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Zonta Club of Prince George's County - The Zonta International Rose
By Any Other Name, It's Still A Zonta Rose To Us.
The Zonta Rose serves as the symbol of Zonta Rose Day, 8 March. On this day, Zontians are encouraged to publicly distribute yellow roses or items bearing the image of yellow roses, accompanied by information about Zonta International.
History: The beauty of a single yellow rose has been a favorite Zonta motif for more than a decade.
In 1983 Valerie Webster, Lieutenant Governor of District 16 (then Australia and New Zealand) proposed that an actual breed of roses be developed as a living symbol of the organization.
With crucial support from local rose-growers and Zontian Mary Mason, the world-famous Harkness Rose Nursery in England set about the assignment immediately.
Zontian Maureen Ross of Ross Roses in Adelaide, one of Australia's leading Heritage Rose suppliers, was able to introduce the new Zonta Rose to Australia in time for the 1984 Sydney Convention, where it was officially presented.
International President-Elect Val Sarah wrote us to recap some of these basic facts, perhaps realizing that many newer members may not know the history of our special flower (and, no doubt, justifiably proud of her fellow Australians and New Zealanders).
The lovely yellow bloom is now visible throughout the Antipodes in members' gardens, memorial plantings, schools, hospitals, homes for the elderly, and - most notably the Zonta Rose Garden with 200 roses as a tribute to Australia's Bicentennial in 1988, in the forecourt of the Australian National Parliament House in Canberra.
This widespread planting is due in no small part to the Noarlunga/ Southern Vales Club (South Australia), which made distribution a special club project.
Zontians in rose-growing regions of the world will be interested in botanical characteristics. The blooms are bright yellow, produced in large sprays, and neatly spaced to form-a natural floral bouquet. Each separate bloom is well formed on its own long stem and is particularly long lasting, whether on the bush or cut.
Its fragrance is light and pleasant. Gardeners will appreciate that it is easy to grow and hardy, reaching an average 1.2 meters high for an eye-catching display.
It is excellent as a bedding or massed display rose, because the rich green foliage and bright yellow blooms show up effectively even at a distance. Its neat growth makes it ideal as a hedgerow.
The Zonta Rose itself is also available in North America and the United Kingdom. Its international registered name is "Hartanna," while it also goes by the name "Princess Alice" in Canada and the UK, and "Bright Lites" in the USA. Nonetheless, it is Zonta's own, and we look forward to growing it in many more parts of the globe.
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