Bloomin’ lovely roses for annual show

Do you have a good nose for a nice smelling rose?

The Matamata Racecourse will be abundant in colour and fragrance when the Matamata Rose Show bursts into life next week.

Vice president of the Matamata Rose Society Nicola McBurney has been event manager for a number of years.

An avid grower and show entrant herself, McBurney spends her days surrounded by beauty.

She works at Four-Seasons Garden Centre where she specialises in looking after the roses.

The Rose Show is highly anticipated and McBurney says it has a good reputation for being a quite a big show.

‘‘We usually get around 35 to 40 exhibitors which is a good amount, who will enter multiple exhibits each.’’

The event takes place at the Matamata Racecourse this year, and the society is very grateful to be able to hold the show there.

Setting up for the show takes two days and roses are only on display to the public on Friday, November 25, from 12.30pm to 5.30pm.

Many exhibitors travel from Auckland, Te Kuiti, Tauranga and Hamilton.

About 12-16 judges will come to the show from the Waikato, Bay of Plenty and Auckland.

There are multiple sections, including under 16s and a preschool section.

One person who is excited about the show is Matamata woman Helen Barlow.

The new member of the Mata- mata Rose Society is entering her roses for the first time.

Barlow was introduced to the society just over a year ago by a neighbour.

Being new to the community, she saw it as a way to meet new people.

‘‘I love that the other ladies have the same interests.’’

Barlow will be entering her roses as a beginner, and although she loves roses, she is nervous.

‘‘It is a big learning curve for me. There is a lot more to it than I ever thought.’’

Members of the society have been giving Helen tips on nurturing her roses, and will be visiting her home to name the many roses in her garden, which is currently awash in colour.

Earlier this month, Barlow entered one of her roses into the Matamata Members Rose Show, which won first place in novice, one small stem section.