Traditional English Shrub Roses, such as this, seem to be out of fashion these days. But, we love them for their quintessential old rose scent, stunning appearance, climbing ability, and inspiration to artistic interpretation.
Besides, these roses love us back – they prosper in Maine’s climate and seem to murmur “wonderful, wonderful” all summer.
The Shrub Roses shown here are the award-winning Gertrude Jekyll hybrids, first introduced into the United Kingdom by David Austin in 1986. They’re aptly named after the famed English garden designer of the early 20th Century. (The original pronunciation of Gertrude’s Celtic last name was “JEE-kill,” but many now pronounce it “JECK-ill.) Ms. Jekyll was a horticulturist, garden designer, writer, photographer, and fine artist. She created over 400 major gardens before dying at the age of 89 in 1932.
The GKs have climbing competitions with Clematis companions on one of our decks:
(Brooklin, Maine; images taken July 2 and 3)