"On 14 January, Denmark will have a new King, but already, for a long time, they have had a Rose Queen… Rosa Eskelund, breeding garden roses, pot roses, and cut roses in the town of Dyreborg, Denmark", says John Pouw of Viking Roses, the company and name through which Rosa's cut roses are finding their way into the world.
"Thus, these roses are delivering Danish design to happy homes all over the world. After some smaller conquests, the second wave of Viking invasion (and the first rose invasion) has started some 1000 years after the first. This time, no violent, bloodthirsty warriors, but stylish designers of the most beautiful garden-type spray and standard roses: big flowers, radiant colors, more and more fragrance."
Rosa loves them all, and therefore they are all 'Rosa Loves Me®' (RLM®). The orange-pink RLM, like a Firecracker®, was the first Viking and can be found in all European supermarkets for its guaranteed producer and consumer satisfaction, Pouw explains. The bicolor RLM Just a Little bit More was the second of the first Viking rose wave and is produced by a few farms in Ecuador. RLM Inger Kristine followed a few years later in Kenya and was gradually introduced, with controlled yearly increases, to the high-end market. RLM Two Times and RLM Yes, I Do are produced on a small scale in Kenya. RLM with Fatal Attraction is produced in The Netherlands by different growers persuaded by wholesalers to plant more. RLM Paula's Champagne Delight was introduced last year by Molo River Roses (Kenya) and is always sold out, so this will also be increased step-by-step.
On the left: Rosa Loves Me® Inger Kristine." The two-stems-per-bunch spray rose Rosa Loves Me® Inger Kristine is cheering up more and more homes for weeks at a time." On the right: Rosa Loves Me® Paula's Champagne Delight. "It has a similar stunning shipping quality and vase life to its sister 'Inger Kristine.'"
"All of these 'first generation' Vikings derived from Rosa's unique pot and garden rose genetics. Most of the outcome, however, lacked length at higher altitudes. Therefore 7 years ago, some selected cut rose parents were added to the breeding program, showing the length in the trials during corona. This 'second wave' is now invading farms in Africa and South America."
Rosa Eskelund and Ivan Freeman baptizing RLM Celebrating Heather at the IFTF in Vijfhuizen, the Netherlands.
The first of these, RLM Celebrating Heather, was planted and baptized by Ivan Freeman of Uhuru Flowers last November, commemorating his late mum and all the strong African mothers that drive the industry. "Its natural orange color, big heads, productivity, and garden shape of the open flowers already create a high demand. There is room for more, and there will be more."
Rosa Loves Me® Celebrating Heather in the field and packed by Uhuru Flowers (Kenya). "Sublime design, craftily produced and packed, and then… the best is yet to come."
RLM Beyond Venus, RLM Under the Stars, and RLM Under a Majestic Sunrise will be introduced in 2024, and likely a few more. "There's no stopping the Vikings!"
On the left: Rosa Loves Me® under a Majestic Sunrise "Presently being planted by different farms in Kenya with the first flowers available." On the right: Rosa Loves Me® with Fatal Attraction.
Rosa's Scandinavian design has a high rate of disease resistance. "And this is what growers confirm. Still, zero footprint is the goal, and in addition to the specific genetics, outdoor trials were set up years ago in Denmark and The Netherlands with nothing more than water and manure. The first codes are now in the expert hands of Angeline in the Viking trial house in Nakuru."
On the left: New spray rose, Rosa Loves Me® Under the Stars and on the right: spray rose, Rosa Loves Me® Beyond Venus, being planted and available soon. "A true head turner."
More challenges? "Absolutely. Fragrance combined with longevity. Nothing is impossible for a true Viking. The first ones have entered the trials of producers in Kenya and Colombia. Watch out for the third Viking rose invasion!"
IPM Essen
To see the varieties and to receive more information on availability, check with Rosa and Harley in Hall 1, stand C36 at the IPM Essen in Germany, from January 23-26.
For more information:
Viking Roses
John Pouw
[email protected]
www.VikingRoses.com