It's lovely to see the rose over the Homestead's pergola burst into bloom, heralding summer. "Souvenir de Madame Leonie Vientot," also called New Zealand "dunny rose" by the Auckland Botanic Gardens, is usually the first to bloom each year here at Struan Farm. This year is no exception, although she's getting a bit of a challenge from "Paddy Stevens," a new rose I've planted up at the new(ish) house which is also starting to bloom.
John's family simply called this rose "Roma's Rose," after friend Roma Ronaldson, from whom it came. This one I grew from a cutting of a rose up in Auckland John grew from a cutting from home. The rose is obviously very happy to be back in Piopio. A few years ago I learned its proper name, then saw it in the rose garden at the Auckland Botanic Gardens featured as one of NZ's heirloom roses. As a prolific grower, it was the rose of choice to plant over long drop toilets to disguise them!
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