| Heirloom Rose Preservation |
| California rosarians on a mission to help save vanishing rose varieties |
From "Dirt On Gardening"
episode DDOG-105 |
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One of the blooms at Sacramento's Historic Rose Garden
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DIY's The Dirt On Gardening visits Sacramento Historic Rose Garden. At this special garden located in Sacramento's city cemetery, devoted volunteers strive to save rose varieties of yesteryear and preserve the heritage of heirloom roses for future generations. One of the most dedicated of those volunteers is Barbara Oliva. She's an avid gardener who's positively obsessed when it comes to rescuing endangered old roses.
Heirloom roses, sometimes called "antique" or "old" roses can be purchased from catalogs, nurseries and online suppliers. Because these are older varieties, they're also sometimes found growing wild and, in some cases, may be the last of a vanishing variety from days gone by. Roses like this can sometimes be found in abandoned home sites, overgrown lots and even cemeteries. That's where Barbara Oliva does some of her best work--rescuing old roses one bloom at a time."Old roses" are defined as any variety that bloomed before the beginning of the 20th Century. Some rose varieties have survived (by luck or by intention) since they were first developed in the 1800s and--if not preserved through the caring efforts of Barbara and other caring enthusiasts like her--could be forever lost.
Barbara Oliva
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The Historic Rose Garden
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At the Historic Rose Garden in Sacramento's old city cemetery, Barbara and other volunteers lovingly tend and protect about 400 heirloom roses. "We have a genetic history there," says Barbara, "and if it's gone, then it is completely gone."
The history of old rose varieties is carefully studied by the volunteers. When heirloom roses are newly discovered, the living plants are meticulously documented with characteristics carefully recorded. Sample cuttings are taken and preserved for posterity, and the locations of the living plants are recorded using GPS coordinates.
The history of "antique" roses is carefully researched and documented.
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Locations of heirloom roses are tracked using GPS technology.
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If you think you've discovered an heirloom rose where you live, check to see if there's a rose association or master gardener in your area and let them know of your finding. You could help save a beautiful piece of history.
RESOURCES :
Sacramento Historic Rose Garden
www.cemeteryrose.org
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