My love for roses stems from their stunning beauty. I love photographing them, as I can capture their beauty and admire even when the flower itself has wilted away.

The delicate petals never fail to amaze me, gracefully unfurling in an array of vibrant hues. Each one is like a unique piece of colourful origami, carefully folded and crimped. They also smell gorgeous, the sweet, intoxicating scent of roses are both calming and uplifting.

I have a varied selection in the garden from a single and elegant petal to deep and recurved buds. Small petals of varying shades mingle to provide a most pleasing effect on the eye and the myrrh fragrance has delicious hints of hawthorn, elderflower, pear and almond that hits the right notes.

In art, roses symbolise love and romance, and I find myself drawn to their deep meaning. When I see a bouquet of roses, I am reminded of the cherished moments shared with loved ones and the beauty of these relationships.

You can never have enough roses, as the saying goes: Roses Grow on You!

Want to grow roses like Angela?

There's no doubt that roses are among the most iconic and gorgeous flowers that we can grow in the UK. If, like Angela, you want to be able to unwind in your outdoor space surrounded by their stunning shades and lovely aroma, then you should follow the 10 tips that we have put together to help you grow roses too.

1. Try to plant the rose where it can get at least six hours of direct sunlight daily - Roses can survive with limited sunlight, for example they will grow against a North-facing wall. But having direct sunlight will help them grow to their full potential. Besides, with such radiant colours it would be a shame to have them out of the Sun.

2. Prepare well-draining, fertile soil by amending it with compost or well-rotted manure - This improves soil texture and fertility, creating an optimal environment for roses to thrive. Check the variety, but ensure the soil pH is around 6.0 to 6.5, slightly acidic for roses.

3. Plant roses at the appropriate depth, ensuring the bud union is slightly above the soil surface - Dig a hole wide and deep enough to accommodate the root ball. Backfill with soil, gently firming it around the roots. Proper planting promotes healthy root development and overall growth.

4. Water deeply and regularly, avoiding wetting the foliage. If the petals wilt, then your rose needs more water. Meanwhile, if your rose starts to droop, or the colour of its petals begins to brown, this could be a sign that you are over watering (Angela please note!). 

5. Feed roses with a balanced rose fertiliser throughout the growing season - Nitrogen-rich fertiliser will encourage leaf growth for your roses, which in turn will help them to create more beautiful flowers. Why not try an organic fertiliser such as our Magic Manure Brew Bags?

6. Prune in early spring, removing dead, damaged, or crossing branches. An essential practice for keeping most plants healthy, if dying parts of the plant are left, then your rose will waste precious resources trying to revive them. Designed especially to navigate the tricky thorns, our rose pruners are perfect for the task at hand. make sure you have tough gloves, just in case!

7. Dead head spent blooms to encourage new flower production.Similarly to pruning, spent blooms will consume energy, it is much better to encourage your rose to grow new flowers. You do not need such large pruners for this job, a pocket pruner or mini-snips will do the job nicely.

8. Monitor for pests and diseases, using organic controls as necessary. Pest-control methods will vary according to the pest, from picking off individuals to spraying with a hose to remove pests that cling to leaves and stems.

9. Apply organic mulch to conserve moisture, suppress weeds, and regulate soil temperature. Weeds will take away precious nutrients from your roses, starving them.

10. Protect roses in colder climates from frost and freeze damage. Bury the rose above the bud union in soil, mulch and leaves to make the stalk more resistant to the wind and to help insulate the sensitive base of your rose.

If you use you arrange your roses and take them indoors, then you might want to remove any sharp thorns. A specialist thorn stripper will do this nicely, making your rose a far less prickly customer for arranging.

Remember that growing roses takes time and patience. With proper care, you can enjoy the beauty and fragrance of perfect roses in your garden.

... But if you don't have the time or the patience to grow roses, or you want to enjoy them all year round, then you can go for an artificial alternative. Our ceramic coral rose is a gorgeous addition to a bookshelf or windowsill, and our Rose and Hydrangea arrangement will stay in bloom for time immemorial.

5 Things you may not know about roses

Want to impress your friends next time you visit a country garden? Or maybe you delight in hoarding nuggets of information. Either way, you'll love these facts about the worlds most popular flower. 

1. The oldest rose bush, known as the "Thousand-year Rose," is believed to be over 1,000 years old. It grows on the wall of Hildesheim Cathedral in Germany. This remarkable rosebush has survived centuries of history. Incredibly, it even survived the cathedral being razed by allied bombing in the Second World War.
   
   
2. According to the Guinness World Records, the tallest rose ever grown was bred in Austria by Hafizullah Khaled. It was measured at over 8.5 meters tall! But to rival that Head Worms Heather and Stuart have grown a very large rose called 'Paul's Himalayan Musk' up an old apple tree in their garden. Stuart captured it a few years back when it was in full bloom.
   
   
3. Rose hips, the fruit of roses, are not only ornamental but also highly nutritious. They are an excellent source of Vitamin C, containing more of this essential vitamin than citrus fruits.
   
   
4. The rose responsible for rose oil, a highly valued ingredient in the perfume industry is called the Damask Rose. The Rosa damascena is renowned for its fragrant blooms and bright pink colour. Why is rose oil an expensive ingredient? Because it takes around 10,000 rose petals to make just one pound of oil!
   
   
5. The rose holds significant cultural and national importance, serving as the national flower of various countries, including the United States, Morocco, Luxembourg and England. It features throughout history, and according to Greek mythology, was originally created by Aphrodite, Goddess of love.