WFRS TRIENNIAL REPORT ON ROSES 2015 Published for the World Federation of Rose Societies EDITOR Sheenagh Harris 1 WORLD FEDERATION OF ROSE SOCIETIES Founded 1968 www.worldrose.org The World Federation of Rose Societies is registered in Great Britain as a company limited by guarantee and as a charity under the number 1063582. The objectives of the Society, as stated in the constitution, are: To encourage and facilitate the interchange of information about and knowledge of the rose between national rose societies. To coordinate the holding of international conventions and exhibitions. To encourage, and where appropriate, sponsor research into problems concerning the rose. To establish common standards for judging new rose seedlings. To assist in coordinating the registration of new rose names. To establish a uniform system of rose classification. To grant international honours and/or awards. To encourage and advance international cooperation in all other matters concerning the rose. Gérald Meylan - Past President, Sheenagh Harris – Immediate Past President, Steve Jones – President, Helga Brichet - Past President, Ken Grapes, Past President at the Closing Ceremony of the WFRS Regional Convention in Barcelona in 2014 2 CONTENTS Foreword 5 Preface 6 President’s Report 8 Immediate Past President’s Report 10 WFRS Vice Presidential Reports Africa 12 Australasia - Australia 14 Australasia - New Zealand 17 Central Asia 19 Europe (N) 20 Europe (SE) 22 Europe (S) 24 Far East 26 North America - 27 North America 30 South America 32 WFRS Office Holders 33 WFRS Standing Committees 35 WFRS Committee Reports 36 WFRS Member Societies 48 WFRS Associate Members and Breeders’ Club 49 Friends of the Federation 50 WFRS Past Presidents 51 WFRS Awards 51 WFRS Commemorative Medals 53 WFRS Honours 2012 -2015 54 WFRS Literary Awards 56 WFRS Gardens of Excellence 56 WFRS Rose Hall of Fame 58 WFRS Old Rose Hall of Fame 60 International Rose Trials 65 WFRS World Rose Conventions WFRS 16th World Rose Convention in South Africa 86 WFRS 13th Heritage Roses International Conference in Germany 88 WFRS Regional Convention in New Zealand 91 WFRS Regional Convention in Spain 93 WFRS Regional Convention in India 95 Member Countries’ Reports 97 Argentina 98 Australia 101 Austria 104 Belgium 105 Bermuda 107 Canada 109 Chile 110 China 111 Czech Republic 112 Denmark 113 Finland 116 France 117 3 Germany 120 Great Britain 122 Greece 123 Hungary 124 Iceland 125 India 126 Israel 127 Italy 129 Japan 130 Luxembourg 132 Monaco 134 The Netherlands 136 New Zealand 137 Northern Ireland 141 Norway 142 Pakistan 143 Romania 144 Russia 145 Serbia 146 Slovakia 147 South Africa 151 Spain 154 Sweden 155 Switzerland 157 United States of America 159 Uruguay 163 4 FOREWORD Throughout the past three years, the Federation has continued, through its Executive Committee and Standing Committees, to endeavour to meet the objectives laid down almost 50 years ago. You will have in other sections of this Triennial Report, details of the Committees’ activities and achievements and the groups are to be commended for their efforts. From my perspective, progress has been made in the following areas:- The generous and substantial donation of 20,000 pounds provided by M. Yves Piaget gave the Executive Committee a challenge to investigate the beneficial use of these funds to promote the Federation’s goals and ambitions. Several projects have been approved, and will be implemented in the near future. Allocation of the remainder of the funds continues to be under investigation. The International Rose Trials Committee developed a universal scorecard for voluntary use at Trial Grounds around the world. The introduction at a number of Trials has proven to be successful as has the People’s Choice Award. Certificates for public judging are available from the Executive Director. They are currently investigating a simpler Trials “Lodgement Form” that can be used by the Rose Breeder/Agent for lodging entries at multiple rose trials. Communication throughout the Federation has been, and continues to be a concern. Whilst the language of the Federation is English, and is great for me, it is not the case for a number of our Member Countries. We must remain vigilant in allowing those non English speaking peoples to have the opportunity to express their opinion and needs. The World Rose News continues to provide a wonderful avenue to disseminate information; however, the document is not as widely circulated as I would hope. Translating the material in World Rose News must be a priority in the future as is the circulation issue. The work undertaken by our entire Publication Committee is appreciated. The Conservation and Heritage Committees continue to work together in this very important area. They are currently working toward the upgrading of the WFRS data base – an exacting, time consuming task. The Rose Shows Standardisation Committee introduced a class of International Rose Judges and we now see almost 30 Judges from 8 countries included on our Register. These judges are eligible to be included in the judging panel when rose shows are conducted at international events. The Certificate of Excellence has been used by a number of Member Countries at their national events for successful exhibitors in the WFRS International Challenge Classes. These certificates are also available from me. Following the successful World Rose Convention in Sandton South Africa, Regional Conventions have been held in India, New Zealand and Spain and an International Heritage Conference in Germany. These events have been well attended and were of an exceptional standard. The Federation is indebted to the Organising Committees for running these events, and contributing to the Federation’s funds. The Breeders’ Club continues to provide a link between the professional rose breeder and the Federation. Their deliberations have been productive, and we are hopeful that more non professional breeders and associations will be able to join the group in the future. The introduction of the “Friends of the Federation” donors’ scheme has proved to be most beneficial, not only financially to the Federation, but especially as it allows this group of generous benefactors to meet at WFRS events. The current number of almost 80 individuals has experienced wonderful camaraderie as the group has grown. The “Friends” is open to all individuals – and lasts from one World Rose Convention to the next. Donor forms are available on our website. As I relinquish my role as Executive Director at the end of June 2015, the Federation’s plans for the future are exciting and extensive, which include a combined International Heritage Conference and Regional Convention in China, Regional Conventions in Uruguay and Slovenia and the 18th World 5 Rose Convention in Denmark. The World Federation will celebrate its 50th Anniversary during 2018, and preparations are underway to ensure this milestone receives the celebrations it deserves. We are thankful that in 1968 rosarians who attended the 4th International Rose Conference in London accepted the challenge to form this Federation. Through that decision, we have been able to regularly meet fellow rosarians (who now represent 39 Member Countries, 22 Associate Members and 14 Breeders’ Club Members) at various venues around the globe - irrespective of the barriers of national character. Malcolm Watson WFRS Executive Director 6 PREFACE At the inception of the World Federation of Rose Societies in London in 1968 it was agreed that every three years one of its members, national rose societies, should host a World Convention with the intent of bringing together rosarians from around the globe to meet and discuss issues pertaining to the Rose, facilitating the exchange of information and goodwill amongst the likeminded, be they amateurs or professionals. The first of these Conventions was hosted by the New Zealand Rose Society in 1971 and since then other rose societies from the five continents have regularly followed suit. Over the years, the number of national rose societies’ members increased steadily and by the mid-eighties it was felt that smaller Regional Conventions, which focused principally on matters of local interest concerning the Rose, should be encouraged. The first of these was hosted by the Bermuda Rose Society in 1987 and, a number of years later, by the Italian Rose Association. Since then these Regional Conventions have become ever increasingly popular. On the other hand, contemporarily to these events, the Publications Committee made slow progress. Having been established as early as the second World Convention, held in Chicago in 1974, the Committee encouraged a system of free distribution and exchange of literature between members. Hosting societies were requested to publish records and lectures of each Convention. At the fourth World Convention in Pretoria in 1979 the Chairman of the Publications Committee lamented the general lack of communication between members. However soon afterwards a first newsletter was published, initially with minimal support from members, so that its potential remained dormant and disheartening. Once more in Baden Baden in 1985 the Chairman lamented the difficulty of obtaining news items from the majority of members, however in 1988 in Sydney, Australia, the Chairman reported the publication of a regular newsletter entitled Rose News and later World Rose News, which had received a favourable reception. Also a List of Gardens and Calendar of Events had been printed and distributed. During the subsequent years biennial editions of World Rose News, all increasingly appreciated, were circulated to WFRS members, with the intent that they be passed on to members of the national and local societies. At the 1997 World Convention in the Benelux the Federation’s Directory, assembled from information gathered from members by vice presidents over the previous period, was presented with the intension that it be updated annually and, hopefully, expanded to include all information useful to members and individual rose lovers. World Rose News became a regular printed biennial – in colour – although still sent to members by post, and thus expensive for the WFRS’ limited budget.