La vie en rose

Heritage Roses Otago convener Fran Rawling (left) and group member Jean Grace discuss a rose, named Rote Max Graf, while pruning during a working bee at Dunedin’s Northern Cemetery yesterday.

Max Graf was a noted Viennese-born music critic.

Mrs Rawling said the first pruning session of the spring had been productive, and training had been given to some less experienced gardeners.

‘‘Fabulous’’ weather had contributed to a successful session, and 20 wool sacks full of pruned material were taken away.

‘‘It was really good, and we got a lot done.’’

The heritage group cares for about 1200 heritage roses at the cemetery.