Women in my Rose Garden
The History, Romance, and Adventure of Old Roses
Ann Chapman

176 pp  8 ½ x 11
40 color photographs by Paul Starosta
$40 from Amazon (imported)

    This beautiful book from New Zealand is based upon the roses grown in the garden of Ann Chapman, who has traced the history of the rose and the person it was named for. Thirty-four were chosen out of her collection of 125 planted on ten acres at a restored farmhouse near Wellington.
    She and her husband established Trinity Farm over twenty years ago on ten acres, growing over 1500 roses, more than 600 different varieties. It was sold five years ago. The nursery grew own-root, spray-free plants for the national market.
    Most of the roses in the book would be classified as heritage or heirloom varieties. Photographs of every rose are accompanied by paintings, drawings, photographs of the women themselves. Her research must have taken a great deal of time and effort; the work has resulted in a book that sets a standard of
quality and beauty.
    With each entry there is a biography of the woman herself, the type of rose, date of introduction, history of the breeder, the parentage, and other names.
    When one reads a book like this, the temptation is to see if the author agrees with the reader’s knowledge – let’s see if there are any ‘errors’. So I went immediately to ‘Sombreuil’, which has been the center of controversy. She points out that there have been discrepancies in its description, and she lists the people who have declared their opinions. No doubt there are enough comments by her to be challenged, but I can find nothing to argue.
    I spent a day at the nursery about ten years ago. It would have been better to spend a week! I hope it will be kept up to the high standards by the new owners.
    Note: there is no distributor in the U.S. for the book as I write. However, I noted today that Amazon has one site that will import a copy from England for about $40. Well worth the price!
    Bill Grant – grant@ebold.com