The Anglican Church in Tasmania                                                             Search
	a healthy church...transformingLIFE
	Home      About      Contact us      News      Issues      Parishes      Prayer      Calendar      Youth      Resources

	December 2002				St George's Rose Garden in Sorell - worth a visit!       Carmel and Graham planting
		Everything's coming up roses in Sorell by Mavis Wilkins
			St George's Rose Garden in Sorell has been established from an idea put forward in 1997. The garden now has a very different look to the former open Village Green surrounding the church, with the planting of some 400 rose bushes. On the Gordon St (main road) frontage, yellow ground cover roses have been planted, set off by the re-created picket fence and entrance gateway. Along the right hand side, covering the fence are white, climbing Iceberg roses and pink Cecille Brunner roses. There is a designer bed containing very showy, floribunda bush roses in colours ranging from white, pinks and reds to gold, with a name plaque stand listing the particular varieties. A lot of drainage work was done and paving laid in front of the church hall. A specimen pear tree is planted in the centre of the formal lawn. Red and white roses are to be planted next to the memorial plaques, symbols for remembrance and St George. Rose Sponsor Book A very large metal structure was erected on the corner of Gordon and Fitzroy Sts to support the very prolific growing old-fashioned climbing Albertine and Rambling Rector. Around the garden is placed seating, the design of which was cast from an original 'briar rose' design, in iron framework. It is planned to have old-fashioned lamp lights and a rotunda erected in the garden as more funding comes available. Further rose beds are to be planted and a gateway entrance will be developed from the angle parking that has been established in Fitzroy Street. The soil in Sorell is most suitable for growing roses and the plants give a wonderful showing through most of the year, delighting all with the profusion of blooms and their colour. People or organizations can 'sponsor a rose' and all names are acknowledged and recorded in the 'Rose Sponsor Book.' A great place All this has come to fruition with thanks to the collaboration and involvement of the church, Sorell Council, council gardeners, Hobart Botanical Gardens, Sorell Rotary and Lyons Clubs, Sorell Historical Society and Sorell District High School students (for research of the graveyard area). Work-for-the-Dole-Scheme workers, local businesses and grants helped with timber, fencing construction and painting. Despite repeated vandalism and early controversy, we now proudly have a great place to stop and sit and take time to 'smell the roses', both for the local people and the tourists who visit the new Sorell Information Centre in the church hall situated in the main road frontage area of the St George's Rose Garden.