ROSE lovers are in for a treat at the International Rose Garden Festival in the Victorian Gippsland city of Morwell on the weekend of November 16 and 17.
The Morwell Centenary Rose Garden, which has received the coveted Award of Garden Excellence by the World Federation of Rose Societies, is grown and maintained by the Friends of the Rose Garden, a group of volunteers in their 70s and 80s who dedicate over 6000 hours annually to the garden.
The group was formed after the State Electricity Commission was privatised 25 years ago and many people in the area were made redundant.
The group started as a way to give the recently unemployed something to do and offer a support for those coming to terms with losing their jobs. The garden became a support network and remains so for its 60 members.
The group meet every Tuesday to tend the roses and have a chat. It has proved to be a lifeline to many of the members and offers support through good times and bad. Many people who have joined the group as a couple have since lost their partners and the group offers a support network for those grieving.
The volunteers are busy now getting the 4,000 roses in peak condition for the big weekend which offers something for all visitors including a walking tour around the 400 different rose varieties, live music, art creations and sculptures and local artisan produce and wine.
On the Saturday night a midsummer night's lights will feature a creative light installation.
Green thumbs can enjoy a Q&A from ABC Gardening Australia's Costa Georgiadis who will be on hand to answer all gardening questions as well as educate visitors on the importance of bees in the ecosystem.
Rose enthusiasts can enjoy talks from Helen Lovel from Neutrog who will offer advice on how to feed roses throughout the year, and President of the Rose Society of Victoria, Sandra Turner, will be conducting a rose pruning demonstration.
This year the festival falls over Pollination Week so it will feature an exciting bee themed itinerary. Visitors to the event will be given the opportunity to learn how to make a native bee hotel and beeswax wraps. Women beekeepers will talk about how to attract bees to your garden.
Glamping options for the weekend traveller include staying at ABC Gardening Australia's award-winning garden 'Serendipity' only 10 minutes from the Festival.
The International Rose Garden Festival Morwell is open from 10am each day and, entry is free (some talks/demonstrations may incur a small cost). The Midsummer Nights' Light installation runs from 6.30pm-10pm on Saturday November 16