Looking Forward to the NRS 2024 Program Year!

The Nashville Rose Society Programming Committee is working hard on our monthly meeting calendar for 2024.

A few programs to look forward to in the next few months include our first meeting on February 4, which will be a fun and informative roundtable discussion, “Buzz Session: Rose, Thorn and Bud”, led by our own Consulting Rosarians. On March 3, Ricky Lockhart from Morgantown, Kentucky, and Consulting Rosarian member of the Bowling Green Rose Society, will share his 25-year rose story – which has been a blooming success! Bette Fields will share her tips and tricks for creating beautiful flower arrangements for family and friends on April 7. We are excited to announce our “Rose Garden Crawl and Progressive Picnic” on June 2, starring our very own rose gardeners and their beautiful gardens in East Nashville!

Be sure to mark your calendars for the coming year!


February 17 – 2024 Tenarky District Winter Workshop

Are you ready for an exciting winter workshop in February? Are you ready to see your friends from around the district and catch up on news and see what new roses they have ordered? If your answer is yes, then you will want to hurry and register for the upcoming event.

The Winter Workshop will be held on February 17,2024, at the Hampton Inn, 2606 Hwy 49 W, Pleasant View, TN 37146. The venue has moved to a new location for several reasons. As you know, traffic, high hotel prices, and high rental for space have been major concerns. The hotel is about 30 miles from Nashville so traffic is not a problem. The price of the hotel is reasonable, and the hotel is new. If you have a new puppy (or other pet) you don’t want to leave at home, no problem; the hotel is pet friendly! We will also have several great speakers.

Dr. Nar Bahadur Ranabhat, from the University of Tennessee Crossville, is in the Entomology and Plant Pathology Department. He will be discussing his research relating to advances in Rose Rosette Disease.

Ken Schmidt, from the Carolina District, will be judging our photo contest and will give us valuable tips on how to take quality photos of our roses.

Dr. David Zlesak, Professor of Horticulture at the University of Wisconsin, River Falls and has had many accomplishments. He has been the coordinator of the Northern Earth-Kind trial and the director of the American Rose Trials for Sustainability ®. He has published numerous articles on diseases and hardiness of roses and other plants. Dr. Zlesak is also is well-known rose breeding. He has had numerous successful introductions you are familiar with including the “Oso”® series, the Pretty Polly® series, and numerous other roses. He will be discussing his sustainable roses and his goals of producing plants that are hardy and disease resistant.

Photographs must be entered by 9 a.m. with a welcome from our director. Seminars will be at 9:15 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. Following lunch, our district business meeting will be held with the final speaker after it. We plan to conclude by 3:30-4 p.m. Click here for the Photography Schedule.

Click here for the registration form and the schedule of events. Information can also be found on our district website at www.tenarky.org on the home page. This is your opportunity to hear some outstanding rosarians share their rose knowledge, enjoy lunch with rose friends from across the district, enter in our 5th annual photography contest, purchase some new roses, and have an enjoyable winter day!

MAKE PLANS TO ATTEND!!


2023 Nashville Rose Society Annual Rose Show Results

Best of Show – Neil Diamond
The 2023 Nashville Rose Society Annual Rose Show was held on Saturday, October 14, in Massey Auditorium at at Cheekwood Estate & Gardens.

The Show classes included:
Division I – Horticulture
* Section A – Miniature Rose Challenge Classes
* Section B – Miniature Roses – Single Stem
* Section C – Large Rose Challenge Classes
* Section D – Large Rose – Single Stem
Division II – Rose Arrangements
Division III – Rose Photography

Marty Reich with her Best of Show entry, Three Roses – Neil Diamond

Marty Reich, member of the Nashville Rose Society, took away the award for the Best in Show with her entry of three hybrid tea roses Neil Diamond. In addition, Marty won Challenge Class 3 – Three Mini or Miniflora Roses with Mango Blush, Challenge Class 7 – Miniflora in a Bowl with Mango Blush, and Class 15 – English Box with Veterans’ Honor.

Ricky Lockhart, member of the Bowling Green Rose Society, won the most trophies (20), including Queen of Show with Moonstone and King of Show with Ring of Fire. Gene Meyer won Princess of Show with Mohana.

And now for the Courts!

Hybrid Tea or Grandiflora Roses Court

VarietyShown byCertificate
QueenMoonstoneRicky LockhartARS
KingRing of FireRicky LockhartARS
PrincessMohanaGene MeyerARS
Royal CourtLet Freedom RingRicky LockhartNRS
Royal CourtGeminiRicky LockhartNRS
Royal CourtDonna’s GraceRicky LockhartNRS
Royal CourtParis de Yves St. LaurentRicky LockhartNRS
Royal CourtGirls' Night OutRicky LockhartNRS

Miniature Roses Court

RoseShown ByCertificate
QueenRenegadeGene MeyerARS
KingPink PearlGene MeyerARS
PrincessPerrineRicky LockhartARS
CourtCaptivatingGene MeyerNRS
CourtArcanumRicky LockhartNRS

Miniflora Rose Court

RoseShown byCertificate
QueenFirst ChoiceGene MeyerARS
KingWhirlawayRicky LockhartARS
PrincessGarden QueenRicky LockhartARS
CourtGame ChangerRicky LockhartNRS
CourtWright TouchGene MeyerNRS

Rose Photography

SubjectPhotographerAward(s)
Class 3-One Open Bloom, any type roseAngel FaceRita WebbBest of Class, Gold - Queen
Class 6-Creative InterpretationMixed BouquetNeil RickBest of Class, Bronze - Princess
Class 7- ArrangementJulia ChildLinda BowenBest of Class , Silver - King

Rose Arrangements

SectionClass-TitleRosesShown ByAward
Section ATraditional
Class 2-“Broken Promises”Broken PromisesLanni WebbRoyalty, Bronze
Section BModern
Class 4-“Fried Circuits”Mr. CalebLanni WebbArtist , Silver
Section COriental (East Asian)
Class 5-“Kintsugi”Francis MeillandLori EmeryEast Asian (Oriental)
Section DTable Class
Class 7-“Don’t Cry Over Spilt Milk”BeverlyJanie HaganCourt of Etiquette Award
Section ESpecial Classes
Eligible for DuchessClass 10-“Rock Bottom”Easter Basket, TranquilityBarbara TaubeDuchess
Best NoviceClass 11-“Whiplash”Day BreakerLinda BowenNovice, Gold
Section FTraditional
Eligible for Mini Royalty:Class 13-“Cracked Eggs”Perrine, ArcanumLanni WebbMini Royalty, Mini Bronze
Section GModern
Eligible for Mini Artist:Class 15-“Possum on the Half Shell”Memphis KingBarbara TaubeMini Artist, Mini Gold
Eligible for Mini East Asian (Mini Oriental):Class 17-“Springing a Leak”Bridal SunblazeMary Ann HextMini East Asian (Mini Oriental), Silver

For the list of all the winners, click here.

Thanks to our Rose Show Judges!

The American Rose Society judges that give so freely of their time and resources are essential to the success of any rose show. They often travel many miles giving up their weekend time because they love roses, and they appreciate the rosarians and rose societies they serve. The Nashville Rose Society greatly appreciates our 2022 panel of judges.

Horticulture Judges
* Howard Carman – Louisville Rose Society
* Mark Nolen – Indianapolis Rose Society
* Linda Kimmel – Indianapolis Rose Society
* Mike Thompson – Holston Rose Society
* Paula Williams – Louisville Rose Society
* Barbara Taube – Nashville Rose Society

Arrangement Judges
* Barbara McFarland – Huntsville-Twickenham Rose Society
* Glenn Fuqua – Memphis & Dixie Rose Society

Photography Judges
* Paula Williams – Louisville Rose Society
* Linda Kimmel – Indianapolis Rose Society


October 21 – CANCELED – Ron Daniels Fall Open Garden & Book Signing

Please note that the Open Garden that Ron planned to have on October 21 has been canceled.

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 event on your calendar!


2023 Nashville Rose Society Annual Rose Show

Saturday, October 14 – 1 p.m.-5:00 p.m.

Sunday, October 15 – 11 a.m.-4:00 p.m.

Cheekwood Botanical Estate & Gardens

1200 Forrest Park Drive

Nashville, Tennessee 37205

Rose Study Garden – Photo Courtesy of Cheekwood Estate & Gardens
‘Crescendo’ Best Novice, King, Best in Show, 2022 Tenarky District Show, exhibited by Linda Bowen

The 2023 Nashville Rose Society Annual Show will be held at Cheekwood Estate & Gardens – Massey Auditorium on Saturday, October 14, and Sunday, October 15.

The preparation area will open at 6 a.m. on Saturday. Horticulture entries will be placed on the exhibition tables by show personnel from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. Challenge exhibits will be placed by the exhibitor. Judging will begin at 10:30 a.m.

To enter Cheekwood before 9:00 a.m., come through the back gate that is accessed off of Cheek Road, unload at the front or back of Botanic Hall, then park in one of the reserved parking spaces in Parking Lot A.

Click here for a copy of the Rose Show Schedule. Please note the updates made to page 14 (Rules 8, 10, 12) and page 16.

The Rose Show will be open to the public from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, October 15.

NRS Rose Seminars

On Saturday at 2:30 p.m., Ron Daniels, ARS Master Rosarian and NRS Co-President, will present a free seminar to the public on the “Basics of Growing Roses”.

On Sunday, October 15, from 10 – 12:00 p.m. the Cheekwood Pick Your Own Bouquet Event (registration required) will include “Basics of Arranging” workshop led by Nashville Rose Society member, Bette Fields. This workshop will cover the basics of creating beautiful rose flower arrangements. Participants will leave with their own arrangement of roses from the Rose Study Garden. Ron Daniels will be available during the event to answer any questions about how to grow and care for roses.

Following the seminars on both days Ron will have a “Meet the Author & Book Signing” for his new book Rose Therapy.

We look forward to seeing you at the Nashville Rose Society Annual Rose Show!