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!


October 4-6 – Tenarky District Fall Convention & Rose Show

The 2024 Tenarky District Fall Convention & Rose Show will be held October 4-6, 2024, at the Warren County Extension Office, 5162 Russellville Road, Bowling Green, Kentucky. The Sip & Snack on Friday evening and the banquet on Saturday evening are at the Holiday Inn University Plaza in Bowling Green, Kentucky, the Convention hotel.

The Convention and Rose Show are hosted by the Louisville and Bowling Green Rose Societies.

The Rose Show will be held on Saturday, October 5. Doors open at 5:30 a.m. CDT . The Placement Committee and/or exhibitors will place horticulture entries from 7:00 a.m. until 10:00 a.m. CDT. Exhibitors will place Challenge Class entries. Judging begins at 10:15 a.m. CDT. The show will be open to exhibitors when the judging is completed and the awards table is arranged. The Show will be open to the public from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. CDT and is free to the public.

For information on the events of this fun-filled weekend, click here.

Click here for the Rose Show Schedule.

Registration is required for all participants. Full payment must accompany each registration form. Exhibitors MUST be registered and have an exhibitor’s number on entry tags. Entry numbers will be on name tags at registration or may be obtained from the registrar prior to the show. Registration must be received by September 30 for food tally. Anyone registering after September 30, will not be able to attend the banquet.The registration form is here.

Hotel accommodations are at the Holiday Inn University Plaza in Bowling Green, Kentucky. There are a limited number of rooms at the Convention price! There are other events on this date, so make your room reservation very soon! The deadline for the Convention price is September 3, 2024. Click here to reserve your room.

Please plan to attend!


Jeff and Cindy Garrett – Disease Resistant Rose Study

The Nashville Rose Society was honored, once again, to have Jeff and Cindy Garrett as our guest speakers at the August 11, 2024, monthly meeting. In addition to focusing on how to participate in the annual ARS Roses In Review program, Jeff discussed the work that he and Cindy are doing to test and evaluate disease resistant, specifically blackspot, roses in their garden.

Jeff and Cindy moved to their current home on Lake Chickamauga in 1989. Over the years they have continued to develop their landscape to its current capacity of just over 350 roses. Jeff and Cindy have allocated some of that space in their garden to test select varieties of roses in large pots. They change some of the varieties each year. They do fertilize and water, but do not spray for disease. Each year they evaluate which roses are most disease resistant.

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”. The Garretts have been honored with the Bronze Medal from their local society.

Click here for Jeff and Cindy’s presentation on Disease Resistant Roses – Fact or Fiction!

Here you will find a list (pdf) of roses in Jeff and Cindy’s test garden.


August 14 – Wilson County and Tennessee State Fairs Rose Show Entries

Bring your roses to the Fairs!

Both the Wilson County Fair and the Tennessee State Fair will be held in the James E. Ward Agricultural Center, 945 E. Baddour Parkway, Lebanon, TN from Thursday, August 15 through Saturday, August 24, 2024.

The Wilson County Rose Show is open to Wilson County Residents, members of the Wilson County Gardeners Guild, members of the Wilson County Master Gardeners, members of a Wilson County FCE Club, or members of the Nashville Rose Society over 18 years old. The Tennessee State Rose Show is open to any Tennessee resident over 18 years old.

Exhibits for both shows must be entered at the Expo Center between 2pm and 6:30pm on Wednesday, August 14. You must register before the entry date – one registration works for both the Wilson County and the State Rose Shows. There is no cost to enter in either show.

There is no admission charge to enter the Fair Grounds to submit your entries. Once the State Rose Show judging is complete, exhibits will be transferred (by the Fair) to the Made in TN Building where they will be displayed for the duration of the Fair.

Click the following for more information:

We hope to see you at the Fair!


June is National Rose Month

Photo credit: Star Roses and Plants

June is National Rose Month, which was established in 1959 to support the effort to make the rose the national flower of the United States.

On November 20, 1986, President Ronald Reagan, signed Proclamation 5574 declaring the Rose to be The National Floral Emblem of the United States of America. With this proclamation, the Rose took its place among the beloved patriotic symbols of our nation, symbols that include the American Flag; the Great Seal including the U.S. Motto; the Bald Eagle; the National Anthem; the official March; and the National Tree, the Oak.

June was chosen because it is when roses are in peak bloom and are a popular choice for weddings. June is a beautiful time in Tennessee! Enjoy your roses!