This month we feature a special rose that is great to give as a gift as well as to grow in your own garden. ‘Truly Special’ was presented by rose breeder Rob Somerfield to his parents on the occasion of his parents 60th wedding anniversary. The blooms have an old fashioned form and are rose pink with a slight warm glow to the centre of the blooms. A strong scent adds to the appeal of this variety. A small growing rose to 80cam … [Read more...]
Ladies Night
An award winning rose features as the Rose of the Month for March. ‘Ladies Night’ topped the NZRS trials in 2018 and was recognised with the presentation of the Gold Star of the South Pacific award to its breeder Rob Somerfield. . Red buds open to lightly scented blooms of red with a pink centre. With long stems, it is a good picking rose to enjoy in a vase. A medium to tall upright growing plant, it has very good health. Available … [Read more...]
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 green rose good enough to release onto the market. The blooms are lime green in colour and are produced in large clusters. The colour intensifies with age, … [Read more...]
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. Bred by Rob Somerfield, it was a Certificate of Merit winner at the NZRS Trials in Palmerston North in 2017. One … [Read more...]
Eye Spy
The Persica or Hulthemia roses have come into their own in recent years as several new hybrids have been released featuring better freedom of flowering, improved health and a range of flower colours. This month we are featuring a new climbing variety that will be released this winter. ‘Eye Spy’ is a vigorous climber with blooms of peach aging to honey with a dark red ‘eye’. Larger in size and with more petals than other Persica varieties, it … [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...]
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 name is a tribute to my mother from her grandchildren, they felt it was her colour” said Rob Somerfield … [Read more...]
December – Everlasting Hope
This month we feature the winner of the New Zealand Rose of the Year competition where the public gets to vote for the best rose on show at Rogers Rose Garden in Hamilton. It also won the award for best New Zealand raised rose and the best shrub rose. ‘Everlasting Hope’ has been named for Postnatal Depression Canterbury for the amazing work they do by breeder Rob Somerfield. The blooms are soft to medium pink with a gorgeous perfume which … [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...]
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 the Look Good, Feel Better Foundation to highlight their fantastic work done with post-cancer treatment. The blooms are soft cream with a thin … [Read more...]