The rose in the photos above is the magnificent Rosa Gigantia, which played such a prominent part in the development of the roses of Australian rose breeder Alister Clark. I planted a poor little specimen at the base of a very old and sickly fruit tree over 15 years ago and promptly forgot about it. Several years later, some blooms appearing from the top of the old tree reminded my of Gigantea's existence, and I actually began watering it now and again. It rewarded me by taking off across the canopy of the trees and shrubs around it, and provides a breath-taking display every Spring, being one of the first roses in the garden to bloom.
The tree that provided Gigantea with support in its infancy has since gone to the big orchard in the sky, and we have removed the hideous cotoneasters around it, but Gigantea has built itself up into a self-supporting mound and is as happy as Larry.
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