New rose dedicated to well-known gardener (From York Press)
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New rose dedicated to gardener Geoffrey Smith
9:27am Friday 31st August 2012 in News
Caroline Smith receives her first bunch of roses named Rosa Geoffrey Smith in memory of her father from Ian Roger, managing director of the Pickering-based nursery RV Roger Ltd
A new rose is being launched dedicated to one of Britain’s best-loved gardeners.
The climbing rose is named after horticultural broadcaster and author Geoffrey Smith, who died in 2009.
The former superintendent at Harrogate’s Harlow Carr Gardens was a presenter for BBC Gardeners’ World and a panellist on Radio 4’s Gardeners’ Question Time for almost 20 years.
The highly fragrant Rosa Geoffrey Smith will be launched at the Harrogate Autumn Flower Show by the Pickering-based nursery RV Roger Ltd.
Ian Rodger, managing director of RV Roger Ltd, said: “This is going to be a very special rose because it has fantastic fragrance and repeat flowers all summer.
“It was discovered by Keith Foster and when we discussed a suitable name our immediate thought was the huge contribution Geoffrey made to horticulture.”
Geoffrey’s daughter, Caroline Smith, was delighted when she was approached for permission for the flower’s name.
She said: “Unlike the more formal floribunda, a climbing rose goes its own way and that’s just the way he was throughout his life.”
The new rose will be launched at the Harrogate Flower Show from September 14 to 16.
