Rose Show Ribbon-Cutting Opens Festival
(Staff Photo By Herb Nygren Jr.)
From left, Rose Festival Queen Grace Hartley Ramey, Duchess of the Rose Growers Amanda Joan Henson, the attendants to the Queen and Rose Festival President E.W Clawater III cut the rose ribbon signaling the official beginning of the Rose Festival.
By JACQUE HILBURN
Feature Writer
A backdrop of rich fall blooms, featured Thursday during the Rose Show at the Tyler Rose Garden Center, set the stage for the official start of the 74th Texas Rose Festival.
More than 14,000 rose blooms and 3,000 sparkling decorative butterflies were featured inside during the opening of the show as a tribute to the festival's theme, "Nature's Majesty."
Outside, the grounds of the rose garden were ablaze in color from thousands of blooming bushes.
Feature Writer
A backdrop of rich fall blooms, featured Thursday during the Rose Show at the Tyler Rose Garden Center, set the stage for the official start of the 74th Texas Rose Festival.
More than 14,000 rose blooms and 3,000 sparkling decorative butterflies were featured inside during the opening of the show as a tribute to the festival's theme, "Nature's Majesty."
Outside, the grounds of the rose garden were ablaze in color from thousands of blooming bushes.
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The start of the festival was marked by a special ribbon-cutting ceremony opening the Texas Rose Festival featuring Queen Grace Hartley Ramey, joined by Duchess of the Rose Growers Amanda Joan Henson, attendants and supporters.
Brad Brookshire, vice president of the TRF Association, welcomed guests and praised the efforts of those who worked to pull it all together.
The queen expressed gratitude for the continued tradition of honoring the rose growers.
"It is both humbling and exciting to cut the ribbon," she said, expressing hope the celebration will serve as a "reminder of the countless blessings of Tyler, Texas."
During the program, the queen and rose duchess were honored as patrons of the new Catholic Charities, Diocese of Tyler's "Roses for Food" program, which helps fund soup kitchens and food pantry locations within a 33-county area of East Texas.
Both received the new Jackson & Perkins' white hybrid tea rose, named Pope John Paul II, and their own patron pin by company representative and board chairman Kevin Marshall.
"This rose was first grown at the Vatican, then Jamaica and then Tyler," Marshall said. "Because of this rose, we've already raised $35,000 to feed the needy."
Many out-of-town visitors seemed spellbound by the display of vivid colors and hues.
"We have vacation time that we've been saving just for this festival," said Nancy Taylor, who traveled from Parkersburg, W.Va., to attend the festival. "It's just gorgeous."
Frank and Jo White, of San Angelo, agreed.
"It's just like heaven out there with all those roses," said Mrs. White. "I've never seen so many roses."
"Being here gives you a peaceful feeling," White said. "We've wanted to do this for years and we finally got to do it."
Rose Show and garden center hours are Thursday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday; and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. Admission to the center, 420 Rose Park Drive, is free.
Other activities offered at the center include a photo exhibit, a noontime cafe and, for a fee of $3.50 for adults and $2 for children ages 3-11, tours of the Tyler Rose Museum.
The museum is a permanent exhibit showcasing the history of the Rose Festival and the rose industry.
Brad Brookshire, vice president of the TRF Association, welcomed guests and praised the efforts of those who worked to pull it all together.
The queen expressed gratitude for the continued tradition of honoring the rose growers.
"It is both humbling and exciting to cut the ribbon," she said, expressing hope the celebration will serve as a "reminder of the countless blessings of Tyler, Texas."
During the program, the queen and rose duchess were honored as patrons of the new Catholic Charities, Diocese of Tyler's "Roses for Food" program, which helps fund soup kitchens and food pantry locations within a 33-county area of East Texas.
Both received the new Jackson & Perkins' white hybrid tea rose, named Pope John Paul II, and their own patron pin by company representative and board chairman Kevin Marshall.
"This rose was first grown at the Vatican, then Jamaica and then Tyler," Marshall said. "Because of this rose, we've already raised $35,000 to feed the needy."
Many out-of-town visitors seemed spellbound by the display of vivid colors and hues.
"We have vacation time that we've been saving just for this festival," said Nancy Taylor, who traveled from Parkersburg, W.Va., to attend the festival. "It's just gorgeous."
Frank and Jo White, of San Angelo, agreed.
"It's just like heaven out there with all those roses," said Mrs. White. "I've never seen so many roses."
"Being here gives you a peaceful feeling," White said. "We've wanted to do this for years and we finally got to do it."
Rose Show and garden center hours are Thursday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday; and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. Admission to the center, 420 Rose Park Drive, is free.
Other activities offered at the center include a photo exhibit, a noontime cafe and, for a fee of $3.50 for adults and $2 for children ages 3-11, tours of the Tyler Rose Museum.
The museum is a permanent exhibit showcasing the history of the Rose Festival and the rose industry.
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