Year of the Rose

The Letchworth Garden City Centenary Rose blossomed into the national arena when it was launched at the Chelsea Flower Show.

Heritage Foundation Director General Stuart Kenny officially launched the striking plant amid considerable media interest at the Harkness Roses stand.

The first bed of the new rose was planted in the Spirella Building Gardens in spring 2002. Further plantings are being inserted for the refurbished Broadway Gardens, which are due to be officially opened on June 6, by the Duke of Gloucester.

The pink Letchworth Garden City Centenary Rose is a rounded, cushion-forming shrublet, suited to all sorts of purposes. It is a natural for container gardening, also it will be invaluable in borders, either used singly among mixed plantings or else in mini drifts to form colour breaks. The dimensions of the rose are about 50cm by 50cm and is available for sale at the Cambridge Road Harkness nursery.

Mr Kenny said that the rose was a suitable reminder to residents of the Garden City's Centenary for many years to come.