That
all of the original rose species came from the Northern Hemisphere.
That
there are no native species south of the equator, which includes Australia
and New Zealand?
That
the rose is the national floral emblem for the United States?
That
the first drawing of a rose was found in Crete circa 2000 BC?
Fossil
remains of rose species suggest roses could be over 50 million years old!
That
the yellow, orange, and salmon colors seen in today's roses were derived
from a chance seedling from a cross using the almost sterile species rose,
'Persian Yellow'?
That
most of the bright reds in today's roses came through the introduction of
China roses into the breeding programs?
The
white streak on the guard petals also came through the China stock?
That
the gene for fragrance is recessive and that if you breed two fragrant
roses, you might get a rose with little to no fragrance, and vice
versa?
That
species roses can be reproduced through their seeds which will grow plants
identical to the parent, and are the only class that will do so?
A
species rose, 'Rosa Acicularis', has been found growing near the Arctic
Circle?
That
species roses are commonly used to line freeways because they are not as
bothered by pollution, and in some cases, they form a protective barrier
that might actually stop a car?
That
Bourbon roses are so named because the first of its class was found on the
Isle of Bourbon (now Reunion)?
That
one of the first floribundas, 'Floridora', was allegedly a cross between
'Baby Chateau', a deep red hybrid tea, and 'Rosa Roxburgii', a species
rose?
That
the fragrance of 'Apothecary's Rose' intensifies as the petals dry?
That
rose thorns are not thorns, but are correctly called "prickles"?
Real thorns originate and are a permanent part of the plant, where
prickles are attached to the cane and snap off when touched.
That
the French family of Guillot started two rose classes? They created the
polyantha class with' Paquerette', and were credited with the first hybrid
tea, 'La France'.
The
word perfume means "through the smoke"? The term was in
reference to the fragrant smoke created by incense.
That
all secrets were made "under the rose" or subrosa?
That
the Greeks called the rose the "King of Flowers" long before
Sappho immortalized the rose as the "Queen of Flowers"?
That
legend said that when the Virgin Mary laid her veil to dry on a red rose
bush that the roses turned white? White roses are often used as her
symbol.
That
in the early days of Christianity, a rose was a symbol for those who
survived persecution?
That
early rosary beads were made of rose petals and carved in the shape of
roses?
That
the rosary and the rosary prayer that we use today are from the writings
of two monks circa 1430? Another story has it that Mary gave St. Dominic
the rosary circa 1217.
That
rosary also means rose garden?
That
the roses used in the Dutch Master's paintings are centifolia, which means
100 petals?
That
the most popular day to give roses is Valentine's Day followed by Mother's
Day?
The
world's largest rose is a white' Lady Banks' in Tombstone, Arizona? It was
planted in the 1880s and covers the size of a football field.
That
the world's oldest rose is in Germany and is allegedly over 1,000 years
old?
That
the rose is the birth flower for June?
That
roses are related to apples, berries, cherries, pears, plums and almonds?
That
rose oil (attar) is more expensive than gold pound for pound?
That
it takes over a ton of rose petals to make a pound of rose oil?
That
Elizabeth Park in Hartford, Connecticut is the oldest public rose garden
in the United States?
That
roses have been associated with deities Aphrodite (Goddess of love),
Dionysus (God of revelry), Ceres (Goddess of harvest), Eros (God of love),
and Eos (Goddess of Dawn)?
That
the 'Apothecary's Rose' was so named for all the medicinal uses of the
rose?
That
the buds of 'Si', the smallest rose, are no larger than a grain of rice?
That
a majority of florist roses in the United States were once grown in
Europe? Now South America is one of the largest growers of roses used in
the United States.
That
the American Rose Society is the largest horticultural society dedicated
to one flower in the United States? There are over 22,000 members and 380
affiliate societies in the 50 United States.
That
there are over 14,000 rose varieties available today, and many thousands
more known to have existed?
That
rose hips (seeds) are an excellent source of vitamin C and they were
gathered during World War II in England to use by the populous?
That
rose petals are often used for making jelly, potpourri, rose water, and
eaten in salads?
That
the name "Roosevelt" means a field of roses?
That
President Teddy Roosevelt often wore a bloom of 'Duchesse de Brabant' in
his lapel?
That
President Franklin Roosevelt requested that he be buried in his beloved
rose garden?
