A Rosey Adventure: The Mariager Rosarium and a Trip through Time
In the heart of Scandinavia lies the enchanting little town of Mariager, known since 1912 as “Rosernes By” or “The Town of Roses.” Amid its quaint cobblestone streets stands a Rosarium, a rose garden - a testament to the town's heritage and the undying allure of roses.
This verdant haven is home to a meticulously curated collection of around 800 different varieties of roses, each chosen with care by local rose connoisseur, Eskild Skau. Each rose, like a chapter from a history book, tells its own story, each tale as unique and captivating as the petals that unfold in the Scandinavian summer.
As you step through the entrance, you're immediately welcomed by two highly awarded climbing roses, 'Our Last Summer' and 'Grand Award', their blooms cascading over an archway. Nestled at their feet, you'll find the world's oldest cultivated rose hybrid, 'Rosa Sancta', its presence a silent reminder of a history stretching back to an ancient Pharaoh's tomb in 60 AD.
The Rosarium is a celebration of roses throughout time, artfully combining the old and the new. The layout is a reverse journey through rose history, beginning with the newest cultivars and culminating in the primal wild roses. Twenty-two thematic beds unfurl this narrative, their borders adorned with climbing roses on the outside, transitioning to bush roses in the middle, and closing with bouquet roses at the heart of each bed.
One of the highlights of our adventure was encountering the enigmatic 'Fundroser' roses, “found roses”. These natural crossbreeds or potential 'extinct' cultivated roses intrigued us with their mystery and beauty. Notably, there's the 'Bizarre' rose, a hybrid between a rose and an apple tree, its future as unpredictable as its lineage.
And then, there were the roses believed to have once graced the Tsar's garden in St. Petersburg. These roses were rescued during the revolution by a gardener who fled to Finland and preserved these living pieces of history. Now, they bloom again in Mariager, a silent testament to resilience.
The Rosarium is more than just a collection of roses; it's a sensory experience. The spectrum of colors range from the softest pastels to the most vibrant hues, with each variety offering a unique shade. We were particularly mesmerized by a pastel lilac rose, its unnatural shade reminiscent of purple yam mochi.
The fragrance of the blooms varies as much as their colors, from subtle, almost ethereal notes, to intoxicatingly aromatic scents. Some roses hinted at soap, while others gave off a deliciously citrussy candy aroma. My adventurous little Bear was on a quest to find the best-smelling rose before heading off in search of a troll in the nearby wood-park.
Meanwhile, our Ronia was enchanted by the fallen petals. She collected them with joy, intending to add a touch of Rosarium magic to her own fairy garden back home.
We wrapped up our journey with a visit to Eskild Skaus's charming private garden. It was brimming with roses and apples, and crowned by a storybook-worthy thatched cottage. He regaled us with delightful tales, including his memorable encounter with the Danish Monarch. Him paying her a rosy compliment added a delightful hue to our visit.
In the Rosarium of Mariager, we found an adventure steeped in history, sprinkled with the magic of nature and teeming with floral delight. It's a place where stories bloom just as beautifully as the roses themselves.
