What is it about roses that brings out gardeners' competitive natures? Like with growing giant pumpkins, it's all about winning awards. And to do this, people behead the roses and stick these big, bloated blowsy blooms in bud vases and somehow there is some criteria to compare and judge them?
For someone who hasn't grown any rose besides 'Westerland' (left) R. glauca, and R. mutabilis (below) for years, it's inexplicable. These roses grow happily with little intervention, have lots of character even if they lack perfection. Isn't the ruffled, fragrant fabulousness of roses enough without the shows and the medals?
I guess not. Vancouver B.C. hosted the joint World Rose Show and the World Rose Festival a couple of weekends ago. More than 1,000 roses were entered from around the world, with top honors taken by Japanese exhibitor Teizo Yoshiike. In his quest to win "Best In Show" Teizo even bought a seat on the airplane so his roses could ride in luxury from Japan to Vancouver. Is Christopher Guest paying attention to the movie possibilities here? I can't find a photo of the winning 'Tekone' rose...
Seattleites John and Caroline Fredette were first and second runners up for "Best in Show". The butter yellow 'Helmut Schmidt' (left) took second place honors; classic red 'Asso di Cuori' came in third. These are beautiful roses, but I can't get over the idea of the bloom being judged as an object all by itself, when really, isn't it all about growing roses as part of the garden? I fully expect to get sprayed with complaints here from dedicated rosarians - if so, could you also send me a photo and description of the elusive 'Tekone'?
Learn more at www.worldrosefestival.com
Oh wow, I can't believe I missed out on this show. I would have LOVED to see this show! A few years ago, I would have gone out of my way to exhibit a few stems, but my competitive days are over (for now...maybe when I retire) LOL.
I remember studying the judging criteria for the different classes of roses and it's remarkable what growers will do to get the most perfect blooms possible.
The hybrid tea classes are extremely competitive as an untrained eye will simply say they all look the same and beautiful, whereas an accredited judge will spot the slightest blemish, an off center spiral, and even the angle in which the flower is held on the stem. Stem and foliage count as well. It's quite insane, but really fascinating!
Riz
Posted by: Riz Reyes | July 06, 2009 at 12:03 AM
Hi Riz,
It does sound quite insane, but I can imagine kind of addictive - thanks for the explanation of how judges distinguish between all those beautiful blooms....
Val
Posted by: valerie Easton | July 06, 2009 at 06:21 AM
See, I love gardening, but I just don't get roses. Maybe because I love foliage plants and when a rose isn't blooming, there's nothing but thorns.
Posted by: Kimberly | July 06, 2009 at 03:24 PM
I grow roses as I just love the fragrance (and it's fun to say I have Queen Elizabeth and Mr. Lincoln in my garden). I always remember Richie doing a lecture at NHS, and flipping back and forth between a rhodie slide and a rose slide, saying "Good", "Bad", "Good", "Bad", just like being at the eye doctor's. Very funny.
But they're indisputably gorgeous, thorns and all.
Posted by: Sue N. | July 09, 2009 at 06:21 AM