Interesting piece of rose history

Knowing a bit of rose history can take the mystery out of cultivating and growing these pearls of the garden. It is difficult sometimes to explain let alone capture the beauty of roses as perfect flowers in words. Roses encompass an extensive, colorful and interesting history. Representing such moral and philosophical thoughts sung war, politics, love and beauty no wonder it's such a fascinating flower. Some historians estimate knowledge of the existence of roses to span more than 30 million years. Just about any place you look, boasting over 150 species, not counting hybrids they litter the Northern Hemisphere, from Mexico to Alaska to parts of Africa. It may surprise you to learn that the rose was first cultivated, revered, cherished and loved in China! Chinese records document that gardeners were cultivating roses as early as the fourth and fifth centuries AD. References indicate the love and cultivation of roses goes as far back as the Song Dynasty, which ruled and dominated from around 960 to 1279 AD. One of the most fascinating facts about this discovery is the sheer number of varieties of roses that were already in existence. One city reported more than 41 distinct species.

Roses were even popular in Europe during the same period. The means by which this was discovered is unknown. Residents of the Roman Empire enjoyed this flower and Emperors of the period established public rose gardens for their citizens to enjoy.

The Medieval Age or the Dark Ages so named by many historians -- proved also to be the dark age for roses as well. The hardships average citizens had to endure left them little time to spend cultivating and growing roses. There was no money in it since everything already belonged to the monarchy. And besides, it wasn't cheap to do so either.

However, during the seventeenth century, roses were in such great demand that royalty declared them legal tender. The Romans even established massive public rose gardens in southern Rome. Imagine that you could actually make commercial purchases using roses, rose petal, thorns and or rose water.

The rose is best known as an international and eternal symbol of love -- young love, lasting love, and undying love, to be more precise. How this exactly came to be is lost to the legends of time. More than one historian has noted the relationship of the word "Rose" to the Greek god of love "Eros." The numerous Greek references to the rose in letters and correspondence bear this out undeniably.

Rose societies, rose clubs and the fascination with roses on certain holidays has caused a renewed interest in roses and rose gardening. This is particularly true for the older varieties, including the English Rose and shrub roses. With the modern day hybrids roses are more available and easier to grow by the average gardener. Disease control, floral quality and pest resiliency are a few of the spoils modern gardeners enjoy. The time is ripe to set up that rose bed and begin your journey into the unseen world of the rose.