District Shows/Meetings

Fall Meeting and Show

October 11-13 2019

Richmond, VA

Champagne and Roses

Richmond Rose Society is pleased to host the 72nd Colonial District Fall Meeting and Rose Show

October 11-13, 2019. This will be Richmond’s 80th annual rose show and we plan to celebrate in a BIG way and make this a special occasion for everyone! Our theme is “Champagne and Roses.”

The rose show will again be held at the beautiful Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden, 1800 Lakeside Avenue, Richmond 23228. Doors to the preparation area will open at 6:00 a.m. on Saturday, October 12. We will have coffee, tea, and light refreshments for exhibitors to enjoy. Exhibitors will also receive admission for the day to enjoy all of the gardens. Admission is also free with your ARS member card! Bring plenty of roses!

Richmond is revamping and expanding our photography section, so bring your rose photos! They should be 5 x 7 size and unframed. Complete details will be available later.

We are delighted to have two speakers on Saturday afternoon at Lewis Ginter. Susan Fox, consulting rosarian, author, and award-winning photographer, is a representative for the Jackson & Perkins brand and for Corona tools. She will share her rose tips. John Smith, noted exhibitor and hybridizer, will give a presentation on new fertilizer products manufactured by Microbial Science Laboratories. These products are 100% organic; will benefit roses, other plants, and vegetables; and will put life back into spent soil. John will have the products available for purchase on Saturday evening at the hotel.

Hotel arrangements have been made with Courtyard by Marriott Richmond North, 10077 Brook Road, Glen Allen, VA 23059. Room rates are $119 per night plus tax for a King or Double Queen room. Mention Richmond Rose Society for the special rate. The cut-off date for hotel reservations is September 27. The check-in time is 3:00 p.m. and check-out is 12:00 noon. The hotel is very convenient to Lewis Ginter.

The weekend will begin on Friday evening with an informal dinner of deli sandwiches, salad, cole slaw, chips, fresh baked cookies, and sodas. Lynn Pappas, RRS secretary, has put together a short movie of Richmond Rose Society memories to highlight our anniversary. Connie Hilker, chair of the Heritage and Preservation Committee of the ARS, will give a presentation on preserving heirloom roses.

We are very pleased and honored to have ARS vice president Diane Sommers as our Saturday banquet speaker!

We’ll have a Consulting Rosarian class on Sunday for those who want to become new CRs. Attendance at the classes will also recertify those who need to update their CR status.

Oops! Forgot to mention the hospitality suite we’ll have at the hotel for all to enjoy. We are planning a fun weekend filled with surprises! You don’t want to miss it! Mark your calendars and make plans to attend! Come to Richmond and celebrate Champagne and Roses!

Carol Fox and Julie Ashman, co-chairs