BRIGHT EYES & CRIMSON GLORY
A poor display at a 1940s flower show led to the formation of a successful rose society.
From little acorns, it is said, mighty oaks grow. In a rosy sense, that applies to the Manawatū Rose Society, going strong after more than 70 years and about to host the New Zealand National Rose Show and Convention.
The society was formed in April 1947, when a meeting was convened to address the issue of a poor line-up of roses at a local show.
Just seven months later, under the leadership of the society’s first president, Feilding nurseryman Frank Mason, the group hosted the first national rose convention.
NATIONAL SHOW
“Fingers crossed,” says Manawatū
Rose Society president Hayden Foulds, when asked about this year’s National Rose Show and Convention, scheduled to run from November 26–28 at the Palmerston North Conference and Function Centre.
“We can make it work, even if we’re still under Level 2,” said Hayden, who is also New Zealand Rose Society president.
However, the possibility that Auckland and parts of the Waikato would still be in Alert Level 3 was “worrying” as it would have an adverse effect on registrations, which close on November 8.
With a wide range of activities over the weekend, there will be plenty for participants and the public to enjoy.
SUPPORTIVE SOCIETY
From its earliest days, the Manawatū Rose Society has found the mayors of Palmerston North “very supportive of the rose society and the rose trials”, says Hayden, and Mayor Grant Smith will open this year’s national show.
It has been a two-way street, as the society has supported the community. One of its early outreach projects was planting and caring for 120 roses in the Soldiers’ Plot at Palmerston North’s Kelvin Grove cemetery.
Of other community projects, the most significant was undoubtedly the 1967 establishment of the Dugald Mackenzie Rose Garden, kick-started with an $800 donation. Later, this was to become the site of the International Rose Trials, which draw entries from New Zealand and overseas breeders. Last year’s overall winner was John Ford’s ‘Bright Eyes’. John, an amateur breeder, is a nephew of the late Nola Simpson QSM, a distinguished breeder, president emeritus of the New Zealand Rose Society and a life member of the Manawatū Rose Society.
Pruning demonstrations became regular public events, garden visits proved popular and Manawatū was the instigator of the daring notion of holding an autumn rose show in 1952. Until then, all rose shows were in spring. Members who planned to exhibit at the April event were encouraged to prune their bushes in February to get a fresh flush of flowers for the show.
COMMUNITY ROSE
When the Manawatū Rose Society was formed, each New Zealand rose society had what was termed a ‘community rose’, with special classes for them at shows. As a result, at the 1949 AGM, ‘Crimson Glory’, ‘Étoile de Hollande’, ‘Mcgredy’s Sunset’, ‘Mcgredy’s Yellow’ and ‘Shot Silk’ were the contenders for Manawatū’s choice. In the end, ‘Shot Silk’ won the day. The Cochrane Trophy was donated for this class.
In 1952, ‘Shot Silk’ was supplanted by ‘Peace’, as the former flowered too early for the November show.
Others, referred to as Rose of the Year, included ‘Velvet Lustre’ (1984), ‘Strawberry Ice’ (1985), ‘Playboy’ (1994) and ‘Paddy Stephens’ (1996).
This rather charming practice was dropped for some years but happily the Rose of the Year returned in 2017, with members choosing ‘Pacific Glory’, bred by Rob Somerfield of Tauranga. This year’s Rose of the Year is ‘My Mum’ and there will be a class for it at the show.
SAM MCGREDY
No rose story is complete without mention of the late Sam Mcgredy, who first visited Palmerston North in the 1960s and subsequently emigrated to New Zealand and set up his breeding complex in Auckland.
As well as being a world-renowned rose breeder, Sam was an avid rugby fan. He felt the rugby Ranfurly Shield competition could be replicated in the rose world, so he donated shields for the annual North Island and South Island club competitions.
Manawatū narrowly missed winning the shield in 2004, but the following year edged out Feilding by a single point, then won again in 2010 and 2011 – when it hosted the event – and shared top honours in 2013 and 2015.
“We won in 2020 and 2021, as well,” Hayden adds.
Sam took a keen interest in the trial gardens and surely would have applauded one of this year’s show attractions, 50 Years of Trial Winners.
“We’re staging as many blooms as we can get but will use photos of a lot of the early winners, which are no longer grown,” says Hayden.
At the rose show itself, sales of roses (including the golden ‘Pride of Palmy’ released last year), talks by breeders, the Floral Designer of the Year, nurseries showing their wares, and displays by the Palmerston North Horticultural Society and Heritage Roses New Zealand will ensure visitors leave with a rosy glow.