It would actually be possible to ask the breeders John and Robin Sheldon by email, via the website, by the looks of it, if you click on their name when you are on the O'rilla page. Otherwise Rilla, Orilla are old girl's names, apparently, coming from amarilla, of the same origin as amaryllis, coming in turn from Greek meaning 'to sparkle'. O' is also 'of', or 'son or daughter of', of course. The rose was registered as Resilla ... or Rilla ...which might have lead naturally to O'rilla. In Spanish, Orilla, is a beach ... At any rate, good question!!
Yes, sure, that's the best way to find out the truth! Sorry if the bit about Spanish looked a bit poetic. However, about it coming from someone's name, I feel that's quite likely. There are lots of names with O'something. The question 'what's AN O'rilla?' I found a bit surprising ... as I did your gorilla. But we'll see ...
Hi, Sorry for the confusion, O'Rilla was named after my mother. My Initials for registering roses is RES, which comes from the initials of the first born in our family. My older Brother and father were both Raymond E Sheldon, My daughter is Robyn E Sheldon, My Brothers daughter was Renee E Sheldon and so forth hince RES. RESilla was easier to say than RESO'Rilla so I shorthened it for registration. I hope that answers your question. Sorry it wasn't more interesting than that. Perhaps my grandfather named my mother O'Rilla for one of the reasons you suggested, I have no idea. Sounds more romantic though. Personally I think it's s very pretty sounding name.
Ah, that's nice to find out the truth! So O'Rilla was your mother's first name, if I understand rightly? Yes, I agree, it's a very nice name for a rose.
I bought yet another Orilla this year from Wal-Mart and it has proven to be a very good rosebush as a whole. This one is the most vigorous growing of the four Orilla's that I have planted and it is blooming quite well with blooms that really do look like the good pictures posted here on HMF. The flower petal substance is incredible which make this rose do excellently as a cut rose in the vase and it handles refrigeration quite well. The russet blooms are just special as they can be. The color is outstanding and interesting to boot. I would recommend this to anyone as a good garden rose and it will even occasionally give you a good exhibition bloom as well. The only negative I can say about my two Orilla's right now is that they don't have fragrant blooms, but that in my opinion and life is a very minor thing to live with. Buy this rose for your garden as you will certainly like it.
I bought O'Rilla last year. Despite unfavorable weather conditions, for most of the summer, it powered through. It didn't get very big, it was just too hot, so I was concerned for it over the winter. Not only did it survive with the only protection having its bud union set 3-4 inches below soil level, it survived the late hard frosts we had. This rose has stunning blooms which last and last on the plant or in a vase. It is as good as a garden rose as they get.
I have tried for years with no luck. Sometimes it will appear to set hips but nothing has ever germinated. The pollen has never produced anything either. If you have any luck please let me know.
