'Perfect weather' means this year's Festival of Roses at RHS Rosemoor could be the best yet

An amazing performance is expected from the roses of RHS Garden Rosemoor – just in time to celebrate its 35th anniversary and the hugely popular annual Festival of Roses.

The largest collection of roses in the South West is set to outdo itself this year following a mild spring with intervals of rain and then plenty of sunshine – just what the prickly blooms love.

The timing is perfect too as the garden’s Festival of Roses begins on Saturday, June 14 and runs until July 13.

RHS Rosemoor has more than 200 different varieties and more than 2,000 bloom specimens and this year’s festival is a chance to explore the collection at the height of its early summer beauty.

From shrub roses of historical significance to the most modern rose introductions, ground cover roses to climbers, the breadth of variety in shape, colour and fragrance really is something to experience.

Roses are of course central to Rosemoor – the clue is in the name! When the gates opened on June 1, 1990, roses formed the first ornamental plantings in two dedicated gardens, outlined by more than 1,200 hedging yews which, back then, were dwarfed by the roses, but are now tall and sheltering.

Created to test the resilience of different rose varieties in the unique climate of the Torridge river valley, the experiment has clearly been a success.

The Queen Mother’s rose garden features a spectacular number of hybrid tea roses and floribundas, arranged in a dazzling colour wheel pattern. Over time the garden team has worked to reinvigorate many of these beds with new varieties that are naturally tough and healthy.

The shrub rose garden, by contrast, is a gorgeous informal display of interwoven roses, herbaceous perennials and annuals. Come autumn it will see the replacement of the original wooden supports, which have finally succumbed to the wet. after 35 years, with new metal structures.

Visitors can join a weekly rose tour every Tuesday at 12noon throughout the festival to learn more about these beautiful blooms, or, enjoy a general garden tour starting at 11am every day.

A visit during the Rose Weekend, Friday, June 20 to Sunday 22, will give access to a rose-themed craft and food fair, featuring some of the best artisans in the West Country, plus a schedule of live music within ear shot of the fragranced gardens (daily performances at 11am–12noon and 2pm–3pm).

Learn more about these charismatic plants by taking in a rose walk and talk at 12.30pm and 3.30pm Friday to Sunday or, get your thorny questions answered at the special Rose Advisory Service between 11am – 4pm on each day of Rose Weekend. The Rose Weekend at RHS Rosemoor is supported by Atkins Ferrie Wealth Management.

Sally Newbrook, who manages the care of the rose gardens, said: “The hours of care and love we put into the rose gardens really does pay off when you see those first blooms open and smell their amazing scents.

“It is wonderful to see the joy they bring to our visitors.”

To find out more about the Festival of Roses as well as the many other things taking place at RHS Rosemoor, please visit https://www.rhs.org.uk/gardens/rosemoor