The awards for Trial 44 (2012 - 14) at the New Zealand Rose Society International Trials were presented on December 7th in Palmerston North. A panel of 20 judges have assessed around 30 entries from New Zealand and overseas rose breeders (via their New Zealand agents) over a range of categories including freedom of flowering, health, plant quality, flower quality and fragrance. Certificates of Merit are awarded to those entries which score over … [Read more...]
December – Ferdinand Pitchard
The striped roses are either liked or loathed. On the one hand, they are a novelty in the rose world but on the other, the combination of colours may not appeal. This month we feature one of the best ‘stripes’ and one that has led to the development of many of the modern striped roses. ‘Ferdinand Pitchard’ is a repeat flowering Hybrid Perpetual with cupped blooms of pink striped with crimson. Yellow stamens are a feature of this rose as well … [Read more...]
New Zealand Rose of the Year 2014
The New Zealand Rose of the Year trials were held 13th - 16th November at Rogers Rose Garden, Hamilton. The public judged the roses over the four days while VIPS judged on the final day before the presentation of awards. The trials are for varieties already on the market in New Zealand. New Zealand Rose of the Year 2014, Best Hybrid Tea and Best NZ Raised Rose: 'Love Heart' (Somsirwith) Bred by Rob Somerfield, New Zealand. Entered by … [Read more...]
Pacific Rose Bowl Festival
The Pacific Rose Bowl Festival takes place every November in the Rogers Rose Garden, located in the beautiful Hamilton Gardens. The four-day Festival is centered around the New Zealand Rose of the Year Trial. The New Zealand Rose of the Year is one of only two Rose Trials in the Southern Hemisphere that are judged by public votes. There is also a Children’s Choice Award section. The roses in the trial are clearly marked and all you have to … [Read more...]
November – Waikato
It’s that time again when the roses start blooming in November for another season and various events are held up and down the country featuring roses. Two of the main events are the National Spring Rose Show and Convention which is this year being hosted in Hamilton and the Pacific Rose Bowl Festival which is held annually at the award winning Hamilton Gardens. So what better rose to feature this month than ‘Waikato’ the rose! Large blooms of … [Read more...]
October – Class Act
Single type roses are not always popular with rose lovers as their simple charms are often overlooked by rose lovers. This month we are featuring one of the best of the modern ‘singles’ that is instantly recognised wherever it is grown. ‘Class Act’ is well named as a good all round performer in the garden. Large semi-double blooms of creamy lemon cover the plant. At times when in full bloom, there is almost no foliage to be seen under the … [Read more...]
September – Flower Carpet Pink
This month we feature one of the most successful new rose introductions into New Zealand in the last 20 years and has become an integral part of the rose landscape in our country. It was also the first in what has become the biggest selling range of roses in New Zealand with two million plants sold in that time ‘Flower Carpet ® Pink’ was the first of the popular Flower Carpet series to be released by Anthony Tesselaar Plants of Australia and … [Read more...]
Pilgrimage North
2014 marks 200 years since the first roses were introduced to New Zealand and to celebrate this occasion, Heritage Roses Northland is hosting ‘Pilgrimage North’ from November 20th – 25th 2014. … [Read more...]
August – Big Purple
In roses, the colour purple is one of those colours that people either like or loathe having in their gardens. While there have been many heritage type and floribunda roses in the purple shades, there are very few large flowering Hybrid Teas. This month we feature ‘Big Purple’, one of the few real purple Hybrid Tea roses and also one of the best to grow. The large blooms are a beautiful purple – magenta in colour complimented of course by a … [Read more...]
July – Tintinara
This month in the depths of the New Zealand winter, we feature a rose that lights up any garden when in flower and one of the best in its colour range available on the market. 'Tintinara' is a stunning orange salmon rose, vibrant in colour and fades little as the bloom ages. Classified as a Hybrid Tea, but the large, loose petalled blooms often come in clusters making for a great display. They are lightly fragrant but the colour is the main … [Read more...]