Rein Joosti work lives on in Estonian gardens

Rose expert and agronomist Rein Joost, who devoted nearly 60 years to roses, died at the end of August, leaving his mark on thousands of Estonian gardens, ERR reported. Ain Järve, a former director of Kadriorg Park, described Joost on Vikerraadio as a horticulturist with exceptional knowledge and drive.

Joost’s interest in gardening began in childhood, after his older brother introduced him to the field. He studied at the Arkna agricultural gardening school and later worked as chief agronomist at large state farms. His interest in roses grew steadily.

“He was seriously interested in it with all his heart. He was not only a trained gardener, but a gardener through and through,” said Järve, who knew Joost for decades.

Growing roses was initially difficult, but Joost managed to cultivate them successfully and promote rose growing more widely. Estonia now has 73 or 74 rose varieties bred in the country, Järve said.

One of Joost’s important projects was establishing the Põltsamaa rose garden, a collection containing thousands of rose varieties. Järve called creating such a collection in Põltsamaa’s climate an extraordinary undertaking.

“It was completely unimaginable. Põltsamaa is the cold heart of Estonia, and to take thousands of rose varieties there,” he said.

Joost also encouraged people in Estonia to grow more roses. Järve said Joost’s passion and enthusiasm helped people overcome their fears. Traditionally, many Estonians had regarded the rosehip, or Midsummer rose, as a rose in their rural culture.

Joost’s work extended beyond private gardens and the Põltsamaa rose garden. Järve considered bringing roses into public spaces one of his major contributions. Joost began establishing a rose garden in Kadriorg at a time when it was uncertain whether roses planted in public would survive.

The initial fears proved unfounded, and the Kadriorg rose garden remained. Järve said the local community also played an important role. Roses later reached public spaces in other Estonian towns, including Keila, Rakvere and Haapsalu.

Alongside cultivating new varieties, Joost searched for and preserved old Estonian roses. While preparing for the 300th anniversary of Kadriorg Palace, he was asked to find the rose depicted on the ceiling panel of the palace’s domed hall.

“He literally spent years tracing that rose until he found it in a Dutch collection garden,” Järve said. In connection with the 300th anniversary of Kadriorg and the 100th anniversary of the Republic of Estonia, a small collection of the rose was given to the Riigikogu, where it now grows in the governor’s garden.

Järve said the plant is unusual because even its petals are covered with thorns. He added that rubbing one of its leaves between the fingers releases exactly the same aroma as its flower bud.

Joost’s interest in old roses also extended to Estonian manor parks and old towns. Plants once considered ordinary rosehips sometimes proved to be old park roses.

“The manor owners were very active in communicating with Germany, Austria, France and Europe as a whole. We have nothing to be ashamed of; in the development of our park art, we were fully equal to the rest of Europe,” Järve said.

According to Järve, Joost’s influence is most visible in Estonia’s home gardens. Garden owners may not always know where their roses or their knowledge of rose growing came from, he said, but Joost’s contribution is present in those gardens.