Dear Ms. Casey,

I recently ran across your article "Who Smells Better, Ron or Nancy? How roses get their names," posted June 28. In it the following paragraph appears:

"The most famous case of a rose being actually pulled from the market is that of Mrs. Lovell Swisher in 1927," writes Peter Schneider in an e-mail. "Mr. Lovell Swisher was a prominent California businessman who had arranged for a rose to be named for his wife. A year or so later when he discovered Mrs. Lovell Swisher sleeping with the chauffeur, he attempted to purchase and destroy every Mrs. Lovell Swisher rose on the market." But he didn't succeed—Mrs. Swisher is still for sale—and on display at the Huntington Library Rose Garden.

I would just like to set the record straight, as this is a persistent story on the Internet. This is most decidedly untrue. I am a member of the Swisher family, and am the family historian. I personally know Mr. Swisher's son and know that his father and mother were happily married until Lovell Swisher's death in 1980. Mr. Lovell Swisher was a highly respected amateur horticulturist both in his home state of California and beyond, and was best known for his breeding of orchids and roses. The Mrs. Lovell Swisher rose, as well as the Mrs. Lovell Swisher fuchsia, are both readily available to the public, and Mr. Swisher's family is justly proud of both.

I know this seems like a small thing, but it isn't to our family. I understand that you use trusted sources for your work, however, in this case, Mr. Schneider's information is incorrect. If you would take the trouble to set him straight on this matter, the Swisher family would greatly appreciate it. Thank you.

Signed,
Swisher Family Genealogist