Rose Show Results

Planning a rose show is quite an undertaking. We begin planning each year in December for a Mother’s Day weekend show.  The list of tasks to be performed is daunting; judges must be invited from out of town. (Judges cannot judge a local show), publicity schedule must be set, clerks for the show must be lined up, hundreds of vases must be removed from storage loaded, delivered, unpacked, filled and then afterward emptied and packed up and placed back into storage.  yet when the day comes and the people and roses come out, it is all well worth our efforts. The show is held each year on Mother’s Day weekend at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens. It is the perfect backdrop for one of the southeast’s finest rose shows.

Garden Center at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens

We had over 80 photographs entered in the show this year and some of the finest photos of  roses I have ever seen.

Birmingham Rose Show Photography Division

My photo of ‘Dream Come True’ made a second place showing in the Hybrid Tea/Grandiflora category

2nd Place “Dream Come True’ Hybrid Tea/Grandiflora Category

We have had major problems this year with thrips and our blooms have not been as spectacular as in previous years, yet we managed to enter a few in the horticulture division.

We placed first in the climbing rose category with this bloom of ‘Christine’ a large flowered climbing rose

1st Place for ‘Christine’, a Large Flowered Climbing Rose from my garden

We placed second in the same category with a bloom of ‘Don Juan’, another great climber in our garden

2nd Place for “Don Juan” Climbing Rose from my garden

Our finest achievement in this category was with our spray of ‘Lavaglut’, a floribunda. It was placed on the awards table and judged “King” in the court of floribunda winners.

Spray of “Lavaglut” Floribunda wins King in the Floribunda Court

One of the highlights of any rose show is the Arrangements Division and this show was no exception. Take a peek at some of the finest in the show.

Miniature Arrangement in the Oriental Manner

Line Arrangement

We had an exceptional turnout for the show. Estimated attendance of 500!

People & Roses! This is why we’re here….

As the 2012 Birmingham Rose Society President, one thing I was adamant about this year, was the introduction of educational programs geared toward getting people involved in growing roses. We held our first “Growing Roses In Alabama” seminar on Saturday and had a good turn out. Local Rosarian Gloria Purnell shared some solid rose growing advice.

Growing Roses In Alabama – Educational Programs that keep people in the GROW!

Show Stats:
Photography: over 80 entires
Horticulture: over 300 entries
Arrangements: over 50 entries
Fun Factor: Over The Top!

Thanks to everyone for your support and kind words.  Until next year, its back to the garden for me! My blooms are a waitin…..