NOTABLE ROSE GARDEN

Shannon News, 7 December 1928, Page 1

NOTABLE ROSE GARDEN

EIGHT THOUSAND DIFFERENT TYPES.

Certainly in all France, and probably in all Europe, and possibly in all the world, no rose garden exists so remarkable as the one at FHay-les Boses, near Paris, which has just been flowering in the lovely profusion of its 8000 .different types of roses. From all over the country visitors have come to see this sight anil marvel at this; exhibition of “toutos les formes du genre Bosa. ” The garden, known as la Bosarie, was set out in the formal manner of the parks of the great chateaus in the beginning of this century. In the centre roses bank about a pond of water and the,beds spread out on either side like the wings of a bird. There arc 12 divisions. In the first, for instance, are the wild roses placed in order of their own appearance according to records, and by them those roses cultivated by men at special epochs. In another section are the old Gallic roses, the only ones known to France Up to the close of the eighteenth century.

Farther along are reconstituted the rose garden of the Empress Josephine, and next to it those of the Far East. Another section is devoted to the rose 3 created during the nineteenth century; one to the new roses; one to the roses raised at l’Hay; one to the best roses for cutting; one to “les plus belles roses,” —set about the pond ;and one to the experimental bed&. Among the thousands of specimens a few that, stood out particularly may be mentioned. There was a red climber whose rich face of wide, open petals was some three inches in diameter; a fine new salmon rose called the ‘ ‘lolita amour”; a rose with red and white striped petals was named the “gros provins panache,” and there was an enormous round ball of red roses well known as il Paul scarlet climber.” The common visitor could profit by hotirs spent among these roses, and to the expert the show must have been as important' as the Louvre to an art student.

The garden lies behind high walls which enclose a large estate, the property of a French gentleman. The village of I’Hay-les-Boses perches on the slope of a hill down which other gardens wander to meet open' ‘fields. The cottages are conspicuous because of their uniform trimness and because there is'hardly a garden which is not gay at this season of the year with roses in bloom, especially climbers.