March 21st, 2023Glen, about the house

For love of a rose
The incredible story of the creation of a magnificent hybrid rose that brought love
to its creators, peace and new life to a war-torn world and, ultimately gave inspiration
for Antonia Ridge’s heartwarming novel…
It was a miracle that the rose ever saw the light of day.
It all began in 1935, when Francis Meilland, third generation of the famed
French rose breeders, selected a promising plant from that season’s crop, and tagged it
3-35-40.
Over the next four years, Francis and his father, Papa Meilland watched over its
development and eventually shared their enthusiasm with other professional rose
growers, despite the gathering war clouds.
World War II
Three months later Hitler invaded France, so with the nursery under threat of
destruction, three packages of budwood were hastily sent out of France, one of which
was smuggled out in a diplomatic bag to America.
Throughout the entire war, the Meilland family never knew if any had survived.
In America their agent planted the rose in his own trial beds and gave it to other
rose fanciers for testing in all the climatic zones throughout the states. The rose did so
well it was decided to release it so thousands of plants were propagated.
Despite the war still raging in Europe, the launch date was set for April 29, 1945,
in Pasadena, California.

Peace
On the same day that two doves were released into the American sky to symbolise
the naming of the rose, Berlin fell, and truce was declared. By sheer coincidence, the
rose was named with these words: “We are persuaded that this greatest rose of our
time should be named for the world’s greatest desire: Peace.”
Meanwhile, back in France, the rose had been named “Madame Antoine
Meilland” in memory of Francis’s mother who had died, tragically young, of cancer.
At the same time, news came back from the other recipients of the budwood. In
Germany the rose had been named “Gloria Dei” (Glory of God) and in Italy it was
named “Gioia” (Joy).
“Peace” went on to receive the All American Award for roses, coincidentally on
the day war with Japan came to an end.
United Nations
On May 8, 1945, when Germany signed its surrender, each of the 49 delegates
who met to form the United Nations were presented with a bloom of “Peace” and a
message of peace from the secretary of the American Rose Society.
But the tale doesn’t end there, the story of “Peace” seemed to breathe new life into
the gardening world, which needed a lift after the devastation of war. Because of its
dependability, vigour and perfectly shaped large blooms it has been used in breeding
programs world-wide. Records show that “Peace” was a parent in more than 600
modern roses – and still counting.
Must-have
It is said that “Peace” is in every park and the must-have variety for every garden.
Francis Meilland died in 1958, but his children still continue the Meilland
tradition of breeding beautiful, prize-winning roses.
After “Peace” became so well known, Francis wrote in his diary: “How strange to
think that all these millions of rose bushes sprang from one tiny seed no bigger than
the head of a pin, a seed which might so easily been overlooked or neglected in a
moment of inattention.”
For Love of a Rose, Antonia Ridge’s delightful story of the Meillands and Peace
rose was first published by Faber in1961 and my copy was printed in 1968. There
have been paperback editions much later than that because they are still listed by
online booksellers.
Got a gardening query? Email glenzgarden@gmail.com