"It's Coming Up Roses" at Hunter Valley Gardens Winter Rose Pruning Event Throughout July.

For those who love all things rosy, Hunter Valley Gardens is proud to announce its inaugural ‘Winter Rose Pruning Event’ to be hosted from July 1st to 31st, 2010. With over 35,000 rose bushes in 186 different varieties to prune, visitors to Hunter Valley Gardens throughout July will learn that anybody can grow roses with the correct knowledge on planting, pruning and striking cuttings.

Sean O’Brien, Horticulturist, Hunter Valley Gardens said, “It's easy to understand why people love roses. Apart from their fragrant blooms, they flower for up to six months of the year, and are among the toughest and most forgiving of all plants. They will continue to flower even if you neglect them, but they do benefit with a good winter prune and our special event will show rose enthusiasts just how.”

The event will feature a program of daily demonstrations and talks with Hunter Valley Gardens’ highly knowledgeable and qualified Horticultural Team. And for visitors keen to put their newly learnt skills to practise, each adult will receive a free rose cutting from rose bushes featured at Hunter Valley Gardens, chosen specifically for their amazing fragrance and form. These will be available in the Garden Shed Shop upon departure.

Each day the Amphitheatre will be abuzz with the following schedule:

10:30 am Rose Pruning Demonstration

Step by step guide on successful pruning of roses with easy to follow steps
11:30 am Grow Your Own Roses from Cuttings Demonstration & Talk

Easy to follow demonstration on how to successfully propagate

An informative talk on all you need to know about roses with question and answer time at the end

2:30 pm Rose Pruning Demonstration & Talk
Step by step guide on successful pruning of roses with easy to follow steps

In between talks, guests will be able to meander through the 10 stunning themed gardens, or enjoy a cup of coffee and a bite to eat at Hunter Valley Gardens Terrace Restaurant, whilst taking in the magnificent views.

Sean’s Pruning Tips for this winter are:
1. Make sure you remove any dead or diseased wood.
2. Don’t be scared of pruning Roses too hard.
3. Cut out any crossing branches.
4. Regularly clean you secateurs during pruning.
5. Don’t put your cuttings in the compost because thiscan transmit diseases such as Black Spot.

Entry to Hunter Valley Gardens is $23.50 per adult, $12 for children between 4 – 15 years of age, Children under 3 enter for free. For further information regarding the Winter Rose Pruning Event at Hunter Valley Gardens (Broke Rd, Pokolbin), visit www.hvg.com.au or call 02 4998 4000.