A Dunedin woman who helped preserve the historic Northern Cemetery heritage rose collection has been named the 2011 Gardener of the Year Awards Otago regional finalist.
Fran Rawling (63) had organised regular working bees to weed, mulch, deadhead and plant roses in the cemetery, judge New Zealand Gardener editor Jo McCarroll said yesterday.
The Heritage Roses Otago and New Zealand president also helped organise the 2005 International Heritage Roses Conference in Dunedin.
"Fran's an outstanding finalist for the Otago region," Ms McCarroll said.
"She told me that so many heritage roses had been lost, which is heartbreaking, but it's thanks to Fran and people like her that we still have as many as we do."
The collection of 1001 heritage roses at the Northern Cemetery is regarded as a Significant Collection of Heritage Roses by the International World Federation of Roses.
The 2011 Gardener of the Year will be decided by public vote.
The overall winner, selected from the regional finalists, will receive $3000 of Mitre 10 vouchers, a year's supply of Kiwicare garden products and a trip for two to the 2012 Ellerslie Flower Show in Christchurch.
Voting closes on November 30 and the winner will be announced on December 19.
To vote, visit www.nzgardener.co.nz.
