Te Awamutu Rose Society president Anne Oliedam, right, and fellow member Linnie Jones.
Two of the world’s top rosarians will visit Te Awamutu next month, adding a never before international sheen to the town during its peak rose season.
Global rose expert Michael Marriott and US-based specialist Paul Zimmerman are leading a nine-day Botanica World Discoveries Tour to New Zealand next month.
It is on day four of that tour, November 16, that they will segway from a trip to Hamilton Gardens to view Te Awamutu’s roses.
British-based Michael Marriott was an integral part of David Austin Roses for 35 years and is said to have an encyclopaedic knowledge of roses.
He has designed many of the world’s top rose gardens and borders. Paul Zimmerman is internationally respected as a top rose horticulturalist.
He writes extensively on the topic, hosts workshops and lectures, and judges international rose shows.
Te Awamutu Rose Society president Anne Oliedam said it was Te Awamutu’s longstanding ‘Rose Town’ moniker that attracted the tour.
In a ‘Who are we Te Awamutu’ survey conducted earlier this year, it was evident residents thought it was important to retain the town’s ‘Rose Town’ brand name, initially adopted in the late 1960s.
“As far as I know, we have never had experts of their stature visit before,” she said, referring to Marriott and Zimmerman.
“This is a big feather in our cap.”
Fellow Rose Society member Linnie Jones said the society had been approached by those organising the Botanica tour.
The visit by the group will fall between two rose-oriented events in Te Awamutu during November, the town’s peak month for the blooms.
The first is the Rose Society’s 59th Annual Rose Show at the Te Awamutu Rugby and Sports Club on November 3-4, and the other is Rose Sunday on November 26.
Both events attract serious rose growers and breeders as well as fledgling growers.
Linnie was one of those herself until recently and is now a convert.
“I was a complete novice when I entered the show last year, yet I still came away with the Best Bloom title,” she said.
“It just shows you … if I can grow them, anyone can.”
Anne said the society had a long history with Te Awamutu and its residents and the upcoming rose show was a popular annual event.
“We have about 43 members at present, but not all of them choose to show their roses,” she said.
“One interesting aspect of the show that is increasingly popular is our invitation to any member of the public to bring along a rose they have grown and enter into the show for an award.”
