Dugald Mackenzie Rose Garden
The New Zealand Rose Society has much pleasure in nominating the Dugald Mackenzie Rose Garden for the WFRS Award of Garden Excellence. It is our belief that this Garden fulfils all the criteria for eligibility for this award.
This world class garden which is the pride of the city of Palmerston North is located in the Victoria Esplanade. The Esplanade covers 19 hectares of gardens and native bush adjacent to the Manawatu River. The city of Palmerston North is in the lower half of the North Island of New Zealand.
Development of the Esplanade began in 1897 with the introduction Victoria Drive to commemorate Queen Victoria’s 60th Jubilee. It contains a significant number of trees which are registered as worthy of protection. Some of the oldest exotic trees in the city can be found at the Fitzherbert Avenue end of the Esplanade, the Arboretum.
Other attractions in the Esplanade are the Phoenix canariensis (canary) palms in Palm Drive, the Awanui Cherry trees in the Cherry Tree Drive, and a conservatory housing a wide range of tropical and sub tropical plants. The Esplanade also contains an adventure playground for children, a miniature railway, native bush walking tracks, picnic and BBQ area, bird aviaries, a paddling pool, a fernery.
The Dugald MacKenzie Rose Garden was opened in 1968. It has three sections: the formal rose beds, the trial grounds and the plant patent variety collection. The garden contains over 5000 roses in named beds. It is much admired by many local, national and international visitors who pass through its gates. The garden was named after Dugald MacKenzie the Superintendent of Parks and Reserves from 1946 to 1966. He contributed significantly to the gardens development.
The central pond and fountain provides a focal point surrounded by a sea of roses. Seating is available for those who just want to rest a while and reflect on the beauty before their eyes. Every attempt has been made to incorporate all types of roses for public enjoyment. However the main emphasis is on modern roses. Climbers and ramblers are displayed on special supports and pergolas.
Staff of the local City Council tends to all the requirements such as planting, fertilising, pruning, deadheading, spraying, irrigation and lawn management. They also seek expert advice, where necessary, from the local rose society as to the suitability of cultivars and any matters that may pertain to rose culture.
The garden is also home of the New Zealand Rose Society International Rose Trial Grounds. These trials, which have been held for 33 years, are for new roses. A panel of judges assesses the roses three times per season over a two-year period. Assessments are made for plant health, freedom of flowering, appearance, fragrance, and novelty. Awards are presented at the end of each trial for the highest pointed rose (the Gold Star of the South Pacific), the best amateur bred rose (the Silver Star of the City of Palmerston North), novelty, fragrance and for varieties scoring over 70 points in the trial (Certificates of Merit). A special notice board explains to visitors how the trials are conducted. Winning roses are kept for six years in the gardens. How apt it was that in the latest trial the winning trial ground rose was Victoria Esplanade. Some of the rose varieties that have been successful in the trials include Matangi, Strawberry Ice, Hot Chocolate, Loving Memory, Chocolate Prince (Terracotta) and Racy Lady.
There is also a special section of roses devoted to Plant Patent varieties and over the years hundreds of roses have been correctly identified by comparing them with roses in the museum collection beds. The number of varieties tested each season ranges from 25 to 45. The gardens hold the Plant Variety Rights reference collection. This includes all protected varieties and a number of other varieties useful for testing purposes. Currently the collection has 512 varieties or 1500 bushes.
A recent addition adjacent to the rose gardens is the Education Centre. This is used for displays and teaching facilities for visiting groups including school children. In the Education Centre detailed plans of the plantings in the gardens are shown and information on rose culture and local rose societies are available. Tour parties can be met and escorted through the gardens and questions on rose culture answered. Many visitors are keenly interested in how the roses are kept looking so lovely and marvel at their colour, size and vigour.
The Dugald MacKenzie Rose Garden is open daily to the public from dawn to dusk and is free of charge. It is often used for weddings, gatherings and events such as the annual Esplanade Open Day where thousands gather to enjoy the wonderful setting. There is easy access for the disabled while many of the shade trees are popular picnic spots. Adjacent to the gardens is Victoria House where the public can enjoy café facilities.
In summary the New Zealand Rose Society believes the Dugald Mackenzie Rose Garden in Palmerston North is worthy for the World Federation of Rose Societies Award of Garden Excellence.
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