Irish Roses–wild or not–are the focus of this edition of Covers of the Week. St. Patrick’s Day is coming up soon, so Erin go Bragh!
Theme: Irish Roses
The rose is the flower most often associated with romance. Regarding book titles, it’s the go-to blossom for the genre, followed by jasmine, lily, and heather. (Personally, I prefer tulips. But I can see how that might make for awkward-sounding titles.)
Because St. Patrick’s Day is quickly approaching, we thought displaying romances with Irish Rose covers would be fitting.
Having no idea what an actual Irish rose looked like, I was surprised to discover that “the official Irish Rose” (L. Aeonium arboreum) is a succulent. Succulents are hearty plants that, like cacti, should be easy for anyone to maintain. (Not me; every cactus and succulent to have been under my brown thumb came to a bad, sad end).
Originally native to North Africa and the Canary Islands, the rosette succulent forms branches that grow little bushes of bright yellow blossoms with star-shaped petals, which soon dies after the flowers bloom.
As for the wild Irish rose, Ireland is home to a wide variety of these floral beauties, including many hybrid forms. Each county boasts that their native–and naturalized–roses that climb hedgerows, hug rocky shores, or dot sandy land, are the most stunning to be found.
Most of these wildflowers bloom in June and July, their white, pink, and purple blossoms adding bright bursts of color to the Emerald Isle.
“My Wild Irish Rose… the sweetest flower that grows…”
“My Wild Irish Rose, Chancellor “Chauncey” Olcott. 1899
A Note
Around this time last year, Covers of the Week #49 also had an Irish theme. Since we already used Nora Roberts‘ Irish Rose for that edition, one of the four titles here is not like the others. Even so, the book’s Irish setting and the cover’s loveliness make up for the slight inconsistency.
The Covers
For the week of Monday, March 6, 2023, to Sunday, March 12, 2023, our Covers of the Week theme is the Irish Roses.
Irish Rose Covers (from Left to Right, Top to Bottom)
- The Irish Rose, Jessica Wulf, Zebra, 1994, “Asif” cover art
- Wild Irish Rose, Lisa Ann Verge, Zebra, 1997, Pino cover art
- Rose of the Mists, Laura Parker, Warner Books, 1985, Robert McGinnis cover art
- Irish Rose, Jacqueline Marten, Pocket Books, 1984, Elaine Gignilliat cover art
Your Opinion
What do you think of this week’s theme of Irish Roses? Do any of the covers stand out to you as a favorite?
Do you have a recommendation for a future Covers of the Week theme? Let us know, and we’ll try it out.
As always, please drop a comment, and let’s talk romance.