In (garden) bed with the Greater Greenville Rose Society and their Shaw Garden.
“We need an intervention,” isn’t the first thing you expect the president of the Greater Greenville Rose Society to say—but it certainly makes sense once you spend time talking to this fun, passionate group of flower aficionados.
“Our group is home to people who grow less than ten roses, as well as crazy people—like us—that grow 420 roses in their backyard,” admits Rita Van Lenten. Along with husband, Frank, and other members, she helps spread the word about their merry band of green-thumb hobbyists. “In fact, one of the former caretakers of the Furman Rose Garden, Sheree Wright, is also our vice president,” she adds, “and another favorite member is Bill Patterson, a co-owner of the Roses Unlimited Nursery in Laurens, who offers a wide variety of hard-to-find roses and often donates roses for raffles at our meetings.”
The Van Lentens are originally from Chattanooga, where they first started growing roses 23 years ago. “It all began when someone brought beautiful blooms into church, which we struggled to grow ourselves. A neighbor said, ‘Come to the Rose Society! We’ll teach you,’ and we were hooked from there,” says Frank.
Today, the 501c3 nonprofit—an affiliate of the American Rose Society, founded in 1973—has thrived, despite a dip in turnout during the pandemic. “We do rose shows, and occasionally host the Carolina district meeting,” says Rita. “We have a limited budget, but we have a lot of fun. We do annual picnics, auctions, Christmas parties, and garden tours.”
One of the biggest perks of hanging out with this colorful crowd? Free access to coveted knowledge. “Many of our members are consulting rosarians,” notes Frank. “These are people who have studied the craft and taken a test similar to a Master Gardener, and help problem-solve for other growers. Their main job is hosting educational workshops for the community, where we teach best practices, bring roses to show, and answer questions.”
Just because the group is rose-obsessed, don’t expect the activities to grow old: “We often mix it up with non-rose programs,” adds Rita. “We’ve had visiting professors talk about the kinds of snakes you’ll find in your garden, or we’ll have a beekeeping expert pop by. Many of these workshops are hands-on: how to take cuttings and propagate roses, for instance.”
One of the group’s proudest moments recently earned national attention. “A couple was closing their nursery and getting rid of the stock,” recalls Frank. “One of his roses didn’t have an official name yet, just a number. I asked if we could register the rose with ARS (American Rose Society), and our members had a contest to come up with names. They picked a favorite, which was Sheree Wright’s suggestion, Vernon’s Laugh, and we registered it. Shortly after, we found out that our rose had become the highest-rated new rose in the American Rose Society’s Mini-Flora category in 2021.”
So, where can you soak up a gorgeous array of roses this season? Look no farther than the Shaw Rose Garden on East Camperdown Way, which the Society maintains with leadership from garden coordinator Dan DeWitt. “It’s a municipal garden and rose showcase free to the public. It’s incredibly rewarding for us—we’ll be there doing maintenance, and people stop to say how much they love it,” explains Frank. “We have ten beds, and each one has a theme—for instance, red hybrid roses in one bed, miniatures in another, or noisettes. They’re adoptable, meaning members can volunteer to take care of a bed for the year, and we also have volunteer days where anyone can come help us prune.”
“There’s a place in the Rose Society for any gardener or enthusiast of any level—and something fun for everyone,” adds Rita. “There are a lot of options out there other than Knock Out Roses from the big box stores, and we focus a lot on education, on opening the world of roses up to people. They don’t have to be difficult to grow. Do they require more attention than pansies? Absolutely. But they’re more approachable than you think.”
It’s clear that this is an obsession worth nurturing—especially if you have a fun group to share it with. “There’s a rose for everybody,” Rita insists. “It’s hard not to fall in love with them. When you prune in winter, and walk out into your garden in spring to see a riot of color in full bloom, right in time for Mother’s Day . . . there’s just nothing like it.”
Find upcoming events on the Society’s Facebook page, and additional information on their website at greenvillerosesociety.org.
Hot Trend: CONTAINER GARDENS
“Growing roses in our soil here isn’t easy. But in containers, you have a lot of control over your soil, the water, the weather.”
Did You Know: ILLEGAL BLOOMS
“If a rose varietal is still patented (usually within twenty years), it’s illegal to propagate and sell them—so you’d better check first!”
Varietal to Watch: ‘BEVERLY’
“A very fragrant, disease-resistant hybrid tea rose with very few thorns.”
Insider Tip: DON’T BE FOOLED BY COLOR
“If you see someone advertising blue or rainbow roses—or some other crazy color—those shades aren’t real or natural. You’ll be disappointed when they bloom.”
GO-TO STARTER TIPS
- Check your pH: Make sure your soil is amended
- Skip the shade: Give your blooms full sun
- Get snippy: Make sure you prune regularly and correctly
- Find free answers: Join the Greater Greenville Rose Society
