About Chris VanCleave - America's Favorite Rose Gardener
Christopher R. VanCleave – America’s Favorite Rose Gardener
Nicknamed "The Redneck Rosarian”, Chris VanCleave is passionate about gardening and growing roses. He is an active member of the Birmingham chapter of the American Rose Society, serving two terms as President. In 2007, he created the Rose Chat Podcast which has reached over a half a million listeners with news and information on growing on growing the world’s most beloved flower, the rose.
He was a contributor to the 2015 Southern Living Gardening Book, has appeared on P. Allen Smith’s Garden Home television show and was featured in the June 2015 issue of Southern Living Magazine. Locally, Chris serves as Chairman of the Helena Alabama Beautification Board where he has spearheaded efforts to create a sustainable landscape in one of the top one hundred places to live in the United States.
His writing is seen at About.com and on his popular website; RedneckRosarian.com, where he chronicles his gardening adventures and explores an intrinsic mix of life, faith and gardening.
An agent of change with over 20 years’ experience in process innovation, Mr. VanCleave is leading the charge to reinvigorate horticultural societies and helping them to reach their full potential in the social media age.
I have a ‘Peace” rose in my garden planted in memory of my mother who encouraged me as a boy to tend roses.
The story of this rose is such an incredible story. Well told in this clip….
Not on topic, but I had a Chicago Peace in a container next to a Mr. Lincoln and the next time it bloomed it was shocking pink. I moved it and it went back to cream and light pink.
Candelabra is a lovely floribunda and quite hardy.
Kaleidoscope is wonderful and I think is a floribunda. I couldn’t find it at Jackson Perkins online and I couldn’t find a photo of it. It must be under a different name.
Peace roses aren’t easy to get up here in the north. It may be because garden centers stock newer roses as well as their steady sellers. Peace must be not popular. That’s strange.
Thanks for visiting my blog. The rose ‘peace’ is still available in many homecenters and online. jackson & perkins might carry this rose from inventory, but the folks at Conard-Pyle and Star Roses is the company that actually introduced this rose in the US. Heirloom Roses carries it online http://www.heirloomroses.com/peace.html. Check it out! I have heard of Kaleidoscope and Candelabra, but have not seen them for some years. Chicago Peace is an awesome rose indeed.
Thank you for your kind words about our photos. I quite frankly was stunned. We appreciate our followers and love doing what we are doing. Thanks for following us. We have enjoyed reading your blog and seeing your wonderful shots of roses as well. 🙂
It’s a great story. One of the best I have read. Have you read “A Rose By Any Name” by Douglass Brenner & Stephen Scanniello? Great book about how some roses got their names….
The Redneck Rosarian 
Pingback: The Rose Of The Century – ‘Peace’ Hybrid Tea | Garden Roses | Scoop.it
Thanks for sharing, Chris!!
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I have a ‘Peace” rose in my garden planted in memory of my mother who encouraged me as a boy to tend roses.
The story of this rose is such an incredible story. Well told in this clip….
LikeLike
Not on topic, but I had a Chicago Peace in a container next to a Mr. Lincoln and the next time it bloomed it was shocking pink. I moved it and it went back to cream and light pink.
Candelabra is a lovely floribunda and quite hardy.
Kaleidoscope is wonderful and I think is a floribunda. I couldn’t find it at Jackson Perkins online and I couldn’t find a photo of it. It must be under a different name.
Peace roses aren’t easy to get up here in the north. It may be because garden centers stock newer roses as well as their steady sellers. Peace must be not popular. That’s strange.
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Thanks for visiting my blog. The rose ‘peace’ is still available in many homecenters and online. jackson & perkins might carry this rose from inventory, but the folks at Conard-Pyle and Star Roses is the company that actually introduced this rose in the US. Heirloom Roses carries it online http://www.heirloomroses.com/peace.html. Check it out! I have heard of Kaleidoscope and Candelabra, but have not seen them for some years. Chicago Peace is an awesome rose indeed.
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The kaleidoscope was a Star rose in a gallon container.
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Thank you for your kind words about our photos. I quite frankly was stunned. We appreciate our followers and love doing what we are doing. Thanks for following us. We have enjoyed reading your blog and seeing your wonderful shots of roses as well. 🙂
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Hi Chris, what a treat to learn of this rose’s past. A friend just lent me her book For Love of a Rose, and by-gosh, it’s the story of Peace Rose.
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It’s a great story. One of the best I have read. Have you read “A Rose By Any Name” by Douglass Brenner & Stephen Scanniello? Great book about how some roses got their names….
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I like how this rose looks against fence,and I love the flowers,so beautiful!
Tamara
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I have loved Peace for many years. I really enjoyed learning the moving story behind its name.
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Thanks for sharing this, Chris. I love Peace and its Chicago Peace sport; I love the rose and its story.
Sandra
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I had the honor of voicing this documentary. Thank you for sharing! Its a great story inspirational and one of my favorite projects!! ❤️🌹🙏🏽
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