Rose show blooms in autumn

KNYSNA NEWS – The Knysna Rose Society recently rang in the new season with their annual autumn rose show, held on Friday and Saturday, 24 and 25 March in the Woolworths forecourt at Knysna Mall.

According to Knysna Rose Society (KRS) chairperson Joanne Johnstone, autumn rose shows are not very popular as the roses are not always at their best at this time of the year. However, local rosarians made it their mission to put their very best on show this year.

"The roses made a wonderful, joyful impression on the public; it was a delight to watch young and old stop to admire and smell the roses," Joanne said.

"We hope that it will encourage rose lovers to become more involved and confident with growing roses in this beautiful part of the world, for it was clear for all to see how spectacular home-grown roses are in the Garden Route." In November last year, three KRS members were afforded the chance to attend the World Federation of Rose Societies' world convention in Adelaide, Australia. According to Joanne, one of the speakers at the convention remarked, "It is time to bring beauty and fragrance back into our towns and cities!"

A rosy show
On Friday 24 March, 16 KRS members and two Knysna residents bravely arrived with their homegrown roses which were judged by rose judge Stefanie Seydach, accredited by the Rose Societies of South Africa.

"The rose display in the centre of the show was done by Carol Kennedy and these roses were kindly donated by Rosenhof Rose Farm and Ludwig's Outeniqua, as well as some roses out of our members' gardens," Joanne said.

On Saturday all the roses were sold to the public and the money made from this, together with donations received from the public throughout the show, are to be given to Revive Knysna and Knysna in Bloom.

"KRS would like to thank and express our appreciation to all sponsors of the Autumn Rose Show: Agri Knysna, Ludwig's Outeniqua, Rosenhof Rose Farm, Barrowdale Nursery, Elements Nursery, Penhill Nursery, Metelerkamps, Food Lovers' Market, Salt & Petal, Art Café, Trinity Cage, L'Opera and Delia's Plett," said Joanne.

The winning rosarians were:

Irene Hutchinson – Formosa Village (Queen of the Show & overall winner on points)
Pru Cooper (2nd on points, Winner of Hybrid Tea Section & shared Winner of Floribunda Section)
George Parkes (3rd on Points)
Christine Barnes (4th on points)
Ria van Jaarsveld (5th on points & a Novice)
Heather Holt (Novice Winner)
Sheenagh Harris (Winner of Old Garden / Heritage Roses Section)
Leisure Gardens (Winner of Old Age Homes & Complex Section)
Miene Skarba (Winner of the Miniature Roses Section)
Joanne Johnstone (Shared Winner of Floribunda Section)

The triumphant rosarians at the show. Back, from left: Christine Barnes, Heather Holt, Irene Hutchinson, Ria van Jaarsveld, Pru Cooper, Sheenagh Harris and Charlie Tew who presented the prizes. Front: Gert Sumner, Miene Skarba, Joanne Johnstone and George Parkes.