I recently visited Arley Hall and Gardens in Knutsford, Cheshire. The Hall itself is Grade II listed and the Cruck Barn Grade I. The Hall was built between 1832 and 1845 whereas the Barn dates back to the 15th century. The gardens were first planted about 260 years ago and have evolved over time. Probably […]
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Ninfa – The Most Beautiful and Romantic Garden in the World by Karen McIlwraith
A visit to Ninfa was the enchanting finale of the HRG Italian Tour 2025. Anticipation was high as Ninfa, nestling dreamily at the foot of the Lepini mountains in Lazio (Italy), embraced by the hauntingly beautiful ruins of a medieval village, has been called the most romantic garden in the world. We arrived at Ninfa […]
Continue readingPruning and planting by Michael Marriott
For those of you living in the UK and indeed most parts of the northern hemisphere January and February are the best months for pruning your roses. A lot is written about pruning and making it all sound very complicated but really it is very easy. I have never worried about the usual cutting at […]
Continue readingEarly Influences by David Gowing
As a child I was always interested in plants (and cows, but that is another story!) I do not remember exactly what triggered my interest, but by the age of four I had been given a little corner of garden to look after. I think my father hoped I would grow carrots, but I planted […]
Continue readingLoire Valley Visit by Michael Marriott
Our first overseas tour of rose gardens since Covid was a great success, with 30 of us visiting 7 superb and very different gardens in the Loire Valley. It also included a certain amount of eating delicious food and drinking lovely local wines. It was superbly organised by Mary Hember with Anthony Baker making sure […]
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HRG Rose Day at Hinton Ampner
A small group of us met for the Historic Roses Group event at Hinton Ampner (National Trust) in Hampshire on Saturday 15 October.
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A day at Wisley
Adrian Pickett reports on a very interesting visit to Wisley, including a talk by the librarian and a tour of the gardens.
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Death of HM Queen Elizabeth II
Members of the HRG are very saddened by the death of HM Queen Elizabeth II. She was a great lover of plants and gardens, and at both Windsor Castle and Buckingham Palace there are large numbers of roses. At Windsor her apartment looked over the huge rose garden which Prince Phillip helped to design and […]
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In Memoriam: Michael Charlesworth 1940 – 2022
It is with tremendous sadness that we inform you of the death of the Historic Roses Group’s much-loved chairman, Michael Charlesworth. As many of you may know, he had weathered serious illness in the past few years and had been undergoing dialysis for three days every week in hospital. His partner, Johnny Greechan, informed us […]
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Happy New Year!
Just in time for the New Year, the lovely China rose ‘Comtesse du Cayla’ is still blooming in member Mary’s garden. It was named in memory of Zoé Victoire, Comtesse du Cayla, friend, confidante and last favourite of the French King Louis XVIII in his final years. Charming, astute, and well connected, she became politically […]
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