Magazine  (2008)  Page(s) 13. Vol 30, No. 1.  
 
Vale Joyce Edmonds. Marion Downe, Frankston Vic. Many early members of HRIAI will remember Joyce Edmonds, a passionate lover of old roses, who died during 2007. Most of us remember her lovely one acre garden at Donvale, with its collection of old roses, her great love, but also a few favourite Hybrid Teas, such as 'Apricot Nectar' and Just Joey', and in spring, the many lilacs, blossom trees and bulbs. Rose and garden lovers were always received with a gracious and warm welcome. She introduced many of us to her neighbours' beautiful gardens, and it was through Joyce that some of us met Maria Fawcett in her romantic and memorable garden, Tanglewood. Who could forget Gippslander Ari Bos's glazed expression and exclamation upon returning from Maria's garden: ''I've just been to paradise - and back!" I first met Joyce at a HRIAI annual gathering, I think on Cup Day, in the early 70s, at Heide. It was a searing hot day, with a strong north wind. We soon settled under a shady tree adjacent to the Kitchen Garden, and shared our contributions of roses from our own gardens - roses in baskets, buckets, boxes, somehow surviving the torrid conditions. Joyce, cool and serene, dressed in pale green, and accompanied by the most exquisite basket arrangement of pale pink, mauve, purple and white roses, defied the elements. Joyce loved the thrill of the hunt. Together we drove around the countryside searching for old roses - by the roadside, in old cemeteries, abandoned houses and gardens. It was exciting, often rewarding, and great fun. Her generosity was unconditional. I remember after Eileen Bollard moved house in Gippsland, Joyce went down one day, her car laden with rose and camellia plants, as well as companion plants, all from her own garden. In 1991 John Nieuwesteeg introduced a large flowered bush rose, a sport of 'Scarlet Queen Elizabeth', that he named 'Joyce Edmonds'. In Peter Cox's Australian Roses it is described as having "Double, globular, almost quartered flowers, mid-pink in bud, opening light pink and fading, slightly fragrant, fully recurrent': It is indeed a lovely rose. As Joyce once commented, "I have read somewhere that I make a good hedge!"
Around her 80th birthday Joyce reluctantly moved to Mount Dandenong, where she made a garden on a small block, abutting a state forest, and with three mountain ash in the backyard! A few years later she moved to northern NSW with her son and his family, and by extraordinary coincidence, to a place called Rosebank. Here she gardened in a subtropical climate, bur roses still reigned supreme. In addition to her gardening skills and knowledge, Joyce was an accomplished embroiderer and an enthusiastic birdwatcher. In failing health Joyce entered a nursing home, where she died mid-year, aged almost ninety.

Website/Catalog  (2000)  Page(s) 7.  Includes photo(s).
 
‘Joyce Edmonds’ Hybrid tea. 1881. Australia. Double, slightly fragrant, prickles fewer, large flowers, cut flowers, recurrent. 1.7m x 1.3m. light pink.

Book  (1999)  Page(s) 34.  Includes photo(s).
 
‘Joyce Edmonds’ – 1991. Colour sport of ‘Scarlet Queen Elizabeth’ (‘Korona’ x ‘Queen Elizabeth’). Large flowered Bush rose Sport. Double, globular almost quartered flowers, mid pink in bud, opening light pink and fading, slightly fragrant, fully recurrent. Mid green foliage. Moderate prickles. Flower 34 petals, 80mm, 1 to 3. Bush 1.5m x 1.25m.

Book  (1999)  Page(s) 330.  Includes photo(s).
 
‘Joyce Edmonds’ Modern, Cluster-flowered/Floribunda. Orange/pink, Repeat flowering. The flowers of this variety are double and slightly cupped and strong in color, being an attractive mid-pink and showing golden stamens when they are fully open. There have little scent but last well when cut for indoor use. ‘Joyce Edmonds’ was introduced by the Australian rose grower and nurseryman John Nieuwesteeg in 1992. It is a vigorous grower that forms a strong, upright plant with glossy green leaves that are tough and disease resistant both to mildew and black spot. Growth is quick to repeat and flowering is continuous from spring until autumn. Zones 5-10. Nieuwesteeg, Australia. 1992 Sport of ‘Scarlet Queen Elizabeth’.

Website/Catalog  (1999)  Page(s) 11.  
 
‘Joyce Edmonds’ (Hybrid Tea), 1992. A sport of ‘Scarlet Queen Elizabeth’, this strong hedging rose bears fully double, almost quartered, salmon-pink blooms, good repeat flowering.

Book  (1999)  Page(s) 48.  
 
‘Joyce Edmonds’ (sport of ‘Scarlet Queen Elizabeth’). Nieuwesteeg, Australia, 1992. HT. Pink. [available from] Golden Vale, Mistydown, Nieuwesteeg, Roses Galore, Spring Park.

Book  (Dec 1998)  Page(s) 330.  Includes photo(s).
 
Joyce Edmonds Cluster-flowered/Floribunda. Nieuwesteeg (Australia) 1992. Sport of 'Scarlet Queen Elizabeth'... an attractive mid-pink showing golden stamens when fully... introduced by the Australian rose grower and nurseryman John Nieuwesteeg in 1992...

Website/Catalog  (1998)  Page(s) 4.  
 
‘Joyce Edmonds’ Hybrid tea. 1991. Australia. Double, slightly fragrant, recurrent. 1.8m x 1.5m. light pink.

Book  (1997)  Page(s) 33.  
 
David Ruston, Australian Sports. ‘Joyce Edmonds’ (HT). Nieuwesteeg 1992 – a pink sport of ‘Scarlet Queen Elizabeth’ – not as rich a colour as its parent.

Website/Catalog  (1997)  Page(s) 13.  
 
‘Joyce Edmonds’ 1992. Hybrid Tea (‘Scarlet Queen Elizabeth’ sport). Double, cupped blooms of soft to mid pink with a good fragrance. A very free-flowering bush to 1½m. Named after a stalwart of the Heritage Rose Society.