Canterbury – The Region of the Rose

The Canterbury Horticultural Society today announced the Favourite Flower of Canterbury at its special celebration luncheon to celebrate its 150th anniversary.

When the call went out in April to find the region’s favourite bloom, the Canterbury Horticultural Society received hundreds of postal and email entries from the region’s enthusiastic gardeners.

Choosing the favourite flower has been a hotly contested debate amongst Canterbury’s garden enthusiasts but the versatile rose was picked as the loveliest bloom in the garden.

Out of 57 varieties voted for, the Favourite Flowers of Canterbury are:

1) Rose
2) Daffodil
3) Peony Rose
4) Chrysanthemum
5) Camellia
6) Dahlia
7) Lily
8) Kowhai
9) Cherry Blossom
10) Daphne

Canterbury Horticultural Society’s legacy is built upon generations of garden enthusiasts and the many beautiful gardens across the region that gives Christchurch and Canterbury its unique identity.

Founded in 1861, the Canterbury Horticultural Society is one of the oldest gardening groups in New Zealand. The Canterbury Horticultural Society is celebrating its 150th anniversary throughout 2011.

Leading members of Canterbury’s gardening fraternity discuss their favourite flower:

Elizabeth Peacock, chair of the Social and Events committee, longstanding board member and past President of the Horticultural Society says of the rose, “For me personally the rose has been the favourite because one of my grandfathers grew them commercially and my parents’ garden was full of them. My grandfather grew some of my favourites as a wedding present for Denis and I so I have a nostalgic sentiment towards all roses”.

Patsy Wardell, a member of the Stratford Garden Club said, “My favourite flower is the Rose. They thrive in our climate and I believe that apart from its beauty in its various forms and colours it is the flower for every occasion. Think of the names: Remembrance – Compassion – Keepsake – Peace – Congratulations – Silver Jubilee – Sweet Promise etc”.

Margaret Collins, Stratford Garden Club Member said,” My favourite flower is the Rose because of its variety, perfume, colour, form and performance. I cannot imagine ever having a garden without roses in it, There is such a variety being the Standard, the Bush, Climbers and Ramblers, Patio and Miniature and Ground Cover roses, something for every garden. The names and colours also have symbolic meaning - Red meaning love, courage, respect. White - innocence, purity, reverence and humility Yellow often akin to joy and deep friendship. Pink - grace sophistication and elegance”.

Mary King, long time member of the Tai Tapu Garden Club said, “I have always loved roses and there are so many beautiful ones that grow so well in Canterbury. They are very versatile, lovely in arrangements and you can pick a single bloom and enjoy watching it open up indoors. And what is more beautiful than an open rose glistening in the early morning dew?”

Freda Hunter, Past President of Canterbury Horticultural Society “A Rose is a rose is a rose. It has perfume, colour and form. Short tall medium and all. There is a rose for everyone everywhere in Canty. A rose has it all”.

Ruth Bird, CHS board member, Stratford Garden Club and Garden Club member said, “The peony with its outstandingly beautiful luscious blooms is a favourite flower. Among the most romantic plants in the world there are herbaceous and tree peonies which flower from October to December. It thrives in cold climates, is easy to grow and is greatly admired in the garden or in a vase - an aristocratic beauty, exotic and spectacular”.

David Adams, past President of CHS and daffodil fanatic said, “The daffodil has led me to friends and places all over the world. In return the daffodil people have given amazing support since September 4th. The love of daffodils has let me meet many wonderful people through the CHS. Breeding new daffodils and seeing them exhibited overseas is most fulfilling”.

Garden enthusiast Sylvia Somervile said, “Dahlia colours are amazing, from white through pinks, reds, yellows, bronze, orange, mauves, purples and bi-colours with styles ranging from semi-cactus to decoratives, poms, waterlilies and many more. What other flower can do all this and flower for half the year as well”?

Current Canterbury Horticultural Society President Ross Beaumont said, “As a young man I had the opportunity to grow Anemones as a commercial venture and I fell in love with them. The colours are vibrant and vary in texture shading and petal count. A member of the Ranunculus family, which includes the buttercup, I find it fascinating that Anemones are not available in Yellow and Ranunculas do not produce a blue flower”.

Warwick Scadden, past curator of the Botanic Gardens of Christchurch, Board Member of CHS and leader of CHS Rambler Group on the Kowhai “There are eight species of Kowhai in New Zealand, but the South Island Kowhai (Sophora microphylla) is the most beautiful of them all. The magnificent horn shaped flowers which appear in Spring are a rich golden yellow. A tree covered in bloom is a spectacular sight and attracts the bellbird, tui and native pigeon. Understandably, the Kowhai is the national flower of New Zealand”.

For more information, please contact visit www.chsgardens.co.nz

ENDS

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