes the Rose of the Year, international rose breeders and British rose growers. Other activities have included theme design and management for the Festival of Roses Marquee at the RHS Hampton Court Flower Show and rose naming projects.
Marilyn Stevens, Roses UK project manager, said: ‘Our mission is to
celebrate roses! We’re keen to encourage gardeners to plant healthy
varieties and to consider companion planting to complement their roses.’ The British Association of Rose Breeders funds Roses UK.
The launch party was held at Waterperry Gardens near Oxford on 13th June, a glorious location for such a prestigious event.
Here’s head gardener and gardens manager Pat Havers who gave us a tour of the gardens following the launch party. More on the gardens to follow in a separate blog post…..
Peach Melba, a fully double climber is Rose of the Year for 2023 and was launched at Iford Manor last summer.
This beauty is called It’s a Wonderful Life, and was Rose of the Year 2022. I used the flowers in this week’s posy for my Mum. The scent is reminiscent of water melon and summer fruit salad. It readily repeat- flowers, which makes it ideal for the cutting garden. This rose was bred by Colin Dixon who has won the rose of the year title 10 times.
Roses UK is @rosesukroses on twitter and Instagram and http://www.rosesuk.com web site.
If you were listening in to BBC Radio Leicester today, I was talking to presenter Ben Jackson about these roses. Do have a listen in on the i-player at about 3.05pm.
Excellent report. I now kow what to look out for.Thanks for sharing!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Suella
LikeLike
Fascinating choices – if only we had more room 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Derrick. Hope your are having a great week 👍🌞
LikeLiked by 1 person
thanks for sharing such a splendid occasion. such a lovely rose. a reminder to visit Waterperry too.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Christine. Such a wonderful garden. I can’t wait to return later in the season to see the famous asters and autumn display.
LikeLike
That rose will definitely be going on my list, thanks for talking about it. The Florist Timeless collection is flowering for the first time and I am delighted with them.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh that’s very good news. Thank you for the update, Noelle. Enjoy! 💚
LikeLike