Roses, Roses, all the Way...

Nelson was enveloped in a rosy glow for a week last month - a week which will be remembered as one of the high spots of the year in the city. The occasion was the city and district's first Rose Festival Week, a tremendously successful venture which will undoubtedly become an annual event. The festival committee is to be congratulated, not only upon the success of the project, but on the extent of it. Roses - which noted New Zealand horticulturist James Stirling maintains are better in Nelson than anywhere else in New Zealand - held pride of place in city stores and shops. Many functions, which included a rose show, a Rose Princess contest, a monster procession of floats and rose day at Broadgreen, were well attended and supported. A notable "first" for Nelson.

The "Rose Princess" contestants among the roses at Broadgreen

"Rose Princess", Dianne Watson, is crowned by Mayor, Mr Trevor Horne, while third placegetter Sue Austin, left, runner-up, Lyn Ching, and deputy Mayor Mrs Betty Eyre (chairman of the festival committee) look on.

Climax to the week was the crowning of the "Rose Princess" at Broadgreen on Rose Sunday - about 4000 people attended and, wandered among the thousands of roses.

The festival opened with a function at Queen's Gardens. Among those who attended, Above, were four Americans, Vance and Margaret Frazier (Taft, California) and Rossman and Mary Smith (Traverse City, Michigan).

Among the roses at Queen's Gardens

Originator of the festival week idea was Nelson's Chief Traffic Officer, Mr Bill Boyes, seen here with his wife, Raima.

"What's this, a visitor without a rose? " But not for long. Noted Nelson rosarian Jim Samuels pins his rose on American visitor, Vance Frazier.

The opening ceremony

One of the highlights of "Rose Sunday" was the presentation to the city of a new rose, named "City of Nelson", propagated by Mr Samuels from a Semina bush at Broadgreen. At Right, Rose Princess Dianne Watson shows off the new rose entered in the national contest for new varieties.