The rose is the world’s favorite flower and always has been. It is the greatest floral symbol of love and romance the world over and touches people’s hearts at many points in their lives: the flower most often chosen to celebrate significant milestones, such as weddings or anniversaries, and to mark births and deaths. This talk will trace the journey of the rose across the centuries, from battles to bouquets, charting its botanical, religious, literary and artistic history. Dr Catherine Horwood will explore the story of what makes this botanical family so loved: from Cleopatra’s rose-petal-filled bed to Nijinsky’s Spectre de la rose ballet; from the highly-prized attar of rose oil so believed by the ancient Persians to top-brand perfume labels today; and from Shakespearean myths about the Wars of the Roses to the significance of Queen Elizabeth’s I’s embroidered dresses.
The Gardens Trust in association with the Historic Roses Group presents this online talk on May 2 at 1 pm Eastern time. £5. Register through Eventbrite at https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-rose-the-history-of-the-rose-tickets-305563497647
Dr Catherine Horwood is an experienced speaker and the author of many books on social history including Gardening Women: Their Stories from 1600 to the Present (Virago, 2010) and Potted History – How Houseplants Took Over Our Homes (Pimpernel Press, 2020). Her biography Beth Chatto: A Life with Plants (Pimpernel Press, 2019) was selected as the European Garden Book of the Year in 2020. She is also author of Rose (Reaktion Books, 2018), which was described by Gardens Illustrated as ‘a clearly-written, information-packed review of the historical, religious, cultural and artistic significance of the world’s favourite flower’.
