Posted 5:19 am Monday, April 23, 2012
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‘Rose Sunday’ Marks Season’s Start
By TIM MONZINGO
Staff Writer
It’s rose season.
At least it’s rose season officially as of Sunday afternoon, when Mayor Barbara Bass, representatives from the American Rose Society and more than 50 Tyler residents gathered at the Tyler Municipal Rose Garden Center to kick of the season officially.
Staff Writer
It’s rose season.
At least it’s rose season officially as of Sunday afternoon, when Mayor Barbara Bass, representatives from the American Rose Society and more than 50 Tyler residents gathered at the Tyler Municipal Rose Garden Center to kick of the season officially.
“The roses look so good,” said Haley Anderson, this year’s Rose Queen, who helped ring in the season at Sunday’s event. “It’s really exciting.”
For members of the Rose Garden staff, who work to maintain and tend the 14-acre flower display, the event means the beginning of a season that will stretch into the fall and see more than 38,000 plants representing more than 500 rose species come to bloom.
Tim Alexander, who served as Master of Ceremonies at Sunday’s event, said the event commemorates more than just the flowers growth.
Tim Alexander, who served as Master of Ceremonies at Sunday’s event, said the event commemorates more than just the flowers growth.
“We’re really here to celebrate the arrival of spring,” he said. “We’re here to celebrate our young people.”
Alexander, the current president of the Texas Rose Festival, said applauded the efforts of all those who help keep Tyler’s garden the largest in the southwest United States.
Alexander, the current president of the Texas Rose Festival, said applauded the efforts of all those who help keep Tyler’s garden the largest in the southwest United States.
“The City of Tyler had given us an excellent gift,” he said of the garden. “It’s one of the most beautiful gardens in the world.”
Mayor Bass, who officially declared Rose Sunday and the rose season during the afternoon’s event via a proclamation, said Tyler residents should take pride in the garden and what it means for the city.
“It is the crown jewel of Tyler, Texas,” she said. “Let’s showcase Tyler in a way it’s never been showcased before.”
Attendees to the ceremony were treated to snacks and the voices of the Grace choir.
The choir rang out the Broadway musical number “Everything’s Coming up Roses” to a captivated audience.
Dr. Allison Thompson delivered a invocation to start Sunday’s event after a short speech.
She said Tyler residents should take time to appreciate the garden, not only for its beauty as the plants flower and bloom from now until the year’s first frost in the fall, but for what it represents of the city’s heritage.
There are roses in the garden more than 100 years old, she said. Its important people realize that past, she said.
“You are part of a long and wonderful history,” she said to the audience.
Mayor Bass, who officially declared Rose Sunday and the rose season during the afternoon’s event via a proclamation, said Tyler residents should take pride in the garden and what it means for the city.
“It is the crown jewel of Tyler, Texas,” she said. “Let’s showcase Tyler in a way it’s never been showcased before.”
Attendees to the ceremony were treated to snacks and the voices of the Grace choir.
The choir rang out the Broadway musical number “Everything’s Coming up Roses” to a captivated audience.
Dr. Allison Thompson delivered a invocation to start Sunday’s event after a short speech.
She said Tyler residents should take time to appreciate the garden, not only for its beauty as the plants flower and bloom from now until the year’s first frost in the fall, but for what it represents of the city’s heritage.
There are roses in the garden more than 100 years old, she said. Its important people realize that past, she said.
“You are part of a long and wonderful history,” she said to the audience.
