A Visit to the Antique Rose Emporium
On a recent weekend, we caught enough of a break in the rain to get in a visit to the Antique Rose Emporium in Independence, Texas.
So many choices.
And a few more choices.
Along with hundreds of roses, there are brightly colored perennials, shade plants, and herbs, and you just want to take them all home.
Stunning colors.
Beautiful combinations.
But the thing I love best is that the atmosphere is so relaxed, more like a park than a business. There are some busloads of tourists, and people wander everywhere, just chatting with their friends and taking pictures. No one is following you around, trying to insist you buy things. And while there are some pricey garden ornaments for sale, many others are things put together from some old supplies and a little elbow grease, things you could easily replicate at home.
I had a hard time deciding which rose to take home this time. I love amusing names, so I considered Granny Grimmetts and Madame Norbert Levavasseur. I had settled on General Schablikine, because, really, can you think of a better rose name than that? But it didn’t have much of a scent, so I went with Maggie instead. She may have a plain name, but she has beautiful deep pink ruffled petals and a lovely pure scent.
A bloom from Maggie.
And of course, I have to finish up with some yellow roses for Texas!
It was wonderful to get out and enjoy some spring color!
Your Maggie is beautiful! And, yes, a rose should smell like a rose!
My mother and grandmother would love Maggie. They both had the magic touch with roses. There’s just that special something about them that makes a person feel rested. “Slow down and smell the roses” is really a good prescription.
I may have to go back and get General Schamlikine too. We’ll see how I do with Maggie.
For once I wish the Internet came with a smell option. Absolutely go for the rose with a heady scent. Nowadays I can only admire others’ roses; the deer make growing them at my place impossible unless I’m prepared for 24/7 guarding.
Yes, I am a little worried about deer too. I have a Belinda’s Dream close to the house and they haven’t bothered that one. We shall see.
Beautiful photos! What a great place to visit. Maggie is really pretty, but I love yellow roses and those are gorgeous.
It is a treat to walk those grounds where knowledgeable people care for the roses! They are all in bloom and look so healthy. It is really inspiring.
I love the Antique Rose Emporium and think I should make a visit here real soon. At the old house I had several antique roses that I had ordered from them. Beautiful and yes, Belinda’s Dream was one. So glad you had a chance to go…this has been a great spring (at least our way) for wildflowers!
I had a bumper crop of coreopsis and picked a half a bucket full. It is supposed to give an orange dye when a little ammonia is added to the dye bath, so I want to try that.
Antique roses are the only way to go! Gorgeous colours and scents with any luck. they are a sight for us waiting for spring!
Yes, I love the slight color variations in the blooms and sometimes in each petal!