Join Lexie Mincham as she takes you on a journey back to antiquity and the middle-ages to discover the origins and history of roses in different civilisations and cultures, and the symbolism, story-telling and secrets that surrounded them. She will then uncover the politics, the passions and the lives of some of the people who took those ancient roses and gradually turned them into thousands of new varieties, including the modern roses that we know today. She will explore some of the little-known stories of loss and rediscovery, and share snapshots of some of the less well-known faces behind the names that were bestowed on them. Sumptuous illustrations will give you captivating insights into different rose varieties as well as images of enchanting gardens both large and small.
About Lexie Mincham
Lexie Mincham is the current treasurer of the HRiA Adelaide Regional Group having served previously as its coordinator and as secretary of the HRiA National Executive Committee. Before retiring, Lexie was Principal Policy Advisor to the Chief Executive of the South Australian Education Department for a number of years, working in the national policy arena as well as in strategic planning and review. She was also the Liaison Officer for the Australian UNESCO Education Work, representing Australia at the UNESCO Regional Conference in Bangkok in 2001 and attending the UNESCO World Conference in Paris the same year.
One of the earliest flowers Lexie remembers as a child was her mother’s favourite, the dark crimson ‘Black Boy’, which was bred before 1918 by the great Australian breeder from Victoria, Alister Clark. When Lexie and her husband moved to their 2-acre property at Cherryville in the 1970s, they discovered the fascinating world of old roses. The property had belonged to one of the two earliest settler families in the area and some of their old garden roses remained, including ‘Cécile Brunner’, ‘Perle d’Or’, ‘Lorraine Lee’ and the bright rambler ‘Gladsome’. The real surprise came when they discovered three others still surviving in the dense, dry shade of a huge old viburnum; the identities of these beauties with their exquisite fragrance remaining an intriguing mystery to this day. Exploring the history behind the breeding and naming of these heritage roses quickly became an enduring passion, as is ensuring their preservation for all to enjoy.
