February 21-22 – 2025 Tenarky District Winter Workshop & Photo Contest

The Tenarky District Winter Workshop will be held February 21-22, 2025, at the Holiday Inn University Plaza, Bowling Green, KY. District Director, Howard Carman, and Vice Director, Paula Williams, have planned a great winter getaway weekend for rosarians – an event you will not want to miss!

The hotel is located at Holiday Inn University Plaza & Sloan Convention Center, 1021 Wilkinson Trace, Bowling Green, KY 42103. Reserve by January 21, 2025. A small block of rooms has been reserved for the workshop at a special rate of $137 per night plus taxes. Rooms should be reserved by January 21, 2025. Call 270.745.0088 and mention Tenarky District(American Rose Society) Code TEN or reserve online at Tenarky.org. Hotel may be sold out this weekend; reserve early! Click here to reserve on line.

We have great speakers!

Gaye Hammond, Past President of the Houston Rose Society
Gaye is the Past President of the Houston Rose Society. She is a life member and patron of American Rose Society and serves on the Marketing Committee of the national organization. Gaye is also the study liaison between the Houston Rose Society and the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service in connection with EarthKind® Rose Research the largest environmental rose research study done in the U.S.

Dennis Phillips, President of Monty’s Plant Food Company
Dennis is the son-in-law of Monty Justice and together they formed Monty’s Plant Food Company in 1997. He continues to serve as President and oversees production while creating new products. While working on his post graduate work at the University of Louisville, he began working with Monty Justice in Rose care (nearly 200 gardens that amounted to 2,000 roses). He continues to serve as President and oversees production and looks to create new products from the list that were generated early in their business.

Raymond A. Cloyd, professor and extension specialist in the Department of Entomology at Kansas State University
Raymond is a professor and extension specialist in horticultural entomology/plant protection in the Department of Entomology at Kansas State University. His research and extension program involves plant protection/pest management of horticultural insect and mite pests in greenhouses, nurseries, landscapes, turfgrass, conservatories, interior scapes, Christmas trees, vegetables, fruits, cannabis, and hemp. In addition, Raymond provides assistance to beekeepers and is involved in pollinator protection.

And a Photo Contest!

Attached are the schedule of events, registration form, Saturday catered lunch order,speaker bios, and rose photo contest rules. Click each link to open or download each form. PLEASE NOTE! all times are Central Standard Time (not CDT)!

Make plans to attend – make hotel reservations soon (limited number of rooms at discounted price) and send your registration prior to February 15 to have the catered lunch. This will be a fun weekend to attend educational seminars, reconnect with rose friends, and make new ones!!

We hope to see you at the 2025 Tenarky District Winter Workshop!


December 15, 2:00-5:00 pm – NRS Holiday Party

Enjoy the holiday spirit with your fellow Rose Society members and guests at the 2024 Nashville Rose Society Holiday Party! The party will be held on Sunday, December 15, from 2:00 – 5:00pm at Ellington Agriculture Center Ed Jones Auditorium,440 Hogan Road,Nashville, TN 37220. This venue has excellent parking and easy entry.

NRS will provide turkey, ham, rolls and drinks, and dinnerware; members are asked to bring their favorite side dish or dessert. No one ever leaves hungry!

Please RSVP to Marty Reich by Dec. 8 if you and your guest plan to attend.

Finding the Center
From I-65: Take Exit #78-A east on Harding Place. Take a right at the second light onto Trousdale Drive. Travel south on Trousdale for approximately 1.5 miles. Turn left on to Hogan Road at the four-way stop. Hogan Road ends at the front gates of the Ellington Agricultural Center. Note: all buildings have identifying lawn signs for your convenience.

From I-24: Take exit #56 west on Harding Place to the Nolensville Road intersection at Walmart. Turn left onto Nolensville Road and travel south 1/10 mile and turn right onto Edmondson Pike. Travel 1 1/2 miles on Edmondson Pike. The east entrance to Ellington Agricultural Center is on the right.

Finding a Building
To the Ed Jones Auditorium: Enter the front gates from Hogan Road. Bear to your right. The Moss Building (antebellum style mansion) will be on your left at the top of the hill. Follow the drive until you reach the auditorium (a large white barn-like structure that sets at the end of the lawn behind the mansion.) It is located at 416 Hogan Road.

We hope to see you there!


November 3, 1:30-4:00 pm – “Saving & Starting Seeds”, and Chili Cook-off

Don’t forget! Daylight Savings Time Ends!!
The speakers for the November meeting of the Nashville Rose Society will be two members of the Davidson County Master Gardeners – Susanna Hadley and Joan Clayton-Davis. The meeting will be held at the Ellington Agriculture Center Ed Jones Auditorium, 440 Hogan Road,Nashville, TN 37220. This venue has excellent parking and easy entry.

Joan Clayton-Davis, Coordinator of the Master Gardeners of Davidson County Speakers Bureau

Joan Clayton-Davis is Coordinator of the Master Gardeners of Davidson County Speakers Bureau, which educates the community on gardening, horticulture, etc. at libraries, schools, community organizations and churches, reaching more than 500 people each year. Joan has been a Master Gardener since 2014 and received the University of Tennessee Extension 2017 “Outstanding Master Gardener Award” Central Region. She is a retired Health Communications/Social Marketing Consultant.

Read more about Joan’s family history of farming and gardening since 1913 in her interview with the Nashville Public Library on blog post “A Master Gardeners Story”.

Joan will present “A Beginners Guide to Saving Seeds”. Seed saving is the practice of saving seeds or other reproductive material from open-pollinated vegetables, grains, herbs, and flowers for your use from year to year.

Susanna Hadley, Second Vice President of the Master Gardeners of Davidson County
Susanna Hadley has been a Master Gardener with the Master Gardeners of Davidson County since 2023. Currently serving as the Second Vice President, she acts as a bridge between the garden leads and the executive board. In addition, Susanna is the co-founder and Experience Director of Nashville Lawn Care, where she and her husband focus on meeting both commercial and residential landscaping needs while expanding into gardening and community garden support.

A Nashville resident since 2007, Susanna’s love for gardening intertwines with her passion for cooking and advocating for equitable food access. She has also contributed her time to organizations like The Nashville Food Project and Restoration Pointe, further reflecting her commitment to the community.

Susanna will teach us “How to Start Seeds” – how to choose good seeds, how to store seeds, containers for starting seeds, media for starting seeds, and techniques for starting, germination, and getting new plants ready for planting.

It is also that time of year for our annual Chili Cook-off. Everyone will vote for the best chili and the best cornbread – a good chili needs a good cornbread! Cook up a batch of your favorite recipe and bring it to the meeting. One thing is for sure, no one is going home hungry.

Finding the Center
From I-65: Take Exit #78-A east on Harding Place. Take a right at the second light onto Trousdale Drive. Travel south on Trousdale for approximately 1.5 miles. Turn left on to Hogan Road at the four-way stop. Hogan Road ends at the front gates of the Ellington Agricultural Center. Note: all buildings have identifying lawn signs for your convenience.

From I-24: Take exit #56 west on Harding Place to the Nolensville Road intersection at Walmart. Turn left onto Nolensville Road and travel south 1/10 mile and turn right onto Edmondson Pike. Travel 1 1/2 miles on Edmondson Pike. The east entrance to Ellington Agricultural Center is on the right.

Finding a Building
To the Ed Jones Auditorium: Enter the front gates from Hogan Road. Bear to your right. The Moss Building (antebellum style mansion) will be on your left at the top of the hill. Follow the drive until you reach the auditorium (a large white barn-like structure that sets at the end of the lawn behind the mansion.) It is located at 416 Hogan Road.


October 19, 10:00am – 5:00pm – Ron Daniels Gadwall Abbey’s Annual Rose Tour

Ron Daniels, Nashville Rose Society Master Rosarian, will host his Gadwall Abbey’s Open Rose Garden & Book Signing on Saturday, October 19, 10:00am – 5:00pm at 1000 Gadwall Circle, Hendersonville, TN 37075.

Ron has over 170 roses of all types and many companion plants in his Gadwall Abbey Garden. Ron’s garden produces many Rose Show winners and has been featured on Talk of the Town.

If you have not seen Ron’s garden, put this on your calendar!


October 13, 1:30-4:00 pm – Suzanne Horn, “David Austin & The Romance of English Roses”

Suzanne Horn is a successful exhibitor, speaker, writer, Master Consulting Rosarian, and horticultural judge
The Nashville Rose Society is pleased to have Susanne Horn as our presenter for the October, 2024, meeting. Suzanne will be joining us virtually via GoToMeeting from her home in Glendale, California. Suzanne’s program will cover the history of David Austin Roses and what makes them truly romantic. She will explain the family lines of these roses, varied forms and growth habits, shade tolerance, fragrance, growing tips, and their varied uses in the garden. Suzanne will share information and photos about her favorites among the English Roses for display in the garden, on the show table, and as cut flowers for the home. She will also discuss the lasting legacy of the late David C.H. Austin.

Suzanne is the 2023 Guy Blake Hedrick, Jr. Award winner and the 2023 Silver Honor Medal winner for the Pacific Southwest District. Suzanne has been growing show roses since she joined the American Rose Society in 2000, after being encouraged to pursue exhibiting, which she undertook with a fierce passion. She won her Best Novice trophy in 2000 (her first year) and won her first Queen in 2001. Since diving into the deep end of the exhibiting pool, she has won 1,390 trophies in 148 rose shows, including 107 Queens of Show and four “Best of Show” awards. She has been winning District and National trophies since her first two years of exhibiting, winning 44 District and National challenge trophies with hybrid teas, floribundas, shrubs, old garden roses, miniatures, minifloras, and polyanthas. She currently grows 450 exhibition roses of all types, all in containers.

Don’t forget – The October meeting will be the SECOND Sunday of October. Plan to attend the Tenarky District Fall Convention on October 4-6, in Bowling Green.

The meeting will be held in the Massey Auditorium of Botanic Hall / Visitor Services Building at Cheekwood Garden and Estate. The Cheekwood Campus Map shows the location of Botanic Hall.

Note: Admission to Cheekwood is not required – let the gate attendant know that you are attending the NRS Meeting in Botanic Hall.

Nashville Rose Society members may join the meeting virtually. For more information on how to log into GoToMeeting, please see Marty Reich’s email to NRS members. Non-NRS members are welcome to attend the meeting in person at Cheekwood.