June is National Rose Month and the American Rose Society is hoping to spread the joy of roses. Headquartered in Shreveport, LA, the American Rose Society (ARS) is a national nonprofit that was founded in 1892 dedicated exclusively to the culture, appreciation and preservation of the rose. Members host rose shows and educational seminars, maintain public gardens, support research of the newest and disease-resistant varieties of roses, provide arrangements and flowers for hundreds of local events and do all they can to share the enjoyment of the rose.
Roses have a long and colorful history. They have been used to symbolize love, beauty, war and peace. They are the subject of art, music, literature and poetry. On Nov. 20, 1986, President Ronald Reagan signed a resolution making the rose the national floral emblem at a ceremony in the White House.
During June, ARS is offering a free special membership preview. Sign-up allows participants to see some of the publications members of the ARS access. They will then receive a special discount on a one-year membership to the ARS.
The ARS also offers a free webinar: June 27 at 2 p.m. – “Blooming Brilliance: The Allure of Shrub Roses for Effortless Elegance” with Natalie Carmolli of Spring Meadow Nursery. Register here.
During 2024, the ARS is also celebrating the following events in north Louisiana. If you’re looking for a family road trip to visit somewhere new, they will be hosting:
- The completion of the five-year garden restoration. This $2 million project has transformed the gardens and features circles that tell the story of the history of the rose in America. The garden has also added more roses, trees and other flowering plants – translating to an estimated 6,000 rose plants and 5,000 other plants including ornamental trees. Guests can stroll the garden during open hours.
- The headquarters home, the American Rose Center, is 50 years old and will have numerous events to celebrate, including:
- July 4 – “Red, White & Blooms: Celebrating America in America’s Rose Garden.” The ARS will be the newest venue for the KTBS Freedom Fest allowing families to explore the gardens and fireworks. The event will take place 5:30 p.m. – 10 p.m. with food trucks, bounce houses and live music.
- Oct. 24 – “50th Anniversary Celebration.” ARS is inviting couples who were married or engaged at the American Rose Center to return for a bit of nostalgia. More details will be posted on Facebook and Instagram.
- Nov. 29 – Dec. 23 – “41st Annual Christmas in Roseland.” The event will take place every Friday – Sunday from Nov. 29 – Dec. 15, and then every night Dec. 16 – 23. Fireworks shows will be every Saturday in December, with the grand finale on Dec. 23. Other highlights will include Santa photos, rides on the Roseland Express, roasting marshmallows, a vendor market weekend and princesses visiting the gardens. More details can be found at www.ChristmasInRoseland.org.
- The ARS has also just announced the third round of winners in their International Rose Trials. Rose trials have been a long-held tradition, especially in Europe. Today, there are 27 International Rose Trials locations in 16 countries around the world, including the U.S., where rose breeders offer their finest rose introductions to be grown in trial grounds for at least two years before winners are announced. Winners can be found here.
- In honor of its mission of rose preservation, the ARS is founding an initiative to re-introduce ramblers into American gardens. The “Save the Ramblers” initiative will combine the assets of the ARS accreditation as the world’s largest floral society, the extensive rambler collection with the efforts of participating own-root nurseries, heritage rose organizations, public gardens and historic gardens as well as historic plant preservation societies to re-introduce ramblers to gardens.
As the National Floral Emblem, the ARS suggests the following ways to enjoy roses:
- Plant a rose bush. Need help? Go to www.rose.org to learn more.
- Share your roses at nursing homes, hospitals, banks and your local library. Encourage your local library to have a rose book display.
- Give roses to show your love or friendship.
- Give a rose bush for a longer-lasting gift. There are many different types of roses to choose from with a wide variety of colors, including stripes.
- Visit a botanical garden or a rose garden to find inspiration to start a rose garden.
- Take photos of your roses and share them with friends in cards, notes and letters. Share with the ARS on their social media platforms tagging #roses and #nationalfloralemblem.
Featured photo: Rose Trial winner Glass Slipper, courtesy of Diane Sommers
