Posted 9:38 pm Sunday, October 10, 2010
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Texas Rose Festival Organizers Wrap Up Final Details
By COSHANDRA DILLARD
Staff Writer
Staff Writer
Just days before the opening of the 77th annual Texas Rose Festival, organizers are wrapping up final details to the city's biggest celebration. A ribbon cutting at 10 a.m. officially opens the three-day festival, followed by a morning prayer service at 10:30 a.m.
ROSE SHOW COMMITTEE members are, front row, from left, Ingrid Young, Marci Feliciano and Kelli Armstrong; and back row, Meredith Roberts, Ally Rayzor and Carissa Fisher. Jayme Fitzpatrick is not pictured. Below, Pam Eikner directs members of The Rose City Fiddlers. — Courtesy Photo
Highlighting this year's theme, "Tyler, A Tapestry of Blessings," the Rose Show Committee will center a wooden framed rose tapestry as a focal point during the free event from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Oct. 14-16 at the Rose Garden Center.
Lush with more than 10,000 fragrant roses and adorned with the 2010 TRF logo, the tapestry will rest on a 15-by-7 foot wooden display, built by Shane Fisher. Materials were donated by the Denson Construction Company.
Past shows have enlisted the help of a professional florist but committee members decided to be "economically smart" this year by assembling the display themselves.
"It's going to be very simplistic this year and really just focusing on the roses, focusing on the theme, Tapestry of Blessings," said Kelly Armstrong, Rose Show chairwoman.
Also included in the show are 15 of the festival's duchesses and ladies in waiting.
"It's a great way to see the girls' dresses up close. They have so much detail on them," Mrs. Armstrong noted.
Rose Show committee members are: Jayme Fitzpatrick, Carissa Fisher, Ingrid Young, Marci Feliciano, Ally Rayzor and Meredith Roberts.
Amidst the Rose Show and other events, the intricate works of area garden clubs will be on display at the Rose Garden Center. The Tyler Area Council of Garden Clubs has been involved with the Rose Festival since its inception.
The garden club has supported the Texas Rose Festival with projects including a standard flower show and sponsored a float in the Rose Parade. In the 1950s, the Tyler Council joined forces with the Texas Rose Festival Association to underwrite the financing of the Garden Center Building at no cost to the taxpayers and groundbreaking was July 31, 1953.
This year, the council will display eight tables, designed by members from area garden clubs that tell a story of the various blessings of Tyler.
"I'm intrigued by "Tapestry of Blessings." There are so many blessings," said Sallie Clark, Tyler Garden Clubs member. "We are emphasizing the different aspects that are a blessing to Tyler."
Tablescapes include: AAUW Garden Club, illustrating the rose industry; Azalea Garden Club, Caldwell Zoo and the Azalea Trail; Civic Garden Club of Kilgore, black gold; Gertrude Windsor Garden Club, the lakes; Green Acres Garden Club, the Cotton Belt Railroad; Jacksonville Garden Club, the tomato industry and Tyler Area Council of Garden Clubs will illustrate the blessing of historic homes.
Displays will be on exhibit in the foyer across from the Rose Room in The Rose Garden Center Oct. 14-17.
PALETTE OF ROSES
The Palette of Roses Art League invites the public to a reception and awards ceremony, honoring East Texas artists, said Maureen Killaby, Art League spokesperson.
The event is scheduled from 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday in the Mayfair Building on the East Texas State Fairgrounds, next to Harvey Convention Center.
The show will be open to the public during exhibition hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday and Friday and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday.
The event will feature light refreshments, door prize drawings from local artists, "where you could win a painting and other fantastic prizes," Ms. Killaby said.
Those who are interested in entering the art show, which is open to non-members, are requested to visit the website http://www.poraloftyler.org for downloadable documents and prospectus.
