Just a few days ago, word was received that our great friend and fellow rose breeder, Sean McCann, was hospitalized and not in very good shape. Today, his son, Colum, sent this to his rose friends. Wonderful news to be sure!
Dear Carol and All in the Rose World –
A miraculous turnaround. We were advised yesterday by the doctors to be ready to make some very difficult decisions. Dad must have heard them and had a chat with Lazarus or the angels themselves. Last night his kidneys (which had failed) kicked back in. His heart rate (which had been racing) calmed. He’s still fighting pneumonia and a few other things, and he’s not out of the woods yet, but it looks as if he might just recover. there is no way to contact him,or to visit of course, but if you could pass our family’s best wishes on to those in the rose world, thanks for their prayers, and all regards from Sean himself, we would greatly appreciate it –
Thank you for passing this on to us, Kim. Mr. McCann’s contributions to the rose world are great and his loss would be very sad indeed. I’m so glad to hear that his health is improving and will keep him in my prayers.
Sean’s “Roses Abroad” in the ARS magazines from the early 80s were my introduction to his writing. He mentioned a brown rose in one and I wrote him to express my appreciation and admiration for his work. That started the ball rolling. It was my pleasure to meet him personally at The Huntington some years later. We’ve seemed to have a mutual adoration society functioning since. He writes great articles and lovely emails. I’ve grown several of his roses and have loved each. His Smiling Jean is one of the healthiest roses I’ve grown anywhere. I wish he’d been able to keep better track of his breeding work information, though.
Smiling Jean hasn’t set any hips in the years I’ve grown it and I need to really start pimping that pollen. Even when ignored and stressed, it remains healthy and vigorous. Not bad for a rose which has been in the same five gallon can of depleted soil for all the time I’ve had it.
ME TOO! When I use to volunteer at the local botanical garden library in Virginia, I always use to enjoy reading his articles in the ARS magazine. They were well written, enjoyable, and informative.
He’s introduced me to so many wonderful roses through those articles over the years. After my father died, my mom required a LOT of attention. Having my garden at her house and making the opportunity to read Sean’s Roses Abroad articles to her permitted mutually enjoyable, much less stressful times enjoyed together.
In one, he wrote the story of Nozomi. It was one of the most emotionally moving written pieces I have ever read. I hit the emotional zenith and couldn’t speak, tears welling in my eyes. Mom was also tearful and took the magazine from me, trying to finish it. Neither of us could (dang! I’m tearing as I write this!). She urged me to write him to express our appreciation for his talent. I did and found he’d read some of my articles in various newsletters and publications, too. That began the mutual adoration society, combined with our mutual love for “funny colored roses”. High Flying Cathy, Gentle Annie and a mauve mini which has remained unnamed followed in a “letter”. Gentle Annie performs in the Santa Clarita Valley like a mauve Iceberg. High Flying Cathy was more brown for him at home. Here, it is quite apricot and grows to a fairly large bush. I gave my budded plant of that to a very good friend and it, with an extra plant of Gentle Annie, grace the common drive to his garage in his condo community. I get to see them each time I visit.
His introductory rose to me was Tara Allison which Ray Spooner used to sell. IIRC, it was named for Ray’s daughter and it honestly did resemble a geranium orange-red pelargonium. His Crazy Dottie was a love in Newhall. I liked the story behind the name, too. The woman didn’t think her name would sell the rose, so she urged him to call it what everyone called her, Crazy Dottie. A number of his roses filtered through various gardens via Ashdown and each has had its charm. Smiling Jean was originally destined to be a gift for a family friend whose name is Jean, but she kills junipers and Texas Privet, so I decided not to give it to her. Fortunately, it’s shown itself to be the most universally healthy rose I’ve had in a number of locations.
He honestly is as lovely and charming in person as his writing demonstrates. I don’t think he’s ever met a person he didn’t WANT to like, nor one whom he hasn’t given every benefit of doubt. A truly lovely person in every regard. I pray him the best.
I think Tara was Jerry’s daughter. Ray had a son. I miss them both. They lived about 4 cities apart, were very different, definite competitors, and lovely people. Let’s just say I didn’t buy miniatures because I liked minis very much.
Sean has been ill for a while but untill here lately he has always answered my e-mails…got to meet him in Shreveport at the dedication of the English Garden .Had lunch with him…enjoyed talking with him , he is a gentleman…and when i read his articles he writes exactly likes he speaks…its almost like i can hear his voice…a great man in my life and in the rose world …I pray for his full and fast recovery.
If I may ask, can someone on here point me in the direction of the roses he bred, I have tried all the avenues that I know. The reason I ask is the guy I worked for in 1991 was Mr McCann’s Australian Agent, so I have been looking through old catalogues with some of his roses in them, memories I guess. Regards David.
If you ARE a paid or premium member at HELPMEFINDROSES ($24/year) do the following. If you are not they may not enable this feature but try it anyway.
1-go to HELPMEFINDROSES
2- just below SEARCH in the left column is ADVANCED SEARCH. Click it on.
3- The ADVANCED SEARCH screen shows you different ways to obtain a list of roses depending on your search criteria.
4-Click on ORIGIN (you are searching by breeder at this point)
5- where it says NAME type in McCann, Sean. Click on SEARCH to the right.
6- a few lines below, his name will appear and CLICK ON the empty box to the left of his name which means that is the breeder’s name that you want.
7- at the bottom of the screen CLICK where it says continue.
8- the next screen will show by origin that you have selected McCANN, SEAN
9- it has his name in RED by origin. In the upper right hand corner of the rectangle it says SEARCH. Click on search and a list will now appear of all the roses he has hybridized and introduced. It is 5-6 pages. Click on each rose name and its individual screen will come up with all the info on that rose.
If this doesn’t work and you are not a paid member , then that means the Advanced Search is only available to premium members. You can do an advanced search on many criteria. I have done one on THORNLESS and it brings up all the roses listed in HMFR that are thornless or nearly so.