Red Cow's Roses

Linda is joined by Ali Mentesh from Red Cow Farm to talk about his garden, incredible collection of roses, his six favourites plus secrets to success. 

Seduced by the colour, forms and perfumes of roses, Ali Mentesh has already collected some 200 to adorn the garden rooms at Red Cow Farm. Can he choose a favourite? 

Roses are central to the dreamy delights of Red Cow Farm, a 2.5 hectare garden just outside the village of Sutton Forest in the Southern Highlands of NSW. Gardened by Ali Mentesh and Wayne Morrissey, Red Cow Farm is a series of 20 garden rooms, each with its own mood and linked by subtle, clever planning. And while roses don't feature in every one of the beautiful garden pictures that have been created since Ali and Wayne bought the 1820s cottage in 1990, they are an early, and enduring passion.

Here are Ali's standouts and why!

*Jude the Obscure - strong growth, repeats well year after year, strong fragrance of quince.  

*Charles Darwin - palest clotted cream to a beautiful mustard colour and similar shape to peonies, delightful cupped shape.  

*Rambling Rector - vigorous grower and excellent climber, a generous rose when in flower with a clear luminous froth of white. 

*Apple Blossom  - almost like an apple blossom flower and produces single flowers with a mild perfume. Has the ability to cov...