The Frimley Park rose gardens are abloom, and to celebrate the occasion Rose Sunday will be taking place on Sunday, November 11.

The event has been hosted by the Hastings Rose Society, and supported by the Hastings District Council, for many years.

Last year a plaque was unveiled to recognise the Rose Society’s generosity in donating the pavilion, and the society had also bought four new seats for the pathway heading to the pavilion, which they hoped would be installed by early this month.

Rose Society president Cheryl Lattey said the event was a way to promote roses in general and celebrate the Frimley Rose Garden.

“On the day we welcome people to the garden and give them a rosebud buttonhole from our own gardens and answer any questions they may have."

People asked a range of questions, she said, from asking Rose Society members what their favourite roses were, to advice on how to tend their roses – such as the best time to prune, or the best fertilisers and sprays.

Mrs Lattey said there was no particular variety of rose that did well in Hawke’s Bay – as a rule of thumb, however, those that grew well were resilient to viruses, happy to be very hot, and didn’t succumb easily to rust and mildew.

“The best advice we can give people is to come to the Frimley Rose Garden and see what’s doing well there, as that is what is likely to grow well in their own gardens.”

As well as enjoying the gardens and chatting to Rose Society members, there would be entertainment provided by the Twin City Stompers, a coffee cart, ice-creams, the bubble man, face painting and pony rides.

The Frimley Rose Garden, the design of which was based on Kew Gardens in England, was first opened on Sunday, November 26, 1967.

Starting with 4000 rose bushes, it is now home to more than 5500 and is widely known as an “Old English” park, which includes a number of historic trees.

For Rose Sunday, the gates will open at 11am.

In the meantime, for the first time this year Frimley Rose Garden has been included in the Hospice Holly Trail, taking place from this Thursday to Saturday.

Participants are encouraged to make the most of the opportunity to take in the gardens while they are at their best.

ENDS

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