Heritage Rose Garden at the American Rose Center Well and Truly Planted 

Those who participated in the February 2006 “Ice Bowl” Pruning Party will be happy to hear that Mother Nature was kinder to those who attended the Planting Party on December 1-2, 2007 at the Heritage Rose Garden in the American Rose Center in Shreveport.  The weather was cloudy and cool all day Saturday, warming a bit in the afternoon, but never hot.  And on Sunday the rain clouds watched until the last seed was sown, at which time a gentle rain began to fall. 

Many of the roses presently residing in the Heritage Rose Garden were originally planted by Charlotte and Pete Haring.  Charlotte still looks after those roses, along with all the other roses in the enormous American Rose Center.  Charlotte was on hand Saturday to help us with her extensive knowledge of the garden.  As they say, she has forgotten more than we’ll ever know about that property! 

Claude and Pam Graves, Stephen Scanniello and his niece Laura Maurer, Marilyn Wellan, Malcolm Manners, and Betty Vickers were on hand Saturday and Sunday to  clean out beds and dig holes.  They planted 39 roses, 124 companion plants, 50 bulbs, and scattered four or five different varieties of seeds (but who’s counting?). Meanwhile, fences were repaired, teepees were erected, and old roses were dug up and moved from one place to another.  A lot of work was done, and a lot of rosarians had big smiles on their faces.   

We can’t wait until Spring! 

Betty Vickers

Photos by Malcolm Manners except two by Betty.