The Roses in Regent's Park

Nostalgia Roses

A large rose-tree stood near the entrance of the garden: the roses growing on it were white, but there were three gardeners at it, busily painting them red. Alice thought this a very curious thing, and she went nearer to watch them, and just as she came up to them she heard one of them say, "Look out now, Five! Don't go splashing paint over me like that!" ...

"Would you tell me," said Alice, a little timidly, "why you are painting those roses?"

Five and Seven said nothing, but looked at Two. Two began in a low voice, "Why the fact is, you see, Miss, this here ought to have been a red rose-tree, and we put a white one in by mistake; and if the Queen was to find it out, we should all have our heads cut off, you know. So you see, Miss, we're doing our best, afore she comes, to--" At this moment Five, who had been anxiously looking across the garden, called out "The Queen! The Queen!" and the three gardeners instantly threw themselves flat upon their faces. There was a sound of many footsteps, and Alice looked round, eager to see the Queen.  

--Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, Lewis Carroll.  

In Regent's Park, there is an area called Queen Mary's Garden. It contains the national collection of delphiniums and about 9,000 begonias. I, however, was in awe of the rose garden. 

Thousands of roses, all shapes and sizes, shining softly in the sunshine, letting their perfume intoxicate the air, flirting with the romantic meanderers, content in their little elegant kingdom of shrubberies and pathways. There is nothing like the exotic majesty of a rose.

And throughout the entire meander, all I could think of was the Queen of Hearts and her poor playing cards, desperately trying to paint the roses red. 

Roses in Queen Mary's Garden

Note: My camera died (per usual) on this trip to London. Photos are nicely stolen using Google Images.