Thornflower has its roots deep in the artist’s childhood in Prague (which she left in 1939) in happy memories of her grandmothers’ home “Das Rosel Haus (the house of rose)” and in the death of her grandmother in Treblinka in 1942.

It is a reflection not only on the Nazi Holocaust but on “man’s inhumanity” across history, representing, in Charlotte Mayer’s own words “an urgent wish to make a sculpture uniting opposing elements of thorns and flowers, to speak of reconciliation, peace and oneness”.

Roses and thorns are never far apart in life, but it is the beauty of the rose that we remember.*

*from a signboard next to the artwork

In the castle Rose Garden we have a wonderful array of roses planted for their colour, scent and structures giving everyone a good idea of different varieties, looking for a shrub, climber or standard rose.  This garden is enhanced by the dramatic backdrop of the ancient castle, which is reflected by the gothic archways and seats designed especially to blend aesthetically with the castle’s gothic windows.

See the following link for a tour of the Rose Garden:

A Tour of the Rose Gardens with Martin from Arundel Castle on Vimeo.

John 14.27

In 1939 Lord Fairhaven created the Rose Garden, a quintessentially English feature. The Rose Garden produces spectacular colour and scent in the summer months*

*From the Anglesey Abbey Gardens guidebook

Rumi

Sara Teasdale

In addition to the weekend shopping chores Mr C and I factored in a lunchtime visit to David Austin Roses where we hoped to find a rose or two for the next stage of our garden project. On arrival we wandered around the sales area to see what roses were available to buy. Then we headed to the cafe for a sandwich which we enjoyed sitting outside in the sunshine.

After lunch we wandered around the gardens to see the displays of roses in different settings. The display of roses was spectacular so we found it difficult to settle on just one or two; eventually we plumped for Olivia Rose Austin and Lady Emma Hamilton. I have some other roses in mind to continue on with our garden project.

The weather remained kind so we were able to enjoy our evening meal; ginger and orange baked salmon with a glass of Rose wine on the patio. As we lingered after the meal the sun started to set proving an almost rainbow like glow in the sky.

John Donne