Book  (2000)  Page(s) 79.  Includes photo(s).
 
'Taranaki Dawn'. Description: Perfumed floribunda. Produces both single blooms and multi-flower heads. Bud stage - HT form. Growth habit: Tall, vigorous, dense foliage. Can grow to a metre in width. Repeat flowering. All-round good doer. Attributes: Healthy and disease resistant. Excellent for picking. Lasts well in a vase. Tolerates cold conditions and partial shade.....

p79 Black and white photo 'Taranki Dawn'. Photo Jacqui Harris.

p112-113. Photo: 'Taranaki Dawn'. Fl. George Sherwood, NZ. Photo: Jacki Harris, North
Taranki.

Book  (1999)  
 
p37 Peter Elliott. New Zealand International Rose Trial Ground. Trial 28. 1996-1998.
Variety 96/3094. 68.3 points. Fl/HT. 'Sherwood 209'. Breeder: Sherwood. Agent: none listed. Colour: pink apricot.

p54 North Taranaki District Rose Society. The Christening.
A christening is always a special occasion and this particular christening was no exception.
BUT it was no ordinary christening! There was not a proud parent, grandparent, minister, or for that matter even an infant in sight. You may well ask yourself, "What sort of christening was it - was it a christening by proxy? The occasion was to name a new rose bred by Waitara man George Sherwood.
The rose, "Taranaki Dawn" is to be launched in the year of the new millennium to coincide with the North Taranaki District Rose Society's 50th celebrations 'and hosting of the National Rose Society of New Zealand's spring show and convention being held in New Plymouth in November 2000. In early December 1998 a brief ceremony was conducted on the premises of Egmont Roses in Cowling Road. The guests consisted of four society members, George Sherwood (breeder), Margaret Goble (life member), Tony Barnes (also Egmont Roses manager) and Jaci Harris (president) plus a reporter and photographer from The Daily News. In pride of place, centre table, was a display vase of George's new rose in various stages of development from the pointed decorative type apricot buds, through to the peaches and cream fully open blooms with their exposed stamens. For the past two years, George's bush simply labelled Sherwood 209, had been growing in a plot at the Trial Grounds in Palmerston North and in November received a rating of 68.3. Although falling just short of a merit award it was definitely deemed to be a rose of merit in the eyes of all those present. Margaret had picked the blooms that morning from one of George's bushes that she had growing in her large rose garden-a garden viewed by hundreds of visitors annually from all over New Zealand, especially during Taranaki's Rhododendron festival week. As a consulting rosarian, Margaret had been closely monitoring and assessing its performance for George for a two year period. In her own words "It's a magnificent rose and I am sure that it is here to stay. Repeat flowering, healthy, disease resistant, large - what more could you want?" After the official naming followed the inevitable interviews and photos. George, a modest man by nature and one who prefers to remain in the background, conceded to a few photographs but drew the line when asked to pose with a rose behind one ear.
The Show 2000 committee had approached George early in the piece, with the idea of incorporating his newest rose in the celebratory event in the year 2000. George was only too willing and was happy for the society to choose a name for his creation. Several names were bandied about but the society felt it was time that Taranaki had its own rose and decided that Taranaki must be included in the name. The rose's delicate peachy apricot glow is not unlike the colour that the rising sun casts on snow capped Mount Taranaki (or Egmont as some still prefer it to be known). This factor combined with its release coinciding with the dawning of the new millennium resulted in a unanimous decision to name the rose 'Taranaki Dawn'. 'Taranaki Dawn' has only one parent. It is a direct seedling of 'Kate Sheppard' (another of George's locally bred roses). If one likes to step back in time its lineage can be traced as far back as 'Park Direktor Riggers' a Kordessi Climber which was very resistant to disease. Also featuring in the family tree are some very well known roses such as 'First Love', 'Iceberg' ' Virgo' 'Roal Highness', 'Peace' and another of George's roses 'Nancv Steen'. George has concentrated on many generations of breeding roses for good health and in this vein has been most successful. 'Nancy Steen', 'Kate Sheppard' and 'Taranaki Dawn' are all proof of this.
'Taranaki Dawn', a floribunda, is being grown by Egmont Roses on behalf of George Sherwood and the North Taranaki District Rose Society. It will be ready for release to the local market as barerooted bushes next winter and potted specimens will be on display and available for purchase at the national show in November 2000.