Floral gift means gardener's work is bed of roses

About 127 heritage roses have been planted in the grounds surrounding the Kauri Museum at Matakohe.

The roses, some of which date back to 1300, come from China, Europe, America and of course New Zealand, were donated by Heritage Roses New Zealand.

Heritage Roses NZ was formed in 1980 by Toni Sylvester and the late Ken Nobbs, both of whom had a specific interest in growing and learning about old-fashioned roses.

Both believed there were gardeners in New Zealand with similar interests and placed advertisements in the nation's newspapers, attracting an immediate and widespread response.

The group nurtures a love of the beautiful roses of the past, and wants to ensure the continued existence of these living antiques. It was felt that the museum's colonial buildings and historical collection were the perfect backdrop for the rose collection.

Ian Lake, the building manager for the museum, said the roses had been planted by volunteers and were already making rapid growth. Plans were afoot to build picket fences, pergolas and trellis to enhance the planting.

Many of the New Zealand roses were grown from cuttings taken from the cottages and rural building around where the Clyde Dam was built. Once established they will provide a delightful and colourful welcome for visitors.