What comes to mind when you think of Australian bred roses?  Do you have some growing in your garden?  What is your favourite?

For over 100 years, Australian rose breeders have been creating roses to suit Australian conditions.  Although I have a Lorraine Lee and a Victoria Gold growing in my garden, it wasn’t until my recent visit to Morwell Centenary Rose garden that I got a sense of the beauty and uniqueness of these roses.  Seeing this collection as a whole in their late Autumn splendour is the inspiration for a whole new series of paintings and a new format painting multiple blooms from different breeders on each canvas.

I have now finished the first painting featuring Minnie Watson, Lady Huntingfield and Titian.

Below are some pictures of the gardens and some of the roses which might be included in the series.