Seagull & Rambling Rector

[Maribel]

Hi
In David Austin's new catalogue he states that Seagull and Rambling Rector are 'identical' and that consequently they are supplying both under the name of "Rambling Rector". This surprised me, as HMF, PB and the RHS Encyclopedia all list them as separate, and the flowers look quite different to me.
I'm not a nit-picker usually but it seems a bit odd to me for a rose specialist to have such different info to the other authorities - is there some controversy about this in the rose world?
Maribel
ps oh, I didn't mean to imply that I was an authority just then :lol: - I wish!!

[hannes]

Hello Maribel,
I grow 'Seagull' but not 'Rambling Rector' so can't compare them myself. But it seems that both Multiflora ramblers are similar enough to be sometimes mixed up or to be thought as identical.

"My" authority for climbers/ramblers, Charles Qest-Ritson, for example says about 'Rambling Rector': "This foundling is almost certainly an older rose renamed. I have compared it with all other white Multifloras introduced before 1912, without yet finding a match. ... There's is considerable confusion in the trade between this rose and 'Seagull'."
(charles Quest-Ritson, Climbing Roses of the World, 2003, p. 119)

Hannes

[admin]

I have just spoken with Peter and Richard Beales about this and there has been some controversy in the rose world..... Our Seagull is a single white whilst the "Rambling Rector" is a double white: they are two different roses.


Pete
IT Manager

[Maribel]

Hi Hannes & Pete,
Thanks a lot for your comments, very helpful. From the pics Seagull did look quite different from R. Rector, which had far more double flowers. But the true identity of R Rector may be lost in the mists of history!
greetings
Maribel

[admin]

Hi Maribel,

We are very confident that we have the correct stocks here of both Rambling Rector and Seagull, they are two different roses.

Hopefully as we have true stock of both roses here at Peter Beales Roses there should be no confusion in the future.

We can supply both these, different, roses.

I hope that clears up any confusion!


Pete

[Maribel]

Thanks! :)

[Amanda Beales]

Hi Maribel

Curious to know - do you know more than I do about the rose 'Rambling Rector' and its history or are you referring to it's name sake? I would love to know who the wandering Vicar was? Has anyone any ideas? Perhaps this is something I should be posting in the history section?!

Amanda

[Maribel]

Hi Amanda!
I don't know anything more about it than the confusion with Seagull, but like you I've always been curious about this rose - not least because the name has always tickled me - sounds like some slightly dodgy parson :lol:

But I'll surf a bit and see what pops up. Anybody else know?
greetings
Maribel
PS nothing so far ... everbody says the origins of this rose are unknown, and nobody knows where it got its quaint name from. I did find a blogspot: "the Ramblings of the Rector" though, if anybody's interested :D http://rectorsramblings.blogspot.com/2007_05_01_archive.html

[Britta]

Hi,

I did google a bit... Wandering on the trail that Daisy Hill in Newry introduced the rose 1900 and that a short time later (1904), Eleanor Alexander published a novell with that name. I havent read the book, but found a short description - she must have known the rose, as she mentions it in her book. Her dad was Archbishop of Armagh. I tried to find out, if there is any myths concerning a wandering vicar, but didnt find any. Pity we cant turn back time, but I have the impression, Ireland at this time was utmost poetic and the archbishop must have been a wellknown person at this time.
And I suppose, Ian could say his bit to that, if he finds the time...

Britta