Best of Birmingham – Coretta Scott King Rose – Birmingham Botanical Gardens

‘Coretta Scott King’ Grandiflora Rose – Weeks Roses – Christian Bedard, Hybridizer

If there was any rose I was excited to see arrive in my garden this year it was the rose named for civil rights leader Coretta Scott King.  This beautiful new grandiflora rose from Weeks Roses actually makes it’s official debut in 2014 but I had the honor of growing two shrubs this year.  Week describes the rose as follows:

“Elegant long buds of cream begin to ‘frost’ with blushes of corally orange as they spiral open. But this one doesn’t melt in your hands, it holds on to the plant for a great display of color and flower power…big clusters held high for all to see. Very good disease resistance means her ‘wrapper’ of green stays handsome in the garden for a full season of scrumptiousness.”

As President of the Birmingham Rose Society for 2013, I had the privilege earlier this year of organizing a dedication ceremony at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens and through a generous donation by Weeks roses, was able to secure twenty shrubs of this rose that were planted in the Dunn Formal rose garden for the entire city to enjoy.

Pictured L to R:
Fred Spicer, Executive Director of the Birmingham Botanical Gardens,  Mayor William Bell,
Dr. Michael Wesley, Sr. and myself

You can see a sign posted in the bed of roses that reads:

“The roses planted here are dedicated in honor of the 50 Years Forward commemoration and to all those who struggle for freedom”

The 50 Years Forward commemoration is a year long look back at the civil rights movement in Birmingham. I want to encourage you to check out their website http://50yearsforward.com/ . If you live in Birmingham, be sure to visit the Birmingham Botanical Gardens and check out the beautiful roses on display.

This rose is a somewhat vigorous grower in our garden and has produced some beautiful blooms this summer. I cannot wait to see how it performs next year.