VERGELEGEN ROSE GARDENS
An abundance of resplendent roses
Interesting facts about roses
- There are over 100 species of roses
- Plants range in size from miniature roses to climbers 7 meters high.
- Rose perfumes are made from attar of roses or rose oil, which is a mixture of volatile essential oils obtained by steam distilling the crushed petals of roses. An associated product is rose water which is used for cooking, cosmetics, medicine and in religious practices. The production technique originated in Persia then spread through Arabia and India, and more recently into eastern Europe. In Bulgaria, Iran and Germany, damask roses (Rosa damascena 'Trigintipetala') are used. In other parts of the world Rosa centifolia is commonly used. The oil is transparent pale yellow or yellow-grey in colour. 'Rose Absolute' is solvent-extracted with hexane and produces a darker oil, dark yellow to orange in colour.
- About two thousand flowers are required to produce one gram of oil.
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Rose Gardens
There are two main rose gardens at Vergelegen: the David Austin Rose Garden and the Formal Hybrid Tea Rose Garden.
The Old English rose varieties can be found in the David Austin Rose Garden situated within the Octagonal Garden of the Homestead. This area has an Italian wellhead fountain in the centre and is surrounded by a rosemary hedge.
"This section is well worth a visit as most of these varieties have a lovely scent, unlike many of the new hybrids that look good, but have no fragrance,” says Vergelegen's horticulturist Richard Arm.
The second garden is a formal hybrid tea rose garden with a display of over 1200 rose bushes in 18 formal rose beds laid out in a circle.
"All these roses have been specially selected for this area and make a fantastic show,” says Richard. The many glorious varieties include the fragrant Harmonie, salmon pink Just Joey, golden yellow Johannesburg Sun, deep red Five Roses and the fragrant, dark pink Duftwolke, to name a few. All the rose beds are clearly marked with the names of the various varieties.
To extend visitors' enjoyment of the roses, the Rose Terrace Bistro is situated only a few metres from the tea rose section and offers light refreshments.
