Grower News

DAVID UNWIN/STUFFThere were hundreds of beautiful roses on display at the Rose & Flower Show on Sunday. Carol Johnson goes in for a closer sniff. Away from the excitement of Palmerston North’s Christmas parade, rose enthusiasts will be holding their own celebration at the Victoria Esplanade rose trial grounds next weekend. The annual awards for the top new roses grown and cared for at the international trial grounds will be announced after two years of judging the progress of 40 new roses. Roses created by growers and hybridisers from around the world are in the running. Most have never been seen before in New Zealand, outside the trial grounds, and represent the latest trends in the rose industry. Trial ground committee chairman John Ford said rose breeders worldwide were working to breed roses with more flowers and improved disease tolerance, and fragrance was a quality which was more important than ever. READ MORE: * Esplanade rose trials yield winning new blooms * New roses to bloom for Palmerston North’s International Rose Trials * Tauranga’s ‘Mr Roses’ wins yet another Gold Star for his blooms The 20 judges were looking for colour, fragrance, health, flower form and novelty. The top award is the Gold Star of the South Pacific, presented annually to the top rose grown in the trial grounds. Ford said the Gold Star gave the winning rose’s breeder and agent instant recognition which helped marketing throughout New Zealand. Certificates of merit are given to roses which accumulate 70 points or more and are available commercially, with special awards made for roses which scored highly for fragrance or novelty. The Silver Star of the City of Palmerston North is presented if any New Zealand-bred amateur rose gains an award. “The ongoing awards reflect the reputation of the city and the Victoria Esplanade Gardens as an internationally recognised rose growing area,” said Ford. Next year is the 50th anniversary of the rose trials, and Palmerston North will host the National Rose Show. There will be a new rose launched, named in honour of the city, and a book on the […]

Source: www.stuff.co.nz