By Janice McLain, Editor of The Rose Companion
The elegance of a rose unfurling is legendary. Another legend is General William Jackson Palmer, whose castle still stands in the beautiful canyon known as Glen Eyrie - Valley of the Eagle’s Nest. Nestled in this same valley is the castle rose garden. The vista includes the same rock formations as in the Garden of the Gods, which sits just south of this secluded valley.
General Palmer left us 100 years ago after a bad fall from a horse in 1906. Despite being paralyzed and confined to a wheelchair, he entertained many at the castle. His generosity in the community continued until his death, in 1909, at age 72.
What would be more fitting than to have General Palmer’s Rose Garden as the theme for this year’s Rose Show, hosted by the Pikes Peak Rose Society?
Roses, The Jewels of Glen Eyrie: Themes from General Palmer’s Rose Garden
Come see arrangements of Roses that Cheer the Castle Entrance, greet Dawn in the Rose Garden, accompany Dinner in the Great Hall, fill the View from the Terrace, adorn Queen Palmer’s Dressing Table, and more.
Conquer Stress with Beauty, Gardening, and like-minded People
The beauty of roses is a sure remedy for stress. Imagine the delicate petals of a rose caught in the perfect moment of opening. Then multiply this by hundreds, all on one day, and you have the PPRS 13th Annual Rose Show. Members of Ikebana International Chapter 95 will be showing a table of Japanese flower arrangements using roses as well. Getting your hands in the dirt while gardening is great to banish stress, too. Couple that with the companionship of other rose-loving individuals and a membership in the Pikes Peak Rose Society is your ticket to happiness!
Enter Your Own Roses, Too!
Are you proud of your roses? Then share them with others by entering rose specimens or arrangements in the show. Entries will be accepted from 7:30 to 9:30 AM. There is no charge to enter. And you can get advice from our Consulting Rosarians on entering your roses, finding a name for your rose, or learning how to get roses to grow in Colorado. You can even participate in the show as a clerk, which is an excellent learning opportunity. Please call Betty Roberts at 282-9642 to reserve space for your arrangements by June 15th.
Can you really Grow Roses in Colorado?
Attending the rose show is the quickest way to discover lovely roses that thrive in the Pikes Peak region. The latest edition of Growing Roses in Colorado will be available for purchase at the show. If you buy only one book on growing roses in our area, this booklet should be your choice. The PPRS also offers, at a discount to their members, Mile High Rose Fertilizer, which was developed specifically for Colorado roses.
The Pikes Peak Rose Society’s 13th Annual Rose Show is on June 20th, 2009. The show is free and open to the public from 12:30 to 4:30 PM in the Atrium of the Rampart Range (North) Campus of Pikes Peak Community College on Highway 83, just east of the Interquest Parkway exit of I-25.Â
Visit PikesPeakRoseSociety.org for a show schedule. Call Susan Driver at 719-233-4233 to volunteer. We look forward to seeing you there!
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