Sometimes, things just don't work out for married people. The person who gave me this polyantha had to give up her house and fabulous garden due to divorce. She was getting rid of plants and small structures that she had accumulated over the years. We went to her house when she offered us what we wanted. I only took things with the statement that we would hold the plants and structures until a time she could have them back at a new home. Which you know will eventually happen. We couldn't take much as we are crammed already. But everything is here when she is ready.
She told me a story of this polyantha and how it came about being in Hillsborough. Now, history (fact) and lore often intermingle with found or passalong plants. So research is key if at all possible, and sometimes that is not enough.
This polyantha supposedly was brought from the Smithfield area to Hillsborough around 1906 to 1912. Which is very confusing since polyanthas were not really in vogue until the 1920's. However, there were polyanthas dating back to the 1880s. Perle d'Ore, for one, and a series I believe called the Sherbets. Polyanthas are very confusing to me as class itself. Why? Because they sport like crazy and they make you wonder which is the true or original color.
I was lucky enough to devide this rose and each one went its own way color wise. Amazing! I have taken photos through the year to try and catch color variables . It was once believed that this rose was Margo Koster (1920s), or one of the Koster series but I do not see it. That takes me back to the Sherbet series.
Notice the color changes from branch to branch.
Foundling II, polyantha




















