Roses that Remember

Roses have long symbolised love, beauty, remembrance and celebration, but some roses hold far more than fragrance and petals. Some hold history.

Just minutes from Hilton lies a hidden treasure: the Heritage Rose Garden at Garlington Estate, lovingly established and maintained by the Midland’s Rose Society.  Today, the garden is home to more than 146 heritage rose varieties, with more still being identified.  Some of these roses date from between the 1500s and 1945.

These roses arrived in South Africa long before online ordering, nurseries or modern breeding programmes. They came tucked into trunks, wrapped in damp cloth, or carefully layered between pages of books, carried by settlers who viewed a rose not just as a flower, but as a connection to the lives they left behind.

They survived old farms, pioneer homesteads, droughts and wars. Now, thanks to passionate gardeners and rose hunters, they’ve taken root here again.

As you walk through the Heritage Rose Garden which is arranged in beautiful colour-themed beds, you may notice that every rose has a name. Some are mysterious. Some are royal. Some belonged to people whose names survive only because the roses did.

Click through the slides below to view just a few of these living stories:

If the world of roses captivates you, the Midlands Rose Society is a wonderful place to belong. With members across KwaZulu-Natal (and even further afield), the society brings together beginners, seasoned growers and passionate collectors, all eager to share knowledge, swap ideas and celebrate the beauty of roses. Membership includes a monthly newsletter, invitations to talks and demonstrations, exclusive garden visits and generous discounts on rose products and plants.

As part of ROSA and the World Federation of Rose Societies, members also enjoy access to national and international events, publications and competitions. The society is custodian of the first Heritage Rose Garden in KZN, home to 145 treasured varieties, some dating back to the 16th century.

Whether you have one rose or a hundred, you’ll find community, learning and friendship and a shared joy in every bloom.  If you’d like more information, please contact Gail Birss on midlandsrosesociety@gmail.com

“Roses are not simply flowers — they are worlds folded in velvet and scent.”