Page 33 - QARANC Vol 19 No 2 2021

The Gazette QARANC Association 31
Florence Nightingale Roses in Belfast Botanic Gardens
The story so far...
Prior to all the chaos
has given us over the
the NI Branch had
much planned with an
events list surrounding
all the good things NI
has to offer in additon
to celebration of the bicentenary of Florence Nightingale. One of
these events was to visit
the Botanic Gardens in
Belfast to see on display
the wonderful bloom of Nightingale Roses so
lovingly purchased and
tended to by our very own member Lieutenant Colonel (Retd) Joan Thompson. This would have been followed by afternoon tea in the Observatory – Grand Central Hotel. It was not to be however, therefore I thought we would share some snippets from the journey of The Roses! Joan, despite all the chaos,
continued forging forward to make sure the roses had all the loving care they deserved and when safe to do
so, journeyed to see them. She kept me, as branch secretary informed along the way.
The Florence Nightingale Rose is a low, bushy cluster-flowered bush rose with plentiful semi- glossy leaves. It bears a rounded creamy white tinged pink double flower with a faint fragrance. The roses blossom with a riot of colour, firstly in May
running into June and secondly in August running into September, attracting much attention at all times.
The bushes are settling down now awaiting the winter pruning exercise before ‘snuggling’ down for winter hibernation – as befits a rose.
The thirty roses arrived
at the Royal Botanic Garden from The Hertfordshire Garden Centre in November 2019. The weather was atrocious then so instead of immediate planting as was planned the gardeners had to place them in a safe haven until March 2020. Then Paddy, the rose garden expert, implemented essential planting in a well-placed rose bed by the central walkway. The ‘blooming’ results were dramatic and attracted much attention so, very many thanks to the gardeners for all their support and encouragement. I feel that next year will produce really dramatic bloom, and much attention.
Kerry McFadden-Newman Branch Secretary
Joan Thompson with Florence Nightingale roses in the Royal Botanic Gardens, Belfast
COVID-19 past year
The bushes are settling down now awaiting the winter pruning exercise before ‘snuggling’ down for winter hibernation
BRANCH NEWS