April 2010

GARDEN FACES

BIRMINGHAM ROSE SOCIETY APRIL

AMERICAN ROSE SOCIETY AFFILIATE

Editor: Glenda Boudreaux ambghbmsn.com (205) 337­7100

2010

OUR NEXT MEETING Monday, April 26 , 2010 at 6:30 p.m. in the Hodges Room of the Botanical Gardens. Executive committee at 6:00p.m.

Our hosts are Shirley and Frank Bolen th

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE Dear Rose Society Members: As I sit here writing a note this morning, my mind is wandering outside. There are so many things to be thankful for that I have to mention some of them: Greening up of our gardens Beautiful and needed rain that is falling Rose plants that are lush with great foliage and buds starting to form Daffodils and tulips in bloom And, did I mention?

JUST ONE MONTH TILL THE ROSE SHOW!!!!

Wow, so much to do and so little time. I do hope you are planning for the following events: April 26th, 2010 meeting at 6:30 p.m. We will bring a bloom or two and get some instructions about exhibiting if you are a first-time exhibitor. Otherwise, we can always learn some new hints and tricks from the masters.

May 8th-9th, 2010 – Rose Show at the Botanical Gardens. (More times to be announced at the April meeting.)

So far we are having a beautiful spring. However, as all of us know, the pollen has been the worst ever. I have suffered for the first time in years so I know it is BAD. Bring your questions to the April meeting. We got so busy last month with the Arrangement Workshop that I did not allow time for the Q & A session. I would be remiss if I did not say a special thank you to Mayre Parr, Dean Hodge and Sylvia Potts for their great leadership and expertise in demonstrating the arrangement techniques. Response was great and I know everyone learned a lot. Thanks to all.

We continue to welcome new members each month. We hope all of our new members will be present for the April meeting and bring a friend with you. I promise nothing but fun, fellowship and fuel for our learning about roses.

See you on Monday, April 26th, at 6:30 p.m. (See the Executive Committee at 6:00 p.m.)

Happy Gardening, Gloria Purnell President, Birmingham Rose Society

CR REPORT

By Chris VanCleave

MUSINGS FROM AN AWESTRUCK ROSE GARDENER I blog weekly about my rose gardening adventures. I have met quite a number of rose growers online who have absolutely no interest in rose shows, exhibitions or even rose societies. I am proud to say that I am not among them.

I can honestly tell you that since the first time I stepped into the Exhibition Hall at the Botanical Gardens for the 2007 Birmingham Rose Show, I was hooked.... The spectacle of over 500 on display mesmerized and challenged me. It would take me a year to get up the courage to join the society, and then another to enter my first rose in the show. But there I stood last May, in the back room at the gardens with my one little bloom, a double knockout rose (it was all I had), and I remember Ms. George Ann Hamilton stopped her exhibition prep work to help me with mine. It was a kindness I will never forget. She made room for me next to her and walked me through me all I needed to know about how to exhibit my little rose. She made me feel like an expert; and in no time, I proudly walked my rose to the entry table.... I didn't make it to the winners’ table, but I learned a valuable lesson. We need each other.

I plan to exhibit again this year. Not because I want to win a prize, but because I believe that the community needs an opportunity to be mesmerized and challenged as I was by the rose. So, if you are reading this and you have a bloom on Saturday morning May 8th, bring it by the gardens. George Ann and I, along with many other members of the Society, will be waiting to help you enter your roses in the show.............

AMERICA’S BEST ROSE GARDEN CONTEST

By Chris VanCleave

Winning Garden To Receive $2,500 Plus National Recognition All-American Rose Selections’ (AARS) “America’s Best Rose Garden” competition is a national competition to find the best public rose gardens in America. The voting officially starts on April 1st, 2010 and closes July 1st, 2010. Communities across America can vote for their favorite local garden. (ours is the Dunn Formal Rose Garden) Since 1938, the non-profit All-America Rose Selections (AARS) has been dedicated to the introduction and promotion of exceptional roses. Each of the 130 AARS-plus accredited public rose gardens across America bloom with hundreds, and sometimes thousands, of roses each year.

The top ten gardens with the most individual votes will become finalists. Then, a panel of experts from AARS will travel to the five finalist cities, evaluate the gardens, and select one winner based on beauty, creativity and the garden’s overall contribution to its community. The winning garden will receive a $2,500 cash donation and will be featured in a national PR campaign highlighting the best gardens in America.

Vote today at: http://www.rose.org/voteform/ The VanCleave Family Helena, Alabama

CALLING ALL AMATUER PHOTOGRAPHERS

By Chris VanCleave It’s time to begin collecting your entries for our annual digital photo contest. We hope as many of you as possible will participate in this fun activity. Photography is one of the best ways we have to share the beauty of our national flower. Last year’s results were published in the winter issue of the Bulletin and are on the DSD Website. I hope everyone got to see and enjoy them.

You will want to take advantage of the many photo opportunities available during the first and second flushes of roses this spring. So start collecting your photos as early as possible. There also is a high correlation between the number of photos entered and awards won. The more photos you enter the better chance you have of winning. Now is a good time to organize your computer’s photo files so that entries are ready for submission prior to the July 31, 2010 deadline.

We hope those of you who participated last year enjoyed the contest and the results. We would love to have more of you join the fun this year. Please email your questions and entries to me at a.whitcomb@earthlink.net.

Thank you in advance for your participation.

MINUTES OF THE MARCH 29TH MEETING Submitted by George Ann Hamilton, Recording Secretary

Gloria Purnell, President called the meeting to order. Thirty-two members and one visitor were present at the meeting.

Three new members were introduced. The host and hostess were thanked for our refreshments- Louis and Tiffany Maring.

The minutes from the February 22nd meeting were approved as printed in Garden Faces. Gloria read the Treasurer’s Report for Frank Baier who was out with a bad back. As of March 29th, 2010 the checking account balance is $6,876.17 and the Certificate of Deposit balance is $4,783,44.

Carl Bruner’s advertising report. Everyone is encouraged to sell ads for the Rose Show Program. A full-page ad is $110.00, one-half page is $65.00 and a one-third-page ad is $35.00. All ads and money need to be turned in this week. The Rose Show Programs are going to be printed and ready for the next meeting.

Robert Eskew reported that volunteers are needed for the Plant Sale on April 16th from 2-5:30 and on the 17th from 5:30 to 7:30 at the old Vincent’s Market in the Brookwood Shopping Center. The Plant Sale supports the Botanical Gardens.

This is a very important part of our service.

The Mobile Rose Show has been cancelled. The reason for cancellation is too much winter damage.

The Whistle Stop Café at a cost of approximately $12.00 will cater the Judge’s Luncheon on May 8th. Reservations will be taken at the April 26th meeting.

An Executive Meeting will be held at 6:00 P.M. in the Hodges Room on April 26th, before the regular Rose Society meeting.

The meeting was adjourned to the exhibition hall for the arrangement program presented by Dean Hodge, who provided the Traditional arrangement; Mayre Parr, who provided the Oriental arrangement; and Sylvia Potts, who provided the Modern arrangement. Members were supplied with containers, roses and greenery. Anyone who wanted to try his or her hand at an arrangement was encouraged to participate. The program was very informative and fun.

Stay connected to us online: Visit us on the web at www.BirminghamRose.org Become a fan of Birmingham Rose Society on Facebook!

Follow us on Twitter @BhamRoseSociety While the advice and information in this newsletter is believed to be true and accurate at the time of publication, neither the authors nor the editor accept any legal responsibility for any errors or omissions that may have been made. The Birmingham Rose Society makes no warranty, expressed or implied with respect to the material contained herein.

Glenda Boudreaux 4493 Preserve Drive Birmingham, Al 35226