Saturday, September 29, 2012

A Very Special Visitor

Stephen Scanniello is the former director of the Cranford Rose Garden at the Brooklyn Botanical Garden, is currently the president of the Heritage Rose Foundation, and was honored last year as one of the Great Rosarians of the World.  He is an author of numerous rose books, a popular speaker, and a helluva nice guy.


 
 
 

I first met Stephen about five years ago, when he was the featured speaker at the spring garden symposium at the Lynchburg City Cemetery.  He and I hit it off, and we have seen each other from time to time at other rose events ... and we email about various things occasionally. 


 
 
 
 
Earlier in the year, I contacted him to ask if he would be interested in taking my remaining rose inventory for garden projects that he is working on in Harlem ... and he gratefully accepted my offer.  He had other business in my general area this weekend, so he combined trips and swung by here yesterday afternoon to pick up the roses.


 
 
 

Stephen Scanniello was here ... at my house ... and in my unholy mess of a garden.  I should have been mortified, but it was quite the opposite experience.


 
 

 

When the garden is as big a mess as mine is now, the roses that are doing well shine even brighter ... flaunting their flowers despite the weeds and neglect.




Stephen and I walked the garden and talked about the roses (of course).  We both have a particular fondness for found roses, and I introduced him to some of my favorites.
 

 
 
 

We also put our heads together about a project that I will be working on at Hollywood Cemetery (more on this later in a separate post). 


 
 
 


Though the sky was cloudy, and we had brief spells of light rain, my visit here with Stephen was absolutely lovely.  There's nothing much better than sharing roses and conversation like this.  It was a great way to spend the afternoon.


 
 
 

(All of the photos in this post were taken yesterday, shortly before Stephen arrived.  The overcast sky created a perfect soft light, and the roses were patient and willing subjects.)

16 comments:

  1. Connie these shots are amazingly beautiful!!

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  2. Yes, yes, yes, these are beautiful shots!!!

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  3. I had so much fun looking at your rose blooms I had trouble concentrating on the words :). I have never met Stephen, but maybe one day, when I have more time to go to rose events.... Lucky you to know such wonderful people.

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  4. Like I always tell people, you'd be surprised at how resilient old roses are, taking neglect for decades and still blooming like champs. This summer in my garden, was the most neglected season in my lifetime, and yet, I always had blossoms among the thousands of weeds, blackspot, worms...you name it...your pictures are gorgeous!!! :)

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  5. What a treat to have someone so special in your beautiful gardens. And how great that you have donated some of your roses so that others can enjoy them too.

    Kat

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  6. Beautiful photos. It's awesome to know that your beautiful roses will live on in Harlem and other places that Stephen will place them. He and you have done much for Heritage Roses and I for one am grateful for you both.... :)

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  7. Connie, how very nice to read of your day with a friend you share similar interests with. It’s also a wonderful photo-journal of your roses. Happy Sunday.

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  8. Wow, Scanniello! You're rubbing shoulders with some mighty well-known rosarians now Connie. At least you know he probably never saw the weeds for the roses.

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  9. How wonderful to be able to talk roses with such a well known rose lover. And your roses look like they were really putting on a show for him! Absolutely gorgeous! Giving him some of your roses seems like a winning solution for both of you. Very generous of you, Connie.

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  10. The roses were perfect just in time for Stephen's visit. I had the pleasure of visiting some of Stephen's roses in Harlem a few weeks ago. An amazing project! The fragrant roses at the Church of the Intercession is something I won't forget for a very long time! And, getting to visit the gravesite of Mr. Harison who one of my favorite roses is named for ... well that was just amazing! Wonderful pictures... I could almost smell their sweet fragrance!

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  11. They are each absolutely beautiful. I especially love that palest of pink...

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  12. Just beautiful. I wish I had a little vase with one or two blooms sitting by my elbow.

    xo Jane

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  13. Just beautiful. I wish I had a little vase with one or two blooms sitting by my elbow.

    xo Jane

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  14. Oh how fun- 2 brilliant rose minds in one place, would have liked to been a bee on a petal listening :-)

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  15. You must have enjoyed Stephen's visit. He's a friend and a great resource for rose information. I love the Rosa Mundi publication he edits for HRF. Please give him my best and keep me posted on the Hollywood Cemetery project.

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  16. Connie -- as always - the photos of your roses are just stunning. You are truly gifted - not only n your talents as a gardener of beautiful roses -- but you have a darn good master of your camera!

    Vicki

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