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The New Romantic Garden - a book review

The New Romantic Garden by Jo Thompson Rizzoli, 2025 Jo Thompson is a noted UK garden designer who has won numerous awards at RHS shows. Her style is the epitome of the "romantic English garden" idea - sumptuous borders packed with perennials in pastel colors, arches covered with roses, idyllic meadows and garden rooms. But what is the "new" romantic garden? Described as a fresh perspective of utilizing this lush gardening style into the present-day world, it places an emphasis on organic gardening, biodiversity, plant and soil health.  A scene from the author's own garden... Photo: Rachel Warne In this gorgeous book, Thompson showcases thirty of her gardens, all beautifully described and photographed.  From estate gardens to a London penthouse roof garden, they provide sumptuous eye-candy and inspiration. A peek inside... A London city garden filled with roses and iris (Photo: Jason Ingram) Writer Justine Picardie's garden in Norfolk evokes a feeling of a ...
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Veilchenblau, the "Blue Rose"

 

I know, I know, there is no such thing as a blue rose. Hybridizers are still trying to come up with one. This beautiful rambler is named "Veilchenblau" which means "violet-blue" in German but who would choose a blue rose over the colors this one displays? I don't think I would. I like it just the way it is. Deep purple crimson buds open to a softer lavender and fade to light pink and white. Each flower has a white streak running along the petals.  
 


This is a rose that always elicits ooo's and ahhhh's from visitors to the garden. Bred in 1909, it is a vigorous but thornless rambler that can be grown a variety of ways, covering arches like we grow it or letting it scamper along a fence. If you look at my photo from last year, you will see that it was much larger then. I pruned it severely last year because it was getting out of control and had some die-back. This is how it looks this year -

Disease-resistant and very easy to grow, this is one of my favorites. The only sad thing about it is that it only blooms one time a year and has little fragrance.
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  1. FrancesMay 6, 2009 at 4:26 PM

    Ooooh, Veilchenblau is popping up all over the blogdom. Yours of course is fabulous, as is verything about your garden. I loved Randy and Jamie's tour of it, especially the Secret Garden. Silly me, I thought the name meant veil of blue rather than violet blue. Mine is just beginning to open.
    Frances

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  2. Catherine@AGardenerinProgressMay 6, 2009 at 4:33 PM

    Very pretty. I didn't realize it was thornless, a big plus if you have kids in the garden. It looks so nice on the arbor.

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  3. Monica the Garden FaerieMay 6, 2009 at 5:01 PM

    Um, raises hand, I would love a blue rose! (Not that these colors aren't lovely.) :)

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  4. AnonymousMay 6, 2009 at 5:30 PM

    What an amazing color! I've slowly replaced almost all my climbers with Abutilon because it is so easy to care for and blooms most of the year, but seeing your photo makes me wonder if I was too hasty.

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  5. Lisa at GreenbowMay 6, 2009 at 5:55 PM

    I love the idea of a rose "scampering" someplace in my garden. How nice that this huge rose is thornless. Much easier to keep under control that way. Your soil must be black gold since everything seems to grow so well in your garden. Do you have to make lots of amendments?

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  6. AnonymousMay 6, 2009 at 8:12 PM

    Love it! I think your gardens are spectacular just like you. You have so many areas of interest that it must take you forever to go from one to the other. I too saw Randy and Jamie's tour of your garden. So impressive. I like the winter fountain.

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  7. sweetbayMay 6, 2009 at 8:42 PM

    Your Veilchenblau is lovely draped over the arbor. Such an interesting rose and so beautiful.

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  8. Chandramouli SMay 6, 2009 at 10:47 PM

    Whooooooa! They adorn the arch very well and damn, are they gorgeous! I wouldn't mind even if they bloom only once a year. Man, these are worth the wait!

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  9. UnknownMay 7, 2009 at 4:15 AM

    Beautiful!

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  10. RandyMay 7, 2009 at 5:53 AM

    I want one, I want one! Or three... :-)

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  11. Roses and LilacsMay 7, 2009 at 6:36 AM

    Beautiful. I've probably said it before but I really envy you for being able to grow the ramblers and climbers. We never get much height on roses this far north.
    Marnie

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  12. AnonymousMay 7, 2009 at 9:35 AM

    Funny I just posted on my Veilchenblau also. It's a baby though. The deer like to keep it pruned for me but it fools them and shoots clear up off of the top of the lattice where they can't get to it. Actually, I think they'll stay away now that I've found a new repellent. Your gardens are lovely - I need to come back and go through your archives.

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  13. karenleighMay 7, 2009 at 1:31 PM

    So beautiful. I keep almost ordering this rose, then end up getting something else in its place. Now I definitely wish I had ordered it. May need to place just one more rose order...

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  14. AnonymousMay 7, 2009 at 6:39 PM

    That is a feast for the eyes.

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  15. Tatyana@MySecretGardenMay 9, 2009 at 6:08 AM

    Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!
    Mezmerising! Why don't I have it?!

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  16. AntonioMay 10, 2009 at 8:59 PM

    I agree with Monica, I'd love a blue rose...not that I've got room for it, or Veilchenblau for that matter. Tres pretty...or sehr pretty as the case may be.

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  17. Deborah Younglao, Silk PainterMay 11, 2009 at 2:09 PM

    As a painter of flowers, I'm mesmerized by the lovely oasis you've created. It must be hard for you to spend any time inside your house! Thanks for sharing your obvious passion for nature with us.

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  18. Dee/reddirtramblingsMay 13, 2009 at 12:13 PM

    It is a beauty. Stunning photographs. It is also one I don't have. Can you believe it?~~Dee

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