Rosa Albus

One of my favorite local gardens is the Old Rose Garden at the historic Ben Lomond House. In May the old rose collection is in its glory surrounded by peonies, white trellises and the dappled shade of the nearby trees. I know this hallowed spot will serve as my muse for many more paintings!

The rose is without explanation; She blooms, because she blooms.
— Angelus Silesius

 

According to Diana Lambdin Meyer,  freelance writer for Triangle Gardener magazine (https://www.trianglegardener.com/historic-roses-at-the-ben-lomond-house-rose-garden-manassas-va/), The Old Rose Garden was originally planted and maintained at a large estate in Manassas called Smitherwood. But in 1995, when the estate’s gardener became ill, the nearly 200 rose shrubs were donated to the local Lake Jackson Garden Club. In 1997, the garden club moved the roses to their present home on the grounds of the Ben Lomond Historic Site, where it is maintained by the Prince William County Park Authority.

All of the roses in the garden are from the past and the majority date from the 19th century or earlier. It’s regarded as one of the largest public gardens devoted to old roses in the U.S.  A few varieties were introduced as early as the 1500s, such as the ‘Rose of Lancaster’ (Rosa gallica officinalis)  and Maiden’s Blush (Rosa alba).  The American Beauty (Rosa meidaud) is the most popular in the garden.

Rosa Albus
● SOLD  12 x 12 inches, oil on panel