ROSA Annual 2022

annual 2022 ROSA

40th anniversary

Societies ofSouthA

A

PrettyYende

dream is a wish your heart makes... find the rose your heart has been dreaming about at Ludwig’s!

From the President

Although Covid is still around worldwide, the virus has weakened and we have learnt to live with it. So you can say 2022 is the first year post-Covid. It was also ROSA’s 40th anniversary last year - read more about our history on p 60, which has been written down by Sheenagh Harris, a past president of ROSA and a past president of the World Federation of Rose Societies. Thank you, Sheenagh, for all the hard work that went into this.

We had good rains and it was a really good rose year, with our members planting a lot of new roses and picking bumper bunches in their gardens. We had loads of fun in 2022 with the amazing new roses released by Ludwig’s Roses in their 50th year.

We were sad to see Gold Reef Rose Society leave ROSA, and we wish them well. We were also overjoyed to welcome so many new members across our societies. Now is the time to start new rose societies all over South Africa - please contact us to help you with this. There is enough help and it is a simple process. If you love roses, you should be part of a rose society, where roselovers share tips and ask questions. Even the most seasoned of rosarians still have something to learn, and society members learn from each other every day.

It is always a pleasure to read Ludwig Taschner’s article in our annual (p 78); this time he discusses the most popular questions roselovers ask him and, as usual, he shows off some new varieties too.

Thank you to everyone who participated in the 6th ROSA Annual rose photo competition. What a pleasure to look at your beautiful roses!

Our ROSA judge, Ludwig, told me it was

tough choosing winners as there were some spectacular blooms, especially in the HT and Nostalgia classes.

Special thanks to those of you who remembered to enter the Floribunda class with photos of clusters in flower containers. Ludwig did not say clear glass containers, but it is easier to see if the cluster is indeed a single stem cluster when you use clear glass. Unfortunately a number of people still photographed their Floribundas in their gardens, which meant their entries in this class could not be adjudicated. Congratulations to MRS who took about all the places in all the classes.

And thank you, Gill Wilson, accredited ROSA judge, for choosing for the first time (on my behalf) an Editor’s Choice rose. For the Editor’s Choice my own entries as well as those of Gill were of course excluded. I also have to thank Joy Webb for getting prizes for us.

Thank you, Sheenagh, for the lovely article in

memory of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. It is very interesting that so many roses were named after this iconic woman. Her legacy will live on in these roses.

Due to the weak rand and the high cost of the World Rose Convention in Adelaide, Australia in October 2022, most of our members could not attend this wonderful event. We are privileged that a handful of our members could indeed go, and very thankful that Joanne Johnstone and Pam Webber wrote interesting articles and brought us back fabulous photographs.

I hope you enjoy all the articles and that you all have a splendid autumn season in your rose garden!

Rose greetings

Van die President

Hoewel Covid steeds oral met ons is, het die virus verswak en het ons geleer hoe om daarmee saam te leef. ’n Mens kan dus sê 2022 is die eerste jaar na Covid. Dit was ook ROSA se 40ste verjaarsdag verlede jaarlees gerus op bl 60 meer oor ons geskiedenis, soos neergepen deur Sheenagh Harris, ’n vorige president van ROSA en ’n vorige president van die Wêreldfederasie van Roosverenigings. Dankie, Sheenagh, vir al die harde werk wat hierin gegaan het. Ons het goeie reën gehad en dit was ’n uitstekende jaar vir rose, met ons lede wat baie nuwe rose geplant het en bosse rose in hul tuine gepluk het. Ons het baie pret gehad met die ongelooflike nuwe rose wat deur Ludwig’s Roses vrygestel is in hul 50ste bestaansjaar.

Ons was hartseer daaroor dat Gold Reef Rose Society besluit het om nie meer deel van ROSA te wees nie en ons beste wense aan hulle. Ons was ook verheug om baie nuwe lede in ons verenigings te verwelkom. Dit is nou ’n uitstekende tyd om nuwe verenigings regoor Suid-Afrika te begin - kontak ons asseblief vir hulp in dié verband. Dit is nie ’n moeilike proses nie en ons help graag. As jy ’n roosliefhebber is, behoort jy deel te word van ’n roosvereniging. Dit is die plek waar roosliefhebbers wenke kan deel en raad kan vra. Selfs die mees ervare rooskweker kan nog iets leer, en ons lede leer elke dag by mekaar.

Dit is altyd ’n plesier om Ludwig Taschner se artikel in ons jaarboek te lees (bl 78); hierdie keer bespreek hy die gewildste vrae wat roosliefhebbers hom gewoonlik vra. Soos gewoonlik wys hy ook ’n paar van sy nuwe rose vir 2023.

Dankie aan almal wat deelgeneem het aan ons 6de jaarlikse ROSA Jaarboek roosfotokompetisie.

Wêreldrooskonferensie: Clare Valley-erfenisroostuin (foto: Joanne Johnstone).

Wat ’n plesier om na al julle pragtige rose te kyk! Ons ROSA-beoordelaar, Ludwig, het laat weet dat dit regtig moeilik vir hom was om wenners te kies vanweë die hoë gehalte van die inskrywings, veral in die klasse vir Hibried-teerose (HT) en Nostalgie-rose.

’n Spesiale dankie aan almal wat onthou het om vir die Floribunda-klas ’n stingel met ’n tros rose in ’n blomhouer af te neem. Ludwig het nie gesê die houer moet deurskynende glas wees nie, maar dit is makliker om te sien of dit ’n enkele stingel is as dit deurskynend is. Ongelukkig het baie mense nog hul Floribundas in hul tuine afgeneem, en die gevolg was dat sulke inskrywings glad nie beoordeel kon word nie. Baie geluk aan MRS wat omtrent al die pryse in al die klasse gewen het.

My dank aan Gill Wilson, geakkrediteerde ROSA-beoordelaar, wat namens my die heel eerste keer ’n Redakteur se keuse-roos uit die inskrywings gekies het. Voor die Redakteur se keuse-roos gekies is, het ons my eie inskrywings asook Gill se inskrywings eers verwyder. Ek wil

ook vir Joy Webb bedank vir die pryse.

Dankie, Sheenagh, vir die pragtige artikel oor Haar Majesteit Koningin Elizabeth II. Dit is baie interessant dat daar so baie rose na die ikoniese vrou vernoem is. Haar nalatenskap word voortgesit in hierdie rose.

As gevolg van die swak rand en die hoë koste van die Wêreld-rooskonferensie in Adelaide, Australië in Oktober 2022, kon meeste van ons lede nie hierdie wonderlike geleentheid bywoon nie. Ons is bevoorreg dat ’n handvol van ons lede wel kon gaan, en baie dankbaar dat Joanne Johnstone en Pam Webber vir ons interessante artikels en mooi foto’s kon terugbring.

Ek hoop dat jy al die artikels sal geniet en ’n besondere herfs in jou roostuin sal beleef.

10 good reasons FOR JOINING A ROSE SOCIETY

of the Federation of Rose Societies of South Africa

YOU WILL RECEIVE:

1. Information on forthcoming shows and rose-related events.

2. Invitations to attend free demonstrations on different aspects of rose care.

3. The opportunity to visit breathtaking gardens not available to the public.

4. Information on newly released products and rose remedies.

5. Discounts on certain rose fertilisers.

6. Local newsletters.

7. National newsletters from ROSA.

8. ROSA annual with news and views from all over South Africa and abroad.

9. Affiliation with the World Federation of Rose Societies and all the benefits derived therefrom.

10. The opportunity to travel to the world rose conventions.

Become a member now by contacting the Secretary of ROSA or a Rose Society in your area - information on p 12.

Office Bearers

COUNCIL OF THE FEDERATION OF ROSE SOCIETIES OF SOUTH AFRICA

ROSA President

Lizette Jonker

137 Panorama Road

Rooihuiskraal

Centurion 0157

076 332 2009

lizettejonker@gmail.com

ROSA Secretary

Gail Birss

13799 Jersey Way

St John’s Village

Howick 3290

082 470 0619

gailbirss8@gmail.com

ROSA Vice President

Gail Birss

3799 Jersey Way St John’s Village

Howick 3290 082 470 0619

gailbirss8@gmail.com

ROSA Editor

Lizette Jonker

137 Panorama Road Centurion 0157 076 332 2009 rosa.annual@gmail.com

lizettejonker@gmail.com

ROSA REPRESENTATIVES

• SOUTHERN CAPE Joanne Johnstone

• GAUTENG Lizette Jonker

• HERITAGE ROSE SOCIETY (National) Carolyn Kewley

• KWAZULU-NATAL Gail Birss

• WESTERN CAPE Joy Webb

WFRS VP For Africa

Vivienne Black

PO Box 783019

Sandton

2146 083 300 6402

Vivienne@csdblack.com

ROSA Treasurer

Elizabeth Thornton-Dibb

PO Box 31131

Kyalami

1684 083 590 2041

elizabethtd.rosa@gmail.com

ROSA Facebook page: facebook.com/ROSA.southafrica

Presidents

OF THE ROSE SOCIETY OF SOUTH AFRICA 1960-1981 AND THE FEDERATION OF ROSE SOCIETIES OF SOUTH AFRICA FROM 1982

1960-1962 Fred Ziady

1962-1964 Claude Maynier

1964-1966 Egmont Behrens

1966-1968 Jack Wise

1968-1970 Bokkie van der Spuy

1970-1972 Herman Buss

1972-1973 Jack Wise

1973-1975 Fred Ziady

1975-1976 Peter Formby

1976-1978 Prof Sid Cywes

1978-1980 Mary Wise

1980-1982 Ludwig Taschner

1982-1984 Dick Lindner

1984-1986 Herbert von Malittz

1986-1988 Esther Geldenhuys

1988-1990 Duncan Henderson

ROSA ACCREDITED JUDGES

CAPE PROVINCE

FREE STATE

GAUTENG

KWAZULU-NATAL

1990-1992 Des Wright

1992-1994 Margaret Dams

1994-1996 Ludwig Taschner

1996-1998 Esther Geldenhuys

1998-2000 Johan Moll

2000-2002 Esther Geldenhuys

2002-2004 Ludwig Taschner

2004-2006 Sheenagh Harris

2006-2008 Des Wright

2008-2010 Jeanne Stoltz

2010-2010 Johan Moll

2011-2013 Stefanie Seydack

2013-2015 Joy Webb

2015-2018 Gail Birss

2018-2020 Barbara Wood

2020-2023 Lizette Jonker

Marie Favard, Ian Findlay, Sheenagh Harris, Duncan Henderson, Alta Nel, Stefanie Seydack

Johan Moll

Ludwig Taschner

AP Austen-Smith, Allyson Enslin, Gill Wilson, Sally Morning

Awards

ZOË GILBERT MERIT AWARD

The establishment of this award in memory of Zoë Gilbert was proposed by Professor Ziady and agreed upon by all Council members at the 13th Council Meeting of ROSA on 12 March 1988. It was decided it should be given to a person who has done exceptional work for the Rose Society of South Africa. At the Council Meeting on 17 March 1991 it was further agreed this award would only be presented to a member who had contributed to and promoted the growing and love of roses.

This award has been presented to:

1988 Ludwig Taschner

1994 Duncan Henderson

1996 Esther Geldenhuys

1998 Dick Lindner

2004 Des Wright

2005 Gwen Fagan

2008 Sheenagh Harris

2010 Alan Tew

2012 Bill Horwood

2014 Barbara Long

2016 Jackie Kalley

2018 Gail Birss

2021 Gill Wilson

PRESIDENT’S TROPHY

The President’s Trophy is to be given entirely at the President’s discretion to whomever the President considers worthy of it. The member receiving the award will have done a great deal to promote roses and will have been a member of a society for a number of years.

The following persons have received the award:

1994 Basil Webb

1996 Arthur Tintiger

1998 Duncan Henderson

2004 Lynn Kepler & Chris Dams

2006 Des Wright

2009 Sheenagh Harris

2012 Alan Tew

2014 Prof Sid Cywes

2016 Ludwig Taschner

2018 Sheenagh Harris

National Rose Conventions

Roosoranje

1988 Port Elizabeth ECRS Pat Dickson

1990 Durban NRS Pernille Poulsen

1992 Cape Town WCRS Sean McCann

1994 Pretoria NRS Roospret Peter Harkness

1996 Bloemfontein VRV Frank Bernardella

Henry Delbard

1998 Addo ECRS Koa Hollow

Helga Brichet

2000 Durban NRS Ken Grapes

2002 Somerset West WCRS Roses at the Cape of Good Hope ’02 Sean McCann

Thomas Proll

Tommy Cairns

2004 Pretoria NRS Rose Fantasia

Robert Harkness

2006 Pietermaritzburg MRS A Rose Affair Beatrice Barni

2008 Bloemfontein VRV Rose Celebrations Gerrit van Tonder

Johan Grobbelaar

Karen Gardelli

2010 Knysna KRS Garden Route 2010 Thomas Proll

Sheenagh Harris

Ludwig Taschner

2012 World Rose Convention ROSAFRICA 2012

2014 Pietermaritzburg MRS The Magical Mystery Midlands Tour

Lizette Jonker

2016 Johannesburg GRRS The Golden Rose Rae Gilbert

2018 Cape Town WCRS Roses in Bloom Dr Cobus Coetzee

2021 Knysna KRS Knysna Roses 2020 Michael Marriott

Inger Schierning

Ludwig Taschner

Owen Williams

HERITAGE ROSE SOCIETY OF SOUTH AFRICA (HRSSA)

48 members

Facebook: www.facebook.com/heritageroses.sa

E-mail: heritageroses.sa@gmail.com

HONORARY PRESIDENT Gwen Fagan

WFRS REPRESENTATIVE Gill Wilson

CHAIRPERSON Carolyn Kewley

13 Glenwood Place

125 Myburgh Road, Diep River

Cape Town 7800

cfkewley@yahoo.co.uk

079 907 0012

TREASURER Gail Birss

082 470 0619

gailbirss8@gmail.com

SECRETARY Gill Wilson

082 895 2767

mikegill1953@gmail.com

The HRSSA is completing the final details to host the 2023 ROSA National Rose Convention at the Simondium Lodge in the Franschhoek Valley. The event, Roses

of the Cape, honours the contribution to the heritage rose in South Africa made by our patron Gwen Fagan, who will be in her 100th year. The convention is

scheduled for 9-11 November 2023. The International speaker is Charles QuestRitson, chairperson of the World Heritage Rose Society. His talk is titled Rose Conservation: Problems and Solutions in the South African context. In addition we will have four local very accomplished speakers and will visit several splendid gardens in the area.

In November Gwen opened the Gwen Fagan Gate at the restored Mayville Heritage Rose Garden in Swellendam. The local bevy of heritage rose devotees led by Moira-Ann Odendaal had restored the garden, originally designed by Gwen in 1978. The Drostdy Museum had received Mayville in a bequest from Nina Steyn, who asked for a heritage rose garden to be established for the pleasure of visitors to the ‘park’. Old varieties of shrubs, flowers and herbs are interplanted among a tremendous selection of heritage roses. Two iconic conical cypress trees representing the benefactors, the sisters Nita and Nellie Steyn, keep a watchful eye on the garden.

Another familiar figure in our ‘heritage world’ this year has been the one and only master gardener and heritage rose expert Pietman Diener. He has enthralled and advised us locally in the Western Cape, in Bedford and in the MRS Heritage Garden in Hilton, KZN. We have all benefitted from his enthusiasm in sharing his knowledge on heritage roses and look forward to his talk at our convention.

ROSA NATIONAL CONVENTION

The Heritage Rose Society of South Africa invites all rose society members and friends to ROSES AT THE CAPE OF GOOD HOPE, a ROSA National Convention, to celebrate the 100th year of our patron Dr Gwen Fagan.

DATE: 9-11 NOVEMBER 2023

PLACE: SIMONDIUM, WESTERN CAPE, SOUTH AFRICA

• International Guest Speaker: CHARLES QUEST- RITSON

• Exclusive visits to local rose gardens & Babylonstoren

Registration open

MORE INFO AT: heritageroses.sa@gmail.com

KNYSNA ROSE SOCIETY (KRS)

75 members

Facebook: www. facebook.com/Knysna-Rose-Society

E-mail: Knysnarosesociety@gmail.com

HONORARY LIFE MEMBER

Sheenagh Harris

Carol Kennedy

CHAIRMAN

Joanne Johnstone

082 859 6334

jjohnstone07@outlook.com

VICE CHAIRMAN

Prudence Cooper

081 376 2556

jandpcooper@gmail.com

SECRETARY

Gill Goodall

082 652 3668

gill@goodall5.co.za

TREASURER

Lesley McCallum

082 891 9191

lesliemccllum@yahoo.co.uk

MEMBER

Dee Hamp-Adams

071 604 2879

sunflower.cottage1@googlemail.com

MEMBER

Irene Hutchinson

082 578 5612

irenehutchie@telkomsa.net

MEMBER

Knysna Rose Society members have enjoyed getting back to ‘normal’ by

Sheenagh Harris

082 325 4888

rutherg@iafrica.com

not only meeting face to face but also having other garden and art groups

join some of our meetings.

In February, Sheenagh Harris assisted by Carol Kennedy, Gill Goodall, Jessica Traill, Irene Hutchinson and Joan Spencer, gave a feedback presentation of the Knysna Roses 2020 Convention. Easter hats were a hit at the April meeting when Kim Fichardt shared her experience of nineteen years of gardening in the Middle East. This was followed in May by a very informative presentation by Ze’ev Harris, the National Sales Manager of Atlantic Fertilisers. Ze’ev shared the history of Atlantic and pointed out the difference between chemical and organic fertilisers. At the pruning demonstration in July Kim Fichardt reminded us that roses are pruned to remove dead wood, damaged and diseased branches and to promote strong, healthy growth and flower production. The importance of

maintenance of pruning implements was emphasised. Kim pruned a few hybrid teas and a floribunda, then Sheenagh demonstrated the pruning of climbers.

In July the Vancouver Rose Society invited Sheenagh Harris to give a Zoom presentation – Roses in South Africa – at their monthly meeting. The only disadvantage was their 19:30 pm meeting was 4:30 in the morning for her!

The KRS AGM was held in August and was supported by 28 members. The video presentation of the Butchart Gardens on Vancouver Island, Canada, was enjoyed by all. The Butchart Gardens received the WFRS Award of Garden Excellence in 2018.

Spring brought a burst of energy and the members had fun in September learning to do botanical printing. In October it was learning to take quality

photographs with cell phone cameras. This workshop was followed by a Rosy Ramble at the end of October, where KRS members and guests enjoyed beautiful private gardens as well as the communal rose garden at Formosa Retirement Village.

In October, while visiting her daughter in Vancouver, Sheenagh Harris was invited to attend the Vancouver Rose Society monthly function when Brad Jalbert of Select Roses gave an excellent talk on propagating roses. Members brought roses from their autumn gardens to be judged by Sanda Simic and Brad and Sheenagh were asked to choose the best rose on show. Sheenagh visited Brenda Viney, Gail Robertson and Dale Akkerstrom’s gardens. She kept having to remind herself these well-kept gardens are cared for by the owners only – no outside help!

Joanne Johnstone, Pam Webber and Joan Spencer had the privilege of attending the World Rose Convention in Adelaide from 27 October to 4 November.

The year’s activities will end on Saturday, 26 November when 30 members and guests are looking forward to a bus trip to George to view the garden of Dr and Mrs Benkenstein, followed by a buffet lunch at Rosenhof and shopping at Ludwig’s Roses Outeniqua.

Unfortunately, in November KRS lost a longstanding and very active member, Hilary Blowe, who succumbed to cancer. Hilary was known as the “Miniature Queen” as she always won that class at the rose shows. Miene Skarba, also a longstanding active member, lost her partner, Gunter. Our deepest condolences go to both families and friends.

MIDLANDS ROSE SOCIETY (MRS)

168 members

Facebook: www. facebook.com/midlandsrosesociety

E-mail: midlandsrose@gmail.com

Ludwig Taschner, Debbie Battershill and Sheenagh Harris

CHAIRPERSON Gail Birss

3799 Jersey Way, St Johns Village, Howick , 3290

082 470 0619

SECRETARY Karen Braithwaite

56 Amberfield

P/Bag X010

Howick

3290

082 454 9091

TREASURER Chris Withers

49 Kitchener Road, Clarendon, Pietermaritzburg 3201

082 450 1532

Our membership has remained just over 160 members this past year and members receive monthly newsletters with different articles on roses as well as advice of the monthly care of their roses. We also offer our members discount prices from Atlantic Fertiliser, Eco-Buz products, Agrishield new BuckOff (and it works!!) as well as other products three times a year. The weather wasn’t kind to us rose lovers in Kwa Zulu Natal this year, with

the rainfall way above average and some members gardens were shredded with violent hailstorms. Not many of us were spared from the dreaded botrytis and barely had time to spray for Black Spot because of continuous rain. Summer arrived earlier than normal this year, and thankfully, we were rewarded with beautiful roses once again.

A new rose was named by the Volker family for our member Rona Volker who had died the year before, and the

family kindly donated rose bushes to us. A wonderful tribute to a well-loved member who was so passionate about her roses.

The new year, 2022, began and we were still unable to host regular functions. A WhatsApp group was set up by Sandra Tretheway who also videoed Gill Wilson demonstrating summer pruning. This group has been most successful as it is only used for reminders and important information. In March, when restrictions were improved, we were thrilled to host our first indoor function once again. Gill Wilson and Sally Morning, our two ROSA accredited judges, gave a most informative presentation on all the new classes for future rose shows. Members were encouraged to bring roses from their gardens, and these

were sorted into the new classes and were then used by Mary-Ann Elstob to demonstrate using garden roses, other flowers and foliage from the garden to arrange a simple yet beautiful flower arrangement.

We were very sad to hear of the death of Thelma Austin-Smith, a past chairperson of our society in 1990, 1991, 1992 and again in 1996. Thelma and her husband AP Smith had introduced rose shows to members in the 90’s and Thelma rarely missed a function of our society throughout her life. She was always so kind and encouraging to future chairpersons and I would like to quote her message to members: ”We are here to learn, we give and we share ideas!” Under the guidance of Elizabeth Thornton-Dibbs, members picked garden roses and a few

of us arranged these as well as bought flowers to fill her memorial service with beautiful roses.

After two years we were able to return to Hilton College for our Annual General Meeting and Carol Sacke, who became a member at the event, gave a most inspirational talk on her life and her journey to becoming a landscaper. She had us laughing and had us in tears. Her garden appeared in The Gardener Magazine during the year and we were most fortunate to visit her garden in October before it was opened for Open Gardens when all her roses were in full flush. It was spectacular and as interesting and beautiful as its owner.

MRS members set up stands at the Annual General Meeting: Tarr Roses (roses), Susan von Zuilekom (linen), Belinda De La Mare (plants), Val Pohl (floral arrangements) and Elizabeth Thornton -Dibbs (a variety of goods). The meeting was well attended with just over 50 members.

demonstration in early July, a most interesting talk on bees by a local

beekeeper, Phil Walker and our visit to Carol’s garden as mentioned before. We decided to postpone our planned rose show at the end of October, as the season started earlier than normal, with roses in full flush in mid-October. We will now host our rose show in autumn.

October is always a very busy time here in the Midlands and surrounding areas with Tarr Roses hosting two weekends of Open Gardens, an event not to be missed, as well as all the other Open Gardens. We were extra busy in our Heritage Rose Garden for Open Gardens, the first weekend in November. Although most of our roses had passed their best flush, the garden was still looking beautiful.

November was the highlight of our year! We welcomed the general public to our garden during Open Gardens and, a few days later, the touring ladies of Gold Reef Rose Society visited our garden. And to crown it all, we brought Pietman Diener from the Rustenburg Wine and Manor House gardens to the Midlands! What a treat! Gill Wilson and I spent three days with him, showing

him as much as we could fit in during his stay of some of the spectacular gardens in our area, including our garden. He helped to identify some of our roses as well. His visit included a wonderful presentation and slide show with a special lunch, prizes and a get-together for members. Pietman brought us quite a few cuttings from Stellenbosch and we were able to replicate by giving him many cuttings from our garden. What a way to end a wonderful rosy year! Read more about the MRS Heritage Garden on p57.

PRETORIA ROSE SOCIETY (PRS)

20 members

Facebook: www. facebook.com/pretoriarosesociety

E-mail: pretoriarosesociety@gmail.com

VOORSITTER/CHAIRPERSON Lizette Jonker

137 Panorama Road

Rooihuiskraal, Centurion, 0157

076 332 2009

e-pos/e-mail: lizettejonker@gmail.com

PENNINGMEESTER/ Duard Jonker

TREASURER

137 Panorama Road

Rooihuiskraal, Centurion, 0157

072 989 8740

We are thankful that the worst of Covid seems to be behind us. Our society suffered on a personal level and, although healing takes longer than one thinks, we had a better year in 2022. Our wonderful roses inspired us, it was a splendid year for roses.

Our society did not have many functions last year, but rather focussed on staying in contact daily on our very active Whatsapp group and having Zoom meetings, as we have a number of members who live in other provinces.

We do get together when Ludwig has talks or there is a special event such as the annual rose festival at Ludwig’s Roses.

Our members bought and planted lots of roses last year, and those that could not, made long wish lists, and they dream of

adding more roses soon.

As we had such a fabulous season in the summer of 2022, we were expecting another one starting in spring at the end of 2022. Unfortunately chili thrips became a huge problem this season and we also battled with powder mildew as a result of unexpected heatwaves. This was quite discouraging to our members and we spent a lot of time discussing treatment of fungal diseases and getting rid of thrips.

We all enjoyed getting together for the annual rose show at Ludwig’s roses and then shopped together and talked to Ludwig.

Our members are really passionate about their roses and we are privileged to see their roses almost everyday. I was thinking what a pity that we do not have a

class in our rose photo competiiton where we are allowed 1) water drops on roses and 2) a hand holding or cupping a rose! We all love holding our roses and once a hand is in the photo, it cannot be used for the competition.

Some of our members did a summer prune and will enjoy a good autumn crop as a result of their hard labour.

We have lost a few members but are positive that we will soon get more members, as a few people are interested.

Annual Rose Festival 2022 at Ludwig’s Roses main farm. Our society members posing for a photo with Ludwig and Halmar.

WESTERN CAPE ROSE SOCIETY (WCRS)

23 members

E-mail: joyawebb@gmail.com

HONORARY LIFE MEMBER

CHAIRLADY

Joy Webb

65 Goedemoed Street, Durbanville, 7550 (021)976-5179 • 082 332 0545

e-mail: joyawebb@gmail.com

SECRETARY

Camille Forder

27 Angelier Street, Riebeeckshof, Bellville, 7530 (021)913-4200 • 073 831 8839

e-mail: camkit@mweb.co.za

TREASURER

Isabel Tuffs

14 Bellwater Park, Angelier Street, Bellville, 7530 (021)914-0121 • 072 136 3002

e-mail: isabel@vkp.co.za

In January and February 2022 we experienced very hot weather and humidity, and the wind dried out our gardens.

In March we visited Ludwig’s Roses, Winelands branch where Anja gave us an interesting talk on permaculture and the need for diversity in our gardens. It is more about introducing the right kind of natural controls and then letting nature take its course. She also showed us some varieties of novelty roses. ‘My Darling’, which is a hybrid tea, has an extraordinary colour and reminds me of ‘Peace’. The cream base is brushed with a tinge of peach and pink. ‘Dream Weaver’ is a floribunda which has

radiant blooms of lavender shades and bright pink, with a lovely ruby red violet edge. ‘Willy Wonka’ (panarosa) is really unusual. It has a unique brown colouring and a tan coloured soft brown flows from the centre. The outer petals are tinged with a contrasting rusty red. This plant has a robust growth habit.

In May Ze’ev Harris of Atlantic Fertilisers gave us a very interesting talk about their products. Bio Enrich is a combination organic and chemical product to help farmers switch from chemical to organic fertilisers. The gardener’s equivalent is Fruit and Flower. He explained the difference between chemical and organic

fertilisers. Organic products feed the soil, and chemical products feed the plants, but only for a short time. They also sell Bio Rock which is a replacement for bone meal. A big thank you to Atlantic Fertilisers for providing their products to the society members at a discount and for their support. And also thanks to the members who placed orders.

The ROSA Annual was beautifully put together. It was lovely to see the 5th Rose Photo Show with wonderful entries.

Our AGM was held in August. Alta Nel was our guest speaker. Her subject was For the Love of the Rose. Roses have been cultivated for about 5 000 years, originating in the East, and used for medical purposes, the making of perfume and as wonderful decorative plants. Alta also told us how roses have been the inspiration for so much in literature as a metaphor for love and passion, song writing, painting as well as in fabrics and home décor.

The owner of Avondale Garden in Durbanville, Ronelle Shuttleworth, opened her garden in September and again in October, when the roses were blooming. The garden looked wonderful, and the vegetable garden is full of healthy crops. The orchid house was so beautiful with so many gorgeous orchids. The clivias, too, were outstanding.

At the end of October we visited the beautiful Avondale Winery gardens in the picturesque Paarl valley. There are seven gardens, one of which is a vegetable garden which supplies the restaurant. All the other gardens are family gardens. The gardens are delightful, and it was such a pleasure to wander through them. Some had surprise plants such as fennel nestling between the roses, or some herbs to add interest and texture. To finish the tour, tea and coffee

were available as well as meals at the restaurant. These gardens have stunning views over the surrounding mountains. There were also plants for sale. A truly enjoyable and unforgettable visit.

One of the most beautiful gardens to visit in the Cape is Rustenberg Manor House garden in Stellenbosch, owned by Rozanne and Simon Barlow. There is a white garden, red border, agapanthus walk, vegetable garden and many other interesting areas to explore and take your breath away! The number of old roses is wonderful. They had arranged a table with samples of each heritage rose that had opened and all were labelled.

There are so many gardens open to the public – there are so many choices for people to visit.

We donated R5000 to the Midlands Rose Society. They will be using the money towards erecting arches over the pathways of the MRS Heritage Rose Garden. We received a lovely letter from them thanking us for the donation. This garden has grown so well over the past few years; they celebrated their 5th birthday in November 2022. The Midlands Rose Society’s ladies are dedicated and work very hard in this heritage garden.

Ludwig continues to hold his demonstrations at both of his outlets in the Cape.

Sadly, Helen de Villiers, past chairlady and honorary life member of the WCRS, passed away in October 2022. Helene was a member of the the rose society from 1994.

Lastly, I’d like to thank my committee for their support over the past year.

FELCO IN SOUTH AFRICA celebrates its 76th anniversary

How did FELCO land in South Africa?

Fbegan manufacturing pruning shears in 1945 in an old watch factory in Les Geneveys-sur-Coffrane, Switzerland. He identified key areas that were lacking in designs at the time. His product improved them to address his needs:

• Make pruners as ERGONOMIC as possible.

• Make parts with SWISS PRECISION and interchangeable where possible.

• Use the BEST AVAILABLE MATERIALS to guarantee cutting quality and robustness of the tool. These three core values - ergonomics, precision manufacturing and durabilityremain unchanged and are the strategy pursued by FELCO since 1945.

Felix Flisch started a business with a German named Mr H Albrecht, who resided in South Africa, and in 1946 the FELCO 1 was exported to South Africa. Mr Albrecht was married to a German woman with children from a previous marriage. One of these children was one Mr Baier who was also the last import agent for FELCO products from Switzerland. In November 2008 FELCO reincorporated Switzerland directly into South Africa, established a subsidiary company and excised the middleman, who was based in Germany.

As far as can be ascertained, the FELCO 1 was replaced with the FELCO POPULAR in the late fifties when the British pound fell sharply and the price, due to the exchange rate, skyrocketed overnight. The POPULAR was cheaper because it was decided to simplify the parts by letting it go through fewer manufacturing processes. This was achieved by removing the sap-groove from the anvil, no shock absorbers, ordinary bolt and nut instead of micro-adjustment mechanism and a simpler locking mechanism. In 1965, the POPULAR became the FELCO 4. The rest is history. There are now over 90 different

products in the FELCO stable. Providing innovative solutions for producers and users is a major driving force. Testimony to this is the wide range of effective products from which a professional pruner, as well as a gardener or florist can choose from:

• rotating handles improve productivity and comfort

• left-handed pruning shears

• size differentiation for large or small hands

• triangular cutting action to be able to cut cables and wire with incredible ease without distorting the cable or wire

• new effective generation of battery powered pruning shears.

• new personal protection equipment and accessories

FELCO South Africa’s main aim is to enable gardeners and professional pruners to be productive and to make their workload as user friendly and comfortable as possible. Up to 15,000 cuts per day are done by some professional pruners. Therefore, training and maintenance is a priority

FELCO is the first company to incorporate pruning training and shears maintenance (with the help of the icon Prof Eben Archer and Ludwig Taschner), to upskill and develop end-users. Knowing how to prune is critical.

FELCO in this way say thank you to all the growers and clients for their support over the past 76 years. FELCO will not lower its quality to compete on price. Productivity and longevity are priority.

The sour of inferior quality lasts much longer than the short lived sweetness of a low price.

International Rose News

Report by VP Africa

KANGEROOS, KUALA BEARS AND ROSES IN AUSTRALIA

Two hundred and fifty rose lovers attended the 19th World Rose Convention in the beautiful city of Adelaide, Australia. Three delegates from South Africa were privileged to attend this great event. The organisers offered both a “face to face” convention as well as a high quality streaming service for people that could not attend. The WFRS convention takes place every three years, with more rose experts and rose-lovers per square inch than anywhere else on the planet for a week, where they participte in lectures, social dinners, exhibitions and award presentations.

Australia is renowned for all aspects of rose culture as the climate provides ideal growing conditions. With nearly 3500 members, the National Rose Society of Australia is one of the most respected and successful societies worldwide. The State of Australia is very proud to have produced three WFRS Presidents, namely David Ruston, Kelvin Trimper and now Dianne vom Berg.

Henrienne de Briey handed the chain of office to the incoming President Diane von Berg who lives in Australia. Diane’s previous position was WFRS Treasurer. The National Rose Society of Australia honoured rose-breeders and rosarians during the convention. Four recipients were awarded the prestigious Australian Rose Award for outstanding service to the rose. The ARA is the highest award for outstanding service. Thomas Proll, (Kordes Germany), Matthias Meilland, (Meilland International France), Gavin Woods South Australia, President NRSA and Suzannee Strallwood, President, Queensland Rose Society. The TA Stewart Memorial Award was awarded to Joyce Chapman in Victoria.

Literary Awards

Literary Awards were awarded to:

• The History of the Rose in Denmark by Torben Tim

• Historical Roses in Europa Rosarium

Sangerausen by Hella Brumme and Eilike Vemmer

• Handbook of Wild Roses by Yuki Mikanagi

• Luxembourg Land of Roses by Heidi Howcrodt and Marianne Majerus

• Rose Atlas – World of Roses by Tommy Cairns and Luis Desamero

• Rosa: The Story of the Rose by Peter E. Kukielski and Charles Philip

Garden of Excellence Awards

The Garden of Excellence Awards went to:

• The International Rose Garden at Adelaide Botanic Garden

• The Rose Garden at Shanghai Cheshan Botanic Garden

• Zweibrucken Rose Garden Germany

• The East German Rose Garden, Frost, Germany

• Everland Rose Garden, Korea

• Roseraie Chateau de Munsbach, Luxenbourg

• The Rose Garden in the Arboretum of Volcji, Potok, Slovenia

• Roselunds Rosarium, Jonkoping, Sweden

A special award went to Helga Brichet for her outstanding contribution to the international rose community. The next country to host the 20th World Rose Convention was awarded to Japan with the passing on of the WFRS flag from Australia to Japan. Twenty three Japanese delegates attended the convention in Adelaide.

acknowledgement of ‘Flower Carpet

Pink’ being inducted into the WFRS

Rose Hall of Fame. The creator of ‘Flower Carpet Pink’, Werner Noack, passed away recently at the age of 95. Fortunately his son, who is carrying on the family business Noack Roses, attended to receive the award. Anthony Tesselaar, based in Victoria, has managed the Flower Carpet collection of roses. Sales of this rose now exceed 100 million plants globally in 34 years.

Introduced into the WFRS Old Rose

Hall of Fame was ‘Comte de Chambord’, a repeat-flowering Portland rose from 1860 bred by Robert Moreau.

The Australians went all out to make this World Rose Convention a spectacular event enjoyed by everyone attending as well as members worldwide who could not attend but followed closely on social media.

Rose Hall of Fame

Anthony Tesselaar and Reinhard Noack were in Adelaide to receive the painting and the

WORLD ROSE CONVENTION –CELEBRATION 22

Theld in Adelaide from 27 October to 4 November 2022 and five South Africans (of which three were Knysna Rose Society members – Joanne Johnstone, Pam Webber and Joan Spencer) were fortunate to attend. It was our first International Rose Convention and was worth every cent and the long flights. During the convention we attended interesting and some thoughtprovoking lectures most mornings and in the afternoons we visited gardens and places of interest.

As the videos of the lectures are available, this article only covers the opening ceremony and the arranged tours. The closing ceremony and awards evening are covered by Vivienne Black in the Vice President for Africa Report on p40.

Thursday evening Pam and I set out to the Adelaide Town Hall where the welcome reception was held. After walking a fair distance, we found that we were walking in the opposite direction and in retracing our steps met Lorna McIlroy from Canada

we arrived at the Town Hall just as the welcome speech ended, but in time to enjoy the canapés and wine. Looking around I understood why it is said that rosarians make friends all over the world. People were delighted to meet with old friends and catch up.

On Friday morning we entered the huge Adelaide Convention Centre full of anticipation. The opening ceremony commenced with Gavin Wood making the “City of Adelaide Statement of Acknowledgement by publicly recognising Kaurna people as the Traditional Owner and Custodians of Adelaide”. Wherever we went this acknowledgement was made. He then introduced Jack Buckskin, a Kaurna language and cultural teacher, who welcomed the delegates in the traditional way with a didgeridoo. This wind instrument is only played by men and is played with vibrating lips which produces a drone while using a special breathing technique- fascinating to say the least.

Laura Williams, daughter of the incoming WFRS President, Di vom Berg, then sang the Australian Anthem. Derek Lawrence, the WFRS Executive Director, introduced the countries represented at the convention after which Henrianne de Briey, the WFRS President, gave an overview of the History of the World Rose Conventions. Gavin Wood announced the name of the convention rose, ‘Australian Beauty’, and the Hall of Fame winner ‘Flower Carpet Pink – Blooming Carpet’ and the winners received their prizes. The Hall of Fame Old Rose was announced as ‘Comte de Chambord’. Laura Williams concluded the opening ceremony with a medley of Australian songs.

On Friday afternoon we visited the Cleland Wildlife Park, where we saw and fed kangaroos and stroked a koala whilst having a photo taken. Saturday we were free to explore Adelaide and Pam and I opted to do a walking tour of the North Terrace precinct which included the Art

Gallery and the Museum of South Australia which had an extremely interesting Aboriginal display on their lifestyle, history and culture. We later visited the Rose and Garden Expo. This was excellent, with the roses on show, displays of amazing floral arrangements and cake decorations, various stands as well as a lecture area with interesting short lectures every hour.

On Sunday we were taken on a two-hour bus trip to Clare Valley where the rolling hills were covered in crops of cereals, lucerne and chickpeas. The redundant chick-pea bushes are ground and used all over as a mulch for roses. Our first stop was the magnificent heritage garden of Walter and Kay Duncan where we had tea and lunch, thus plenty of time to enjoy the garden in-between showers. We then went on to Martindale Hall, a mansion built in the 1900s, and Sevenhills Cellars where we had wine tasting. This cellar was started by Jesuit monks and is still today a retreat centre for the Jesuits.

On Monday we spent a few hours at the Adelaide Botanic Rose Garden. The International trial judging took place while we wandered around and admired the wide variety of roses. Then on to Carrick Hill where we could view the house as well as the beautifully maintained inner or formal garden, designed by Ursula Hayward. The garden contains a variety of roses, many unusual trees and plants and has stunning views from the lawn terraces to the city and coast.

The Alister Clark Garden located here contains over 30 roses bred by this famous Australian rose breeder. The following afternoon we visited the private gardens of Jayne Kadar, Diane vom Berg and Urrbrae Garden. Jayne’s garden was small but full of old and new roses in full bloom. There was no soil showing, she has a green mulch of growing plants. Unfortunately, the rain prevented us from spending much time in this magnificent garden. Diane’s garden was a wonderful sight of roses in her front garden and a magnificent display of a variety of roses around the tennis court at the back of her home. Although the sun appeared we were unable to get the names of the roses as the rain had washed the labels.

Next stop was Urrbrae House and Garden - the house is a stately two-story mansion,

is magnificent with thousands of roses and a very special heritage rose garden including the original roses of the late 1800’s and early 1900’s. These gardens are maintained by the university and by volunteers mainly from the rose society. Wednesday was a day of art, wine and roses in the Adelaide Hills. The Magnolias, the home of Peter and Rebecca Kennedy, has a most enchanting garden comprising many old trees and a magnificent array of plants in various coloursrhododendrons, azaleas, camellias, irises and roses. The garden is built on one side of a large dam that was originally constructed to provide water for railway steam engines and is now an emergency water source in case of fire. We enjoyed a delicious lunch at Auchendarroch House, after which we wandered around the beautiful garden of heritage roses, the fragrant Delbard Rose Collection, beautiful oak trees, very colourful irises and a variety of other plants selected to respect the heritage as well as the climate and conditions of the area. We also attended the opening of the garden by Henrianne de Briey. We left Mount Barker and drove through bald hills to the east, descending into a valley to Mandalay House and garden, an exclusive venue for weddings and other celebrations. The roses along the fences of the tennis court and various garden beds were in full bloom, but of interest was the amazing variety of

trees, shrubs and hedges that encircle the property amidst meandering paths. Our bus driver was a student of history and told us the history of the Adelaide Hills as we drove. He also had his guitar with him and entertained us with well-known 60’s/70’s songs with everyone joining in as we started to gather near the bus. The Cedars was our final stop for the day. This estate was the home of renowned Australian artist Sir Hans Heysen (1877-1968) and his family, including his artist daughter, Nora Heysen (1911-2003). The estate is now in the custodianship of the Hans Heysen Foundation. We walked through the historic house and the studios of father

art works after which we explored the expansive garden with its more than 300 roses. Growing at the front of the house are the giant Himalayan cedars that gave the property its name.

As we drove through the streets of Adelaide and surrounding areas we saw beautiful rose gardens on the pavements and also many beautiful parks with beds of roses all in full bloom. Pam visited some of these parks on the last day of the convention. Daniel Boulans, one of the speakers from France, said, “We need to bring beauty and colour back into our cities” and Adelaide with all the many volunteers who maintain these gardens have done just that!

SUMMARY OF LECTURES – 2022 WORLD ROSE CONVENTION IN ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA

Celebrating the Rose of Australia –Gavin Woods

Gavin Woods is the National President of the National Rose Society of Australia (NRSA), a Life Member of the Rose Society of South Australia, a champion rose exhibitor and a national rose judge, having taken on the role of Chief Judge in 2016. He also represents the NRSA on the National Rose Trial Garden of Australia’s management team. With this wealth of knowledge and experience Gavin proceeded to share the progress and achievements of Australian rosarians and rose societies nationally as well as internationally. Roses are used to celebrate all big occasions in life –births, weddings, anniversaries, etc. Roses are not indigenous to Australia, yet it is one of the best places to grow roses, with Adelaide being the rose centre, producing world quality roses. Three gardens in Victoria have received the WFRS Award of Garden Excellence and this year Adelaide Botanic Rose Garden was nominated and received the award. Gavin concluded by saying, “Rose societies and rosarians are the United Nations of the flower population of the world. All are equal, sharing an appreciation of the rose, so this alone is reason for celebration!”

Australia’s Unique Fauna and Flora and the Impact of Humans – Prof. Chris Daniels

Chris Daniels is Chief Executive Officer of the International Koala Centre of Excellence and Chief Strategic Advisor to Cleland Wildlife Park. He is an internationally acclaimed urban ecologist and author. This extremely informative talk reminded us once again of the importance of sustaining our ecosystems and how ignorance destroys and disconnects humans from nature – a fear of nature and wildlife. There are very few incidents caused by wild animals. With the growth of population there is clearance of habitat and increase of domesticated animals to provide food. This has led to urban infilling and block sprawl and the exit of gardens. At the same time there has been an increase in pests and decrease in birds and pollinators. This has led to extinctions of natural fauna and flora. Chris went on to point out the benefits of increasing biodiversity to stabilise ecosystems. Biodiversity increases resilience of ecosystems providing them with more strength to recover in response to drought, flood and fire. It benefits agriculture, more food = more options for growing food and providing for our growing populations. Biodiversity benefits the economy by generating revenue through tourism and recreation. And don’t forget Koalas are not Bears!

David Ruston and his role in putting Australia on the Rose World Map – Sue Zwar

Sue Zwar is a passionate gardener who, with her husband John, have spent the past 45 years developing an extensive garden in Coonawarra, in the South East of South Australia. In 2008 she and David Ruston embarked on writing a book about his life, reinforcing Sue’s awareness of how important David was to the rose world. It was very emotional at times for Sue as she shared about David as a unique, artistic person with vast knowledge of plants but especially roses which he was always willing to share.

David Ruston was born in Renmark on 7 March 1920 and died 19 May 2019. He lived “A life in flowers”.

He was credited for putting his hometown in regional South Australia and Australia on the rose world map. He had the largest private rose garden in the Southern Hemisphere, featuring 50 000 species of roses and it is also home to the National Rose Collection. In 1988 at the Bi-centenary World Rose Convention in Sydney, David convened the rose display all from his own garden and it was quite a process to get the roses from Adelaide to Sydney. Only 10 of the 25 boxes eventually arrived and David arranged them in order of year, all within four hours.

David Ruston was the first Australian to hold the title of President of the World Federation of Rose Societies - 1991 to 1993. Over the years he received many awards: T.A. Stewart Memorial Award (1966), the Australian Rose Award (1982), The World Federation of Rose Societies’ (WFRS) Rose Pin (1988) and Gold Medal

(2004), the Deane Ross Memorial Award (1997) and the prestigious Dean Hole Medal (2003) from the Royal Horticultural Society. In 2009 he was bestowed the President Emeritus Award at the WFRS World Rose Convention in Vancouver. In 2010 Sheenagh Harris unveiled the sculpture of David Ruston in Renmark.

Alister Clark and Other Australian Rose

Breeders: 100 Years of Australian Rose

Hybridising (Part A) - Jim Cane

Jim Cane has had a lifelong interest in the natural world, especially plants and their habitat, and this led to a long professional career in horticulture at the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens.

Alister Clark was a foremost breeder of roses that perform well in Australia. He was the son of an immigrant Scottish tenant farmer, John Kirk Clark, who did well in Australia leaving his family with several outback cattle stations as well as Glenara homestead at Bulla , north of Melbourne. He and his brother Walter were educated in the UK. Alister married Edith Rose, a New Zealander with a fortune and he never needed to work thus living the life of a gentleman. Alister Clark was a racehorse owner and even had a racecourse named after him, and he first became interested in roses at a horse race. His main aim as a rose breeder was to produce roses that were hardy, resistant to blackspot and could withstand the hot dry climate of southern Australia. He made original use of crosses to Rosa gigantea, producing second generation of the toughest and most freely blooming roses: ‘Lorraine

Lee’ in 1924, ‘Nancy Hayward’ and ‘Lady Huntingfield’ in 1937. His best climbing rose was ‘Countess of Stradbroke’ in 1928 and ‘Amy Johnson’ in 1931, a Hybrid Tea climber which he named in commemoration of her solo flight from the UK and landing in Australia.

The Alister Clark Memorial Rose Garden located in the small town of Bulla has the most complete collection of Alister Clark roses in the world.

Alister Clark and Other Australian Rose

Breeders: 100 Years of Australian Rose (Part B)

– Tate Hancox

Tate is a passionate gardener and rose grower with over 1000 plants including approximately 160 roses which range from original species to modern shrub roses. He has a BSc (Advanced) at the University of Adelaide with a Botany and Soil Science major. In 2022 he submitted his PhD thesis on Leptospermum for bioactive honey production in South Australia for examination.

Tate focussed mainly on other breeders between 1900 and 2022 and the varieties produced. He gave the highlights of what is involved in rose breeding: flower selection; remove petal; emasculation; pollination followed by fertilisation and seed formation; seed harvest and processing; stratification sowing and germination; selection of plant; trailing in own garden, others then national, and release of a new variety to friends and other garden enthusiasts then commercialise.

New Zealand Roses and Breeders – Hayden Foulds

Hayden is the current President of the New Zealand Rose Society, also serving as editor of its two publications and webmaster. Hayden paid tribute to the following rose breeders:

• Sam McGredy IV, world leader in rose breeding and he helped to establish Plant Variety Rights. His specialities are fragrant roses, hand-painted roses, striped roses, hybrid teas, climbers and miniatures.

• Nola Simpson was very knowledgeable and supportive of other rose growers and breeders. Nola produced ‘Hot Chocolate’, a brown floribunda rose, the first brown rose in New Zealand that received many awards nationally and internationally.

• Brian Attfield was known for his show type roses.

• Barry and Dawn Eagle were known for their miniature rose ’Moonlight Lady’.

• Frank Stuurman’s speciality was cut and garden roses – ‘Darling’ and ‘Gold Stripe’.

• Bob Matthews – Matthews Nurseries has been going for 75 years and are well known for their no-spray programme. ‘Diamonds Forever’ received awards in Europe.

• Rob Somerfield is known for his nospray exhibition and garden roses‘Christchurch Remembers’ was named for the 2010 earthquake.

• George Sherwood was more for quality than quantity. His ’Kate Sheppard’, a floribunda, was named after the first woman in New Zealand to vote.

• John Ford was mentored by Nola Simpson, his aunt. He produced the Floribunda ‘Bright Eyes’ which won

the Gold and Silver Stars and the Nola Simpson Novelty Award at the 2020 New Zealand International Rose Trial Ground awards.

Rose Gardens from Lyon and Elsewhere – Parks and Gardens and their importance for our cities

Daniel Boulens, a recent retiree, spent his entire professional career in the field of public parks and gardens. He shared about his career and his strategy to create new maintenance systems in gardens and parks, thereby improving the working conditions of workers and since 2007 no chemicals have been used in public spaces in France. He said the future is in our hands and we need to act at our level to start to make a difference. Green development is in demand by the younger generation. Parks and gardens must provide new “green” species to improve oxygen and carbon storage. Trees should be utilised more, especially in open spaces and on the sides of the roads. Gardeners should review their waste management, rethink gardens to enhance bio-diversity and move away from the use of chemicals which are killing the eco-system – no aphids, no butterflies, bees or birds. He concluded by asking that everyone cultivate their gardens in an ecofriendly way.

Shrub Roses in Today’s Gardens: The use of shrub Roses old and new in Public Spaces -

belongs to the 6th generation of one of the most famous rose families in the world, the House of Meilland in France. Matthias shared on the start of the landscape rose to grow in public spaces. He said that selection of the rose is very important and there are various ways to do this:

• Genetic system: a gene pool of roses is put in a zone to see how they grow.

• Sunlight system to monitor the difference between roses in full sunlight and those in partial shade.

• Data-orientated selection.

• Humidity factor to capture amount of rain in different zones.

• Testing, ‘many pairs of eye’, testing done in various places with different growing conditions to show how the rose functions.

• Beauty, perfume and disease resistance.

‘Bonica’ was the start, a compact shrub, repeat-flowering and extremely diseaseresistant. ‘Knock-Out’ is a flowering shrub requiring minimal maintenance. ‘Drift’ is a compact rose and can be planted with other plants. These roses can be used in open spaces or on slopes for erosion control. Parks can be used as trial gardens by mass planting in different areas and mixing with other plants. Plants can be planted on highways to reduce the temperatures in hot areas. Climate change is a challenge. Making our cities greener, drops the temperature by 10 to 15 degrees and captures carbon dioxide, plus more flowers bring more pollinators. Another challenge is to breed small roses to use less water and feed them only once a year. To put the younger generation in the garden, it is necessary to make it

easier and have fast production.

The Rose Society in this Changing World: Activities underway as the American Rose Society celebrates 130 years – Diane Sommers

In 2021 Diane Sommers commenced her three year term as the 57th President of the American Rose Society (ARS). The ARS is celebrating its 130th Anniversary in 2022 and while it is time to celebrate, Diane shared on the activities underway as the ARS strives to stay relevant in today’s world, adding values for members and the gardening community.

How to move forward they set objectives: to increase rose societies; leveraging technology as an asset e.g. Instagram; grow visibility; ongoing projects. To implement these objectives the national body and local societies help each other. Diane does regular surveys to gather and analyse data. She found that committees consisted of the same members, year after year. They brought in new chairs nationally and locally, invited people to volunteer. They added committees and removed redundant committees. They offered education for local Presidents on marketing, leadership, organising and how to grow local societies. Hold webinar meetings following board meetings, to network between different committees, bring dissatisfaction of local societies back to the board. Diane said technology is important - we are never going back, so capture what is happening! Technology helps us to have virtual programmes and webinars. ARS has

started a judging school where the theory is done online. Educational YouTube videos are made by a combination of committees and professionals. Public rose gardens are used as a source of income. Diane says the ARS National Board needs to be more: transitioned, with new software to enhance communication and document sharing; website redesign and an app to go to for information; advertisements in the media; partnership with people in the community; revitalise Rrose shows.

Lessons learnt, Diane says: learn to do new things, use technology to make things better, look at what others are doing, digitalise magazines and newsletters; create and grow revenue.

Sir Hans and Nora Heysen: The history of Roses in their garden at ‘The Cedars’ and their paintings: Allan Campbell OAM

Allan Campbell is the Curator at The Cedars, Hans Heysen’s magnificent estate at Hahndorf which is now under the custodianship of the Hans Heysen Foundation. Allan related the life of Hans and Nora Heysen which made our visit to The Cedars all the more enjoyable. Hans Heysen (1877 – 1968) is one of Australia’s most popular and best loved artists. Although he is remembered more for his iconic landscapes of the Adelaide Hills and Flinders Ranges of South Australia, he was also a master flower painter. His superb oil paintings of roses picked from his own garden provide a wonderful record of the history of the unique artist’s garden. The garden continued to evolve through

two further generations of Heysen family ownership. Over 300 roses continue to grow and flourish, from the earliest plantings of Bourbons, early Teas and Musks in the 1920s and ’30s through to a wide variety of Hybrid Teas and Floribundas as favoured rose varieties of subsequent family members. Hans’ daughter, Nora Heysen (1911-2003), established her own reputation as one of the nation’s finest exponents of the art of still life painting.

New Rose Styles –Unusual Rose Blooms for the Future – Thomas Proll

Thomas qualified in Horticultural Sciences, producing his thesis on resistance and susceptibility of rose species and hybrids to powdery mildew. He has worked with Kordes Roses for the past 25 years as head of the breeding department and is responsible for the development of new garden cultivars and pot roses since 1998 and now concentrates on the breeding of garden roses. Thomas showed slides of various colours, combinations of colours, freckles, look-a likes; they are always looking for the ‘unusual’ and in doing so they see some crazy stuff. However, what sells is what looks like a rose. Some of these roses like ‘Mon Petit Chou’ (Kordes 2009) looked like an artichoke but was removed because it didn’t sell. So, they keep searching for the ‘unusual’.

Celebrating the Rose Around the World – Steve Jones, United States

Steve Jones is the current editor of the

WFRS World Rose News and Past President of the WFRS (2012-2015) and the American Rose Society (2006 -2009). He and his wife Susie have visited about 60 countries in the world. Steve’s presentation was on how people celebrate the rose around the world, from rosebuds on tombstones (closed to open, depending on age died), to artwork, gardens and processions of rose ordained floats.

Felco Presentation – Platinum

Sponsors of WRC

Felco products are made to last. Felco was founded in 1945 and is a global leader, 3rd generation family company with the company’s headquarters in Switzerland. Their products are available in 120 countries. Ergonomics is key to them - of importance is the size of the hand and whether (R) or (L) and not the size of the instrument. All parts are interchangeable. One of Felco’s values is sustainability and reducing the environmental footprint: plastic handles, about 50% recyclable parts and green energy used in manufacturing their products.

Presentations of Upcoming Conventions

• 15th WFRS Heritage Rose Conference in Brussels, Belgium 5-9 June 2023.

• WFRS Regional Convention and Heritage Rose Conference Sweden, 2-6 July 2024.

• WFRS 20th World Rose Convention 2025 in Fukuyama, Japan 18-24 May 2025.

FOR LOVE OF A ROSE

Confucius, the Chinese philosopher, wrote of growing roses in the Imperial Gardens about 500 B.C. and mentioned that the emperor’s library contained hundreds of books on the subject of roses.

The rose has played a big role through history (think of the War of the Roses) and in different religions. In Christianity the five petals of the rose symbolize all five of Christ’s wounds from the crucifixion. The colour of a rose also holds symbolic meaning. Typically, a white rose represents Christ’s purity and a red rose represents Christ’s sacrificial blood. White roses evoked the chastity of the Virgin, who was known as the ‘rose without thorns’. Roses are mentioned in the Bible, like in Song of Solomon. Rosaries play a big role in Catholic prayers. Think of all the rose windows in the world’s most beautiful cathedrals. Roses served practical purposes, too. Oils and jelly made from hips (fruits) of this plant had medical applications for skincare and were incorporated into foods. I remember using rose hip syrup diluted with boiled water for my babies as a vitamin supplement. Rose petals have been used in food, drinks, perfumes,

Redouté’s works are so outstanding, they almost don’t need his signature. Henri Matisse said: ‘There is nothing more difficult for a truly creative painter than to paint a rose because before he can do so he has first to forget all the roses that were ever painted.’

Another book by the author, Antonia Ridge, is For love of a rose, a true and very unusual story of two remarkable families, the Meillands in Lyons and the Paolinos in Antibes, who shared a common devotion to roses and later became united through marriage and through their work together and of the creation of the famous ‘Peace’ rose that became known throughout the world at the end of the Second World War. Apart from all the wonderful books with practical and technical advice on rose growing, the rose finds its way into plays and poems. ‘What’s in a name? That which we call a rose, by any other word would smell as sweet.’ So declares Juliet as she laments the name of her beloved in Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet.

Poet Robert Burns declares: O my Luve’s like a red, red rose that’s newly sprung in June …

Dorothy Parker remembers:

A single flow’r he sent me, since we met. All tenderly his messenger he chose; Deep-hearted, pure, with scented dew still wet —

One perfect rose…

Tony Hoagland has a less romantic approach:

…Yet the only tattoo I want this year is of a fist and rose, together. Fist, that helps you survive. Rose, without which you have no reason to live.

Gertrude Stein was very fond of the line, Rose is a rose is a rose, and used variants of it in several of her works. The meaning most often attributed to this line is the notion that, when all is said and done, a thing is what it is.

Afrikaans poet A.G. Visser (1878 – 1929)

laments in Die Roos:

Te kort jou skoonheidsduur, Roos van my hof;

Vir jou volmaakte uur

Die Gewer lof!

This poem was also set to music by the composer, S Le Roux Marais.

In Rosa Rosarum Visser invites the reader:

Kom na my tuin waar die donkerrooi rose Duist’re geheime vertrou aan die nag …

As a symbol of romance and undying love, there’s nothing quite like a gorgeous red rose. That’s why it’s such a popular motif for lyricists and songwriters - it conjures up an image in the listener’s mind and it’s a wonderful shortcut to the heartstrings. Of course, there can also be a lot of emotion tied to songs about a loved one named Rose.

There are many famous rose songs, like Kiss From a Rose by Seal, The Rose by

Bette Midler, Sting’s Desert Rose and the The yellow rose of Texas.

We all know the following idioms:

• When a situation is no bed of roses, it is difficult or unpleasant. (Afrikaans: dis nie alles maanskyn en rose nie.)

• Everything’s coming up roses when your life or a situation is successful in every way.

• When you are too busy to enjoy life, you should stop and smell the roses. Rose enthusiasts have declared their love for a rose in many ways:

• ‘There may be many flowers in one’s life… but only one rose.’

• ‘It is the time you have spent on your rose that makes her so important.’ (Antoine De Saint Exupéry)

• ‘A rose in a desert can only survive on it’s strength, not it’s beauty.’

• ‘One rose is enough for the dawn.’

• ‘There is simply the rose; it is perfect in every moment of its existence.’ (Ralph Waldo Emerson)

We all have a moment when we fell in love with the rose. We all have different reasons why we became involved with roses: the beauty of roses, garden design, rose shows, scent, flower arrangements. Rose styles have changed over the years as is apparent in the annual catalogues. Open rooted rose have been replaced by roses in bags. Fifty years ago everyone wanted Hybrid Teas, especially the scented ones. Miniatures were very popular at one stage. With David Austin’s English roses the old-fashioned shapes and perfumes returned and Nostalgia roses are still very popular today. Gardens are smaller and gigantic climbers planted in old farm gardens had to be substituted by more compact growing shrubs and bushes.

My father was a keen gardener, focusing mainly on fruit and vegetables. He started growing roses from slips and planted them in straight rows in a square bed. When I got married in the middle of winter in 1974, he surprised me with two rose buds on my last breakfast tray in bed: ‘Blue

Moon’ and ‘Papa Meilland’. I got hooked by the beauty and perfume of those two roses and have grown roses since moving into our first house in 1975. After all these years my feelings have not changed. What was yóúr moment that started your love affair with roses?

KEEPING THE MIDLANDS ROSE SOCIETY’S HERITAGE ROSE GARDEN IN TIP TOP CONDITION

Every Tuesday morning, come mist, drizzle, heat waves or cloudy weather, about five ladies arrive at the garden to do a variety of jobs. Some work for an hour or two and some work for 5 to 6 hours. The jobs includes weeding (never ending) deadheading, planting, not only new roses but underplanting, spraying, watering, tying back onto arches and, most of the summer months, removing those dreadful CMR beetles that love eating our roses.

The cutting of the grass and the edges are done by the Garlington staff. Metal edging was put down around the grass, not only to keep the shape but to prevent the grass growing into the beds. There are times that a persistent stem of grass will find its way under the metal, so this also keeps us busy.

Pruning of the roses starts in late July and as the roses have grown into huge specimens, it is taking us longer every year. This last year it took us about five full days to complete the pruning and we also remove all the leaves from all the bushes, including the once flowering roses. The once flowering bushes only get a good haircut after they have finished flowering, in about February.

Atlantic Fertiliser generously sponsor our fertilizer throughout the season. After we

have completed pruning, all the roses and all the beds in general are given a good feed with Bio Ocean and compost, which is then worked into the soil, and watered. The roses are then sprayed with Oleum. Once the first leaves appear, all the bushes are drenched with Koinor. Koinor has also sorted out an ant problem we had when we first started the garden.

In September and usually when the first rains arrive, we give each bush a good handful of Atlantic Fruit and Flower and the lawn is fertilized with Atlantic Crumble. They are then given three more applications of Fruit and Flower throughout the season.

The mist and summer rains in Hilton are well known and we have to spray regularly with Chronos to prevent Black Spot.

This year we were most fortunate to receive donations from both the Knysna Rose Society Western Cape Rose Society and the Gardiner family and with other money collected from sales of our seeds, and cuttings, we were able to install nine new arches over the pathways. We hope to complete this by installing six more soon. Other purchases included compost and quite a lot of underplanting to fill gaps for Open Garden. The last donation we received from the Western Cape Rose Society we used to have a plaque made

which was put onto a plinth which reads:

OUR DREAM OF ESTABLISHING A HERITAGE ROSE GARDEN IN KWAZULU-NATAL BECAME A REALITY WHEN IT WAS OFFICIALLY OPENED IN SEPTEMBER 2017 WE HOPE IT WILL BRING JOY TO ALL WHO VISIT IT FOR YEARS TO COME

FOUNDER MEMBERS: JACKIE KALLEY

There is always lots to do in the garden, but it brings us so much joy that every minute spent in the garden is worth it!

Above: ‘Paul Transon’.

Below: Red ‘Dorothy Perkins’.

ROSA 40TH ANNIVERSARY

rose affairs locally and internationally as early as 1961.

ROSA BEFORE 1982

The idea of a Rose Society in South Africa was born out of the Rose Section of the Transvaal Horticultural Society.

The Rose Society of South Africa – ROSA – was then formed by a group of rose lovers, who included Barney (Fred) Ziady, Jack and Mary Wise, Egmont Behrens, Claude Maynier and Nick Basson. The first President was Barney Ziady (19612). However, this did not include all rose societies in South Africa. The Natal Rose Society was established in 1962 but it wasn’t until 1989 they were affiliated to ROSA. The Western Cape Rose Society followed in 1969. These three societies were run independently of each other with no umbrella society. By October 1963 there were 256 members in the Transvaal.

In 1971 the Free State Rose Society, known as the Welkom and District Society, held its inaugural meeting under the Chairmanship of Cecil Morland and was affiliated to ROSA. The Northern

as chairman, making the total of rose societies in South Africa five.

In 1964 ROSA held its first rose show, sponsored by The Star Newspaper, which drew thousands of spectators. It was the first of regular Star Shows in the Johannesburg City Hall. The following year 15 000 blooms were on display at the Star Rose Show. They became very sophisticated with mechanical centre pieces designed by Jack Wise and decorated in roses by the members.

In 1970 the well-known rosarian, Sam McGredy, visited South Africa from Northern Ireland and, as it coincided with the Star Rose Show, the theme of the show was Irish. The following year David Gillad from Israel opened the Star Rose Show in November. This was the 7th and last rose show to be sponsored by The Star.

Dick Balfour, MBE and President of the Royal National Rose Society, and Ray Allen, World Federation of Rose Societies President, visited the South African Rose Societies. Thereafter many international rosarians visited South Africa and this

included groups from some countries and South Africa became known for its generous hospitality.

ROSA ON THE WORLD STAGE OF ROSES

In 1968, Jack and Mary Wise and Nick Basson represented the Rose Society of South Africa (ROSA) when it became a founder member (one of 14 member countries) of the Federation of World Rose Societies at the Federation’s inaugural meeting in London.

Seventeen ROSA members attended the first World Federation Convention held in New Zealand in 1971. They presented a trophy in the form of a Kruger Rand set in silver to the NZ Rose Society for their rose show. Mary Wise opened the spring rose show in Melbourne, Herman Buss supported the toast to the rose societies of the world, Jack Wise chaired the lecture on virus diseases in roses, Pat Klesser gave an excellent lecture, Jimmy Aves was on the panel of speakers on rose hybridising and Herman Buss and Mary Wise were on the panel of judging and staging. ROSA members did well for South Africa.

In 1974, it was the 2nd World Rose Convention in Chicago where Jan Herholdt, the only rose breeder in South Africa, was welcomed with great enthusiasm. Barney Ziady, President of ROSA, was made WFRS Vice President for Africa and the Far East and Chairman in charge of General Management till the next World Convention.

In 1976 the RNRS celebrated its centenary by holding the World Rose Convention in Oxford. About 38 South African rosarians attended, led by Mary

Wise; included in the group were Barney Ziady, Syd Cywes, Jack Wise and Ludwig Taschner, representing ROSA at this historical event. Barney Ziady was elected President of the WFRS and Sid Cywes the Secretary for the period 1976 to 1979. South Africa was voted as the host country for the next WFRS Convention to be held in Pretoria in 1979.

The 4th World Rose Convention, ROSAFARI, was held in Pretoria in 1979. Barney Ziady was WFRS President, Mary Wise was President of ROSA and Don Austin convener of the Convention. At this convention Ludwig Taschner was made Treasurer for the WFRS, Don Austin Convention Liaison Chairman and Barney Ziady Publications Chairman. In 1981 Mary Wise was made WFRS VP for Africa and Chairman of the Awards Committee and Ludwig Taschner, Convention Liaison

made Secretary/Treasurer, Editor and Convention Liaison Chairman and Mary Wise, Vice President for Africa. In 1985 Ludwig Taschner and Mary Wise received the WFRS Rose Pin for services to the WFRS.

Esther Geldenhuys was made WFRS Vice President for Africa and Chairman of Publications in 1991. In 2000 Des Wright was made WFRS Vice President for Africa and Esther Geldenhuys was awarded the WFRS Rose Pin.

Sheenagh Harris organised a group of South Africans to attend the World Rose Convention in Glasgow, Scotland in 2003. Freshwoods, the garden of Peter and Barbara Knox-Shaw was the first garden in South Africa and the first private garden in the world to receive the WFRS Award of Garden Excellence.

A group of 24 South Africans attended the World Rose Convention in Osaka, Japan in 2006. Ludwig Taschner gave a

made WFRS Vice President for Africa and was made a member of the Honours Committee. ROSA was invited to host the World Rose Convention in 2012, which Ludwig and Sheenagh accepted on behalf of ROSA. Egmont Behrens received a WFRS Rose Award.

In 2009 Sheenagh was a guest speaker at the World Rose Convention in Canada and was made President of the WFRS. Alan Tew became the WFRS Vice President for Africa. During 2011 Alan Tew stood down as WFRS Vice President for Africa and was replaced by Jackie Kalley.

The World Rose Convention in 2012, ROSAFRICA 2012, was held in Sandton, South Africa, convened by Sheenagh Harris and Di Girdwood under the auspices of GRRS. Gwen Fagan was the only South African speaker. Sheenagh Harris was appointed Editor of WRN and continued as a member of the Honours Committee. Jackie Kalley and Sheenagh

Harris received a WFRS Literary Award for their book Veld, Vlei and Rose Gardens and two South Africans received WFRS Commemorative medals. In 2015 twenty-three South Africans attended the World Rose Convention in Lyon where Bosky Dell, the garden of Rae and Greg Gilbert, received the WFRS Award of Garden Excellence and Jackie Kalley received a WFRS Literary Award for her book Old Roses – survival and revival in South Africa. Rae Gilbert was appointed VP for Africa and Sheenagh continued as WRN Editor and remained on the Honours Committee. Ludwig Taschner was one of five distinguished rosarians to be inducted into the brotherhood of the Compagnons de Beaujolais.

In 2018 the World Rose Convention was held in Copenhagen, Denmark. Vivienne Black was made WFRS VP for Africa taking Rae Gilbert’s place and Nan Steyn received the WFRS Literary award for her book Roses – The seasonal guide to

Growing Roses in South Africa. Sheenagh Harris was made an Honorary Member of the Danish Rose Society.

LOCAL HISTORY

At the 4th World Rose Convention, ROSAFARI, in Pretoria in 1979 the WCRS and ROSA worked together for the formation of an umbrella organisation for all provincial rose societies in South Africa. This organisation was to be known as THE FEDERATION OF ROSE SOCIETIES

OF SOUTH AFRICA (ROSA). In 1980, before the Federation was formalised, there were five areas represented on the ROSA Council – Western Cape, Transvaal, Natal, Border and Orange Free State and there were six rose societies – WCRS, NTRS, ERRS, OFSRS, ECRS and ROSA, with a total membership of 800.

Several provincial rose societies were subsequently set up and became members of ROSA in 1982. That was the birth of the new federation, and a new

constitution was accepted. Dick Lindner of the WCRS was the first President of the newly formed ROSA, which consisted of six Regional Societies - WCRS, NTRS, OFRS, ERRS and the newly formed Western Transvaal Rose Society plus the Rose Society of Country Members, making a total of 1,400 members.

A National Rose Convention was held every second year and the WCRS was the convener of the first National Convention Rosa Capensis in Cape Town in 1982. The keynote speaker was Jack Harkness from the UK. In 1984 the Northern Rose Society was the convener of the National Convention Roospret in Pretoria. The Vrystaat Roosvereniging was the convener of the National Convention Roosoranje in 1986 in Kroonstad and the keynote speaker was Wilhelm Kordes from Germany. In the same year the Karoo Rose Society and Natal Midlands Rose Societies were formed.

The Eastern Cape Rose Society was the convener of the National Convention in Port Elizabeth in 1988 and the keynote speaker was Pat Dickson from Northern Ireland. Ludwig Taschner was the first person to receive the Zoe Gilbert award. By 1989 there were 15 member societies of the Federation – Freestate, Northern Transvaal, Western Cape, Karoo, Eastern Cape, Western Transvaal, Natal Midlands, Highway Rose Club, East Rand, Rose Society of Country Members, Gold Reef Rose Society, Benede-Oranje, Natal Rose Society, Eastern Transvaal and Northern Natal.

The Natal Midlands Rose Society was the convener of the National Convention in Durban in 1990 and the keynote speaker was Pernille Poulsen from

Denmark. According to the 1990 annual there were 17 rose societies affiliated to ROSA, Boland and Sentraal-Karoo being the new ones. The 17 societies had a total of 2 550 members. The levy to ROSA was R2 a member. Esther Geldenhuys is mentioned as part of the editorial team.

The WCRS was the convener of the National Convention in Cape Town in 1992 and Sean McCann from Ireland was the keynote speaker.

The NRS was the convener of the National Convention, Roospret, in Pretoria in 1994 and the keynote speaker was Peter Harkness from the UK. Two years later VRV was the convener of the National Convention held in Bloemfontein and the keynote speakers were Frank Bernardella from the USA and Henry Delbard from France. According to the annual there appears to be only 15 societies.

In 1998 the ECRS was the convener of the National Convention held in Addo and the keynote speakers were Koa Hollow from New Zealand and Helga Brichet from Italy.

After 23 years as Editor, Ludwig Taschner retired and Johan Moll was editor with Esther Geldenhuys. The number of rose societies was now down to 11. With the inception of the Heritage Rose Society of South Africa in 2000 the number of societies increased to 12. The NRS was the convener of the National Convention held in Durban and the keynote speaker was Ken Grapes. In 2002 a most successful WFRS Regional Convention, Roses at the Cape of Good Hope ’02, was convened by the WCRS and held in Somerset West with international speakers, Tommy Cairns (USA), Sean

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McCann (Ireland) and Thomas Proll (Kordes, Germany). Ludwig Taschner was editor again.

In 2003 Freshwoods, the garden of Peter and Barbara Knox-Shaw was the first garden in South Africa and the first private garden in the world to receive the WFRS Award of Garden Excellence. Des Wright continued as VP for Africa.

In 2004 the NRS, helped by the GRRS, was the convener of the National Convention, Funtasia, held in Pretoria and the keynote speaker was Robert Harkness from the UK. Guest speakers were David Lloyd and Annie Beagent. Several rosarians qualified as ROSA accredited judges under Ludwig’s direction.

The MRS was the convener of the National Convention, A Rose Affair, held in Pietermaritzburg in 2006 and Beatrice Barni from Italy was the keynote speaker. Gerald Meylan, WFRS President, and his wife attended the convention. Anja Taschner assisted by Sheenagh Harris was the new editor of ROSA. In 2006 the Knysna Rose Society and Southern Cape Rose Societies were inaugurated making the total of rose societies 13. In 2008 the VRV was the convenor of the National Convention, Rose Celebrations, held in Bloemfontein and the keynote speakers were Gerrit van Tonder, Johan Grobbelaar and Karen Gardelli, all from South Africa. Three rose societies closed due to lack of support, leaving nine active societies. Ludwig Taschner withdrew the NRS from ROSA.

The KRS was the convener of the National Convention, Garden Route 2010, held in Knysna. Thomas Proll (Kordes, Germany), Sheenagh Harris, Johan Moll and Ludwig Taschner were speakers. Sheenagh, as WFRS President, opened the convention. Johan Moll was President

for the second time but only for 3 months before resigning and after a short lapse of time Stefanie Seydack was made President at the beginning of 2011.

In 2012 there were seven rose societies under the banner of ROSA. The following year Johan Moll withdrew the Free State Rose Society and the Southern Cape Rose Society closed down due to lack of support and the northern Free State started a new Society – Rose Lovers Society.

In 2013 the MRS was the convener of the National convention - The Magical Mystery Midlands Tour held in Hilton. Lizette Jonker was the only speaker.

At this stage there were only six rose societies. Lizette Jonker became the new ROSA editor. The Pretoria Rose Society was started making a total of seven rose societies.

Gold Reef Rose Society hosted the National Rose convention in 2016 - The Golden Rose. Rae Gilbert was the only speaker. GRRS reinstated their rose show.

MRS started the MRS Heritage Rose Garden at Garlington Estate in the KZN Midlands (read more about it on p57). It was opened in 2017 by Paul Hains from Australia. MRS also won many awards with their stands at The Garden Show, the biggest show of its kind in South Africa for many years. Judges often compared their stand to stands seen at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show in the UK. They won a Gold Award in 2000, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 (that year the entire stand was broken down and moved to another big garden show held in The Dome in Randburg, Gauteng and it appeared on the cover of SA Garden magazine), 2012, 2013, 2015, 2017 (that year they also won the coveted CEO Award and it was

their 30th anniversary), 2018 and 2019 (a tribute to David Austin, and they also won the 2nd place overall on the show, with R50 000 prize money). After that Covid came and The Garden Show was cancelled.

The WCRS National Convention, Roses in Bloom, took place in 2018 in Durbanville, Western Cape. Pietman Diener was the only speaker.

In 2019 Jackie Kalley on behalf of the HRSSA arranged for Viru and Girija Viraraghavan from India to visit South Africa. They gave lectures in KZN and Johannesburg. Vivienne Black was President of the Jury at the rose trials in Baden-Baden. She also visited Zimbabwe in an effort to start a rose society. The WCRS celebrated their 50th anniversary. Gill Wilson and Sally Morning from the MRS became ROSA accredited Judges. In 2020 the National Convention due to be held in Knysna had to be postponed to 2021 on account of Covid-19 restrictions. Barbara Wood was therefore asked and agreed to take on another year as President.

In December Barbara Wood resigned as President and at the same meeting Lizette Jonker took office as the new President from 2021 to 2023.

Honorary Life President Sid Cywes died, having been involved with the SA Rose World for 51 years.

The National Convention, Knysna Roses 2020, took place in Knysna in 2021. The International guests were Henrianne de Briey (WFRS President) and Inger Schierning (President of the Danish Rose Society). Gail Birss opened the Convention in the absence of the President, Lizette Jonker, who had Covid.

During Covid there were no international

conventions and all societies in South Africa did their best to keep members interested with virtual meetings and zoom presentations.

At the end of 2021 there were six rose societies. In 2022, when Barbara Wood was chairman of GRRS, it was decided to withdraw the GRRS from ROSA.

ROSA TODAY

ROSA has many new ideas and plans for the future. The first digitally published annual will see the light with this edition. ROSA is also launching a new website, and have Facebook pages for all the societies.

ROSA is embracing rosarians who do not have a society close to them by giving them the opportunity to join either PRS or HRSSA as remote members.

Cheers to the next 40 years!

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A GRRS TRIP TO THE KZN MIDLANDS

When Barbara Wood first suggested this trip, there was no doubt in my mind – I was going! And so now it is not just my pleasure, but also the pleasure of all 12 of the GRRS members who visited the KZN Midlands from 7 to 11 November, to share this utterly lovely experience with you.

Let’s start with how we got there. Barbara hired a Coachman’s coach, and so the drive to KZN itself and the trips to all the outings on our itinerary were comfortable – plenty of space for everyone, and for all the treasures we accumulated along the way! Sakkie was our excellent driver – a gentle giant with endless patience who did not bat an eye when we filled his coach with rosebushes and fertiliser, and whom we would love to see at some of our meetings in future. First prize, though, would be if he were to be our driver on another trip: watch this space!

Where did we stay? At a very conveniently located BnB called Notting Hill Lodge in, yes, you guessed correctly, Nottingham Road. There, we were very well cared for and enjoyed not only delicious breakfasts, but suppers too, which meant that we did not have to venture out in the evenings and navigate very dark roads and some rather treacherous potholes. We did have

several splendid lunches out: a pub lunch at Rawdons on the day we arrived and a fabulous lunch at Taste Buds restaurant on our last full day.

KZN had had quite a bit of rain before we arrived and it was rather wet for the duration of the trip, but we rosarians are an intrepid bunch and the Midlands was looking absolutely beautiful: soft hills of an exquisite green that just lifts the soul. Our first garden outing was to the MRS Heritage Rose Garden in Garlington Estate in Hilton, where Gail Birss welcomed us and gave us a brief history of the garden before inviting us to walk round and admire the roses and take photos. Begun on an acre of bare earth in 2017, this is now a very aptly named Old Rose Sanctuary, and it is so beautiful and established that it looks as though it has been there forever. The roses, some of which date back to the 1600s and 1700s, are all labelled and have been under planted with annuals and perennials in country garden style. At the heart of the garden is a beautifully tended circular lawn and gazebo, surrounded by an inner row of beds. Four arches of climbing roses give access to a gravel walkway and an outer row of roses, some of which are trained onto the perimeter fence. Gail had some propagated cuttings of ‘Felicia’ and ‘Gruss an Aachen’ for sale, which we

promptly pounced on …

Our second visit was to the gardens at Michaelhouse, where we walked up terraces featuring mixed border plantings of breath-taking colour and beauty. Roses of note here were ‘Knockout’ (both standards and bush roses) and the beautiful red ‘Michaelhouse’ rose, and our timing was just right to admire a sea of blue agapanthus, set off beautifully against a perfect green lawn. Running down the centre of the terraces is a stepped rill leading to a magnificent sculpture of St Michael slaying the dragon: this fairly new installation was designed by Tim Steyn, whose work we were to see a second time, at Brahman Hill Gardens, on the last day of the trip. Although geometric in design, with symmetrically placed pots of Louisiana irises in the water at every change in level, and constructed

of dark slate, so very different from the warm tones of the buildings and the generosity and softness of the plantings on the terraces, the installation is not at all out of place - perhaps precisely because it is so uncluttered, and because both the lines and the running water lead the eye so effectively to the sculpture.

Our only sunny day coincided with our outing to Tarr Roses, where we enjoyed the hospitality of Linda and her mother, Barbara. They not only generously treated us to tea and lunch, but also shared information and the Tarr Roses philosophy relating to propagation and their fertilising and pruning regimen which they have developed to support four flushes throughout the year: the first in October, a second at Christmas, a third in time for Valentine’s day, and the last in time for Easter, after which the roses start to enter dormancy and rest before being pruned. Of course there were roses for sale, and of course we all bought some, with ‘Fishpond

Below: Girls visiting the gardens at Michael-

Pebbles’ and ‘Rosy Cheeks’ being just two of the many that made their way into the luggage compartment of the coach.

That afternoon we visited Gill Wilson’s garden at Amberfield in Howick, where we were treated to a scrumptious tea and had the opportunity to meet some of the ladies of the Midlands Rose Society, who made us feel so welcome. These are people who love their gardens and roses, always have so much to talk about, and new friendships take root and flourish in the warmth of a smile and the question, “So, what have you got growing in your garden?” The morning’s sun disappeared, though, and we arrived at Gill’s home just ahead of a cloudburst of monumental proportions. Gill has managed to squeeze 116 roses into her garden, creating a sense of abundance without crowding. Everyone promptly fell in love with a rose most deliciously named ‘Hot Cocoa’, with those who hadn’t noticed it at Tarr Roses wishing most sincerely that they had seen it and bought one.

The following day we visited Inkwazi, the home and glorious, parklike garden of Val and Jan Jefferies, whose property is next door to Notting Hill Lodge. The house looks onto an artificially created lake, with rose beds, beds of hydrangeas and other plantings set around it. The beauty starts right from the driveway, bordered on one side by alternating hibiscus and freylinia.

But it was the bed of roses on the other side of the driveway, just inside the gate, that got everyone’s attention – a whole bed of ‘Hot Cocoa’! And as we got to the top of the driveway and approached the front door – massed ‘Knockout’, in full bloom; absolutely spectacular. Val introduced us to her gardener, and after explaining that she had propagated the ‘Knockout’ and ‘Hot Cocoa’ bushes from cuttings, she very kindly shared her recipe for propagating mix with us, and happily parted with slips and cuttings of all sorts of things in her garden, including those two lovely roses. She also showed us a really clever idea involving a diamond mesh structure to stop tall alstroemerias, one of her favourites, from falling over.

The last outing of the trip, before Sakkie turned the coach full of rosarians and their roses in the direction of Johannesburg, was to Brahman Hills, just outside

Nottingham Road. This garden, designed by Tim Steyn and entered through a moon gate, is so very different from the mixed border plantings that we tend to associate with KZN: it features geometric, clean lines; a rill; modern sculptures and unfussy plantings. One almost has the sense of being in a Greek amphitheatre – and there is such a sense of space, as the garden seems to extend into the hills beyond. The formal plantings and hard landscape features merge calmly into the surrounding grassland, where fruit trees have been planted.

Our sincerest thanks to Barbara, who worked out the wonderful itinerary and made all the reservations, who spoilt us all with goodie bags and who thought of absolutely everything necessary to make this a perfect trip. It was an absolute privilege to spend time with the GRRS members who came along, and to enjoy the company of people who love plants and gardens, and who simply live and breathe roses.

Those of us who went on the trip dedicate this article to Trevor and Boo Taylor, who would have been with us. Trevor, you will always be in our hearts whenever we visit a beautiful garden.

Below: Rosa bracteata/Macartney Rose (1793) – MRS Heritage Rose Garden.

IN MEMORY OF HER MAJESTY QUEEN ELIZABETH II 1926 –

2022

Many roses were named personally for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and many more were named in her honour to celebrate specific occasions. The naming of roses is a fascinating subject and it is really advantageous to name a rose after a member of the British Royal Family. It is prestigious and an honour and it helps to sell the rose. However, it isn’t easy. Queen Elizabeth ll didn’t allow any of her close relatives to give their name to anything commercial without permission from the Home Office. The Home Office in turn was slow to respond to these requests and very often they took too long and the opportunity was lost. Of course this can only apply to Britain so foreign breeders can do what they like.

All modern roses are registered under the breeder’s name and code so even if the rose has one name in the UK and a different name elsewhere, the code name will be the same everywhere.

Already a number of roses named for British Royalty have become extinct or unknown so this does not claim to be a complete list of roses named for the late Queen Elizabeth II.

The Windsor Family – Princess Elizabeth, elder daughter of The Duke of York,

only knew she would one day be Queen when her Uncle Edward abdicated in 1936. She was 10 when she learnt she would be Queen Elizabeth ll and Queen of the United Kingdom and 15 other Commonwealth realms.

However, in 1927, before she came to the throne, Harry Wheatcroft discovered a sport on ‘The Queen Alexandra Rose’ and to keep the name in the Royal Family, he named it ‘The Princess Elizabeth Rose’ in 1928 – the first rose to be named in her honour. Unfortunately it is no longer to be found nor is there a record of the rose. It is said to be a Hybrid Tea – orange in colour with yellow and cherry-red streaks.

Princess Elizabeth called herself Lilibet as she couldn’t say her name and in 1953 Robert Lindquist named a rose ‘Lilibet’, in her honour. The Americans prefer to call it ‘Fairy Princess’.

We all know that Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth did not take after her Mother, Grandmother or Great Grandmother with regard to gardening and roses. She herself said she didn’t have green fingers. I say, if a rose was named for one of her horses this might appeal to her to become more of a gardener! Just as an aside, in 1956 I attended Royal Ascot Races and knowing nothing about horses, when I saw that a horse by the name of Floribunda was running I backed it and lo and behold it came racing in!!

‘The Queen Elizabeth Rose’, a rose pink grandiflora, was raised by Walter Lammerts in 1954. The Queen Mother gave permission for this rose to take her daughter’s name on condition it is called ‘The Queen Elizabeth Rose’. This rose was known for its exceptional height. No less a judge than David Austin described it as ‘indestructible’. The origin of this famous rose is of some interest. It was created by Armstrong’s nursery in Ontario, California, USA, through the enterprising work of breeder Walter Lammerts. He was a pioneer and it is said, ‘with a better understanding of genetics than his rivals’. As they continued down the path of crossing similar and, therefore, closely related roses, Lammerts took the opposite approach. He crossed a floribunda rose called ‘Floradora’ with his own hybrid tea, ‘Charlotte Armstrong’, to produce ‘The Queen Elizabeth Rose’, the first Grandiflora rose. The result had plenty of hybrid vigour, which explains this rose’s distinctive height and continuing rude health. It was a great moment in the history of the rose. For many, the confirmation of its good genes is the parallel success of its climbing variant,

launched as early as 1957 by Dorothy S Whistler.

‘The Queen Elizabeth Rose’ was voted the world’s favourite rose for the WFRS Hall of Fame in 1979 when the World Rose Convention took place in Pretoria.

The Climbing ‘The Queen Elizabeth Rose’ was discovered in 1957 and is a replica of Walter Lammerts Grandiflora. I was fortunate to see The ‘Scarlet Climbing Queen Elizabeth’ (seedling of ‘Queen Elizabeth’ - Patrick Dickson DICel 1963) in a private garden in Osaka in 2006.

Several colour sports have been introduced over the years –

• ‘Ivory Queen’ (Fletcher 1954)

•‘Pearly Queen’ – (Greenhill Nursery, UK 1963)

• ‘Yellow Queen Elizabeth’ Grandiflora (Vlaeminck, Belgium, 1964)

• Flamingo Queen is a salmon-pink Grandiflora bred by Chan in 1964 in Canada

• ‘White Queen Elizabeth’ 1965.

• ‘Royal Queen’ (Grandiflora, bush and climber - Verschuren and Zonen, 1965)

• ‘Royal Queen Elizabeth’ (Grandiflora, bush and climber - Verschuren and Zonen, 1965)

• ‘Coral Queen Elizabeth’ (Gregory 1966)

• ‘Queen Elizabeth Blush’ (1976 Larry Baker - Grandiflora).

• ‘Apricot Queen Elizabeth’. (Verschuren

and Zonen, 1980, Grandiflora)

‘Royal Highness’ (1962 - Swim & Weeks) There is no written information as to why this rose was named for Her Majesty in 1962 except that she had been on the throne for 10 years. Alec Cocker of James Cocker & Sons bred and named ‘Silver Jubilee’ in 1978 in honour of Her Majesty, the Queen’s, Silver Jubilee in 1977. In that year this outstanding rose won the President’s International Trophy and a Gold Medal in the Royal National Rose Society’s Trials and it is claimed in rose catalogues to be one of the great roses of the 20th century – Alec Cocker’s masterpiece. It was even depicted on a stamp.

The Silver Jubilee of Elizabeth II marked the 25th anniversary of her accession to the throne on 6 February 1952. It was celebrated with large-scale parties and parades throughout the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth throughout 1977, culminating in June with the official Jubilee Days, held to coincide with the Queen’s Official Birthday. The anniversary date itself was commemorated in church services across the land on 6 February 1977, and continued to be for the rest of that month. In March, preparations started for large parties in every major city of the United Kingdom, as well as

for smaller ones for countless individual streets throughout the country.

‘Royal Salute’ (MACros 1976) ‘Baby Rose’ is Sam McGredy iv’s rose for the Silver Jubilee in 1978 and living and breeding roses outside the UK there was no need for him to apply to the Home Office for permission! In some countries it is called ‘Baby Rose’.

The Harkness nursery of Hitchin in Hertfordshire produced ‘Queen Elizabeth II Ruby Anniversary’ in 1993.

In 2002, the Golden Jubilee marked the 50th anniversary of Elizabeth’s reign with street parties, concerts and the ever-iconic wave from the balcony of Buckingham Palace. There were official visits to Australia, New Zealand, Canada and Jamaica.

The Times reported of her Golden Jubilee: “It was a long weekend that put the country on show for the 76-year-old woman who has presided over Britain’s change from a rigidly class-ridden country of extensive empire to a nation that still revels in that past glory but has become a more multi-ethnic, less snobbish sort of place.”

Two roses were named for the Golden Jubilee - ‘Jubilee Celebration’ and ‘Golden Jubilee’.

Historians at the time considered the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee (60 years on the throne), the greatest public spectacle of her reign, with public events held over an extended holiday weekend. Concerts,

picnics and street parties were held across Britain.

Central to the festivities was a jubilee flotilla in which 1,000 vessels cruised along the River Thames in the largest flotilla on the river in 350 years. Despite chilly and rainy weather, the Queen and Prince Philip waved to crowds from the deck of the royal barge for hours as it made its way down a seven-mile stretch of the river. A host of stars performed at The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee concert outside Buckingham Palace in London. The event was attended by 12,000 ticket holders, with thousands more spectators lining the length of The Mall.

Sir Paul McCartney was the final act on a night that ended when the Queen lit a beacon to mark her 60-year reign. The celebrations drew to a close on the 5th

of June with a thanksgiving service at St Paul’s Cathedral followed by a carriage procession and an RAF flypast

The only diamond jubilee celebration for any of Elizabeth’s predecessors was in 1897, for the 60th anniversary of the accession of Queen Victoria.

There were three roses named for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee in 2012.

‘Diamond Jubilee’ was named in 2012 because Elizabeth II became queen in 1952, the year prior to the Coronation. Tantau was commissioned by Marks and Spencer to name a rose for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.

Right:

In 2021 when Queen Elizabeth ll turned 95, the houses of Meilland (‘Gracious Queen’) and Harkness (‘95th Celebration’) named roses in her honour.

David Austin Roses launched ‘Elizabeth’ at RHS Chelsea in May 2022, named in honour and admiration of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth ll, Britain’s longest serving monarch and in celebration of 70 years since the Queen’s accession to the throne in 1952. This rose looks set to be an enduring tribute to Her Majesty’s unwavering duty to her country.

Harkness Roses has launched the ‘Queen Elizabeth II’ rose, which was officially selected by Her Majesty to mark the Platinum Jubilee, and will no doubt be a beautiful rose to remember the Queen. The rose has large classic hybrid tea blooms which are soft pink, with light amber, gold and cream tones, with a strong sweet scent. A donation of £2.50 is made by Harkness Roses to the Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust for each rose sold.

http://www.murambiroses.co.za/

Say it with roses

Roses can say so much

RED ROSES

Love and respect and beauty

WHITE ROSES

Evoke feelings of reverence, innocence, humility, and youthfulness.

PINK ROSES

Stand for love, appreciation, grace, and gentility.

DARK RED ROSES

Express grief and sorrow

YELLOW ROSES

Symbolize their loyalty.

A SINGLE ROSE

In a bouquet symbolizes enduring love.

Email

LIVING WITH ROSES

Over the past six weeks or so I have talked to a great number of rose gardeners, answering questions and advising on suitable varieties. Mostly it is at Ludwig’s Rose Farm so it is much easier to point out sample plants, especially the growth habit and flower shape, as well as drawing their attention to the rose care products.

The question most often heard is: what is NEW? Traditionally we promoted the new varieties in our annual catalogue, which was mailed out in mid September. Realising that it took the postal service a year to get them to the addressee, if at all, we moved the printing to January, which suited us as the pressure of October rose fever was over, with copies of the catalogue available at no charge at branch nurseries.

The big question is - why would one want to have a new variety when there are about 800 varieties to choose from? I suppose it is like a fashion show.

Of course, for a year and longer I look at the candidates virtually every day and the time comes for them to be named properly – not just a number or a nickname. There are a number of boxes that have to be ticked. Are they an improvement to similar existing varieties? What’s their novelty factor? Is it colour, flower shape or growth habit, or scent? They also have to have vigour, be quick repeat flowerers, have healthy foliage and firm petalled blooms that don’t wilt too quickly in the sun. Roses that don’t meet those criteria do not make it onto the candidate list.

Naming new rose varieties after schools, universities, organisations or in appreciation of a person or to honour them provides the impetus for roses to be planted. Often it is the rose itself that suggests its name because of its dominant quality i.e., ‘Iceberg’, ‘Perfumery’, ‘The Yellow’ or ‘Red & Fragrant’ or ‘Simply Charming’.

For fun I counted 200 roses with names starting with Mme (Madam) in the very recent COMBINED ROSE LIST from Peter Schneider of 1922 mostly named between 1830 and 1930, which are still propagated and sold. There are only about 50 varieties starting with Miss and about 80 for Mrs. There are 80 varieties starting with Orange, but about 200 starting with Pink and the same with Red and with White.

Check out the images of our novelties for January that have not yet been given a common or fancy name but are identified by the cultivar name.

Another aspect that pops-up again and again is the contamination of roses by a weedkiller. When Roundup (Glyphosate), which is the most used weed killer, is sprayed onto plants, be it on green leaves or just bare wooden stems, it is absorbed into the plant and kills it off. When sprayed on the pavement to kill weeds near a rose bed, the spray can be blown towards the roses or it evaporates and the fumes could be carried to nearby rose bushes and is absorbed into the bark or leaves. Obviously, it would be a light dose. When

new growth starts to sprout from such an infected bush, whether its dormant or with leaves, it is then miniaturised. The same might happen if a spray pump used for Round-Up is used later to spray the roses with a pesticide. It is possible that plants treated with such light concentrations are able to sprout normally lower down in the bush and it is then possible to prune off infected upper stems and branches. Infection does not happen via the roots. It is virtually impossible to clean a spray pump that contained RoundUp. Rather keep it for the weeds and get a new sprayer for the roses.

The 2,4-D (Dimethylamine salt) used on lawns to kill off broadleaved weeds is hormonic and causes the weed to overgrow itself. If used carelessly and in windy conditions and if the spray is blown onto nearby roses it too will cause unnatural, strange looking over-growth.

Plant breeders have been able to genetically create new maize varieties

that are immune to Roundup weedkiller. In some countries it is forbidden to use the seed of such plants. For instance, in Zambia and Kenya it is forbidden, but not in South Africa. Kenya cannot or will not import maize from South Africa. I do not see that gene-manipulated rose varieties will soon become available.

I had thought of deleting this bit on GM maize, for being too controversial. Then I was reading the Editor’s Note of Farmers Weekly of 18 Nov 2022 this morning. It was all spelled out in detail. Without GM maize South Africa would not be able to feed all the hungry. It would need an extra 200 000 ha to be planted to achieve the required harvest. Ninety percent of the maize crop in the USA is genetically modified. It is accepted that GM maize and other such crops are critical lifelines. Thinking back – it was grain plants moved around by animals and early humans that were hybridised by wind and bees that brought about grain plants such as wheat

and rye and barley and even maize in South America. Humans realised that the grain could be stored over periods and used when needed. That was actually the reason why humans were able to multiply as they did.

To minimise weeds in rose beds, the safest solution is to mulch the beds. Mulch suppresses weed growth, minimises water evaporation and keeps the roots cool. There are lots of materials available. My preference is pine needles.

Another aspect of gardening that has become prominent again is the activity of microbes in the soil and they are now available in gardening shops etc. These microbes cannot thrive without air, which means good aeration in the rose bed or root zone. Compost and manure are soon used up and then the soil compacts again. Therefore, it is good to introduce hard material when planting or loosening the soil after pruning when the roses are dormant. Peanut shells, crushed apricot pips or similar materials are excellent for this purpose. I have asked the editor to re-print an article I compiled for the ROSA Annual 2002 THE MAGIC of MICROBES which provides all the details (p83).

In a recent interview, the David Austin Rose nursery in England spoke about the effect of climate change on the performance of many of their varieties growing in England, resulting in the withdrawal of a number of varieties from the market. It evoked quite a response on social media from gardeners in hot countries or regions who all know that rose plants need to be watered regularly in-between rain. I was the first foreign representative for the David Austin varieties and realised very quickly that the way the roses perform in England is very

different to here. We promptly grouped them into Bush, Shrub and Climbers. We could not possibly have marketed ‘Graham Thomas’ as a bush rose, as it was in the UK, when it grew into a towering shrub or climber with us. Time will tell. In the meantime, we have a range of Panarosa varieties with similar growth habit and flower formation.

I have just come back from my morning golfcart ride and had to hop on and off to cut out the centre of the many huge candelabra type stems that are being formed. I instigated the inclusion of Candelabra stems into the exhibitors schedule, forgetting that such candelabra stems usually only appear for the second flush and not so much for the October shows. That set me thinking. Of course, in the “old” days the STAR ROSA Rose Show was held in early December in the Johannesburg City Hall. It was timed to avoid confusion and problems with the many flower shows that were held early October in almost every city or dorp. This show was largely sponsored and publicised by THE STAR newspaper. The Western Cape and Natal Rose Societies (There was no ROSA Federation at the time) often sent entries for the Show. The most prominent Judge at one time was Sam McGredy in 1969. He was quite impressed with rose growing in South Africa, but by then he had already decided to make his move from Northern Ireland to New Zealand.

Looking at the many postings of roses exhibited for the World Rose Convention held in Adelaide Australia very recently, I noticed that there were lots of tables with nice rose arrangements, but I did not see rows and rows of superbly shaped individual

Hybrid Tea rose blooms entered for judging.

At Ludwig’s Roses we stage a Rose Festival over two weekends in October with thousands of blooms exhibited according to a theme in a huge hall. It is fun to watch and overhear the comments by the stream of visitors about the varieties and colours that caught their interest and of course we need to have plants ready for them to buy and plant in their gardens. Two years ago, we had a brownish novelty but were not sure about its growth habit and how well the brownish colour would hold in the sun. So, we asked the public to write down a possible name, of which we selected ‘Willy Wonka’ and it has already become a best seller.

The weather has been favourable this last month with lots of rain on the Highveld and other regions. For us it means the dams are overflowing and the roses are sprouting superbly with us and in the gardens in most regions. What better reason to plant more roses.

THE MAGIC OF MICROBES

Much is made these days of organic farming, organically produced fruits, vegetables and flowers, but almost as much of soil-less cultivation of the same produce.

Making use of both systems in a garden makes sense. The granules of 8-1-5, 2-3-2, 5-1-5 etc that come out of a fertiliser bag are inorganic. Once they are sprinkled on the ground and dissolved and washed down to the roots it can be absorbed by the roots immediately and a reaction can usually be noted on these plants within a week. Over-use of fertiliser can cause burning of the leaves, which is mostly the dehydration, as well as acidification of the soil. Depending on the quality of the soil and the clay, loam or humus content, the dissolved fertiliser is soon carried past the level of root activity of a rose to deeper levels and eventually ends up in the borehole water, spruits or rivers. In soil-less, hydroponic production water with fertiliser is dripped past the roots of the plants every 30 minutes with 35% being leached out of the beds or containers within 5 minutes. Often this water is recycled or used for another crop. Without continually adding the inorganic nutrients to the water the plant would be undernourished within days and stop flourishing soon thereafter.

Nutrients that are locked in organic material are set free by soil microbes. This is a slow but steady process and for maximum release the microbes need much air, with other words friable – well aerated soil.

Microbes digest organic matter and build the nutrients in their own “bodies”. When they die these nutrients are set free for use by other microbes or by plants. However, organic material is not their only source of nutrients. Soil microbes contain more nitrogen (N) than any other living organism. In order to grow and multiply they need lots of N to add to the carbon they get from crop residues, compost, roots etc. In a natural system, the microbes’ N requirement comes primarily from the air. There is lots of N in air and that is why the “breathing” ability of the soil is so important - gasses in and gasses out. That is also the reason why in greater depth there is less and eventually no microbe activity. In fact, as we all well know, when organic matter that consists mainly of carbons is compressed by huge amounts of soil or water it will eventually turn to coal, oil or diamonds. Since we are not really interested if someone digs in our gardens a million years later looking for diamonds made out of the organics that could not decompose because of poor aeration in our rose beds, we rather try to achieve a good balance in aeration. The microbes are then quite capable of maintaining and improving the soil structure.

Microbes secrete a glue-like substance that prevents them from being flushed out of the soil. Consider that on one cm2 of skin on your arm an amazing 4 million microbes protect your skin from invasive pathogenic organism. The microbes have anchored themselves to your skin by means of the glue that resists

even soap. The same glue binds small particles of soil together, thus forming aggregates and in so doing create good soil structure that resists compaction and imparts good breathing ability to the soil.

The practicality for the rose gardener is to clear the “lungs” of the soil in his rose bed. Breaking up compactness by digging in organic matter once in winter usually suffices for a season. A rose is able to grow and survive with the nutrients freed by microbes, however, roses are gross feeders and repond to additional nutrients with even more and vigorous growth and that is why my recommendation is to still fertilise the roses on a monthly basis.

When preparing the rose bed or an individual hole for planting new roses the above explains the utmost importance of digging down 50 cm and more and in that way ensuring that “inhaling” and “exhaling” takes place down to that depth. The roots of the roses will certainly not penetrate deeper than to where there is good “breathing” and microbe activity. Functioning roots settled deeper down are less subjected to short periods of drought and heated water in the upper soil level.

The emphasis is on functioning. Deeply settled roots with their lower ends in very compacted soil or periodically in standing water will grow upwards into the better aerated regions nearer the surface. It still means that the absorbed water and nutrients need to travel first down through the parts that are unhappily embedded in hard or swampy soil conditions and then upward again into the bush. Such plants are subject to a susceptibility of powdery mildew,

pernicious scale, redspider mite and even insufficient growth. Even fine sandy soil can quickly become compacted and it is essential to add a good quantity of hard fibre organics to the soils or inorganic particles such as ash clinkers, volcanic ash or gravel.

The farm that I chose to grow roses on has the most unsuitable soil for rose growing. However, I was determinded to propagate all the rose plants in containers and was not too concerned with the subsoil condition which is 20 meters of yellow clay. The only trees that grow well on this farm are those that have been seeded on the ant hills. (The roots could follow the well aerated channels made by termites). All our display beds, show gardens, mother blocks and test fields are raised with composted top soil by 30 cm to ensure a total of 60 cm of good soil for root development above the clay and they perform wonderfully.

Obituary

HELENE DE VILLIERS

1932-2022

Helene was one of those delightful Afrikaans speaking South Africans who could switch from English to Afrikaans in conversation or when writing an article producing the best expression for the circumstance or subject being described. In 1994 when she was a comparatively new member of the Western Cape Rose Society she revealed this gift in two articles for the annual. Thereafter there was no stopping Helene as she regularly produced articles about growing roses and interesting and amusing reports about WFRS conventions she and Chris had attended.

Helene was Chairman of the WCRS from 2004-2009. During this period the WCRS held two rose shows each year and worked hard in the Durbanville Rose Garden. Chris and Helene did everything together and this included working in the Durbanvile Rose Garden which they did for 17 years. They attended all national conventions and a number of WFRS Conventions.

For their devotion to promoting roses and working for the rose society Ludwig’s Rose Nursery named a rose ‘De Villiers’. Helene leaves a son and a daughter.

Obituary

Chris and Margaret Dams emigrated from Rhodesia to South Africa in 1980, 43 years ago. In Rhodesia, Chris was Air Vice Marshal in the Rhodesian Air Force and Margaret was a keen gardener and plant collector, especially of Fuchsias.

Some years later, after they moved to South Africa, they made contact with the Northern Transvaal Rose Society at one of the rose shows staged in a shopping centre in Pretoria and signed up as members. Attending an AGM of the NTRS, they were both voted to serve on the Committee. One could count on them to attend meetings, society gatherings and organising rose shows and conventions over many years.

Margaret was Chairman of the NRS from 1989 – 1992, 1997 – 1999 and 2003 – 2005 and President of ROSA from 1992 to 1994 which means Margaret was President for the National convention held in Pretoria in 1994.

Chris became Treasurer of the NRS in 1997 and Secretary of ROSA in 1993 and Secretary/Treasurer in 1998 which he

sustained until 2005. After some years in Pretoria, Chris and Margaret moved to Johannesburg and became involved in the formation of the Gold Reef Rose Society, but remained involved in the NRS. Margaret was the first chairman of the newly formed Gold Reef Rose Society from 1988 – 1992.

They both wrote a great deal for the annual over the years they were involved. They also travelled to Great Britain and attended Rose Trials, mainly in Belfast.

A few years later Chris and Margaret moved back to Pretoria. They had retained their NRS membership, which by then had dropped the T for Transvaal.

Chris and Margaret instigated the President’s Award in 1994 and they donated the actual trophy to be presented to somebody of the President‘s choice at the National Convention each year. Ludwig presented the award to Chris in 2004 when he (Ludwig) was President.

They were great admirers of Ludwig, and Margaret openly called Ludwig a National Treasure! It was their

admiration for Ludwig that kept them loyal to the NRS for so long. Ludwig named a rose ‘Madam’s Rose’ to honour Margaret and Chris Dams, stalwarts of the Northern Rose Society for more than 30 years. They are proof that rose growing is fun.

Sadly for ROSA they moved to live in the UK in 2017 for family and medical

Chris Dams and the ‘Madams Rose’ (HORvanity) in their garden in Reading, England (this was taken 2 months before he died in 2022).

reasons. They grew their ‘Madam’s Rose’ very successfully where they lived in Reading.

They died peacefully in England while living with Margaret’s daughter, Ann. Margaret died in April 2021 and Chris in September 2022. Between them they leave 6 children, 11 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.

6thROSA ANNUAL ROSESHOW

We thank Ludwig Taschner, accredited Rose Judge, who did the adjucation. We had four classes:

•Hybrid Tea

• Nostalgia roses (David Austin/ Antico Moderno/Fairytale)

• Floribunda and

• Old Garden Roses. Ludwig chose winners for each class (1st, 2nd and 3rd place), and then also chose the Queen of the Show, the First Princess and the Second Princess.

SInce we had so many beautiful entries, I decided to award another prize which I am calling Editor’s Choice, and I asked Gill Wilson, also an accredited ROSA judge, to choose that rose. Congratulations to all the winners!

PRIZES

We would like to thank Halmar Taschner from Ludwig’s Roses who kindly agreed to give our winners roses:

• Queen of the Show: 10 rose bushes from Ludwig’s Roses

• 1st Princess : 5 rose bushes from Ludwig’s Roses

• 2nd Princess: 3 rose bushes from Ludwig’s Roses

Halmar also agreed to donate 1 rose bush each for all the place winners (1st, 2nd and 3rd of each of the three classes), provided they have not won Queen of the Show, First Princess or Second Princess with that rose. Other prizes:

• Editor’s Choice: Felco hamper R2000: a pair of Felco 6 secateurs, a leather holster and a pair of garden gloves

• 1st place Nostalgia Roses: Mahkro hamper

• 1st place Heritage Roses: 1 x 5 kg Flower & Fruit from Atlantic Fertitliser

PRIZEWINNERS

• Queen of the Show: Kate Wallace (MRS) with ‘Christo Lindeque’ (HT)

• First Princess: Kate Wallace (MRS) with ‘Red n Fragrant’ (HT)

• Second Princess: Katherine Kilpatrick (MRS) with ‘My Darling’ (HT)

• Editor’s Choice: Sheenagh Harris (KRS) with Tournament of Roses’ (HT)

• Class winners:

HYBRID TEAS:

1 - Kate Wallace (MRS) with ‘Christo Lindeque’

2 - Kate Wallace (MRS) with ‘Red n Fragrant’

3 - Katherine Kilpatrick (MRS) with ‘My Darling’

EDITOR’S CHOICE

‘Tournament of Roses’

Sheenagh Harris (KRS)

• 2nd place (no 1st place awarded)

Floribunda: 1 x 5 kg Bio Ocean

Our thanks to Ludwig’s Roses, Felco, Mahkro and Atlantic Fertiliser for donating prizes, and also to Joy Webb for organising these prizes.

NOSTALGIA ROSES:

1 - Susan van Zuilekom (MRS) with ‘Darcy Bussell’

2 - Susan van Zuilekom (MRS) with ‘Lichfield Angel’

3 - Christiane Varney (MRS) with ‘Princess Alexandra of Kent’

FLORIBUNDA:

2 - Dave Wimble (MRS) with ‘Deloitte & Touche’

3 - Shelley Godsell (KRS) with ‘Little Red Hedge’

HERITAGE ROSES (OGR)

1 - Shireen Deoraj (MRS) with ‘Madame Isaac Pereire’

2 - Gail Birss (MRS) with ‘Frau Dagmar Hastrup’

3 - Lizette Jonker (PRS) with ‘François Juranville’

Hybrid Teas

Hybrid Teas

Hybrid Teas

Hybrid Teas

Hybrid Teas

Hybrid Teas

EDITOR’S CHOICE

Hybrid Teas

Nostalgia Roses

Nostalgia Roses

(Antico Moderno/David Austin/Fairytale)

Nostalgia Roses

(Antico Moderno/David Austin/Fairytale)

Nostalgia Roses

(Antico Moderno/David Austin/Fairytale)

Nostalgia Roses

(Antico Moderno/David Austin/Fairytale)

Floribunda

Floribunda

Heritage Roses (OGR)

Heritage Roses (OGR)