The Princess Grace Rose Garden opened its gates to the public, for a charity rose sale that combined horticulture with philanthropy, raising funds for the Princess Grace Foundation while preparing the garden for the season ahead.
Visitors were invited to choose from a broad selection of rosebushes, all originating from the 2024 Monaco International New Roses Competition. The plants on offer were those previously displayed in the garden’s flowerbeds, now carefully removed to make room for new varieties due to arrive ahead of the next competition. Every euro raised from the sale was donated directly to the Foundation.
The process behind the sale is tightly organised. For each new rose variety entered into the competition, breeders supply ten plants: five are assessed by the jury, while the remaining five are grown and exhibited in the garden before eventually being sold. According to garden staff, the initiative serves a dual purpose — supporting a charitable cause while allowing the gardeners to refresh the site for future editions.
Preparing the roses is far from a casual affair. The plants arrive bare-rooted and are monitored closely until flowering, with strict standards to meet competition requirements. Gardeners pay particular attention to pruning and disease prevention, especially fungal threats such as powdery mildew, while carefully timing their interventions to ensure the roses bloom at exactly the right moment.
Beyond its technical demands, the rose garden remains a place of deep symbolic value. The site reflects Princess Grace’s enduring love of roses, with dedicated varieties, historical displays and a statue commemorating her legacy. Gardeners describe working there as both a responsibility and an honour, mindful of the history they help preserve.
The sale also offered an opportunity for direct engagement with the public. Garden staff were on hand throughout the day to advise visitors on rose care, from watering to pruning, while feedback was collected through a guestbook open to buyers and passers-by alike. To make the event more family-friendly, children were invited to take part in a plaster rose painting workshop, aimed at introducing younger generations to the garden’s heritage.
