Aberdeen Gardening – from Bonnie Scotland

Rosa Mundi an exquisite old Rose with a history going back many centuries.

This semi double eye catcher with red, white and pink stripes looks as good in the ground as she does photographed. Rosa Mundi an old Gallica Rose also carries the name Versicolor.

Its very strange but even gardeners who would normally find this raspberry ripple effect rather garish in other plants, do in fact sing the praises of Rosa Mundi, has it all to do with the history?

Rosa mundi has been in our round garden for many years and doesn’t show any sign of deterioration. First blooms of this lightly scented Gallica Rose starts to open at the end of June and will usually continue to bloom until early August.  It is a strong growing shrub ideal for the North East of Scotland where it grows to a height of four feet. Rosa Mundi is also said to look really good grown as a hedge.

The history of this Rose goes back earlier than the 16th century, in fact some historians place it as early as the 12th century with connections to Henry 2nd and his mistress.  I think you should read  what The Country Garden Rose Specialist has to say about this.

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The Rose (Angele Pernet) which I planted in a friends garden last year flowered beautifully. I snapped this picture of it at the end of June last year.

It really is the most beautiful shade of orange with hints of yellow.  Angele Pernet is a heavily scented HT Rose with a bushy habit and is rather short at approximately two feet in height, bred by Pernet-Ducher in 1924.  It is a rare Rose and in the UK is only available from Peter Beales.  It performed rather well in its first season in Aberdeen.  Will it continue to do so well in future, is it happier in warmer climes,  I have no way of knowing for the time being.

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Some time ago I was talking of the saga of Aberdeens Union Terrace gardens, (it may have been on my Aberdeen Gallery page.) The sunken gardens were opened to the public in 1879. Surrounded at the moment with controversy. Sir Ian Wood, local tycoon has pledged 50 million pounds to raise the gardens and create a civic square. The total cost of the project is estimated to cost 140 million. The council is keen to proceed, feelings of the people are far from being entirely in favour.

Something like six different plans were under consideration. The winning futuristic (Granite Web design) above by Diller Scofidio + Renfro and Kepple of New York has emerged triumphant chosen by a panel of businessmen and politicians.  However the people of Aberdeen have until March 1st to vote and decide whether it should go ahead.   (Information Link.) Objections of course are all to do with the current financial crisis which most of us are having to deal with and what with public service cut backs which has created a lot of unemployment it comes as no surprise that people feel miffed.

The current gardens (the sunken gardens of Aberdeen) in the very heart of the town were once very popular, the area is  surrounded with granite balustrades and a backdrop of the magnificent His Majesty’s Theatre does give a little grandness to it all. Problem is in spite of my pictures below which may make them look all right, the truth of the matter is the gardens are now hardly used, looking run down and a Mecca for ne’er-do-wells, and the sunken aspect makes them cold even in some days when the temperatures above are acceptable.  The jury is still out as to whether or not I back this project, my problem being, is the timing right.  We are all good at complaining how the city centre is not what it used to be, so many of the grand stores which once were in our nationally famous Union street have all found themselves locked away in the shopping malls.  I know its a worldwide problem, however many of these complainers are the very ones who don’t want to see the gardens changed in spite of the fact that they never visit them anyway.

Do the Americans want to take over Aberdeen, Donald Trumps Billion pound Balmedie Beach golf course is well on its way to completion, the main course to be finished by July this year.  A round of golf is apparently going to cost in excess of £200 pounds.     Donald tells us this world class development will be his flagship and we would expect visitors like Jack Nicholson, Bill Clinton, and oh I cant remember the list.  However Donald is in a bit of a tizzy at the moment, plans to erect rows of wind turbines offshore which will be seen from this wonderful golf course have really got up his goat, cant blame him really.  At the moment he is saying he will walk away from the Balmedie project if the turbines go ahead, how many million have you spent on it so far Donald?

Pictures below are how Union terrace gardens looked in the Summer.