oldrosesaremypassion

The rose-festival (Rosdagarna) at Fredriksdal Museum and Gardens, Helsingborg, Sweden, 2nd to 3rd of July, 2022.

Visitor account from Magnus Pålsson, avid rose-lover, and budding rose-entusiast.

https://www.instagram.com/magnus_palsson2/

Fredriksdal Museum and Gardens is imbedded in lush greenery, a haven of tranquillity close to the busy coastal city of Helsingborg, in the southern part of Sweden, close to Denmark. The weather was glorious, full sunshine all week-end, and lots of eager rose enthusiasts taking part in the rose-event of the year.

The magic and scent of roses are not easily conveyed by words, so interspersed in the text are pictures. A picture says more than a thousand words, as the saying goes.

#Blomsterhult #RosesFound

That said, if you are planning to buy roses online, images are mainly of the flowers, enlarged, and oftentimes photoshopped. My advice is to visit a Rosarium close by, and to see the rose in real life. Then you get a better idea of the character of the plant, foliage and bloom.

At Fredriksdal Museum and Gardens lies one of the most prominent of Swedens Rosariums. Close by, is FloraLinnéa, a nursery specialising in heritage and heirloom roses, catering to the Nordic countries and Europe.

https://floralinnea.se/

https://www.facebook.com/FloraLinneaAB/

The Rosarium at Fredriksdals Museum and Gardens contains more than 350 varieties of roses and approximately 1500 individual plants. The Rosarium is divided into 2 parts. One part deals with the cultural history of roses, and describes the historical development of the rose species.

The other part is thematically divided into 4 rooms according to colour, shape and composition. Here you will find beautiful roses carefully selected, and roses especially valuable and included in the museums local clone archive, forming part of the “Swedish National Gene Bank”, preserving the green cultural legacy for the future.

Snippets from the program, to give you a taste.

The 2 days consisted of guided hourly tours with lectures around different themes.

Renowned rose-expert Lars-Åke Gustavsson and collague Henrik Morin talk about the Scandinavian rose-heritage in Fredriksdal's rosarium.

The development of roses, from “utility plant” to the opulence of royal gardens – use and joy in our time. An educational journey of the history of rose cultivation, some of the most talked about and trend-setting roses of all time. Christina Högardh-Ihr,

Krister Cedergren, three generation rose nursery man, shared his experiences and tells about Roses through the years at Cedergren's nursery, from old-fashioned to modern roses. Seven steps to succeed with roses, practical cultivation tips.

A journey of discovery in fragrance and rose history. Mischa Billing and Maria Nyman-Nilsson talks about scents and roses of the Rosarium and in Gastronomy.

Renowed rose-expert Lars-Åke Gustavsson, also was in situ, signing his new book:

Rosarvet i Nationella genbanken

”The rose-inheritance (found heirloom roses) present in the National Gene Bank of Sweden”.

https://www.bokus.com/bok/9789157698575/rosarvet-i-nationella-genbanken/

(In this book, 274 of the gene bank's rose varieties are presented in detail with variety and group descriptions, an extensive image material and with fascinating stories about the people who cultivated them. 169 of the roses are described here for the very first time. The roses are, together with all the gene bank's other plant species, a plant genetic and cultural-historical resource for gardens in our time and in the future).

Also the award “Rosenkransen 2022” (the rose-wreath 2022), was presented to this years winner.

Criteria: “With knowledge, passion and creativity inspired to increased interest in roses and contributed to spreading knowledge about the beauty, history, scent, knowledge or otherwise conveyed the magic of roses.”

https://www.mynewsdesk.com/se/helsingborg/pressreleases/2022-aars-vinnare-av-rosenkransen-aer-programmet-foer-odlad-maangfald-3192927

Also present were the gardeners of Fredriksdal Musem and Gardens, tirelessly giving guidance, knowledge, and imparting inspiration. They also helped visitors identifying their roses, and gave practical advice.

Representatives from the Swedish rose-federation and its southern counterpart was also there to inform about their work (Svenska Rosensällskapet/ Sydrosen).

Full of knowledge and inspiration, and lots of gorgeous Instagram pictures under my belt, I trailed home, reluctant to leave this true paradise of roses… But I will come again; anyway, it is only roughly half an hour’s journey away ;-)