Latest news with #roses
The Guardian
2 days ago
- General
- The Guardian
A turtle rescue, mud wrestlers and a Syrian rose garden: photos of the day
People at work in a rose garden. Growing roses provides financial opportunities for farmers and displaced people in the rural outskirts of Idlib, Damascus and other cities Photograph: Anadolu/Getty Images Smoke rises from the Kiskatinaw River wildfire, which has prompted evacuation orders Photograph: BC Wildfire/Reuters Violet Chachki performs at the Betsey Johnson and the Elton John Aids Foundation Pride party at the Hole Gallery Photograph:for Betsey Johnson Swans and their cygnets in Hyde Park in central London Photograph: Anadolu/Getty Images Manet's painting At the Cafe (1878, left) on display with Corner of a Cafe-Concert (1878-80) at the National Gallery. They originally formed part of a larger composition known as Reichshoffen, the name of a Parisian brasserie and cafe-concert Photograph: James Manning/PA Edmonton Oilers superfan Dale Steil wears face paint and lights before game five of the Western Conference finals in the NHL Stanley Cup ice hockey playoffs Photograph: Gareth Patterson/AP Young mud wrestlers rest as they watch others train at the Shree Shahu Vijayi Gangavesh Talim, a residential gymnasium Photograph: Indranil Mukherjee/AFP/Getty Images Four tugs and a pusher boat transport the first of eight tunnel sections for the Scheldt tunnel from the construction dock in Zeebrugge to Antwerp. Each section is 160 metres long and weights 60,000 tonnes Photograph: Shutterstock People vote at a polling station during the second day of early voting in the presidential election Photograph: Pedro Pardo/AFP/Getty Images Tourists visit Badwater Basin as an extreme heat warning is issued in Death Valley national park Photograph: Anadolu/Getty Images A moth emerges from a cocoon hanging from a clothesline in the gardens of the Natural History Museum Photograph: Marco Ugarte/AP A child stands next to sacrificial camels at the camel market ahead of the Muslim festival of Eid al-Adha Photograph: Mohamed Hossam/EPA Seagulls hunt pearl mullet during their annual migration from Lake Van Photograph: Anadolu/Getty Images Rescuers search for victims after the collapse of a natural stone quarry in the Cirebon district Photograph: Okri Riyana/AP A mature loggerhead sea turtle is hoisted into truck for observation after being caught in fishing gear. Since 1998, a rescue centre in Watamu on the Indian Ocean has assessed, tagged and released more than 24,000 turtles Photograph: Fredrik Lerneryd/AFP/Getty Images Allah Bakhsh, a 55-year-old farmer living by the Chenab River, tends to his early morning chores at his home Photograph: Adrees Latif/Reuters Newly recruited soldiers of the Israel Defense Forces in a 10-hour 40km hike near the Dead Sea Photograph: Xinhua/Shutterstock Palestinians at the site of an overnight Israeli strike on Jabaliya, north of Gaza City Photograph: Bashar Taleb/AFP/Getty Images
The Sun
3 days ago
- Business
- The Sun
Shoppers are racing to snap up bargain ‘flower of the month' scanning at top supermarket for just £3
SHOPPERS have been racing to snap up the bargain 'flower of the month' which is scanning at a top supermarket for just £3. Whether set on a table or placed by a windowsill, they add instant style to any space. 3 3 In medieval Europe, the flowers became symbols of love and royalty, often featured in heraldry and art. And they have been cherished for their beauty, fragrance, and timeless appeal. Roses are the most commonly known birth month flowers for June according to Bloom and Wild. The beautiful flowers with delicate petals come in many colours, such as red, pink, white, and yellow. The rose is also the national flower of England, the United States and the Maldives but they can be very costly. Luckily, one popular supermarket is offering this stunning flower for a price that's difficult to beat. Sainsbury's shoppers can now get their hands on a mini rose plant for just £3 and customers have been loving the bargain. "Bought two of these for Mothers Day. One for me & my Daughter its lovely," exclaimed one happy shopper. Another added: "This is a beautiful rose perfect for a treat for Mother's Day and can be put outside once flowers have bloomed." "Always try and buy these from Sainsbury's as they are great value and my friends love them as gifts," declared another. Everyone can spot the pot plants - but you have 20-20 vision & high IQ if you can find five red roses in just 19 seconds A fourth shopper said: "I bought this approx ten days ago. Adds joy to my kitchen and incredible value at £3." While another said: "I bought this for my daughter-in-law and she is delighted with it." Meanwhile, peony season has arrived and Aldi shoppers can now get their hands on fresh cut peonies for less than a fiver. And another supermarket giant - Sainsbury's - sell a similar bouquet for £6. Interesting Facts About Roses Roses are beloved around the world, cherished for their beauty, fragrance, and timeless appeal - here are some interesting facts. The rose is the national flower of England, the United States and the Maldives. Roses are edible and have been used in cooking and medicine for centuries. They are high in vitamin C and antioxidants. The scent of roses can improve mood and reduce stress and anxiety. The world's oldest living rose is thought to be over 1,000 years old. It grows on the wall of the Cathedral of Hildesheim in Germany. The largest rose bush in the world is located in Tombstone, Arizona. Planted in 1885, it covers an area of over 9,000 square feet. The world's most expensive rose, the Juliet Rose, was introduced to the public by rose breeder David Austin at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show in 2006. This unique flower took 15 years to create and cost more than £3 million to produce. Shoppers are also running to Lidl to snap up a "pretty" plant that will give gardens a major flower boost - and it's only £9.99. And Morrisons shoppers have been snapping up outdoor kids toys, including a £20 sandpit bench & £25 basketball stand. Many parents seemed keen to snap up the items ahead of summer. One person shared: 'The bench is cool.' Another added: 'Let's get the garden ready!'
The Independent
23-05-2025
- Health
- The Independent
Growing roses? Here's how to deal with the most common problem gardeners face
Just as your roses reach their peak, a common fungal foe may be lurking, ready to sabotage their vibrant display. Black spot, easily identified by the dark brown or black blotches that appear on leaves before turning them yellow and causing premature leaf drop, can quickly spread, especially in damp conditions. This infection can significantly weaken the plant, sometimes leading to complete defoliation. The fungus responsible, Diplocarpon rosae, survives the winter on fallen leaves and within the stems and buds of the rose plant itself. Come spring, it releases spores that infect the new growth, perpetuating the cycle. If you notice the telltale signs of black spot, swift action is crucial to protect your roses and ensure a beautiful bloom throughout the season. But there are many things you can do to prevent and treat it, says Neil Miller, head gardener of Hever Castle & Gardens in Kent, which has more than 5,000 roses in bloom in June and July. The Gardens and is staging Hever In Bloom over two weeks in the summer, featuring garden tours, flower arranging workshops and other events. Here are Mr Miller's top tips: Good garden hygiene 'Roses tend to get black spot once the rain comes in the summer – it encourages the spread of this fungal disease. It can spread from year to year. The yellowed leaves fall to the ground and the spores stay in the earth and can transfer to new rose growth the following year. 'Practising good garden hygiene is the best way forward – collecting and incinerating fallen leaves in the summer to prevent the spread, and cutting out any diseased stems. 'Keep clearing any fallen leaves, ensure you cut out any dead wood, keep dead-heading the blooms and mulch every year.' Remove diseased leaves 'You can pick off the spotted leaves (wearing gloves) to remove the source of reinfection. And remember, each fallen leaf must be removed from the ground – ensure you collect every one. It only takes a leaf or two, over winter, to keep the problem going into the following year.' Let air circulate Miller says: 'When you plant your new rose bushes make sure they're planted in an area where air is not restricted – you need a free-flow of air around your bush.' Think organic Miller advises rose growers to try to incorporate organic measures like apple cider vinegar spray, or even a milk spray and lemon juice. 'Fungus tends not to enjoy being sprayed with apple cider vinegar, so that's good option – it's also safe for the all-important bee population.' Feed them 'Another key to promoting healthy roses is to feed them with a granular slow-release food at the start of the season and after the first flush in July. Take your feed and draw a little circle with it around the base of the plant, make sure the feed doesn't scorch the leaves,' he says. Use a mulch If you mulch around your roses it will help stop the spores from splashing up from the ground. Choose disease-resistant varieties 'Rose selection is very important. So when you're leafing through your bare root catalogue this autumn, look out for rose species that are either specifically bred to be disease-resistant like the peach shrub rose 'Dame Judi Dench' (David Austin) or select the older gallica or rugosa varieties which tend not to suffer from black spot,' Miller advises. 'In the Rose Garden itself we have removed plants over the years which have been particularly susceptible to disease and have selected more modern varieties that repeat bloom throughout the summer, rewarding visitors with an incredible display. 'Among our current favourites are 'Absolutely Fabulous' – a wonderful yellow rose that looks healthy year on year, 'Lucky', and 'Audrey Wilcox'. 'We removed 'Rhapsody in Blue' two summers ago and planted the more resistant, and floriferous 'Timeless Purple' in its place. 'Timeless Cream' has also performed very well for us over the past couple of years.' However, the RHS warns that the fungus is genetically very diverse and new strains arise rapidly, which means that the resistance bred into new cultivars usually fails to last because new strains of the fungus arise to overcome it. Hever In Bloom runs from 23 June - 6July.
BBC News
23-05-2025
- BBC News
Historic roses flower early 'due to climate change', says gardener
"Every rose here oozes character," says senior gardener Michael Harvey as he guides me around the garden. The sight and smell of hundreds of roses in bloom at the National Trust's Mottisfont Abbey near Romsey is spectacular. The 1.5-acre (0.6 hectare) walled garden is home to the National Collection of Historic Roses. Unlike modern, repeat flowering roses, most of the plants at Mottisfont flower just once a season. This year the roses are reaching their peak about two weeks early. Mr Harvey says an exceptionally warm and dry March and April has had a big impact: "It has really pushed a lot of the plants to flower a lot sooner. "Because of climate change rose season is becoming earlier and earlier." The team are working hard to support the plants and Mr Harvey says that mulching - applying a thick layer of organic matter on top of the soil - is a key technique. Every season they spread 120-tonnes on the garden."Two inches (5cm) of mulch creates a lovely barrier between the soil and the sun. It adds nutrients to the soil and and helps with water retention," says Mr is also going into irrigation and rain-water harvesting. Some roses which are showing signs of stress, such as browning leaves, will be moved to less sunny spots in the garden. He tells me it's about "putting the right rose in the right place".Milder, wetter winters also pose problems with some pests not being killed in cold spells and a shorter dormancy period for the roses. The garden at Mottisfont was created in the 1970s by horticulturalist Graham Stuart Thomas who collected roses from around the world. Every year about 84,000 visitors come to see it during the flowering Harvey says it is an irreplaceable collection: "Some of the rarest roses in the UK and internationally are grown here and the only place you will see some of the roses is in this garden."So it is really important we look after them to the best of our abilities to keep these rose varieties going. "If these rose varieties go extinct you will never be able to get them back." The team is sharing knowledge with fellow rose gardeners in Ethiopia. In September 2024 they visited the country as part of the International National Trust's Withstanding Change project."It's a conversation between them and us about climate change and sharing our stories," Mr Harvey says. Despite the challenges, Mr Harvey is delighted with the message is going out that the next few weeks are the time to catch the garden at its best, with evening openings and newly trained rose volunteers on hand to answer Harvey tells me proudly: "It is like a mini Chelsea Flower Show here. "The special thing about historic roses is they have all got character, they all want to say something. It is beautiful." You can follow BBC Hampshire & Isle of Wight on Facebook, X, or Instagram.
BBC News
21-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Norfolk's Peter Beales wins 30th gold at Chelsea Flower Show
A specialist rose grower has been awarded its 30th gold medal by the RHS Chelsea Flower Show despite facing a difficult year affected by the winter. Peter Beales Roses, based in Attleborough, Norfolk, has been showcasing at the flower show since the 1970s, where it has received numerous medals for its rose displays. Judges said its display this year captivated a harmonious blend of artistry, scent and environmental awareness. Ian Limmer, head rosarian, said: "To win our 30th Chelsea gold, and receive the highest possible marks by the judges is a huge honour for our whole team." The display, which the team sought advice for from the Norfolk Wildlife Trust, was themed around wildlife and sustainability to demonstrate how roses can form the backbone of an ecologically rich garden. It featured two 20ft (six metre) Silver Common Birch trees to showcase how roses are able to scale the tree and become a habitat for birds. The nursery housed about 3,000 plants that were specifically grown for the prestigious show, which included 1,500 roses. Speaking prior to their win, Mr Limmer said the weather meant it had been a "difficult year" for the plants. "I don't think we've had hardly any rain... we put in our root stocks at the nursery and we've not had any rain to settle them in. "We've also had some intense summer. An early summer, with the heat and the light. It has made it a little more difficult to bring all these roses for Chelsea Flower Show."The poor plants don't know what to think," he said. The show was also an opportunity for the nursery to introduce a new rose named Ashton Wold, created to honour the Ashton Wold Estate in Northamptonshire. Peter Beales Roses first attended the RHS Chelsea Flower Show in the 1970s where it won its first medal, a Bronze Flora, in 1973. Since then it has won many gold medals from 1989 to 2025. Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
