THE ROSE BRIGADE
Overseers of a Wilderness of Vintage Roses
A VERY BRIEF HISTORY
Roses have always been part of the Rural Cemetery landscape. For decades, people have planted roses (the kind our great grandmothers grew) at grave sites in memory of departed loved ones.
Until the early 1900's, there was a water system fed by a pump to a cistern, and at least some regular maintenance. Many roses were established in those early days, and some survived the period of neglect that ran from the early 1900's to 2007. By the spring of 2007, only thirty roses remained, including such beauties as Duchesse de Brabant, Madame Plantier, Rosa Banksia, and a mystery rose yet to be identified.
It wasn't until cuttings from some of the roses were propagated and sold at the cemetery's "Flora and Fauna Tour" in 2007 that the public took notice of the treasure trove of vintage roses growing there. Today, thanks to the re-populating efforts of the members of THE ROSE BRIGADE, a group of volunteers who oversee the survival of the cemetery roses, over 300 antique, classic and more modern varieties of roses now call Santa Rosa Rural Cemetery their home.
JOIN THE ROSE BRIGADE!
Consider offering a bit of your time to join THE ROSE BRIGADE, a group of volunteers who care for the Rural Cemetery’s collection of extraordinary roses. Besides helping to water, care for and propagate the roses, members get to spend time learning about these living antiques with others who love old roses as much as you do. Meetings are held on the 4th Tuesday of each month 7:00-8:30pm in the Maple Room at Finley Community Center located at 2060 West College Ave. For information, please call 543-3292.
MEMORIAL ROSE GROVE
On Saturday, November 13, 2010, members and friends of THE ROSE BRIGADE planted a Memorial Rose Grove of 70 extraordinary roses in the meadow area to the north of teh Franklin Avenue Gate. Here classic and vintage roses share space with more current varieties. Roses include such beauties as Dutchess of Portland, Viscountess of Kern, Alliance Franco-Russe, Burbank, Souvenir de la Malmasion, and White Pearl in Red Dragon's Mouth, to name only a few.
The Memorial Rose Garden, which was designed by Vintage Rose Expert, Gregg Lowery, is dedicated to the memory of the unknowns possibly buried in the meadow AND also to the memory of the victims of the 1906 earthquake, many of whom are buried throughout the cemetery, as well as in a mass grave at the foot of the meadow.
HURRICANE KATRINA SURVIVOR ROSE DONATED
Mrs. Peggy Martin, a member of the National Heritage Rose Foundation, has donated a repeat-blooming, thornless, large-climber pink Tausendschon to grade the fence along the Memorial Rose Grove. The rose, which produces profuse clusters of dark pink flowers, was one of only two plants to survive 20 feet of salt water covering Peggy Partin's garden in Palquemines Parish, Louisiana, after the destruction of Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
Since then, the rose, now named "Peggy Martin," has been propagated and introduced into commerce in the United States and has become a symbol among gardeners and rose lovers of a tenacious plant associated with the spirit of renewal and re-growth in the aftermath of a devastating blow of nature. The rose, which is still small, has been potted into a gallon container, is being cared for by Anita Clevenger of the Sacramento Historic City Cemetery Rose Garden until ROSE BRIGADE members pick it up in the spring and plant it in the Memorial Rose Grove. (Posted 1/2011)
MARY HEALD ANTIQUE ROSE TO GRACE CEMETERY
A lovely red rose, which was brought to California from Missouri in the 1800's by Mary Heald of the Heald family for whom Healdsburg is named, has been donated to the Rural Cemetery by Judy Bellows, a descendant of the Heald family.
In June of 1857, Mary Heald and her husband built the two story Greek Revival home with an upper story verandah that still stands on River Road near Korbel Winery. Judy Bellows lives in this wonderful old home of her ancestors and invited several members of THE ROSE BRIGADE to visit the home to see the rose, which Mary Heald had planted in the front yard. ROSE BRIGADE members took cuttings and have successfully propagated this historic rose, which will be planted in the Memorial Rose Grove sometime in the spring. (Posted 1/2011)
ROSE WATCH
Russelliana Mutation. One of the cemetery's decades old roses, a Russelliana growing in the Eastern Half Circle, may have mutated into a new variety. In the spring of 2010, the blooms at one end of the cluster showed a bloom different from the accepted plant. Mutations, which are known as "sprots," are purely a matter of chance and occur when any given variety shows a bloom or habit of growth different from the norm. We are waiting to see if this plant exibits the same mutation again this coming spring before we consider it to have evolved into a "sport" of Russelliana, which would make it a new variety. (Posted 1/2011)
The Rose in the Crack. Last year a small rose was discovered growing through a crack in the cement covering one of the cemetery plots. At first, the rose was assumed to be a sucker from a large Russelliana growing a short distance away. However, after propagating a cutting, the rose turned out to NOT be a Russelliana. In fact, it did not resemble any known rose growing in the cemetery.
Vintage Rose Expert, Gregg Lowery, believes it to possibly be a wild rose or a chance seedling that found its way into the crack. It could also be a rose that had been planted there decades before the plot was cemented over. In the spring of 2010, while visiting the Rural Cemetery, a group of rosarians from the Sacramento Historic City Cemetery were shown the rose, which we had propagated and plotted in a gallon container. They were so in awe of this unknown beauty with its strong fragrance, many petals and deep, deep pink color, that they asked is to propagate this unidentified rose for them to display in the Sacramento Historic City Cemetery Rose Garden. What an honor! Local rose (of unknown orgin) makes good!
UPCOMING EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES
Annual Vintage Rose Tour & Sale. Saturday, April 30, 2011, 10:00-11:00 am. (Franklin Ave. Gate) Tours are FREE.
Take a docent-led walking tour through the newly-planted Memorial Rose Grove where you will meet a number of historic characters with connections to the cemetery roses, such as Josephine Bonaparte, Ralphine McDonald, and Luther Burbank, who will be portrayed by actors dressed in period dress and will identify each of the roses in their particular section of the Rose Grove and tell a little about each one. TOURS LEAVE EVERY 20 MINUTES.
Rose Tour Bonus: Vintage Rose Sale
This is your opportunity to purchase many of the gorgeous roses growing throughout Santa Rosa Rural Cemetery and the newly-planted Memorial Rose Grove. These roses have been propagated from cuttings and will be on sale in one gallon containers.
Rose Watering Work Parties. During the spring and summer of each year, ROSE BRIGADE members gather every 2nd and 3rd Saturday morning at the Franklin Ave. Gate to water the newer cemetery roses. The decades-old roses who are long established in the cemetery, do not receive any watering by THE ROSE BRIGADE because over time, they have become drought tolerant.
Tending the Cemetery Roses. Join ROSE BRIGADE Founder Sandy Frary, each Friday morning beginning in May, 2011 (exact date and time TBD), and work beside her to care for and learn about a multitude of vintage roses that range from the tiny floribunda, Lipstick, to the gigantic rambler, Cooper's Burmese. Bring a sack lunch and enjoy the fresh air and the cemetery flora!
Rose Brigade Trips. (to be announced)
For more information about the cemetery roses and how to volunteer with THE ROSE BRIGADE, contact the City of Santa Rosa Recreation, Parks & Community Services office at 543-3292.