Pedro Dot

Today is the anniversary of the death of the Spanish rose breeder Pedro Dot who died on this day in 1976. 

As a young boy, Pedro learned about plants from his father, who was a highly regarded gardener and plant breeder. The estate where his father worked, grew roses and the Marquise of the estate funded Pedro's early work in hybridizing.

Dot is remembered for his white rose, which came out in 1927. It was called Nevada and is named for its color.  Nevada is the Spanish word for "snowy." 
The British rosarian, Peter Beales, called 'Nevada' one of the best-known semi-double shrub roses. 

The American horticulturist and professor, Dr. Griffith Buck, taught horticulture at Iowa State University, and he created over 80 cultivars of rose.  When Buck wanted to name one of his roses after Pedro Dot, he reached out to his son. He wrote:

“I wanted to name a rose after Pedro Dot, a famous Spanish rose breeder who supported me in my breeding. I wrote to Pedro’s son, telling him that I would like to name this rose for his father. I told him I knew his father was very proud of being a Spaniard who was also proud of being a Catalonian. His son replied, “If you are going to name it for my father, why don’t you name it in Catalonian and call it ‘El Catala.’” “ which I did.”