Green with Envy
Green is not a colour you associate very often with roses so this month’s featured rose is a very welcome new addition to this colour range. Aptly named ‘Green with Envy’ is a new release for spring 2020 from Rob Somerfield. It is the culmination of 29 years of breeding by Rob to get a […]
Tabasco
This month we feature a very eye-catching recent release that will brighten up any garden. ‘Tabasco’ is well named with blooms of orange salmon produced both singly and in clusters, making for a stunning sight when in full bloom. Lightly scented. Medium growing with an upright habit, it is very healthy with healthy green foliage. […]
‘Pride of Palmy’ selected as name for city rose
‘Pride of Palmy’ has been announced as the name for the rose celebrating 50 years of International Rose Trials in Palmerston North in 2020. The name was announced at the presentation of this year’s rose trial award on Sunday by the Mayor of Palmerston North, Grant Smith and was selected from names submitted in a […]
Rosy success at International Rose Trials
A rose named for the breeder’s mother topped the list of awards presented at the New Zealand Rose Society International Rose Trial Grounds in Palmerston North in early December. Tauranga Rose Breeder Rob Somerfield from Glenavon Roses topped the trials with his variety ‘Grandma’s Rose’ which won the Gold Star of the South Pacific. “The […]
September – Christophe
After the dullness of winter, we’re featuring a rose that brightens things up as we head into spring. ‘Christophe’ is a floribunda rose with clusters of bright tangerine orange blooms – a real stand out colour in the garden. There is only a light scent to enjoy but the real stand out is the colour. […]
Name a Rose Competition
In 2020, the New Zealand Rose Society International Trials in Palmerston North celebrate 50 years – a remarkable milestone as the oldest rose trials in the Southern Hemisphere. To celebrate this occasion, the Mayor of Palmerston North, Grant Smith has commissioned a new rose to be named for Palmerston North, a city that has a […]
March – Feeling Better
Over the coming months, we’ll be profiling some of the newer roses coming onto the market in winter 2019 and this month’s rose is one named for a good cause. ‘Feeling Better’ has been bred by Rob Somerfield and is a follow up to his successful ‘Looking Good’, both of which have been named for […]
November – Strawberry Blonde
November is the month when roses reach their spring peak across much of New Zealand and is also when we get to see the blooms on new release rose for the first time. One new release for winter 2018 was ‘Strawberry Blonde’ which we are featuring for November. This floribunda comes to us from Rob […]
February – Kiss the Bride
February is, of course, the month of Valentine’s Day (14th in case anyone has forgotten) and although our Rose of the Month is not red, it does have a romantic name. ‘Kiss the Bride’ is a newer variety with clusters of cream to pale pink blooms, lightly scented and opening to reveal golden yellow stamens. […]
January – Quintessential
We begin 2018 by featuring a promising new rose variety that will be released this winter in New Zealand. ‘Quintessential’ comes from the breeding program of Rob Somerfield and combines his signature traits of lots of flowers and exceptional health. The medium pink blooms have a lighter reverse to the petals and as they are […]