法兰西斯-梅昂与“和平”月季
北京诚朴园林绿化工程有限公司 / 2010-11-18
法兰西斯-梅昂与“和平”月季
Francis Meilland and “Peace Rose”
3—35—40! 这是什么号码? 是战前欧洲一个电话号码? 是一个秘密侦察机关的代号? 不对, 不对, 这些猜想都不对, 这是一个月季品种的登记号码, 近代月季重要发展的一幕就是由这个号码拉开的。
3-35-40! What do those numbers refer to? A phone number in Europe before the World War II? The code of a secret intelligence agency? No, all the guesses above are incorrect. This series of numbers is the registration number of a special variety of rose, which symbolized the beginning of an important developing period of roses in modern history.
在梅昂家族所创育的成百上千个品种中，最著名的就是“和平”(Peace)了，它被称作是超越国界的，充满友谊，代表了快乐及希望的“世纪的月季”。那是由梅昂家族的第四代传人, 生于1912年的法兰西斯-梅昂（Francis Meilland）。 为了怀念他去世的母亲Madam Antoine Meilland, 法兰西斯专注于培养出一个新品种作为纪念。 他由1935年开始进行杂交育种，经过长期多次筛选繁殖，至1939年才定植出这编号为3—35—40 的具有美丽花形及光泽叶片的壮健品种。 与此相关的重要的伏笔是1935年法兰西斯的周游美国之行, 他深入考察了美国所有著名月季种植园, 并和许多有经验的月季种植者建立了朴实的深深的交情, 他也学习到了许多书本上没有的知识。 但是更为关键的是架起了为今后发展极其宝贵的合作框架, 而在当时, 法兰西斯还没有认识到这一点的重要性。
Among hundreds of varieties that Meilland family has cultivated, “Peace” is the most famous one. It has been regarded as the rose of the century, representing friendship, happiness and hope beyond national borders. Its father Francis Meilland, born in 1912, the fourth generation of Meilland family, was dedicated to the cultivation of a new variety of rose since 1935, in order to memorialize his late mother Madam Antoine Meilland. In 1939, after a long time of repeated hybridization, selection and cultivation, Francis finally discovered “3-35-40”, a brilliant variety with delicate shape and glossy leaves. And Francis’s travel to US in 1935 contributed greatly to the later success of “3-35-40”. During that journey, he visited all the well-known rose gardens across US and became close friends to many experienced rose gardeners. He also learned much knowledge which cannot be found in textbooks. But the more critical point was that Francis had established valuable cooperative network with American rose gardeners. Even Francis himself hadn’t really realized how important it was at that time.
正当梅昂家族为看到成功希望而高兴时，第二次世界大战爆发，随着德军侵入波兰及并吞奥地利，英，法开始向德宣战，国家陷入战乱恐慌和随后的德国入侵法国。 法兰西斯-梅昂为保护所创育的品种便把所嫁接的3—35—40苗, 急需要能把这品种带到远离战火的美国。 由于美国驻里昂总领事威廷赫尔(George Wittinghill)认识也了解这位当时在法国并不多见的精通英文的梅昂, 令人匪夷所思, 也好象是神来之笔, 总领事居然在乘最后一架飞机离开里昂前的百忙之中, 抽时间打电话问梅昂需不需要带东西去美国? 梅昂毫不迟疑地把一包3—35—40交给他回去邮寄给他在美国结识的月季专家培里先生(Robert Pyle)。 培里在收到这3—35—40 之后, 除了立即种在自己的园子之外, 他同时立即把这种苗分别邮寄给美国各地著名的月季种植园, 以便检验这一品种是否能在美国北部寒冷干燥和南方炎热潮湿的气候, 在沿海和内陆是否都能有良好的表现。 这是欧洲和美国在实验新品种时一定要通过的全面检验, 历史证明, 这种职业化的, 彼此坦诚合作的网络是推动新品种发展的十分有效的手段。
When Meilland family was delighted with the new variety of rose, the World War II broke out. After German armies conquered Poland and annexed Austria, UK and France declared war on Germany. Before long, Germans invaded France, spreading chaos and horror across the whole nation. With the purpose of protecting the new cultivated “3-35-40” roses, Francis Meilland was anxiously searching for a way to transport the seedlings to US, far away from battlefield. At this point, Francis’ friend George Wittinghill, American Consul-General to Lyon, gave him a phone call before taking the last plane back to US and asked Francis whether there is anything he wanted George to bring away. Then Francis, without any hesitation, gave George a packet of “3-35-40” seedlings and told George to send them to an American rose expert Robert Pyle, who was also a friend of Francis’. Upon receiving “3-35-40” seedlings, Robert Pyle transplanted a part of them in his garden at once. Meanwhile, he sent the rest of those seedlings by mail to those famous rose gardens in different areas of US, so as to test this variety of rose under different climatic and environmental conditions. This kind of comprehensive test is indispensable when people experiment a new variety of flower. And history has proved that professional and genuine cooperative network is an effective means to boost the development of new variety.
就在1940年德国入侵法国的高潮时，现在世界上最有影响力的梅昂家族的掌门人, 法兰西斯-梅昂的儿子阿兰-梅昂（Alain Meilland）在战争的恐慌中诞生了。在阿兰-梅昂一天天长大的时候, 3—35—40也一天天地在大西洋两岸倔强地迎接各地月季专家在各种环境下的严格观察和检验。
When German invasion into France reached its apex in 1940, Alain Meilland, current head of Meilland family, was born in the panic of war. While Alain was growing up, “3-35-40” roses were observed and experimented strictly by rose experts in different places.
就在战争惨烈进行的这六年中, 培里和美国其他月季种植者发现3—35—40在所有的气候条件下, 同时也不论是在沙土或粘土地域全都能茁壮的生长和并且表现出突出的抗病虫害的能力。 很少有任何一个品种能表现出这样全面的优秀品质。 人们的评价最后发展到了这样的一个地步: 美国园艺界认为这个3—35—40月季除了没名字之外, 可以说是十全十美了。 可是3—35—40的培育人法兰西斯却远在法国, 没有办法联系上。于是孩子的取名就在没有爸爸的介入下开始了。
In those six years of bloody war, Robert Pyle and other American experts discovered that “3-35-40” roses could adapt to different climatic conditions, grow vigorously in no matter sandy or clay soil and they feature extraordinary insect-proof ability. Rare varieties could be found with such all-round excellent quality. American horticultural world even came to such conclusion: except that “3-35-40” rose didn’t own a name, it was one hundred percent perfect. Since its father Francis Meilland was still in France and people had no access to him, the child started to be given the name without the participation of its father.
和平月季的命名和获奖
Getting the Name “Peace” and Winning Awards
花开两朵, 各表一枝。 先说3—35—40在欧洲的命名经历。 在意大利，人们为了对抗战乱的恐怖及疯狂而用代表快乐，纯洁及庄严的“Gioia”来命名此品种；在德国，人们经受了毁灭性的打击而给该品种以一个希望创伤能得救的名字“Gloria Dei”。 而在法国, 培育了这一品种的法兰西斯-梅昂是为纪念他的母亲, 而命名她为”安东妮-梅昂夫人” (Madam Antoine Meilland)。
Let’s start with the names given by Europeans. To withstand the terror and insanity brought by war, Italians named “3-35-40” roses “Gioia”, standing for joy, purity and solemnity. In Germany, people had born devastating brunt of war so they came up with the name “Gloria Dei”, hoping their scars could be smoothed out. And in France, “3-35-40” roses were named by Francis Meilland after his mother “Madam Antoine Meilland”.
远在大西洋彼岸的美国则把这一奇异的玫瑰命名为“和平”(Peace)，他们认为这品种不仅能激发人们的赞美，而且带有在战争年代人民对和平的强烈感情及希望。
On the other side of Atlantic Ocean, Americans named this fascinating variety of roses “Peace”. They believed that these roses not only aroused people’s praise for their beauty, but also conveyed people’s strong desire in wartime to embrace peace.
几个月前, 美国月季协会就提前定好, 要在1945年4月29日在加利福尼亚的太平洋月季协会成立日公开命名此品种为“和平”。 巧的是恰恰到了这一天, 正好苏联军队攻克了柏林，真正成了和平之日。随后当“和平”被授予全美国月季大奖之日, 日本偏偏在这一天宣布投降; 一个月之后, 当美国月季协会在它历史上第一次将它的金奖发给一个新月季品种的日子, 而这获奖者又是“和平”, 正是在这一天举行了盟军和日本结束战争条款的签字仪式。 有关“和平”月季的这三件大事都是数月前定好了日程的, 居然都和后来才发生的几件二次世界大战的有关战争与和平的大事件碰在同一天, 天下竟有如此巧合, 真是令人惊异。
Several months ago, American rose society had decided that they would publicly name these roses “Peace”. Coincidently, that particular day witnessed that Soviet Union army captured Berlin, which made that day a real day of peace. Then Japan surrendered in the very day when “Peace” got American Rose Prize. A month later, “Peace” got the Gold Award of American Rose Society, which was the first time that this award had been given to a new variety of rose. And that day was also the day when Allied Forces signed the terms of ending war with Japan. All those three significant dates concerning “Peace” rose had been decided in advance several months before but turned out to coincide with three milestones of World War II. That’s really amazing.
1945年10月24号当联合国在旧金山成立之日, 在参加联合国会议的每一个代表的房间里都放了一瓶“和平”月季, 并附上一个卡片, 上面写着:“我们希望‘和平’月季能影响人们追求世界持久和平的思维”。
When the United Nations was founded on Oct. 24th, 1945, in every room of each delegate, a vase of “Peace” roses were placed with a card attached, which read: “We hope that ‘Peace’ roses will influence people’s mind of pursuing long-lasting world peace.”
直到第二次世界大战结束，梅昂才从他的朋友处得到愉快的消息：他所寄出3—35—40已经在美国成为最受欢迎, 而且卖出了几百万棵的著名品种。 所有出售了“和平”月季的公司都准备好了等一旦找到梅昂家族, 就把已经预先留好的品种专利酬金电汇给梅昂家族。 这一从天上掉下来的喜讯, 也为梅昂家族的已经很著名的梅昂庄园的进一步发展奠定了物质基础和带来极高的声望。
Not until the end of World War II had Francis Meilland been informed by his friend that his “3-35-40” had been the most popular and salient rose in US, with millions having being sold. All those companies that had sold “Peace” roses were ready that once the Meilland family was found, they would immediately telegraph the reserved patent fee to Meilland. This great news consolidated the material base of the already famed Meilland Manor and brought extraordinarily great prestige for it.
法兰西斯对为纪念母亲而创育的3—35—40这一品种所获得的多个名字, 他都欣然接受，因为“快乐”，“上帝保佑”，“和平”这些名字都意味着最好的讯息。他创育了一个诞生於战争的玫瑰，一个经由不可思议的途径避免了毁灭的玫瑰，一个充满了友谊及有生命力的玫瑰，可惜他只活到46岁，因为癌症於1958年突然去世。
Francis Meilland accepted with great pleasure those given names for “3-35-40”, which was first cultivated in memory of his mother, because all those names, such as “Gioia” , “Gloria Dei” and “Peace” implied sincere wishes. He created a variety of rose that was born during wartime, miraculously escaped from doom by a special means and passed on friendship and vitality. Unfortunately, Francis Meilland passed away in 1958 due to cancer when he was only 46.
“和平”月季的重要性, 不仅仅在于她本身的价值, 更重要的是, 她所含有的优秀, 或者说无与伦比的基因, 使得“和平”成为随后育出的许多获奖之优秀品种的父本或母本。 同时,“和平”还有兄弟姐妹, 形成”黄和平”“粉和平”和“芝加哥和平”等等的系列, 成为一个“和平”家族。在过去的100年中, 还没有任何其他一个月季品种可以赶上“和平”所起的不但承前, 而且启后的重大作用, 从而推动了月季花迈上一个新的台阶。 举世公认,呼“和平”为“世纪性的月季”是一个恰如其分, 名副其实的称号。
The importance of “Peace” roses lies in not only the value of their own, but also their prominent, or to say, unparalleled DNA, making “Peace” become the paternal or maternal parent to plenty of outstanding varieties cultivated later. Also, “Peace” has brothers and sisters like “Yellow Peace”, “Pink Peace”, “Chicago Peace”, etc, all together making a “Peace Family”. In the past 100 years, no other variety of roses had ever played as significant and transitional a role as “Peace” that upgraded the development of roses to a new level. It’s acknowledged that “Peace” is the rose of the century.
玫瑰大师陈于化与梅昂
Master of Rose Chen Yuhua and Meilland
梅昂对于中国的文化十分鉴赏。 在他家里挂着两幅陈于化的画，笔者观察到在一些欧洲名人家里都挂着陈于化的画，比方说英国八十年代十大优秀职业女性之一，当时的皇家摄影协会会长Heather Angel家里也是一幅陈于化的画，瑞士梅蓝博士也是如此（见照片）。梅昂先生在2012年初到加州接受进入世界伟大月季家名人堂仪式前，到笔者家中作一天休整时，看了陈于化最新在雕塑上的作品照片和画册。他本来就欣赏于化的绘画，而雕塑又给梅昂带来新的惊异。他立刻主动提出希望在2015年趁在法国里昂举行世界月季大会时，举办陈于化绘画雕塑艺术展览会。通常举行世界月季大会，都是一个组委会，一个主席；但是2015年在法国里昂是双主席制，作为另外一位主席，梅昂可以拥有些特权。所以梅昂的这一主动提议，不但于化，而且他周围关心文化事业的中国朋友和爱好者应该考虑如何借助这个场合把独具创意的中国艺术带到里昂举行的世界月季大会上去。
Alain Meilland thinks highly of Chinese culture. The walls of his house are hung with two Chen Yuhua’s paintings. Actually I found that Chen’s paintings have been collected by many European celebrities, for example Heather Angel, one of ten most outstanding professional British women in 1980s and also then President of Royal Society of Photographers. In early 2012 Alain Meilland came to California, preparing to attend the ceremony of his entering the hall of fame of world’s great masters of roses. At that time, he had one day’s rest in my house and he watched the pictures and albums of Chen’s latest sculptures. Alain appreciates Chen’s paintings all along and he was deeply amazed again this time by Chen’s sculptures. Alain immediately proposed an art exhibition of Chen’s paintings and sculptures during WFRS (World Federation of Rose Societies) Regional Convention 2015 in Lyon, France. Generally, WFRS Regional Convention has only one organizing committee and one chair. But the Convention 2015 in Lyon had two chairs and Alain, as one of those two, got some privileges. Alain’s initiative made Chen and his friends who cared for cultural undertakings contemplate how to seize this opportunity to exhibit unique Chinese culture in the Convention.
玫瑰大师陈于化一生衷情于花朵，爱月季花、种月季花、画月季花。他一生热爱和平，追求和平，他种“和平”、画“和平”，现在又用手捏“和平”并烧制成独具匠心、立体感奇强的陶瓷花瓶。年近八旬的他还在追求……将“爱与和平”完美的融合在一起，将思想与精神融入了小小的花朵之中，令陶（瓶）与瓷（花朵）精美，精妙的融合在一起，使其成为了永不凋零的完美之作
As master of rose, Chen Yuhua devotes his whole life to roses, planting, drawing and loving them. He also has deep love for peace since childhood so he has special passion for “Peace” roses. He’s not only a gardener and painter of “Peace”, but also a potter who manually made ceramic vases, decorated by meticulously designed three-dimensional porcelain “Peace” roses on surface. Although nearly 80 years old, Chen is still in pursuit of a perfect integration of love and peace, infusing thoughts and spirits into those little flowers. He also aspires to exquisitely combine earthen vases with porcelain flowers, making them perfect works that will never wither.
2014年10月19日，梅昂专程从法国到美国，
参加美国月季花协会成立40周年陈于化月季专题艺术展
On Oct. 19th, 2014, Alain Meilland came to US to watch Chen Yuhua’s art exhibition for roses, during the 40th anniversary of American Rose Society.
陈于化和梅昂合影留恋
Chen Yuhua and Alain Meilland took photos together.
陈于化为梅昂现场画月季
Chen Yuhua drew roses for Alain Meilland.
