THE BERMUDA ROSE SOCIETY FIRST ESTABLISHED A REPOSITORY GARDEN AT WATERVILLE, the home of the Bermuda National Trust, in 1988. It was created specifically for Old Garden Roses at the suggestion of Dr. Charles A. Walker, Jr., founder of the Heritage Rose Foundation. The waterside garden of the historic 18th century house is a beautiful location.
The formal Georgian garden was first designed to be in keeping with the house. It was an exciting time planning and propagating an official collection of Bermuda Mysteries, Old Garden Roses, Chinas, Teas, Noisettes, Polyanthas and others, which had proven their Bermudian status. Four rectangular beds were laid out on the site of the former croquet lawn, each with a border of small Boxwood hedges. Four established Bermuda Olivewoods, clipped for a formal appearance, stand at the corners. The steps and Cedar arbours were added in 1992. Due to storm and hurricane damage, the arbours * have subsequently been rebuilt.
A statue of the nymph Daphne being changed into a laurel tree to escape the advances of the god Apollo stands in the centre. It was a gift to the Trust from Mrs. Kitty Mount and is the work of American artist Barbara Lekber.
The first garden was not a complete success and so it was decided that the roses would do better in raised beds. A new classic garden was designed and built to celebrate the Millennium.
After careful planning by a team of helpers working with the Trust and under the leadership of Tuppy Cooper, the new beds were designed and laid out with recycled bricks. New soil was added and the roses, grown on their own roots from ‘slips’, were planted as a blend of colours, rather than classifications, with complementary companion plants. Over the years we have had visits and helpful advice from our many overseas friends North America, Europe, Australia, South Africa and New Zealand. The gardens were officially opened on April 20th 2001 and dedicated to the preservation of Old Bermuda Roses.
Roses are replaced as they decline or are severely damaged by storms and others are added, including some Modern Roses as a trial to see how they fare. Pruning, kept to a minimum, is limited mainly to removing dead wood and shaping the bushes. The roses are given slow-release fertiliser twice yearly, compost once a year and a layer of mulch throughout the beds once a year; soil acidifier is added when needed depending on the soil pH.
An irrigation system provides water for the roses twice a week. During the summer when the roses are resting, we concentrate on weeding and removing dead wood only. Abundance Horticultural Services assists volunteers with weeding and Wadson’s Irrigation and Water Systems Limited maintains the irrigation system.
Clare Russell, at the Society’s propagation centre at Tulo Valley is acknowledged with gratitude. The dedicated work of planting, caring for, growing on and selling potted roses finances the maintenance of the Garden at Waterville. Many members also actively gather and grow rose slips at home to be added to those at Tulo Valley or to be donated directly to the Waterville Garden. The success of the Repository Garden is due to all these fine efforts.
Bermudians and visitors walk through and use the gardening its memorial benches as a peaceful resting place **. We hope members will often visit and gain pleasure in the Society’s Repository Garden. New members and volunteers are always encouraged and welcomed.
- *The North Arbour was replaced in memory of Barbara (Tuppy) Cooper (1933-2018) for her love of roses, her dedication to The Bermuda Rose Society, and especially for her commitment to this rose garden.The arbour was made possible through the generosity of Tuppy’s friends and family and replaces the one erected in memory of Mary Dill BRS President 1989-1990.
- *The South Arbour has been replaced in cedar with thanks to The Bermuda National Trust and The Bermuda Rose Society.
**The benches in the rose garden are dedicated to the following persons:
Mary L P Dill, BRS President 1989-1990
Hazel Steele, BRS President 1990-1992
Bill Mercer (1928-1991)
Dudley G. Cooper (1914-1986)
