Let's see what you can do, askme. Where can I buy the rose called "Picture?"
March 24, 2011 7:22 PM Subscribe
Help me wow my dad. Where can I buy the hybrid tea rose named "Picture?"
My dad has fond memories of learning to garden in an old woman's rose garden in the Bay Area in the 1960s. He says her most beautiful rose was called "Picture," and she bought it for next to nothing at "a store called Safeway, which is like a Stop and Shop."* He has been looking for it for years.
Given that it bears such a generic name, it has been hard for me to track down. (And Safeway doesn't seem to be selling it anymore.) But I did find out a little bit about it: it was bred by Samuel Davidson McGredy III in 1932, it is light pink, and mild fragrance.
I cannot find it - to actually buy - anywhere, but I would love to surprise him if I can possibly manage it. Any suggestions?
*This I find funny, since I know perfectly well what a Safeway is, living in DC. But we're from Boston, and I guess there aren't Safeways in Boston.
My dad has fond memories of learning to garden in an old woman's rose garden in the Bay Area in the 1960s. He says her most beautiful rose was called "Picture," and she bought it for next to nothing at "a store called Safeway, which is like a Stop and Shop."* He has been looking for it for years.
Given that it bears such a generic name, it has been hard for me to track down. (And Safeway doesn't seem to be selling it anymore.) But I did find out a little bit about it: it was bred by Samuel Davidson McGredy III in 1932, it is light pink, and mild fragrance.
I cannot find it - to actually buy - anywhere, but I would love to surprise him if I can possibly manage it. Any suggestions?
*This I find funny, since I know perfectly well what a Safeway is, living in DC. But we're from Boston, and I guess there aren't Safeways in Boston.
I'd ask this question on Gardenweb's Rose Forum. I don't think it's still in mass production, but someone might be willing to send you a cutting.
posted by Ideefixe at 7:40 PM on March 24, 2011
posted by Ideefixe at 7:40 PM on March 24, 2011
Every Rose has a database of rose varieties. Here's Picture. I suspect you know this already.
posted by sciencegeek at 7:41 PM on March 24, 2011
posted by sciencegeek at 7:41 PM on March 24, 2011
For future reference, although it doesn't have great info on Picture, Dave's Garden is good for this sort of thing - they include, when they have them, links to sellers as well as people looking for or wanting to trade plants.
I will ask at work tomorrow about other rose sources.
posted by sciencegeek at 7:45 PM on March 24, 2011
I will ask at work tomorrow about other rose sources.
posted by sciencegeek at 7:45 PM on March 24, 2011
Hmmm. Well, you could get in touch with Sam McGredy (IV), perhaps through the New Zealand Rose Society? Looks like the McGredy dynasty moved from Ireland to New Zealand, and you could do worse than trying to get hold of the latest breeder in the family.
posted by MonkeyToes at 7:46 PM on March 24, 2011
posted by MonkeyToes at 7:46 PM on March 24, 2011
Alternatively, contact one of the "consulting members" of the American Rose Society. Plant people are fairly friendly and I'm sure they'd love to help you find this rose for your dad.
posted by sciencegeek at 7:57 PM on March 24, 2011
posted by sciencegeek at 7:57 PM on March 24, 2011
No expert at all here but my spouse is a big time rose aficionado, hybridizer and general brainiac about roses and, although she has never heard of a rose named "Picture," she did suggest you contact someone at the Texas A&M Rose Breeding and Genetics program.
posted by bz at 8:06 PM on March 24, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by bz at 8:06 PM on March 24, 2011 [1 favorite]
Contact Vintage Gardens and see whether this or this is what you want. (Though the first looks more promising than the second!) Via.
posted by MonkeyToes at 8:28 PM on March 24, 2011
posted by MonkeyToes at 8:28 PM on March 24, 2011
(Sorry --first link, click Picture VID.)
posted by MonkeyToes at 8:30 PM on March 24, 2011
posted by MonkeyToes at 8:30 PM on March 24, 2011
Best answer: Just a quick addition: if you contact an expert on this topic and you find out that "Picture" is no longer available, you might want to ask if they have any roses with "Picture" in their hybridization line. There are lots of roses that aren't really popular any more that have VERY available "offspring"-- I know it wouldn't be the same, but it might be better than nothing.
posted by WidgetAlley at 8:37 PM on March 24, 2011
posted by WidgetAlley at 8:37 PM on March 24, 2011
Best answer: Hainsroses.com seems to have it listed on their bulletin sheet( pdf ) of roses they sell. They are located in Australia though. But they do have a number of links to other sites, possibly shipping to them. They also have an e-mail address. You could explain your situation to them.
If you are able to purchase one by whatever means, it might be a good idea to buy more than one. Roses are somewhat unpredictable ( both on the good side and the bad side) and it would be terrible to go to all that trouble and have it die in a year or two. Just a thought. I found two roses by the name you mentioned ( on other sites) , one is a tea rose, the other a climber. I think they are a lot alike in the flower part. Its a great gift if you can pull it off. Sounds like something I would have like to have done for my dad. Good luck !
posted by Taurid at 9:18 PM on March 24, 2011 [1 favorite]
If you are able to purchase one by whatever means, it might be a good idea to buy more than one. Roses are somewhat unpredictable ( both on the good side and the bad side) and it would be terrible to go to all that trouble and have it die in a year or two. Just a thought. I found two roses by the name you mentioned ( on other sites) , one is a tea rose, the other a climber. I think they are a lot alike in the flower part. Its a great gift if you can pull it off. Sounds like something I would have like to have done for my dad. Good luck !
posted by Taurid at 9:18 PM on March 24, 2011 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: Texas A&M pointed me to helpmefind, where I found Vintage Gardens which sells this role. Thanks, all!
posted by semacd at 12:00 PM on March 25, 2011
posted by semacd at 12:00 PM on March 25, 2011
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posted by Ys at 7:36 PM on March 24, 2011