La Vie en Rose

The International Competition of Roses is underway in the Roseraie of the Parc de Bagatelle.

This annual event started in 1907. For the past two years, the public has been asked to participate by selecting three of their favorite roses based on beauty and one based on fragrance. The person whose vote matches that of the professional jury will be awarded the honor of judging the competition the following year.

This beautiful display has all of the elements of a formal French garden, including symmetrically arranged parterres divided by pebbled paths, arbors and sculpted boxwood.

The roses are a little past their prime, but still stunning. Each plant was carefully numbered for the purpose of competition and names such as Queen Elizabeth, Elvis, La Bridget Bardot and La Princesse de Monaco caught my attention.