Lovell Swisher was a prosperous Los Angeles business man who was prominent in the Men's Garden Club of Southern California. These gentlemen were largely responsible for the tropical and sub tropical street plantings we have enjoyed for the past century.

The story I've heard for years is that Mr. Swisher was married to a much younger woman, sort an early trophy wife. He commissioned the Howard Rose Company to name a new Hybrid Tea for his lovely, young wife. Shortly after the rose was introduced, Mrs. Swisher reportedly ran off with either the butler or chauffeur, depending upon who's telling the story. Mr. Swisher reportedly spent over $20,000 of pre Depression dollars buying up all the stock he could to prevent the rose from continuing. History doesn't (as far as I have been able to determine) record what happened to the young Mrs. Swisher. Fortunately for us, she still exists. Mrs. Lovell Swisher is a beautiful rose, and one which, despite the woman she was named to honor, is well worth growing today.