Cedars Rose Arch Project

[Admin]

Sixty years ago, the rose arch feature in Cedars Park was known as 'The Tunnel of Love' and it was a common sight on a Sunday afternoon, to see courting couples walk the entire length of the arches arm in arm. The roses filled the tunnel with their sweet perfume and once in the tunnel, the sky was completely obscured by the branches and leaves that covered the entire structure.

Sadly, as the picture below that was taken in December 2018 shows, these days are long gone.

But this thread is the story of how The Friends of Cedars Park, thanks to the generosity of Mo Clarke and the Cheshunt Horticultural Society, managed to turn the clock back sixty years!

Attachments:

[Admin]

On the 21st March, the Friends of Cedars Park receive delivery of 62 rose plants donated by Mo Clarke and The Cheshunt Horticultural Society. We have been given five different varieties: Albertine, Compassion, Golden Shower, Iceburg and Paul's Scarlet.

Attachments:

[Admin]

On the 24th of April work on the arches begins by removing all the old roses and clearing the way for planting the new. We were concerned about the old roses contaminating the new, and decided to remove a large amount of the old soil and replace it with new topsoil mixed with well rotted manure.

Attachments:

[Admin]

On the 29th April the High Sheriff of Hertfordshire and other local dignitaries give their seal of approval.

Attachments:

[Admin]

Finally, all the roses are now in the ground and the beds mulched to deter the weeds. From here on I would like to open the forum for advise on the best ways to care for our roses. Please feel free to give us as many tips as you can.

Attachments: