This is a project started by Harry McGee to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Isabella Preston immigrating to Canada and starting her studies at the Ontario Agricultural College, which would later become the University of Guelph. To commemorate this anniversary, the University of Guelph is going to establish the Isabella Preston Heritage Garden. While we are still in the planning stages, we are trying to sort out how many different varieties of Isabella’s are still around. She was a very prolific lilac, crab apple, lily, iris, columbine, and rose breeder.
Here is a list of her roses that we think we have access to: Orinda, Carmenetta, Patricia Macoun, Mohawk, Conestoga, and possibly Ardelia and Algonquin. According to HelpMeFind she has 30 roses credited to her. Most of her roses were named primarily after First Nations Tribes. If anyone knows of where other Preston roses can be found, please let me know. And also, please send this request around to other rose groups world wide.
Thank you!