“100 million roses,â€
“100 million roses is our goal.†Stephen Hutton, president and CEO of Star Roses and Plants* made this bold statement at the American Rose Society Fall Convention In Syracuse, New York. Rose titans from all over the globe met on the most famous week end in America, September, 11-14th.
Every rose you have ever seen, will ever see, or dream about may have been created by one of these quiet unassuming giants of the rose world as they quietly assembled to collaborate on ways to insure the perpetuation of better roses.
Alain Meilland, of Meilland Roses International, mentioned that he came in honor of 9/11.
Michael Marriott of David Austin Roses, UK
Alexander Kordes and Thomas Proll of international famous Kordes Roses from Germany and our own best and brightest Dr. Dave Byrne, Agrilife Research Horticultuirist from Texas A&M, College Station and Dr. Jim Sproul the General Director of the Rose Hybridizers Association, Bakersfield, CA. are just a few of the rose dignitaries that assembled in Syracuse, NY. Behind the regal eminence of the rose a battle rages.
American Rose Society Executive Director, Laura Seabaugh
It’s about change and keeping pace with our environment and giving gardeners the roses they want. Did you know while you and your families go to gardens all over the world these folks work with the best hybridizers in the world to create better roses. What’s a better rose you say? What qualities do a better rose have?
Form – you said you want a rose to look like a rose;
Fragrance – you said you want a rose that has a lovely fragrance;
Disease Resistance – you want and require easy-to-grow and minimal care especially due to time constraints;
Color -Â is a must for you;
Beautiful Foliage – you don’t want your roses to ‘drop’ foliage due to disease;
Winter Hardiness –you want to keep your investment over cold winters.
Rose Titans like Will Radler who with one single rose Knocked it Out of the ball park and changed the face of the landscape around the entire globe. He said he will be creating more roses like his KnockOut® rose.
The pace of life continues to speed up. You have spoken. You say yes to roses in your garden. And now you can have exactly the kind of rose you want.
We can do it folks. You see there is a rose for everyone. Get out there and lets plant 100 million roses! With results like we had at the Chicago Flower & Garden Show we can do it. Did you know The American Rose Society signed up almost 400 trial memberships and 100’s and 100’s of new folks for the ARS & You newsletter? If you belong to organizations that membership is dropping the reality is if you offer value folks will join and the American Rose Society offers far more value than the cost. We handed out thousands of brochures and folks want to learn about roses. Opportunities abound where people and roses come together to educate folks about the fact that there is a rose for every gardener.
Tom Carruth King of the Roses – Keith Zary – Christian Bedard
*Star Roses and Plants has been acquired by Ball Horticultural Company
* Current statistics show that we sell 30 million roses in the US each year. A goal of 100 million with all of us on board is attainable.
