THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, October 5, 1995 TAG: 9510030094
SECTION: NORFOLK COMPASS PAGE: 17 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Coastal Journal
SOURCE: Mary Reid Barrow
LENGTH: Medium: 68 lines
For centuries, the rose in all its lovely shapes and colors has been celebrated as a symbol of beauty and romance and of all modern varieties, the peace rose perhaps has been the most celebrated rose of all.
The peace rose's beautiful pale yellow bloom, its edges tinged in pink, provides a startling counterpoint to the glossy green leaves. Its sheer beauty will make even the most novice of rose viewers take notice.
The peace rose brings not only beauty but a fascinating history to the rose garden, a history from which legends will be made by future generations of rose fanciers. The lovely rose had its beginning in the summer of 1939 when it was introduced in France by rosarian Francis Meilland, whose family had been breeding roses there since 1850.
Meilland sent cuttings to rose distributors in Italy, Germany and the United States the summer before war broke out in September 1939. After that, Meilland was cut off from communication with his distributors for several years but his lovely rose had made it out of the country before the Germans arrived.
The story of how Meilland actually got the rose out of France and into the United States may be exaggerated, but it is said that he convinced the American consul in Lyon to send the rose stock off on one of the last planes leaving the area in the face of advancing German troops.
Meilland had named his rose Mme. A. Meilland for his mother. In Germany the rose was named gloria dei and in Italy, gioia for joy, but in the United States the Conard Pyle Co., the distributor, decided on peace. It was a choice that would make the flower live forever in the annals of roses.
Peace was officially christened at the Pacific Rose Society show in Pasadena, Calif., on April 29, 1945, by amazing coincidence, on the same day that Berlin fell. The christening was accompanied by a flight of white doves.
Later, the American Rose Society secretary sent a peace rose in a bud vase to each United Nations delegate at their meeting in San Francisco. ``We hope the peace rose will influence men's thoughts for everlasting peace,'' the accompanying note read.
The peace rose is called the ``most famous rose in the world'' by Rayford Clayton Reddell in his book, ``Growing Good Roses.'' Part of its allure, Reddell wrote, is the fact that no two blooms are alike, Its color can range from off-white with pink edges to a ``deep clear yellow turning to coral orange at petal edges'' in the fall.
The peace rose will be the center of attention again at the Colonial District of the American Rose Society rose show this weekend at the Cavalier on the Hill in Virginia Beach. The show's theme, Peace Reigns, celebrates the 50th anniversary of the end of World War II and of course, the 50th anniversary of the peace rose. The show will be open to the public, free of charge, from 1:30 to 10 p.m. Saturday and from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday.
Other anniversaries are involved, too. This year marks the 60th anniversary of the local Tidewater Rose Society, hosts for the rose show. And to top it off, it's also the 50th anniversary of the rose show itself.
So celebrate with the rosarians, visit the show and treat yourself to a peaceful interlude. MEMO: What unusual nature have you seen? Call me on INFOLINE, 640-5555. Enter
category 2290. Or, send to my Internet address: mbarrow(AT)infi.net.
ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by CHARLIE MEADS
Al Lutz of the Norfolk Botanical Garden cuts a Peace rose.
by CNB