Where the Old Roses Grow - Book Review

Like many gardeners, my love for roses runs deep—woven into memory and tradition. The front garden of my childhood home was a rose garden, its blooms marking the seasons with colour and scent. Even earlier, my grandparents tended their own collection of Hybrid Tea roses, proudly grown when they were the height of fashion in the 1950s. That early connection has never left me; it’s part of why roses still hold such a special place in my heart—and my garden.

In my Nana’s garden, a beautiful wooden trellis stretched the length of the lawn, its framework softened by the gentle sprawl of climbing roses. Today, that very trellis—now weathered by time and more than 80 years old—stands in my own garden, still supporting many of the same rose varieties she once lovingly tended. It’s more than just a structure; it’s a living thread to the past, rich with memory and meaning. Each bloom feels like a quiet echo of her care, a reminder that gardens often hold far more than just plants—they hold the people and stories we cherish most.

When I moved into my current home—a cottage with over 400 years of history—I felt inspired to restore the garden in keeping with its heritage. I set about planting historic roses alongside traditional cottage garden favourites, seeking to create a space that honoured the past. It was during this journey that I began researching and sourcing Old Roses for myself, diving into the rich world of these timeless blooms and their stories.

Roses have come full circle in my life—and in the lives of countless others. Through life’s highs and lows, they remain a constant presence, offering exquisite beauty and comfort. These blooms are more than flowers; they are living links to the past and symbols of hope for the future. It was this enduring connection and love for roses that drew me to this book the moment it caught my eye on a bookstore shelf.

"Where the Old Roses Grow"  by Janelle McCulloch might initially seem to be focused solely on Vita Sackville-West and her fight to preserve beauty during wartime. Yet the book reaches far beyond one remarkable woman. It tells the stories of several key figures—Vita Sackville-West, Maud Messel, Constance Spry, Edward Bunyard, and Graham Stuart Thomas—each of whom played a vital role in rescuing and celebrating old roses. Together, they ensured these timeless blooms would endure for future generations to cherish.

The book opens with Vita Sackville-West’s discovery of Sissinghurst—then a dilapidated estate, dismissed by some as little more than a “dump.” But Vita saw beyond its neglected state; she had a vision, and, crucially, the determination to bring it to life. When she first laid eyes on the house on 4 April 1930, she could hardly have imagined the profound influence the garden would have—not only on her own life but on the world of horticulture for generations to come.

During the dark days of war, Sissinghurst became Vita’s sanctuary—a place of solace amid the doom and uncertainty that gripped the world. The house and garden, close to her heart, offered a refuge where she could find peace and quiet. Behind those ancient walls, Vita retreated to write and tend her beloved garden, seeking to escape the ominous drone of warplanes overhead and the turmoil that shadowed everyday life.

Over time, Vita gradually built an impressive collection of roses, many of which cascaded freely over Sissinghurst’s tall brick walls, creating a breathtaking tapestry of colour and scent. She celebrated these roses and the garden in numerous books and newspaper columns, sharing her deep affection with readers far and wide. Beyond her writing, Vita nurtured connections with fellow rose enthusiasts, visiting and corresponding with those who shared her passion for these timeless blooms.

The book opens with the story of a mysterious solitary rose that Vita discovered when she first arrived at Sissinghurst. So enigmatic was this bloom that even the most esteemed rosarians could not identify it. Vita named it the Sissinghurst Rose, and it remains available to gardeners today—a living symbol of the beginning of her remarkable life at the estate. Poignantly, her story closes with another exquisite rose, Madame Alfred Carrière, just coming into bloom and climbing near her bedroom window as Vita fell ill in her final days. These two roses beautifully frame her journey, from hopeful arrival to a graceful farewell.

Timing is everything, and what makes this book so compelling is its release during a period of uncertainty much like the one Vita experienced. Just as she found solace in her garden during wartime, many of us turned to our own gardens during the challenges of Covid. Today, in an unsettled world, our gardens continue to offer comfort and calm—a peaceful refuge amid the noise of daily life. This timely connection between past and present makes Where the Old Roses Grow especially resonant.

For me, this book is a story of connection—a beautiful intertwining of past and present, people and roses. It’s this seamless blend that makes it so captivating and why I found myself unable to put it down. While grounded in fact, the narrative unfolds like fiction, weaving in and out of the lives of several remarkable individuals. The result is a compelling, richly textured story that celebrates both history and beauty.

Many of the characters in the book—real people with rich and varied lives—began with different vocations. Vita Sackville-West pursued writing, Constance Spry built a career in floristry, and Edward Bunyard was renowned for his fruit nursery in Kent. For each, roses were initially a secondary interest, a quiet passion alongside their main pursuits. Yet over time, these timeless blooms came to occupy a central place in their lives, shaping their stories and legacies in unexpected and profound ways.

The book is clearly the result of meticulous research, and I found myself frequently jotting down names, places, and plant varieties to explore further. I was particularly fascinated by Maud Messel and how the rose collection at Nymans—now beautifully wild, entwining the garden’s ruins—deeply influenced her life. Equally compelling was the story of Graham Stuart Thomas, who began his interest in old roses from a commercial perspective but ultimately relocated his entire collection to Mottisfont, creating a lasting legacy there in his later years.

These remarkable individuals went to great lengths to treasure, protect, and source their roses. They traveled across Europe in search of rare varieties, took cuttings to preserve roses for future generations, and shared their finds generously with friends. All this while steadfastly refusing to dig up their beloved roses during wartime, even as the “Dig for Victory” campaign urged the nation to convert gardens into vegetable plots. Their unwavering commitment ensured that these historic blooms survived through some of the most challenging times.

"Where the Old Roses Grow" is one of the most captivating books I’ve read in a long time. Janelle McCulloch has breathed life into the stories of these remarkable rose lovers, weaving history and passion into every page. I hope that one day I’ll have the chance to meet her in person and thank her for opening this beautiful world to me through her writing.

Guineveres Garden | Garden Writer