Located only 250 km northeast of Adelaide, nestled on the banks of the River Murray is the bright and bustling rural township of Renmark. Renmark is right in the heart of South Australia’s Riverland district which is an important foodbowl for this state and the rest of Australia but the internationally as well. Leave the township and you’ll soon discover the kilometres and kilometres of oranges, lemons and other citrus along with vines, apricots, peaches, almonds and vegetable crops, just to name a few. And as much as this area is known for its edible produce, is something a little more colourful I’m interested in. Hot dry summer and wet cool winters make this region the ideal spot to grow and show off roses. The queen of flowers absolutely loves Renmark and the surrounding towns. There aren’t too many towns that are as colourful as Renmark as anybody who has driving through will agree. The Sturt Highway, which runs through the middle of town, is a riot of colour. Who said roses aren’t tough? These beds of fabulously performing hybrid tea roses would look at home in a well-manicured estate, yet here they are sitting in medium strip surrounded by bitumen on both sides. Now that’s one tough plant. Renmark’s hot dry summers do help keep fungal diseases such as black spot and powdery mildew down. They are looking nice and clean. This town celebrates the rose each October, hosting the Renmark Rose Festival which draws a huge number of garden loving visitors. If you are heading to the Riverland, remember to include a visit to Renmark. Honestly this is one place you can stop and smell the roses. WATCH THE CLIP
