Posted 8:40 pm Sunday, October 12, 2008
75th Texas Rose Festival Activities Begin Thursday
By MAEGAN MCGOWEN
Feature Writer
A vintage Ford Model-A convertible, draped in garlands and surrounded by more than 14,000 Tyler rose blooms, will be the focal point of Thursday's Rose Show, the official start of the 75th Texas Rose Festival.
Feature Writer
A vintage Ford Model-A convertible, draped in garlands and surrounded by more than 14,000 Tyler rose blooms, will be the focal point of Thursday's Rose Show, the official start of the 75th Texas Rose Festival.
The Rose Show and activities open at 10 a.m. on Thursday at the Tyler Rose Garden Center, 420 Rose Park Drive, with a ribbon cutting by Queen Sarah Elizabeth Clyde, accompanied by the The Brook Hill String Quartet.
After the ribbon-cutting, provided by Tyler Junior Garden Club, this year's Rose Show hours will be Thursday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The theme of the Rose Show is "Reflections of Rose Shows," and activities include a new addition of "Tablescape Displays" from various Tyler Area Garden Clubs, a Variety Rose Display and Rose Show slides, depicting the history of the Rose Show.
All three events are free and open to the public.
"Something new we've done this year is to join ranks with Tyler area Garden Clubs and create table displays that are a representation of Texas Rose Festival history," Susie Lofquist, co-chairman of the Rose Show, said. "Each table represents a theme from a decade, and the center table will celebrate the 75th anniversary."
Tablescapes include a 1938 "Glorifying the Southern Rose" table by Tyler Area Council of Garden Clubs, a 1952 "Court of Jewels" table by Green Acres Garden Club, 1976 "The Bicentennial with Ballads and Banners of America," table by the American Association of University Women Garden Club, and the 75th Anniversary table, celebrating 75 years of Roses and Royalty.
"Also in display, along with the Tablescapes, are past gowns of three different Duchesses of the Rose Growers," Chris Simons, vice president of the Rose Show, said.
2008 Rose Show Committee members (at left, from left) Chris Simons, Sheila Berry, Raymond Krueger and Susie Lofquist carry out the theme, “Reflections of Rose Shows,” in this year’s show. At top is a collage of Rose Festival images.
The inspiration for the design of this year's Rose Show stayed in the family for Simons, whose father, Edwin Simons, was a set designer from 1960-1991.
"In the old days prior to the new building being built, the old rose shows were very elaborate with carousels and turn-tables," he said. "What I did was to look through the archives where I found various flags of the old shows, and then I blew them up. We're going to hang those throughout the atrium, just to show reflections of the past rose shows."
After walking through the atrium, rose-lovers can view more than 100 rose varieties arranged in bud vases and displayed in the alcove of the Rose Garden Center.
Craig Reiland, Rose Garden supervisor, will offer an up-close and personal view of favorite rose varieties cut fresh from the garden and displayed in the alcove of the Rose Garden Center.
For Raymond Krueger, Rose Show Designer with Jerry's Flowers, the Rose Show is a labor of love.
Krueger has been part of the Rose Show for over a decade and takes on the monumental task because he loves doing it.
"You can't put a monetary value on what we do because it's helping the community," he said. "It's one of the things that people are just in awe of, because the whole bottom of this big planter area is solid roses."
Krueger said the hardest part of the process is trying not to forget anything.
"Sometimes I wake up the middle of the night and remember something I've forgotten and write it down so I'll remember it," he said. "But even though it's stressful, once Rose Festival gets in your blood and runs through your veins, you can't help not doing it. I love doing it for Tyler and I love the long term impact it has on the community.
More than 5,000 people go to the Queen's Tea by itself, not to mention the Rose Show. It's just an honor to be able to do it each year."
Shelia Berry, co-chair of the event, has also enjoyed putting the Rose Show together with the help of Ms. Lofquist and Simons.
"The best part has been seeing it all come together and keeping it in line with the traditions of the past," she said. "It's a really neat tradition for the citizens of Tyler to celebrate and enjoy."
For visitors who work up an appetite from garden tours and viewing beautiful flowers, a special Rose Cafe will be available in the Rose Garden Center, featuring food from Jason's Deli.
The Tyler Convention and Visitors Bureau Information Center, under the direction of Justin Turner, will provide welcoming smiles and pertinent information to visitors upon their arrival to the Rose Garden Center.
For visitors who miss the 2008 Queen's Coronation and Court Presentation, they can sit back and enjoy the full-length presentation of Queen Sarah and her Court on video, sponsored and produced by KYTX - CBS 19.
The Rose Theater will be open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday, and admission is free.
Also located in the Rose Garden Center is the Tyler Rose Museum, which is a permanent exhibit, showcasing the history of the Rose Festival and the rose industry.
Open all year, admission to the Rose Museum is $3.50 for adults and $2.00 for children ages 3 - 11.
The exhibit includes Queen’s Sarah’s attendant gown from 1996, her aunt’s Queen’s Coronation gown and her brother’s attendant costume.
Also on display are Duchess of the Rose Grower’s sister’s gown from 2005, her mother’s gown from 1978, and many other members of the family that have also participated.
Texas Rose Festival President, James Wynne’s daughter is depicted in her Attendant costume from 2005, his wife’s Princess costume from 1980 and mother in law’s Queen’s Coronation costume is also on display, as well as the 25th anniversary Queen’s Coronation gown and the 50th anniversary Queen’s Coronation gown.
Committee members include Stephenie Roberts, Karie Smith, Naomi Perkins, ME Harbold, Susan Rossman, Allison Jarvis, Katherine Reynolds, Melissa Jackson, Crystal Martin, JoAnn Grooms, Amy Patterson, Molly Wolf, Larkin Simmons and Imogene Kimberly and the “Rose Ladies.”
2007 Rose Show sponsors are Bank of America, Tyler,
City of Tyler, Samsung, Berry Irrigation, George and Linda Rowe, State Farm Insurance and Kitchen’s Unique.
Special thanks to the City of Tyler, Parks and Recreation, Wanda and Jose Feliciano, Nix Roses and Cary Nix, Mrs. Imogene Kimberley and her “Rose Arrangers,” Jason’s Deli, the Tyler Convention and Visitors Bureau and the Tyler Rose Museum.
The exhibit includes Queen’s Sarah’s attendant gown from 1996, her aunt’s Queen’s Coronation gown and her brother’s attendant costume.
Also on display are Duchess of the Rose Grower’s sister’s gown from 2005, her mother’s gown from 1978, and many other members of the family that have also participated.
Texas Rose Festival President, James Wynne’s daughter is depicted in her Attendant costume from 2005, his wife’s Princess costume from 1980 and mother in law’s Queen’s Coronation costume is also on display, as well as the 25th anniversary Queen’s Coronation gown and the 50th anniversary Queen’s Coronation gown.
Committee members include Stephenie Roberts, Karie Smith, Naomi Perkins, ME Harbold, Susan Rossman, Allison Jarvis, Katherine Reynolds, Melissa Jackson, Crystal Martin, JoAnn Grooms, Amy Patterson, Molly Wolf, Larkin Simmons and Imogene Kimberly and the “Rose Ladies.”
2007 Rose Show sponsors are Bank of America, Tyler,
City of Tyler, Samsung, Berry Irrigation, George and Linda Rowe, State Farm Insurance and Kitchen’s Unique.
Special thanks to the City of Tyler, Parks and Recreation, Wanda and Jose Feliciano, Nix Roses and Cary Nix, Mrs. Imogene Kimberley and her “Rose Arrangers,” Jason’s Deli, the Tyler Convention and Visitors Bureau and the Tyler Rose Museum.
