Stunning rose garden bursts into bloom despite Derbyshire heatwave

It's not just a '˜good year for the roses', it might be the best ever year for the roses.
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The colours from a rose garden in the Derbyshire Dales stand out like an oasis surrounded by parched fields because, unbelievably, the roses need NO water to bloom.

Julie Thomas (59) who owns Hopton Hall near Carsington said: “The roses are the best they’ve ever been, they love the dry hot and sunny conditions - we don’t even need to water them.

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“Usually the rain would knock the petals off and we be busy dead-heading at this time of year but there’s hardly anything to do at the moment. The blooms are in a kind of drought state - the flowers are staying for much longer than sual. And there are lots more flowers coming too.

Hopton Hall gardens.
Photo: F Stop PressHopton Hall gardens.
Photo: F Stop Press
Hopton Hall gardens. Photo: F Stop Press

The classic walled English rose garden was planted with 2000 roses 12 years ago by estate manager, Spencer Tallis (51). He planted all the roses and plants in the garden in 2004 and has since made it his life’s work tending them.

“I do have to water the box hedges a little but the roses are looking after themselves. Normally at this time of year we’d all be busy dead-heading but there’s hardly anything to do at the moment”

Julie and her family bought the property eight years ago and have continued to plant and care for the rose garden and now open the garden for visitors.