dedicated team from the Bermuda Rose Society (BRS), who have worked hard to create a new respository in the grounds of the Bermuda National Trust headquarters in Paget.

The present concept originated with Dr. Charles Walker, founder of the Heritage Rose Foundation of America, who, during a visit to Bermuda in 1986, suggested that the BRS consider creating a repository garden in which Old Roses which have grown here for many years could be gathered together and preserved as a living museum for present and future generations.

The idea was taken up by the BRS, who then created a Heritage Rose Garden in the grounds of Waterville, with a particular emphasis on "mystery'' roses.

By 1998, however, the BRS concluded that, after a decade of existence, the garden was worn out and in serious decline. Despite members' attempts to patch up the problems, it was finally acknowledged that the only solution was to begin again.

"We decided to make it our Millennium project, and do it right this time,'' BRS main Waterville rose garden committee member Lisebeth Cooper explains.

Whereas previously roses had been planted by class but without regard to varying growth rates, a colour scheme or ground planting, the new garden would be much more carefully devised.

With almost military precision, the ladies of the rose garden committee began planning the new exhibit as a national showpiece. They decided that it would take the form of a classical rose garden, with four raised rectangular beds surrounding the Trust's sculpture of the Greek mythological nymph, Daphne.

Each bed would be surrounded by old bricks and filled with new soil.

As dedicated as the BRS members were, they recognised that the heavy work needed mechanical equipment and stronger backs, so they called in the experts and paid them from the proceeds of their annual rose sales.

Meanwhile, plans to fill the beds moved on apace. In 1999 the BRS began propagating slips of all the relevant varieties in its misting sheds, and drew up detailed planting schemes. This time the tall, vigorous bushes would be planted down the centres of the four beds, with smaller bushes around them.

In another departure, a ground cover scheme would fill in the earth around the rose bushes to present a more pleasing overall picture to the viewer -- not to mention deterring pesky weeds.

Finally, in November of last year it was time to plant the beds, and BRS members turned to with a will. It was indeed a case of "many hands make light work''.

"We all had a great time. It was like `instant garden' -- just wonderful,'' main rose garden committee member Lee Davidson said.

Indeed, it seems that everyone associated with the BRS is passionate, if not obsessed, with the scented beauties, not least because of their long and honoured place in history.

"Once you get bitten by the rose bug it never lets you go,'' Mrs. Cooper says. "It's partly the fascination, but also the fact that they are such historic plants. They have been found in old fossils from thousands of years ago, and have also been used in art and religion, and in their gardens, by the Japanese, Chinese, Persians, Europeans and others. The Empress Josephine Bonaparte created one of the first world-famous rose gardens at the Chateau de la Malmaison in France.

"Then there is the expression sub rosa, meaning under the rose, where a rose was hung over the table where subjects of great secrecy were discussed. "The obsession with roses is world-wide.'' Small wonder, then, that the BRS committee is delighted with the refurbished repository's progress at `Waterville.' "The roses absolutely love it there, and are flourishing,'' Mrs. Cooper says.

The women also pay tribute to the Bermuda National Trust, whose continued support of the BRS through donation of the garden space has allowed them to fulfill their millennium dream.

The final rose bush will be planted during an official opening ceremony on Friday.

While that may be the end of "Plan A'', it is not the end of the project. A rota of BRS members will visit the gardens regularly to tend the roses, and give extra water to the ground cover plantings.

"We have an automatic irrigation system for the roses, because they can't have too much water, but the other plants will need more,'' Mrs. Cooper explains.

Meanwhile, the Bermuda Rose Society invites the public to visit the garden and savour its beauty.

"The garden is there for the enjoyment of all Bermudians, and visiting rosarians. It is a lovely spot and there are benches on which to sit, so come by and smell the roses,'' Mrs. Cooper said.

Tea time: This old tea rose, `Bon Silen ne,' was first introduced into Bermuda in the mid-1980s. It can now be found flourishing among the Bermuda Rose Society's rose collection at the Bermuda National Trust headquarters in Paget.

Photos by Arthur Bean Crimson Beauty: `Gloire des Rosomanes', also known as `Ragged Robin', adds a bright touch to the Bermuda Rose Society's newly refurbished repository garden.