‘Mrs. Franklin D. Roosevelt’ was a sport of Talisman introduced in 1933. Eleanor Roosevelt later said, “I once had a rose named after me and I was very flattered. But I was not pleased to read the description in the catalog: no good in a bed, but fine up against a wall.”
You have to love Eleanor Roosevelt.
Whatta gal! lol
Self deprecating humor from someone of her social status is really refreshing. I wish it would rub off on a few others.
It’s too bad her namesake rose isn’t more widely grown. Apparently the sport wasn’t particularly stable from the notes here. I suspect the rose is quite lovely. I was always fond of ‘Talisman’.
Jim, thanks for sharing this. I think you should add her quote under remarks for this page. Others would undoubtedly enjoy it too.
It
I heard the same story in an ARS mag (forgot which one… could be from the 60s to 80s) about Lady Hillington…
Wit travels.
Run an internet search for what’s inside the brackets, but omit the brackets. [“I once had a rose named after me and I was very flattered” wall].
I don’t think Lady Hillingdon would have had much humor about the sexual duties of a good Englishwoman.
definitely more along ER’s line of wit.