Floral tribute to Solway College 100th

SPECIAL PLACE: Gareth Winter and the Rhododendron "Solway College" that was planted in Queen Elizabeth Park behind the perennial border, as one of three plants brought to Masterton for the school's centenary next year. PHOTO/LYNDA FERINGA

The Solway College centenary in Masterton next year will be scented as sweet as flowers after a new rhododendron variety was named especially for the school and celebration.

Judy Siers, Solway College Centennial organiser, said the rhododendron was named Solway College in honour of the centenary celebrations that will be held at the Masterton school over Waitangi weekend from Friday, February 5 to Monday, February 8.

Mrs Siers said there will be activities and functions held over the centennial weekend and the Solway College staff, pupils, old girls and community were lucky to have the boon of a flowering plant named after the school.

"These plants are seeded and propagated and new names are always being sought. We were very fortunate that somebody in the rhododendron society got in touch with the owner at Cross Hills, and the suggestion was made that Solway College has the centennial coming up and the school would like a plant named in celebration of the occasion," she said.

"It's only a little tot of a plant right now but hopefully it will get away to a long life and they can grow to be quite robust little trees when fully grown."

Wairarapa archivist and gardening guru Gareth Winter said the plant was a hybrid derived from a rhododendron fragrantissimum (very fragrant) at the Cross Hills Rhododendron Gardens in Kimbolton, which is famous for its nursery and gardens bursting with the flowering woody plant.

Mr Winter said the Solway College plant originated at Gwavas Station in the Hawke's Bay, with cuttings taken and propagated at Cross Hills.

"It was a once popular, very scented rhododendron with white flowers with a pink tinge, almost apple blossom coloured with a heavy scent. But fragrantissimum is quite an untidy grower and this is an improvement on that."

Mr Winter said two plants were taken to the school and a place was set aside for a third Solway College rhododendron in Queen Elizabeth Park "at the back of the border and deliberately in close proximity to a camellia Kate Sheppard (the suffragist) - there's a couple only a few metres away".

He said the naming of the plants for the centennial was "a great idea for the college".

The opening ceremony of Solway College was held on February 8 in 1916 and the scene, according to a surviving photograph of the occasion, will be re-enacted in contemporary style at the centennial, said Mrs Siers.

Reminiscences from foundation pupils were also recorded such as that from Mina Laing, then of Riversdale, recalling that "we were dressed in pretty white party frocks and I remember well the hymns and the speeches".

Mrs Siers said the school will also host an "old fashioned bazaar" at the centennial, which had over many decades become an annual college reunion event - "but this will be with a twist and a touch of the contemporary market style".

The school community welcomes the public and stall-holders to the event on Saturday, February 6, she said, in keeping with the centennial maxim of "something for everyone".

To register for the celebration or as a stallholder ph Judy Siers on (04) 934 6334 or email judy.siers@millwood-heritage.com