ARS National Convention

The “Gem o’ the Rockies” rose is just one of the special features of the 2008 ARS Spring National Convention and Rose Show in Denver, Colorado. The pink-coral miniflora, donated by Nor’East, will be given to each attendee at registration in recognition of Colorado’s official state mineral, the beautiful rhodochrosite.

As the only national convention scheduled for 2008, Denver’s “Gems of the Rockies” combines a love of roses with Colorado’s rich history, colorful characters and breathtaking mountain scenery. Members of the Denver Rose Society have worked tirelessly to cultivate a one-of-a-kind rose experience and it promises to be a real gem.

During five days of rose immersion at a mile high, the convention provides the perfect opportunity to get the necessary credits for any CR or judging credentials. Doug Helberg, National Arrangement Judges Chair, will lead the arrangement seminar while Susan Clingenpeel, National Horticulture Judges Chair, will teach the fine points of judging challenge classes.

For the Consulting Rosarians in the group, Baldo Villegas, our National CR Chair, will be joined by special guest Whitney Cranshaw. Dr. Cranshaw, an entomologist at Colorado State University and author of Garden Insects of North America, will present a program on rose pests. He was recently named the Green Industries of Colorado Person of the Year.

Featured Speakers and Programs

The Denver Rose Society’s motto is “Let’s Grow Roses for Fun” and the convention committee plans to carry that theme throughout the entire convention. From our tours to our awards banquet, we want people to relax, enjoy our Western hospitality and have a good time. The featured speakers and programs are designed to appeal to the casual rose grower as well as to the serious exhibiter.

The convention program begins Thursday evening with one of our own Rocky Mountain gems, Joan Franson, Rocky Mountain District Director. Joan will share with us Beautiful Roses of the Rockies. Joan is an active society member on the local and national levels, and is a Master CR, Horticulture and Arrangement judge, and winner of both the ARS Bronze and Silver medals.

On Friday, June 27, learn from an expert about Starting Over: Planning Your Second (or Third!) Rose Garden. Don Julien is a frequent contributor to the American Rose magazine. A former editor of the Seattle Rose Society’s Rose Petals and the Pacific Northwest District’s Northwest Rosarian, Mr. Julien has received numerous writing and editing awards and has received the ARS Bronze and Silver Medals.

Our second speaker, Dr. R. Kenneth Horst, will present Diseases of the Rose and Their Control. Dr. Horst is professor emeritus of plant pathology at Cornell University and one of the foremost experts on plant disease. He has been researching, teaching and writing about ornamental diseases since the early 1960s. Among his many writing credits is the updated second edition of The Compendium of Rose Diseases and Pests with Raymond Cloyd. Dr. Horst is also the developer of GreenCure fungicide, an environmentally responsible disease control product.

Saturday from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. is the Patrons’ get together and we hope everyone will join us for a fiesta of food and fun to support our Patrons. The party is open to all and, weather permitting, we’ll enjoy our margaritas poolside. For 34 years, Patrons have provided funds to supplement the ARS budget. Distinguished Patrons will be honored at this event.

Later that evening, Dr. Neville Arnold will present Breeding Winter-Hardy and Disease Resistant Roses. His rose research has focused on plant nutrition, tissue culture, genetic modification and developing new lines of miniature roses, somatic embryogenesis on a solid medium and in bioreactors. After retiring as a research scientist, he and his wife, Catherine, established Northern Hybrid Roses in Green Valley, Ontario.

Also on June 28, Stephen Scanniello will present Tales My Roses Told Me. Mr. Scanniello is best known as the gardener who transformed the Brooklyn Botanic Garden’s Cranford Rose Garden into an acclaimed rose garden. He is president of the Heritage Rose Foundation and has co-authored several award-winning rose books, including A Year of Roses, selected as one of the best books in horticulture for 1997 by the American Horticultural Society. An updated edition was released in May 2006. His next rose book is anticipated for 2008.

On June 29, John Sheldon, hybridizer for Sheldon’s Roses, will present information about a familiar breakthrough in plant health science. In Messenger® 101: Bringing Science into Your Rose Garden, he will detail the results of using this environmentally-friendly product to grow healthier and happier roses. Mr. Sheldon is a well-known hybridizer of roses including the familiar Golden Age, Hollywood Star, Hopie Girl, Strawberry Romance, Delicate Lady, and O’Rilla. One of his newest passions is the development of exhibition phototropic roses that change color in the sun.

Dr. Tommy Cairns, internationally renowned rose expert and exhibitor, will present Evolution of the Rose. Dr. Cairns holds judging credentials both in the Royal National Rose Society of Great Britain and the American Rose Society. Prior to his election as President of the World Federation of Rose Societies for 2003-2006, he served as the 50th President of the American Rose Society (2000-2003).

Dr. Cairns edited Modern Roses XI, The World Encyclopedia of Roses, and The Ultimate Rose Book (2007). He is editor of World Rose News, published by the World Federation of Rose Societies. He enjoys almost 1,000 award-winning rose bushes at his home in Studio City, California.

Those attending the evening awards banquet on June 29 will be entertained by Dr. Kevin Fitzgerald, the hardest-working veterinarian in show business. As a stand-up comedian, Dr. Fitzgerald of Animal Planet fame, has performed at such prestigious venues as The Grand Ole Opry and the House of Blues. His performance includes topics ranging from current events to hilarious on-the-job stories.

More Special Events

The Denver committee has two other special events planned for the convention. The ARS National Quilt Show will feature quilts with roses and rose-themed fabric or designs. Quilt show information is available on the convention Web site (www.2008arsdenver.com) or contact Marcie Emily, mesuncr@msn.com or 303-456-5556.

A variety of vendors will be selling rose supplies ranging from your favorite pruners to ribbon roses at the trade show, June 26-28. In addition, the Denver Rose Society is having a rose-related book sale, from special new volumes to gently used classics. In conjunction with the book sale, Carolyn Fylling, one of our longstanding ARS and DRS members, has donated many beautiful and collectible items for sale.

Registration Information

The convention’s host hotel is the Four Points Sheraton Southeast (www.starwoodhotels.com; 866-716-8133 or 303-758-7000). The Sheraton is conveniently located near I-25 with access into downtown Denver. When registering, be sure to mention American Rose Society for the discounted room rate of only $95.00.

Based on availability, you can upgrade to a 1-bedroom suite for $115.00 or a 2-bedroom suite for $125.00. Please contact me for details.

Registration begins February 1 with a discount for early registration. As a special incentive, those registered by May 15 will be entered in a drawing for 4,000 Starpoints. Points are redeemable for future lodging at Sheraton, Four Points, Westin and other hotels and resorts. Three winners will be drawn on Sunday night.

The convention website, www.2008arsdenver.com, contains a wealth of information. In addition to basic convention information, you’ll find guides for the airport, car rentals and restaurants in the area. Visit often for convention updates.