About the name
Name. The rose is dedicated to Jean Giono (1895–1970), the Provençal writer from Manosque, author of the novella 'The Man Who Planted Trees' (L'Homme qui plantait des arbres, 1953). In the story an old shepherd, Elzéard Bouffier, planted oaks alone for more than 40 years in a waterless Provençal desert and revived an entire valley. Giono celebrated the nature of Provence, its dry herbs, lavender and olives: the warm palette is reflected in the variety's colour.
Breeding. Bred by Alain Meilland at Meilland International (Provence, France), 1996. Code MEIrokoi. Parentage: (Yakimour × Landora) × Graham Thomas; the Graham Thomas blood (Austin 1983) gives its characteristic warm yellow tone. It belongs to the Meilland Romantica® series, a line that combines the form of old roses with the strength of modern HTs (alongside Alexandrine, Yves Piaget and Traviata).
Significance. It has not won major international awards (unlike other Romantica roses). Its value is purely symbolic, 'the rose of a Provençal writer', for catalogue context. Sold in Australia since 2006 under the trade name Outback Angel: the same variety, MEIrokoi. Not to be confused with other yellow Romantica roses with a similar palette (Michelangelo MEIvitabel, Marie Curie MEIlomit).