Gardeners' World presenter Carol Klein has revealed how a particular flower became a symbol of hope and healing during her battle with breast cancer.
At 80 years old, Klein was diagnosed last year after noticing changes in her nipple and seeking medical advice. Following a double mastectomy, she shared on BBC Radio 4’s Desert Island Discs that she is now feeling “terrific, really grand.”
Carol spoke movingly about a thornless, pale yellow rambling rose—Rosa banksiae ‘Lutea’—that bloomed just outside her bedroom window during her recovery. She explained, “It’s from China. It’s yellow, pale, soft yellow. It has the loveliest flowers. I could actually see it when I was in bed. It just came out over that period, April into May, as I was recovering.”
READ MORE: Countryfile’s Adam Henson Criticizes Celebrities Seeking Refuge in the Cotswolds
READ MORE: The 13 South Gloucestershire Locations Featuring in the Gromit Unleashed 3 Trail
What made the rose even more meaningful, Carol discovered through her research, is its traditional medicinal use in China for healing wounds—a connection she found deeply poignant during her convalescence.
Since her first Gardeners' World appearance in 1989, Carol has lived at Glebe Cottage in North Devon with her husband, Neil. She eagerly returned to gardening as soon as she physically could, describing the experience as magical and reassuring: “Growing seeds and knowing the whole thing just goes on. It’s the most sort of reassuring and magical thing.”
Carol also highlighted the importance of awareness and early detection in breast cancer, expressing frustration that women over 70 need to self-arrange screenings. She emphasized, “It struck me how many young women particularly are suffering from breast cancer. So I think it’s vital that people get in there quick.”
This heartfelt insight comes alongside fellow Gardeners' World presenter Monty Don’s reflection on legacy. Monty has planted a woodland for his grandchildren, understanding that the oak trees will take centuries to mature. He cherishes the rhythms of nature and the enduring cycle of growth, sharing, “I will be long dead before it is anything like great, but I love the rhythms of the season and of the natural world.”