Montréal, August 15, 2003 – The Rose Garden of the Montréal Botanical Garden was chosen by the Canadian Rose Society to represent the country and on July 24 was presented with the Award of Garden Excellence in Glasgow, Scotland. This distinction is awarded every three years to rose gardens open to the public and possessing exceptional beauty and diversity, among the member countries of the World Federation of Rose Societies. The Federation, founded in London in 1968 and based in the United Kingdom, currently includes 36 national rose societies throughout the world.

The Award of Garden Excellence was created in 1994, to salute the world's most remarkable rose gardens. Other gardens have received this great honour in the past: Hay du Val de Marne (France), Il Roseto Botanico ‘Carla Fineschi' (Italy), the Garden of Roses at Hex Castle (Belgium) and the City of Belfast International Rose Garden, Sir Thomas & Lady Dixon Park (Northern Ireland).

The Rose Garden of the Montréal Botanical Garden, opened in 1976, became one of the first rose gardens outside of Europe and the youngest one ever to receive this highly prestigious recognition. The award is all the more exceptional in that the Montréal Botanical Garden's rose garden flourishes in a continental climate and must contend with winter conditions unknown to most of its competitors. This honour is a tribute to the exceptional work on the garden by the team directed by horticulturist Claire Laberge since 1989.

The Rose Garden of the Montréal Botanical Garden stretches over 2.5 hectares, with some one hundred beds and nearly 10,000 roses from over one thousand different varieties. It differs from traditional rose gardens in the way it is designed to present a sequence of different landscapes, textures and colours. Visitors approach the garden along winding paths lined with many trees and shrubs, a number of fountains, arches and pergolas covered in lovely climbing roses. Of course they can also find their way by following the delicate and exquisite fragrances. Finally, the garden is adorned with two works of art: a bonze statue entitled "The Lion", guarding the entrance to the Rose Garden, presented by the City of Lyon to Montréal in 1992, and another bronze statue, entitled "The First Jewels", produced in New York in 1973 by Romanian artist Alice Winant.

The Rose Garden has nearly 160 varieties of wild roses, 180 varieties of old roses, close to 500 hybrids of contemporary shrub roses, including varieties developed by Agriculture Canada, and almost 220 non-hardy species, including a large number of tea and floribunda hybrids. When Jack Frost comes knocking, the Rose Garden team must cover several beds with huge thermal blankets, the only way of protecting many of the species.

According to Gilles Vincent, Director of the Montréal Botanical Garden, "this is a reward, in a way, for the years of hard work by the different teams at the Botanical Garden, who are always striving to present the finest collections and loveliest gardens for our visitors." Claire Laberge, the horticulturist responsible for the Rose Garden, added: "I am especially happy that we can offer the public a rose garden that is actually much like a family tree, showing the history of roses through the ages. But I also get great satisfaction when I see how people are amazed at so much beauty!"

For more information on activities in the Japanese Garden and Pavilion this summer, visitors can call (514) 872-0607 or visit our Website, at:
http://www.ville.montreal.qc.ca/jardin/en/japonais/activites

SUMMER 2003

Hours (Botanical Garden and Insectarium):
Daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., until September 1

Admission to the Montréal Botanical Garden and Insectarium:
Adults: $10.50
65+ and students: $8.00
Children and teens (5 to 17): $5.25
Discounts for Access Montréal cardholders.

Address:
Montréal Botanical Garden
4101 Sherbrooke Est, Montréal

General information: 514 872-1400
Website: http://www.ville.montreal.qc.ca/jardin