Robin Buchanan-Smith Rose

A very kind guest arranged for a Rose to be named after my father in his memory and once the new Rose had been created a couple of plants were sent to my mother and she in turn has manged to create a few more shoots which have been given to close friends. It was therefore very appropriate yesterday when I received a copy of an image of the plant in full bloom.

The last week in June and first in July- Wimbledon fortnight , was always an incredibly important time of the year for my father as he was a very active supporter of the competition finding the highs and lows of the tennis far more important than any happening at the hotel indeed there had to be a huge happening in the hotel to draw him away from the televsion when later matches were being held and I am certain that the antics of Murray this week would have ensured that we never saw him.

Anyway true to form the Robin Buchanan-Smith Rose bloomed during Wimbledon and even though it looks a bit jaded in the early evening and wilts in the midday sun it soon picks up after a drink and this one in particular has been fed on donkey manure, hence the green vibrant leaves so my father would have appreciated that his beloved donkeys, whom he looked after in the field behind his house remain loyal to him and keep his memory flourishing!!