"Not-Baltimore Belle"
'Baltimore Belle' was hybridized by Samuel Feast, of Baltimore, in 1843. The buds are supposed to be pink, opening to pale pink flowers that quickly fade to blush white. The flowers on my "Not-Baltimore Belle" never get anywhere close to white, however.
A much-admired rose friend of mine, during a visit here last year, was the first to doubt the identity of this rose. He and another friend stood and stared and discussed it, and they decided that this is not THE 'Baltimore Belle'. It is the same type of rose, probably originating from similar parentage, but 'Baltimore Belle' it is not.
What is it?
"Arcata Pink Globe"
At the other end of the Rose Field, I grow a mystery rose called "Arcata Pink Globe". I bought this rose from Vintage Gardens in 2007, and it has turned out to be eerily similar to my "Not-Baltimore Belle". "Arcata Pink Globe" has been found in several sites in California's gold country. (It is also thought to be the same as the "Moser House Shed" rose.) This says to me that it could have been brought from the East with early settlers as they traveled to California to seek their fortunes. Was one or more of those settlers from the Baltimore area, and did they take cuttings of a rose similar to 'Baltimore Belle' with them on their journey? (Samuel Feast hybridized other roses, most of which are now lost.)
"Not-Baltimore Belle"
My first step in trying to unravel this mystery was to contact Lynchburg to find out where they got their "Not-Baltimore Belle". According to their records, the original plant came from Sherando Roses. Yesterday, I emailed the man who owned Sherando. He replied this morning and said that, to the best of his recollection, his "Baltimore Belle' came from cuttings in Lynchburg (which would be the same plant where I took my cuttings). The mystery has now made a big circle, and there's no solution in sight.
"Arcata Pink Globe"
I plan to take pieces of both of these roses with me to the open house at Tufton Farm on Saturday. Doug Seidel and Dennis Whetzel (rose geniuses!) will be conducting their Antique Rose Show that day, where they identify mystery roses that people bring for them. I can also compare my roses to the 'Baltimore Belle' that grows in the Tufton display garden.
"Not-Baltimore Belle"
All of the photos I have used here were taken on Sunday morning. Both of these roses are blooming a bit later than the other ones on the fence ... they were in exactly the same stage of bloom, having both opened their first flowers the day before. Every part of these roses two appear to be identical. The only tiny little difference that I can find is that the leaves on "Not-Baltimore Belle" may be a little bit smaller than those on "Arcata Pink Globe". The difference is barely enough to mention, however.
"Not-Baltimore Belle"
"Arcata Pink Globe"
Both roses have the same dull green leaves, and fat reddish pink buds in large clusters.
"Not-Baltimore Belle"
"Arcata Pink Globe"
As the flowers open, some of the reddish color on the buds remains on the outer petals for a short time. (If you look carefully, there's a bit visible in the APG photo above, just to the right of the large central bud.)
"Arcata Pink Globe"
Both of these roses are wonderful additions to my garden ... they're big, and vigorous, and resistant to disease. It's a plus that they bloom for a long time, when some of the other ramblers are beginning to fade, and the flowers smell heavenly.
If you have room in your garden for a big girl, with all these lovely qualities, consider "Not-Baltimore Belle". Whatever her real name turns out to be, this rose is a winner.