THE SA ROSARIUM STORY
chairperson Kim Van Niekerk explains the inspiration
In 2009 a group of South African Old Rose enthusiasts attended the World Heritage Rose Congress in France (Sanlis).
The group included
· our then President of the World Federation of Rose Societies, Mrs Sheenagh Harris
· Mrs Wendy Kroon (the international rep for the RSA Heritage Rose organisation)
· Mrs Barbara Long (our current national chair for the Heritage Rose Association of RSA)
· Mrs Michele Basson and Mrs Kim Van Niekerk, both residing in Bedford.
Attending the meeting together, we learnt about the work being done in many countries for the conservation of these wonderful old plants and that there is a need to preserve a mother plant of each type of Old Rose.
Each country presented feedback on what had happened in the past year. South Africa had no report to present in this respect.
We also visited Rosarium-type gardens in Italy and France and were very inspired by the educational concepts of these gardens of preservation from many aspects.
These included teaching ideas such as
· historical lineage of flora;
· conservation principals;
· preserving the earth and nurturing nature;
· schools and tertiary institutions using the facility for research
· propagation and organic horticultural techniques.
The idea of an Old Rose sanctuary in South Africa developed from that meeting .We were enthusiastically encouraged by the international Heritage Committee members.
The garden was born out of the necessity to preserve and perpetuate the valuable genetic traits of our old roses brought to the Cape of Good Hope from the early 1600s onwards.
The decision was taken to base the initial collection on Dr Gwen Fagan’s extensive research on old roses found in the Cape which is expertly documented in her wonderful book.
On our return to South Africa Gwen was approached to see if she would endorse the concept. She eagerly responded, saying yes and she offered to design the garden.
[The SA Rosarium was officially launched at the World Rose Congress held in Johannesburg in October 2012. The international delegates pledged their support.]
The group included
· our then President of the World Federation of Rose Societies, Mrs Sheenagh Harris
· Mrs Wendy Kroon (the international rep for the RSA Heritage Rose organisation)
· Mrs Barbara Long (our current national chair for the Heritage Rose Association of RSA)
· Mrs Michele Basson and Mrs Kim Van Niekerk, both residing in Bedford.
Attending the meeting together, we learnt about the work being done in many countries for the conservation of these wonderful old plants and that there is a need to preserve a mother plant of each type of Old Rose.
Each country presented feedback on what had happened in the past year. South Africa had no report to present in this respect.
We also visited Rosarium-type gardens in Italy and France and were very inspired by the educational concepts of these gardens of preservation from many aspects.
These included teaching ideas such as
· historical lineage of flora;
· conservation principals;
· preserving the earth and nurturing nature;
· schools and tertiary institutions using the facility for research
· propagation and organic horticultural techniques.
The idea of an Old Rose sanctuary in South Africa developed from that meeting .We were enthusiastically encouraged by the international Heritage Committee members.
The garden was born out of the necessity to preserve and perpetuate the valuable genetic traits of our old roses brought to the Cape of Good Hope from the early 1600s onwards.
The decision was taken to base the initial collection on Dr Gwen Fagan’s extensive research on old roses found in the Cape which is expertly documented in her wonderful book.
On our return to South Africa Gwen was approached to see if she would endorse the concept. She eagerly responded, saying yes and she offered to design the garden.
[The SA Rosarium was officially launched at the World Rose Congress held in Johannesburg in October 2012. The international delegates pledged their support.]
