Rose
of the Month #2
By Gaird Hamilton
GOLD
MEDAL
Last month we started a new
series called “Rose of the Month” with a famous old floribunda
called “Apricot Nectar” which was not only the AARS winner
in 1966 but is a wonderful performer in our cool coastal climate. This
month we are moving up to the Grandiflora class where we find “Gold
Medal” which is not an AARS winner, but it sure should have been.
It was hybridized by J. E. Christensen of Armstrong Roses who was one
of the great hybridizers from California. It was introduced in 1982
and is classed as a medium yellow. It’s official description in
Modern Roses 11 says; “bud ovoid, long, pointed; flowers deep
golden yellow sometimes flushed orange, dbl. (38 petals), classic shape,
opening formal, spiraled; light tea fragrance; foliage large, dark;
tall upright bushy growth.”
Now while that description
is very accurate, it does not tell the whole story by a long shot. In
the first place this rose is usually the first to bloom in the Spring
or close to it. It’s blooms tolerate our wet climate quite well,
and the bush is usually in bloom most of the time. As far as main flushes
of blooms go, Pat and I believe that with its early flush, and quick
repeat, that it has at least one extra flush per year. At any rate with
it’s constant supply of bright yellow in the garden it fills a
real need in the coastal garden for a good reliable disease resistant
yellow rose.
Another good side benefit
of “Gold Medal” is that it has form which is good enough
that it frequently finds it’s way to the trophy table in rose
shows. As a matter of fact, it won King of Show for Dr. Stan Baird in
the 2001 Humboldt Rose Society Rose Show. It also lasts wonderfully
in bouquets either as single roses on a long stem, or as a spray which
can be a bouquet by it’s self. This rose can be found at many
places from local nurseries to catalogs to the internet. Accompanying
this article is a picture of one of our “Gold Medal” bushes
which as you can see has a position of prominence between our deck and
our hammock, and right next to the walkway in front of our house.
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