The McArthur Garden in Alexandra has received a new rose thanks to the Dunstan Branch of Rural Women New Zealand (RWNZ).

The Floribunda rose, named Rural Women, was specifically bred by Matthews Nurseries in Whanganui for the Centennial of RWNZ, to mark 100 years of the organisation.

Other Central Otago RWNZ groups in Becks, Cromwell, and Tarras also held plantings, and the organisation is using the opportunity to fundraise towards education assistance for rural children.

Delta head gardener Rhona McCarthy said the McArthur Garden in Pioneer Park had both a heritage section for roses and a further 20 different varieties in the main area.

She said roses grew particularly well in Central Otago because of the dry air, cold winters, hot summers, and low humidity - which means they have less chance of being attacked by aphids.

Barbara Collie plants the new Floribunda rose in the McArthur Garden in Alexandra, watched by Dunstan Rural Women New Zealand president Claire Kitto. 

The new Rural Women rose - described as “decadently fragrant” - has soft lilac hued clusters of blooms.

RWNZ also planted a rose - called the Madam President - for the 50th anniversary in the 1970s.

“If anyone has both the Madam President and the new Rural Women rose planted in their gardens, we would love to hear about it, and have a photo of them both flowering when the time comes,” group member Gill Naylor said.

RWNZ was originally known as the Women’s Division of the Farmers’ Union (WDFU), and was founded in July 1925 by 16 women in search of community and friendship, and to improve support systems for their fellow rural women. 

Today the Dunstan branch has about 12 active members with 120 in total across Central Otago.

Gill was also the past national president and current Otago/Southland regional committee representative, and has been involved with organising a new monthly dinner group.  

The first one starts on September 10 at the Alexandra District Club, and is open to women of all ages.

For more information about the group, look under groups on our community button.

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