English rose flower power in French garden

The article on roses (Mrs Bean and autumn planting, French Living, September) brought back memories for me.

During the banking disaster, we bought a house near Carcassonne.

We used it as a gîte and drove from our home each week or fortnight to do the housework and the non-attended garden.

I planted a Graham Thomas rose outside the front door.

In the summer, it caused numerous near-accidents because of drivers slowing to look at our glorious rose!

We have since sold the house, but I hope Graham Thomas is still thriving.

Dorothy Connolly, Hérault