For years we have driven past Rose Barni, beside the Autostrada in Pistoia. It looks very impressive from the highway and it was a natural choice when we were looking for Banksia roses for Casa Debbio.
While it is in a very obvious position it proved to be quite difficult to get to. We were over confident and failed to find an actual street address and drove in circles for quite some time before stumbling onto it by accident.
For future reference the address is Via del Casello, Pistoia. Rose Barni has been operating since 1882…five generations in the one family. They know about roses.
We entered the office and were shown to a waiting room until we could be seen by an attendant. It felt as though we were about to be interviewed to make sure we would be suitable parents to our new rose.
We watched while other expectant parents were called to the counter to view their newly wrapped roses.
Soon it was our turn. Questions were asked about the type of rose we were looking for, where it was to be planted, colour etc. We were assured that they had something for us and the attendant went off to prepare our roses.
We resumed our seat and waited breathlessly. 2 perfect Banksia rose plants arrived about 15 minutes later and were handed over with love.
They now grace the terrace in front of Casa Debbio and I will be back there soon to see how they have fared over summer. They have been left in the loving care of Filippo. Just before I left in June they had begun to flower. I hope they are enjoying their new home.
Buying a rose from Rose Barni is a wonderful experience…we will return.
Here are some of their gorgeous roses.
