A spectacular red rose stole the show to win this year’s Gunnedah Spring Rose Show grand champion honours.
The Hybrid Tea variety grown by Julie Mammen was described as an all-round beautifully presented rose.
“It was unblemished and just a beautiful rose with lots of petals … beautiful perfume too,” long-time judge Judy Clark said.
Much of the rose quality depends on the breeding, Judy said, who has been judging flower competitions for about 45 years.
She described this year’s Gunnedah entries – all 286 of them – as some of the best in years.
“There is great quality this year,” Judy said. “It has been very hard to judge.”
The 2024 entries included 56 red rose submissions, 43 mutli-coloured roses and 36 pink nominations.
Among the winners was first-time entrant Leigh McGrath.
The rookie rose competition nominee, who entered on behalf of Lightfoot Funerals at Gunnedah Memorial Cemetery, carded three first placings across the rose categories and one second.
Leigh said the competition roses were “a lot of work” but well worth the effort and suggested people should control their hibiscus beetles to ensure the best bloom.
Also in the mix was Julie Withers who entered 13 roses across the categories.
She collected more half a dozen placings including several first placings.
Julie has been growing roses since the 1980s but has been a gardener all her life.
She was given a special tip for this year’s growing season.
“A chap told me to prune by the wane of the moon,” Julie said.
“I’ve never had healthier roses.”
