Lemon-scented Roses? .. AT MY ROSE GARDEN

Did you know that not all roses smell like roses? We all expect to smell a typical rose-like sweet fragrance when we are given a rose, but would you expect to smell lemons instead?

Some roses have fragrance that has a hint of citroen, or lemon, hidden in its rosey depths.  The Noisette rose, Lamaraque, has a sweet fragrance combined with a definite lemon fragrance.  The Lamarque rose even has a lemon tint to it's white blooms, so the touch of lemon doesn't seem so incongruous.     

So imagine how surprising it is to find a mauve rose with lemon undertones in its fragrance.  Blue Moon, one of many attempts by rose breeders to create a 'blue rose' also has citroen hints in its perfume.  

Of course, there are many variations of fragrance in the rose world.  Tea roses are so named because of their fragrance that resembles dried tea leaves.  And in addition, some tea roses have fruity notes in their perfume.  Mrs B R Cant, a large and very double rose has hints of peach mixed with dry tea leaves in her perfume.  An unusual and surprising perfume to find in her pink blooms.

Another Tea rose with an unusual fragrance is the lovely Lady Hillingdon.  Here, the rich apricot colour of her blooms is matched by a luscious hint of apricot fragrance that is combined with a fragrance dry tea leaves.  A delicious and lovely combination.

And of course, there is a large variety of herbs that have a strong, citrus fragrance.  Many of these also grow well under roses, wafting a wonderful potpourri of perfume across the rose gardens.  Lemon thyme is one example. Crushing the tiny leaves of lemon thyme releases a sweet, strong lemon perfume that is heavenly mixed into a posy.  

While combining similarly fragrant roses and herbs in a posy or bouquet is an obvious choice .. 

  

There is an endless range of fragrances among roses, so that any mixed posy of roses and herbs offers a wonderfully sensory experience.

A veritable feast of fragrances with endless possibilities  .. 

'STOP & SMELL the ROSES' .. AT MY ROSE GARDEN

 Did you know that smelling roses is good for our emotional well-being and mental health?  'Stopping to smell the roses' is considered a rather old-fashioned way of telling ourselves to take some time out to breath and regroup. Somehow we seem to have dismissed this piece of wisdom as out of date and no longer relevant.

In our fast paced lives, perhaps there has never been a better time to 'stop and smell the roses'!  From my doctoral research I know that science now tells us that spending time in the natural environment is good for our health.  

Taking time out to walk in nature was once upon a time a common way of regrouping and giving our minds a rest.  In fact, from research we now  know that spending time with nature helps us recover from illness faster and even helps to reduce pain, requiring less pain medication.

There is also research that demonstrates engaging with nature can help us improve our mood.  Our emotional well-being is enhanced if we engage with the natural environment.  Not all of us have access to a large garden, of course. But spending time in the natural environment can be as simple as looking at a tree through a window, or walking through a city park, or planting up pots of herbs on our balcony.

It seems obvious really that we can improve our health spending time in nature. Of course walking in a lovely garden, or hiking through a wilderness, or even digging in a small garden have always been recognised as a pleasant leisure activity.   Now we have finally again recognised these activities as being good for our well-being.  

And in response to this rediscovered recognition of benefits to our health and well-being, there are community gardens abounding in most capital cities around Australia.  Many of these gardens are modelled on community gardens that have been long-established in the United Kingdom, particularly in densely populated cities.  

But did you know that smelling roses is also good for our brains?   This simple act of putting our noses in the centre of an open rose and inhaling improves our mood and also helps to create new pathways in our brain.  Innately we know this.  Who has not immediately buried their nose in a bunch of roses purchased from the supermarket only to be disappointed with their lack of perfume?

In fact, there is evidence that suggests smelling pure rose oil extracted from fragrant roses can help with depression and sadness. Essential oil of roses (attar of roses) is said to also provide us with a sense of joy! If ever there was a reason needed to 'stop and smell the roses', then this is definitely worthwhile. And so, it is without any sense of guilt that I indulge in this activity daily!

I'm extremely fortunate to have been able to design and develop a large country garden, an on-going work.  Even while writing my thesis on the benefits of engaging with natural environments for female inmates, I dreamt of one day creating a large country garden.   I am so grateful that I can now realise this. Which is why I love to share this knowledge and experience in our workshops. 

Our workshops draw on my research and training and so are therapeutic, restorative and educational.  But they're  also lots of fun where we get to walk the gardens and 'smell the roses' and make lovely floral creations using roses and herbs grown in the rose gardens.  And, of course, there's always lots of coffee and cake too!

So follow us on Facebook (Edgeworth LLey-Heirloom Roses) to stay up to date with what's happening at my rose garden!

Things I love .. AT MY ROSE GARDEN

'Surround yourself with things you love.'  I saw this little sign at a local cafe once and it resonated so much with what I do on a daily basis without thinking.

That is, designing, developing and planting the rose garden with heirloom roses filled with fragrance is part of what I love.  And I am gradually surrounding our 100 year old Queenslander house with the rose gardens.  Which is how 'Edgeworth Lley - Heirloom Roses' was born!!

And as well as designing a lovely garden filled to overflowing with old fashioned garden roses, I love to teach others about the joy of doing what you love most. Or at least taking some time out to replenish yourself with things you love.

So that's where the workshops I run in the rose gardens come into their own.  I love to show others how they can use simple every-day things, like flowers (in this case roses), to connect with the natural world and take some time to 'breathe'.  

There are lots of ways we can connect with nature.  Studies have long shown us that even a view of greenery from a hospital bed can aid recovery and ease pain.  We don't need to live in a forest, or be surrounded with vast acreage of countryside to enjoy the benefits to our well-being of the natural environment. 

Even simple activities, such as  making a wreath using natural materials from the garden, or walking through a park or gardens, or picking a random bunch of flowers with no particular design in mind, can all aid our well-being. 

Research shows us that our well-being is supported by taking time to re-connect with the natural environment around us.  Gardeners have always known this 'secret'.

In fact, studies also show us that spending time in nature can help with depression and anxiety; that there are micro-organisms in soil that can improve our mood and overcome depression!

I love to see people's expressions when they realise they have made something lovely.  Their sense of accomplishment is a joy to witness.  Our focus at the workshops is always to encourage the process of creating, rather than the outcome!  But everyone is always happy with their floral creation at the end of the workshop!

There's even evidence that the fragrance of roses can also help with depression and release feelings of joy!  My work with women recovering from trauma and grief shows time and again the healing power of nature. 

And I love to teach others how they can improve their well-being through  simple techniques that help them re-connect with nature.  

What better reason could there be to stop and smell the roses?

Connect with us on Facebook (Edgeworth LLey-Heirloom Roses) to see when our next workshops are available!  Or we can arrange a workshop to suit you and your group's schedule.  Just message me.  I'd love to hear from you.  

Things I love .. AT MY ROSE GARDEN

'Surround yourself with things you love.'  I saw this little sign on my favourite cafe (French and Gorgeous in Cooroy) and it resonated so much with what I do on a daily basis without thinking.
That is, designing, developing and planting the rose garden with heirloom roses filled with fragrance is part of what I love.  And I am gradually surrounding our 100 year old Queenslander house with the rose gardens.  Which is how 'Edgeworth Lley - Heirloom Roses' was born!!

And as well as designing a lovely garden filled to overflowing with old fashioned garden roses, I love to teach others about the joy of doing what you love most.  Or at least taking some time out to replenish yourself with things you love.

So that's where the workshops I run in the rose gardens come into their own.  I love to show others how they can use simple every-day things, like flowers (in this case roses), to connect with the natural world and take some time to 'breathe'.  

There are lots of ways we can connect with nature.  Studies have long shown us that even a view of greenery from a hospital bed can aid recovery and ease pain.  We don't need to live in a forest, or be surrounded with vast acreage of countryside to enjoy the benefits to our well-being of the natural environment.  Even simple activities, such as  making a wreath using natural materials from the garden, or walking through a park or gardens, or picking a random bunch of flowers with no particular design in mind, can all aid our well-being. 

Research shows us that our well-being is supported by taking time to re-connect with the natural environment around us.  Gardeners have always known this 'secret'.

In fact, studies also show us that spending time in nature can help with depression and anxiety; that there are micro-organisms in soil that can improve our mood and overcome depression!

I love to see people's expressions when they realise they have made something lovely.  Their sense of accomplishment is a joy to witness.  Our focus at the workshops is always to encourage the process of creating, rather than the outcome!  But everyone is always happy with their floral creation at the end of the workshop!

And there's even evidence that the perfume of roses can also help with depression and release feelings of joy!  So what better reason could we have to take time out of our days to smell the roses!




Connect with us on Facebook to see when our next workshops are available!  

About our SPRING COLOUR WORKSHOPS .. AT MY ROSE GARDEN

I'm a little nervous.  Now I've put the call out for our SPRING COLOUR WORKSHOPS, October 13th or 27th, I'm wondering if  
a) we'll have enough roses and flowers blooming at the time of the workshops; and 
b) will those who visit us for the first time be disappointed with my 'less than magnificent' country rose garden?

You see, our country rose garden is still quite new.  In fact, I've been doing this (working in the garden) more or less full time now for only two years.  Before that I was still lecturing and commuting interstate.  But jobs are difficult to sustain when you're flying weekly and running a full-time university course of 1000 students, as well as teaching into that course. While I just love teaching, there was no time to breathe, and definitely no time to smell the roses.

So here we are!  Trying to make this love of mine (teaching about sustainable natural environments & growing heirloom roses) into a full-time business!   My other love is using natural materials from the garden and creating beautiful bouquets, posies and wreaths - and of course, teaching others how to do the same! 

In fact, I love free-flowing, just-picked-from-the-garden arrangements using fresh home-grown flowers.  In other words, flowers that you don't see in the supermarket.  I prefer to grow heirloom roses and flowers that smell wonderful, are seasonal and can be grown without an array of toxic sprays to keep them performing.  

That's why through trial and error I've discovered that heirloom Tea roses perform well in our warm climate and flower for most of the year.   Some will have a rest during the cooler winter months, while others rest throughout the hot summer weather.  And instead of using pesticides and other nasty sprays, we under-plant our heirloom roses with old-fashioned flowers and herbs.  The birds and bees love it!

Tea roses come in a range of colours, from soft subtle pastels to more vibrant colours, often changing colour according to the season.  The variation in colour makes for gorgeous bouquets of different shades of ombre in the one arrangements.  

And the fragrance is lovely, varying from a subtle sweet tea (yes, just like dried tea leaves with a teaspoon of sugar!), fruity fragrance with a hint of citrus through to a strong old-rose fragrance!

So do think about joining us for our SPRING COLOUR WORKSHOPS!  We'd love to show you around our developing gardens, help you pick your own roses and flowers and serve you some refreshments. Oh, and you'll get to take home a gorgeous bouquet that you've hand-picked and created yourself (with our help), all finished off with a hand-dyed ribbon!  (We'll show you how to do that too!)

Our SPRING COLOUR WORKSHOPS October 13th or 27th, in the Sunshine Coast Hinterland near Eumundi start at 9.30am and finish 12.30.  All materials and refreshments are included.  Contact us via FACEBOOK for details!  

Spring Colour Workshops .. AT MY ROSE GARDEN

We are so excited about our Spring Colour Workshops.  Spring is the time in the rose garden where  there's a bounty of blooms to choose from.  At Edgeworth Lley - Heirloom Roses, we grow a range of heirloom roses and flowers that you won't find at a florist.  Perfect for creating stunning and unique bouquets for Spring. 

At our Spring Colour Workshops we will do a guided walk around the gardens and choose from the many roses and flowers on offer.  The colour combinations for bouquets and posies are endless (not to mention the fragrance combinations)!!! Then we will show you how to use your choices to create a stunning Spring bouquet.  You will also learn about dyeing your own ribbon using herbs from the garden!

As we guide you around the gardens, you might start with the bright red climbing rose, 'Altissimo'.  It's large red blooms are stunning as the central focus in a bouquet or posy. 

And of course, there are the daffodils.  The yellow of a daffodil will add warmth and joy to any arrangement.  

A special treat is the  Australian bred rose, 'Lorraine Lee', with it's gorgeous coral tones.  And the perfume is delicious too.

Because we don't use toxic sprays, we under-plant our heirloom roses with lots of herbs.  One of my favourites is the self-seeding borage.  The tiny blue star-like flowers are gorgeous and add a little bit of sparkle to a pretty posy.

We also use the herbs in our gardens to dye ribbon and fabrics to tone with our bouquets and posies.  At our Spring Colour Workshops we will show you how to dye your own ribbon with herbs from our gardens.   

Among the species roses is Rosa Laevigata.  It flowers only once a year, but it's large single blooms are astonishingly beautiful in the garden, and gorgeous in any arrangement.  

A favourite old-fashioned Tea rose for cutting is the luscious 'Mrs B R Cant'. She can have hundreds of double, pink blooms at one time.  We know Spring has arrived when she is covered with buds and blooms at various stages of opening.  

Sweet peas are another seasonal treat in the gardens.  We grow the fragrant old-fashioned type that go so well in our Spring posies.

Another favourite rose for bouquets is the climbing Blue Moon, one of our nostalgia roses.  The fragrance is delicious and the colour fits so well with so many other roses from the gardens;  a perfect foil for bright colours in a bouquet.

So gathering a range of roses and flowers from the garden is just one part of the joy of creating a gorgeous Spring bouquet. Once you have gathered your selection of flowers, we will guide you in how to -

Condition your flowers so they last longer in the vase.

Use your selections to create a stunning Spring bouquet that will smell as gorgeous as it looks. 

Show you how to dye your ribbon to tone with your bouquet using  natural dyes from the garden.  

Our Spring Colour Workshops are planned for October -  Thursday, 13th, and Thursday 27th from 9.30am - 12.30pm.  Refreshments and all materials included.  

Booking and details through our Facebook page: 

Edgeworth Lley-Heirloom Roses. 

We'd love to see you!