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http://www.gerbera.org/gardening-magazine/the-gardener-index/june-2005/peace-rose/

The story of the ‘Peace’ rose is one that can be told over and over again because it encapsulates everything that we hold dear in roses – drama, love and greatness of spirit. This year marks the sixtieth anniversary of the naming of this enduring rose that remains an excellent garden rose, and a symbol of our desire for that ever-elusive peace…

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On the same day that two doves were released into the American sky to symbolise the naming of the rose, Berlin fell and a truce was declared. It was sheer coincidence. In naming the rose, this simple statement was read: “ We are persuaded that this greatest new rose of our time should be named for the world’s greatest desire: ‘PEACE’.”

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‘Peace’ went on to receive the All American Award for roses on the day that the war in Japan came to an end. On May 8, 1945, when Germany signed its surrender, the 49 delegates who met to form the United Nations were each presented with a bloom of ‘Peace’ and a message of peace from the Secretary of the American Rose Society…

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The name ‘Peace’ seems to have outlasted all the others. The timing of its launch was perfect and it struck such a chord that within nine years some 30 million ‘Peace’ rose bushes were flowering around the world.

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But it wasn’t because of sentiment alone. ‘Peace’ truly was a superlative rose, superior by far to the roses before it in terms of vigour, hardiness, and the long lasting ability of its blooms…

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Peace, from Albuquerque, New Mexico. 🙂

One thought on “The Peace Rose”

  1. I was an Albuquerque hostage shortly after I was born (in Fort Ord, CA.) — my Dad was stationed there next (doing what is classified still), and I was too young to have a vote! I have no memories of that place, but the pictures my parents took at the time make it seem that, at that point, it was fairly bleak. It seems that it has become a lovely place to live in the intervening years.

    LOVE this post (and the gorgeous photos) and pray for peace more and more as it seems less and less likely I will live to see it.
    xx,
    mgh
    (Madelyn Griffith-Haynie – ADDandSoMuchMore dot com)
    – ADD Coach Training Field founder; ADD Coaching co-founder –
    “It takes a village to transform a world!”

    Liked by 2 people

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