November is the month when roses are at their best across much of New Zealand as they come into flower and is also the month when many rose shows occur (Covid permitting) and also trial results are announced from the New Zealand Rose Society International Trials in Palmerston North. ‘Pride of Palmy’ has been named to celebrate 50 years of the Palmerston North Rose Trials by its breeder Rob Somerfield of Glenavon Roses. The deep … [Read more...]
‘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 competition held in August and September. Six people submitted the name with Ann Cryer of Pukekohe drawn as the recipient of six … [Read more...]
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 long and proud association with the rose. Donated by its breeder, Rob Somerfield, the medium growing Hybrid Tea has … [Read more...]
Rose Trial Winners 2017
The awards for Trial 47 (2015 - 17) at the New Zealand Rose Society International Trials were presented on November 26th at the Dugald Mackenzie Rose Gardens in Palmerston North. It was a clean sweep for rose breeder Rob Somerfield of Glenavon Roses in Tauranga with all four awards presented on the day by the Mayor of Palmerston North, Grant Smith. A panel of 20 judges have assessed around 40 entries from New Zealand and overseas rose breeders … [Read more...]
January – Eye of the Tiger
We begin 2017 by featuring of the winners from the New Zealand Rose Society trials in Palmerston North last year whose novelty caught the eye of the judges. ‘Eye of the Tiger’ received the Nola Simpson Award for the most novel rose in the trials which run over two years. This variety is another of the Hulthemia or Persica roses that are characterised by a darker base to the petal giving the impression of an ‘eye’. In the case of ‘Eye of the … [Read more...]
Free flowering, healthy roses feature among winning roses
New rose varieties that produce lots of flowers and get less disease topped the New Zealand Rose Society International Trial Awards in Palmerston North in early December with an orange rose ‘Fireball’ coming out on top. Bred by Rob Somerfield of Glenavon Roses in Tauranga, ‘Fireball’ received the top award of the trials, the Gold Star of the South Pacific. “It’s a great variety with lots of flowers and a very healthy plant” said Mr Somerfield … [Read more...]