This rose was bred by a little known New Zealand breeder, John Martin, of New Plymouth, prior to 1988 and in that year was sold as a fundraiser for New Zealand's premier country & western music event, The Gold Guitar Awards, held annually in Gore, Southland. I haven't been able to establish that it was ever marketed commercially and it almost certainly wasn't. There is no record of it in the New Zealand Plant Variety Rights register. The only example I have been able to find is in the Gore Public Gardens, where there are several plants flourishing in a group planting. I have contacted the manager of Gore Public Gardens and the owners of nearby rose growers Southern Roses, who have both indicated interest in cooperating with each other to propagate this rose and Southern Roses will possibly, in the future, introduce this rose to the market.
Tomartyr, I presume you are talking about John Martin who had Egmont Roses nursery at New Plymouth. I have many of the old New Zealand Rose Annuals and note that Egmont roses took two pages fairly consistently, so New Zealanders would certainly known about him. I certainly would not have called him a little-known breeder. I am picking up many roses that he bred and will be adding them to HelpMeFind in the future. I hope you have been successful in conserving 'Gold Guitars'. Regards, Patricia
It wasn't my intention to denigrate Mr Martin by referring to him as a little known breeder. I'm sure he was well known in his day but I had difficulty finding information about him thirty years later, even with the advantages modern information technology provides. I am hoping Gore District Council and Southern Roses have taken steps toward resurrecting 'Gold Guitars'.
Tomartyr, There is now a little bit more about John Martin in his breeder's file - and HelpMeFind now has as many of his roses as we have been able to find.
