Stop and Smell the Roses

In the Richard T. Bowers Historic Tree Grove there stands the Juliette Gordon Low Magnolia. Founder of the Girl Scouts of America, Mrs. Low encouraged girls to prepare themselves not only for traditional homemaking roles, but also for possible future roles as professional women, in the arts, sciences and business, and for active citizenship outside the home.

The remarkable bloom of the rose has long been associated with love and beauty and in ancient times was a symbol connected with goddesses of many pantheons.

View Full Album

As there seemed no better symbol for the progression into womanhood, we chose roses as the heart of this planting beneath the boughs of the magnolia tree. As a companion planting, chocolate mint was chosen for its low-growing and sprawling fragrant foliage that brings to mind thoughts of beloved Girl Scout cookies.

Today, for no reason except that they are lovely and fragrant and wonderful, let us celebrate the beauty of the rose.

These are the rose varieties that can be found in our Juliette Gordon Low Magnolia Rose Garden:

Neptune: a lavender blooming rose with a powerful, sweet rose scent.

Julia Child: a beautiful butter gold, yellow floribunda rose named for the famous French Chef.

Belinda's Dream: a shrub rose with large, fragrant and very double pink blossoms.

Sunsprite: a deep yellow cluster rose with long lasting color.

Blush Knockout Rose: a tough and hardy shrub type rose with outstanding disease resistance, blooms are light pink gradually changing to shell pink

Sunshine Knockout Rose: a lovely pale yellow hardy rose shrub with outstanding disease resistance and a lovely tea- rose fragrance.

Iceberg: a bright white cluster rose with a prolific flowering habit.

Home Run: a single red cluster rose.

Hot Cocoa: a brownish orange floribunda rose.

Sunstruck: a bright yellow-orange cluster rose.

Garden Party: a pastel pink rose right a darker pink petal edge.

Tropicana: a brilliant red-orange hybrid tea rose.