I wrote to Peter Beales (the only source for this variety in the UK) to ask if Golden Melody and other old hybrid teas dropped from their catalogue would be re-introduced. Their reply: 'Sadly we had to cut our rose list during Covid times, to concentrate on more reliable stock. I don`t think that these will be returned to our catalogue in the near future, so sorry to disappoint you.' Kicking myself for disposing of this rose when I owned a specimen, though it did blackspot something awful.
The story of a rosarian's life.. I'd like a pound for each time I've disposed of a rose, thinking I can get it back if I want, only to find it's been discontinued.. for ever..
Marlorena, the eye-watering increase in the price of bare root roses over the last 2 or 3 years in England may be a blessing in disguise! It will probably force me to think twice about replacing a plant I currently own with a new variety. (Meanwhile I try to convince myself I had good reason to give up on Golden Melody when I did -- the leaves seem to show blackspot even when grown in dry climates...)
...yeah, perhaps that's the best way to look at it... I've not heard of that rose, it must be some time since they had it at Beales, but it's difficult to keep up..
This is my fourth year with Golden Melody. It is sparsely foliaged, but whatever leaves the bush produces are very large, leathery and beautiful. Unfortunately they are prone to blackspot in my English climate. The problem is that if you remove spotted leaves as soon as you see them, like me, your bush may be left with only a handful of leaves, as there are never many leaves on the plant to begin with. The flowers are very large and glorious, both in colour, form and fragrance; but the bush has proven itself to be gangly, throwing up a few very straight and tall canes, which may be good for cutting but clearly do not make for an ideal garden plant. If blackspot is not a problem where you garden, then grow this variety by all means, and surround it with other plants so as to soften the angularity of the bush and still enjoy the peerless blooms.
