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The presentation was to help members prepare for the upcoming Warkworth and Districts Rose and Flower Show, on November 27.
A regular winner at the rose show, Norma says they win so often because they know how to stage the roses. The presentation had humour and handy tips to take a “mongrel and turn it into a rose”. Norma demonstrated how to stage a rose, while Graeme also gave a running commentary.
They talked about the difference in the classes of blooms at the Rose Show. Graeme described the decorative as a teenager, exhibition was ‘pride of life’ (half and three quarters out) and a full blown bloom is over three quarters. “I think full blown are the most beautiful blooms.”
They gave tips for small and large stems, balance and foliage.
They also shared tricks people use at competitions, including brushing milk and water on leaves to make them shiny, putting roses in the fridge or icy water to keep them fresh.
The couple said they select the flowers the night before and give them a good drink in a bucket of water. On competition day it was not a good idea to transport them in buckets incase they bumped up against each other and you lose the top of your prize rose getting out of the car. Instead they recommended laying them down in polystyrene boxes with cups on the end of stems.
Other tricks included using cotton buds to loosen up the petals. They also gave tips for pruning roses and using clippers to bang or scrap off the thorns.
Norma knew some people who took the thorns off the flowers they want to exhibit while they are growing. “But they have no children, and they are married to roses.”
The Miller’s hope their tips help others, as they want to generate a bit more competition for this year’s rose show.
