The Huntington Rose Garden
The Rose Garden was originally created in 1908 for the private enjoyment of Henry and Arabella Huntington. Roses were a particular favorite flower of Arabella's. The garden was designed primarily for display, providing copious quantities of cut blooms for the large elaborate floral arrangements favored in their home. Household records indicate that in one year alone more than 30,000 flowers were used in these massive bouquets, 9,700 of which were roses.
Roses have been a beloved flower even before the birth of Christ. There are representative varieties from all aspects of the rich history of the rose in the Huntington collection. Beyond a few species, the introduction dates span from 1540 up to the present day, including some roses that have yet to be introduced. The preponderance of the collection spans the 19th through 21st centuries, a time when the rose reached a pinnacle of popularity.
Their no-spray garden serves as an important educational tool to help people learn the versatility of roses. QThe rose family is the third largest plant family, offering a broad palette of colors.
The following are various types of roses:
Hybrid teas
Grandifloras
Polyanthas
Floribundas
Miniatures
Climbers
Shrubs
Old garden roses (often referred as antique roses)
Tree roses, or standards
With so many roses I found it hard to keep track of their names. I will do my best but perhaps this will motivate you to visit the Huntington Rose Garden one day.
Photos by Lynne Tucker
Enjoy the journey through the Huntington Rose Garden by way of photography!
