Rose lovers around the world have already placed orders for `Roses in Bermuda', compiled by The Bermuda Rose Society and due to go on sale next week.

Completely updated from their previous edition and illustrated in full colour, the book, edited by Tuppy Cooper, provides a complete guide to all of Bermuda's own roses as well as extensive information on others cultivated here. Additionally, there are chapters on the history, propogation and care of island roses.

"This book has taken many hours of research and involved the photographing of literally hundreds of roses,'' says the project's secretary and co-editor Lee Davidson.

"It has been financed largely through the proceeds of our annual plant sale, held every May. We propogate between 500 and 750 rose bushes annually to sell to the public. Roses grow wonderfully well here and are becoming more and more popular. It's the Society's aim, however, to have at least one rose bush in every Bermuda garden, and we are hoping that this book will inspire and assist that aim. We would like to see roses blooming everywhere, all over the Island!'' The Bermuda Rose Society, formed in 1954, and composed of about 100 members, meets monthly between May and October. "We alternate between morning and evening meetings to accommodate the many different lifestyles of our members,'' says Mrs. Davidson.

Besides its many educational programmes -- which include visits from overseas guest speakers -- the Society helps maintain several rose gardens around the Island, including those at `Waterville', the National Trust headquarters and the Botanical Gardens.

There are two versions of `Roses in Bermuda' which has been designed by Paul Shapiro and published by The Bermudian Publishing Company Ltd.

A numbered, first edition, deluxe hard-cover with dust jacket and limited to 500 copies, is $39.95 and the soft-cover version is $24.95. Both versions will be available in bookshops and general stores around the Island starting on October 29.

BLOOMING BOOK -- Rose lovers should be on the lookout for the updated issue of Roses in Bermuda.