If you want fragrant roses in your garden, what variety should you choose?
Find out at the annual Rose Show to be held by the Western New York Rose Society from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, June 15 at the Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens, 2655 South Park Ave., Buffalo.
The Rose Show is included in admission. Enter the front doors of the conservatory to pay, then exit through the back door and walk to the Administration Building where the show will be held.
“Our ‘fragrant rose table’ is new this year,” said said Eileen Koteras Elibol, WNY Rose Society marketing director. Members from the society will display the most fragrant roses from their gardens. “Folks will be able to pick up the roses in the vases and smell them. They will all be labeled so you can look for your favorite fragrant rose to purchase for your own garden.”
The Rose Show is an exhibition that will display more than 100 roses that grow well in our area, she said. But it’s a competition, too, and anyone can participate.
“We are encouraging the public to enter a rose in our show,” Elibol said. “Folks can even win ribbons!”
Enter your rose before 10:45 a.m. on the day of the show. Judging starts at 11 a.m.
Almost all the roses in the exhibit will be a single stem in a glass vase, including miniature roses. There will also be a category for a rose floating in a glass bowl; this is for large roses with short stems.
To find out more on how to prepare for a rose for exhibition, attend the WNY Rose Society’s meeting at 7 p.m. Wednesday, June 12 at St. Stephens-Bethlehem United Church of Christ, 750 Wehrle Dr., Williamsville. Steve Styn, Consulting Rosarian, will present “How to Grow and Exhibit Roses.” The meeting is free. Homemade refreshments will be served.
Get answers to your rose questions
The Consulting Rosarians are happy to give you advice on growing roses and help you if your rose has a problem.
Tip: “The best tip I have for growing roses,” Elibol said, “is to make sure that they receive at least six hours of sun a day.
“Try to water them before noon and avoid getting the leaves wet. This helps prevent black spot. I also remove a few of the bottom leaves closer to the soil line to help prevent fungal diseases.”
She noted that the society will sell their own organic fertilizer at the show.
Activities for children
“The show will be very family friendly this year,” Elibol said.
The Botanical Gardens’ Fairy Festival takes place the day of the show. Children can see whimsical fairy houses, go on a scavenger hunt and enjoy other activities.
The Rose Society is preparing activities for children that fit in with that theme:
- Rose fairy garden display with miniature roses.
- Area with where kids can play with fairy figurines and decorations.
- Play area where kids get their own little bag of colorful play dough to create flowers and other figures.
There will also be a photo op area where folks can take photos beneath an arch of roses.
For more information, check out the WNY Rose Society’s website or follow the group on Facebook, YouTube and Instagram.
The Rose Show has a lot to offer!
Great summary of this Saturday’s Rose Show at the Botanical Gardens