Author: NRS Webmaster

The Nashville Rose Society is pleased to have Peter Grimaldi, VP of Gardens & Facilities at Cheekwood, as our guest speaker for our July 9, 2023, monthly meeting. The July meeting will be the SECOND Sunday of July, due to the 4th of July holiday.

Peter will present the recent improvements made to the Cheekwood Beer Garden, which is next to the Rose Study Garden. Peter will use these improvements as a case study for establishing basic design and planning considerations that may be applied in the home garden, just as they are at a public garden. Peter will place the rose study garden in the context of the plant collections and displays at Cheekwood, and also explore other opportunities to feature more roses on the grounds (just to give Ron something to work on!)

Peter’s five-year tenure at Cheekwood has focused on organizing the Gardens and Maintenance Departments to maximize the potential of excellent teams while working to complete Phase I of the Cheekwood Master Plan. Peter’s work on the Japanese Garden directly contributed to Cheekwood’s award of the Japanese Foreign Minister’s Certificate of Commendation in 2020.

Peter has a Bachelor of Plant Science from Cornell University with a concentration in ornamental horticulture and floriculture. He is especially passionate about large trees and woody perennials but enjoys growing and talking about all plants.

Our annual ice cream social will be held after Peter’s presentation. Please bring ice cream, toppings, or any other accompaniment for all to enjoy!

Our hostess this month is Martha Garman. 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.

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The speaker for the June 11, 2023, meeting of the Nashville Rose Society will be Jeff Garrett, ARS Master Rosarian and National Trophy winner for rose exhibiting. Jeff will talk about “Rooting and Budding Roses”.

Have you ever tried rooting roses only to have them all die? Rooting roses is actually pretty easy and Jeff will be demonstrating how anyone can be successful at it. He will show how to select and prepare stem for rooting. His method does not require a greenhouse or any other special equipment. He will then show how he buds roses onto multiflora rootstock. His presentation will include the use of PowerPoint to show everything he does in close up detail.

Click here to see Jeff’s presentations.

In the early eighty’s, Jeff and and his wife Cindy bought a house in Hixson, Tennessee, and planted their first three roses. They were not performing well, so after reading an article in the local newspaper by Lester Smith talking about growing good roses, they decided to give him a call. Lester invited them over to his garden, which they found to be absolutely beautiful. He took them under his wing and began mentoring them on growing roses. He also invited them to a Tri-State Rose Society of Chattanooga meeting. They were hooked!

The Garretts moved to their current home on Lake Chickamauga in 1989. That spring they added two rose beds with about 96 plants. Over the years they have continued to develop their landscape to its current capacity of just under 350 roses.

Jeff and Cindy have both served their local society, the Tri-State Rose Society of Chattanooga, as President on numerous occasions. Currently they are editors of their local society newsletter, Basal Breaks and Jeff is the current president. The Garretts have been honored with the Bronze Medal from their local society. Both Jeff and Cindy are active in the American Rose Society and are Master Rosarians. They and have been honored with the Silver Medal from the Tenarky District of the American Rose Society. They have both also won the Outstanding Consulting Rosarian Award for the Tenarky District. For many years Jeff has been the Tenarky District Roses In Review Coordinator. They are also regional editor’s for the annual Horizon Roses publication.

After Jeff’s presentation, there will be a fun and informative video featuring Natalie Carmolli with Proven Winners® ColorChoice® – Roses and Companions. Natalie discusses the history of roses, how to grow them, what varieties of roses we offer and what plants make great companions for planting with them.

Our hostess this month is Cindy Worch. 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.

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Ron Daniels, co-president of the Nashville Rose Society and Master Rosarian, will host his Gadwall Abbey’s Open Rose Garden & Book Signing on Saturday, May 27, 10am – 4pm, and on Sunday, May 28, 1pm – 5pm, at 1000 Gadwall Circle, Hendersonville, TN 37075. Ron will have his newly released book, Rose Therapy – My Journey of Growing and Caring for Roses, available for sale.

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!

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