Not Pete Rose!! It's Peace Rose Day:)
Pete Rose was the old Red Sox manager born during World War 2. The Peace Rose was developed in France before World War 2. There was a horticulturist named Francis Meilland who foresaw the German invasion of France and sent cuttings of the peace rose to friends in other countries to protect it.
In each country this rose has a special name. In Italy, "Gioia" (joy) and in Germany it is called in Latin "Gloria Dei". In the US, Sweden, and Norway it is called "Peace".
The name peace rose was announced officially in the United States on April 29th, 1945. This was the day Berlin fell and marked a large turning point to the end of World War 2.
The rose is a hybrid of the tea rose 'Margaret McGredy' and an unnamed seedling.
This is a quote from the late Peter Beales in his book called, "Roses" (1992).
"'Peace', without doubt, is the finest Hybrid Tea ever raised and it will remain a standard variety forever".
I took this rose picture in our university garden. It is not a Peace Rose but I love this rose and feel peaceful when I look at it from various angles. My favorite is the simple black and white. Which picture do you like?
Let's kick off National Peace Rose Day with the "Peace Train" from Yusuf / Cat Stevens at the Nobel Peace Prize Concert in 2006. We can only ride on the peace train when we ride on together.
His lyrics still touch my heart even though the song was written more than 40 years ago it is still relevant today.
Now I've been crying lately,
Thinkin' about the world as it is
Why must we go on hating,
Why can't we live in bliss
'Cause out on the edge of darkness,
There rides a Peace Train
Oh Peace Train take this country,
Come take me home again