Whole new groups have been planted in the modern rose section - these roses are new releases from nurseries to keep the collection current and to replace groups that were not performing well.
Pruning of the modern bush roses is completed for another season. If you still have roses to prune, aim to have this task completed by the end of the month.
Pruning of the botanic garden climbers will be finished very soon, when we should be able to put the secateurs away and await the summer blooming.
The last roses to be pruned are the ones that produce nice displays of hips, or heps as the rose fruit or seed pods are often called. They're most prominent on wild or old-fashioned roses.
Hips may be smooth or prickly. Size can vary from small, currant-sized hips to the larger cherry-sized fruit of Rosa rugosa.
Although usually red, the fruit can be orange, green, brown or black in colour. Rose hips come in an array of forms - globose, ovate, urn, flask, spindle or pear shaped.
Lovely, orange, pear-shaped hips are appearing on Rosa 'Kathleen'. See it on the old-fashioned side of the rose garden, in one corner of the hybrid musk bed.
Garden Life is produced by Dunedin Botanic Garden. For further information contact Linda Hellyer.
