A Te Puna rose breeder has taken out the three awards on offer at a prestigious international rose trial, representing a passion for the flowers spanning 26 years and a clear indication his roses are among the best in the world. At the New Zealand Rose Society International Rose Trial Groundsin Palmerston North on Sunday, Rob Somerfield, owner of Glenavon Roses, won the top prize for the highest pointed rose. The Gold Star of the South Pacific was awarded for his red bloom Love Heart after the roses in the trial had been judged regularly and allocated points over the past two years. "A lot of them are from overseas too, it's quite good to be able to compare yours to what they're doing over there with their big businesses," Mr Somerfield said. His favourite winning rose, however, was Creme de la Creme, which won the June Hocking Fragrance Award and Certificate of Merit. He said this rose, which is cream with coffee tones, presented the greatest breeding challenge. "It's easy to get fragrance (but) it's hard to get fragrance and plant quality," he said. To win the award, Creme de la Creme, had to offer both. Mr Somerfield's third and somewhat unexpected award, was the Certificate of Merit, scooped by Picotee, a pink rose with white trimming on the petals. "It's a French word (Picotee), apparently, and it means something where the outside is different to the main body of the petal," he said. Mr Somerfield has always loved breeding roses, a skill he says is more of a sixth sense than a learnt practice. "It's the best job in the world but it is a lot of work and it (winning the awards) just shows you that you're actually doing something right," he said. "If I was doing it for results or money I would have given up 23 years ago. "It fascinates me producing a plant that no one else has." Horticulture is in Mr Somerfield's blood however, with his father a berry grower at Oropi. "It's a real thrill to be driving somewhere obscure and see one of your roses in somebody's garden. "I still get a thrill out of that," Mr Somerfield said.
The Love Heart and Creme de la Creme roses will be available from garden centres in 2010 with Picotee available in two years time.
