Rose Duchesse d'Abrantes

Another Moss rose by Français-André Robert with beautiful, full, fragrant pink flowers, shaded white. Also has a prominent, medium-sized, spherical, shiny red rose hips with numerous fine bristles.

The foliage is large and dark green. There are normally 5 leaflets on a mid stem leaves, their shape is oval-pointed, with dense, sharp serrations. When young they appear red-rimmed and somewhat marbled, with a red lower side.

The basal shoots are covered with numerous small and larger needle-shaped prickles; thecolour when they are young is purple red spines and later ages to gray.

Laure Junot, Duchess of Abrantès (1784-1838), was a prominent figure in France's cultural scene during Victor Hugo's early years and maintained a close relationship with the Bonaparte family. Her husband, General Andoche Junot, served in Napoleon's army, but his behavior became erratic after sustaining a head injury in battle. Similar to Victor Hugo's father, Léopold, who also served as a general under Napoleon, Junot fell out of favor, was ennobled, and sent to Spain, essentially demoted. He eventually took his own life in 1813, leaving Laure, renowned for her beauty, wit, and extravagance, to forge a career as a writer.

Though once involved with the author Balzac, Laure died impoverished in 1838. Despite many in Paris society abandoning her during her lifetime, her funeral drew significant attention from the glitterati, including Victor Hugo, who, alongside Chateaubriand and Dumas, was among the prominent mourners.

Numerous letters exchanged between Hugo and the Junot family exist, including one from the Duchess of Abrantès inviting Hugo to dinner, now held in Guernsey's Priaulx Library collection.

Unknown.

USDA 6