May 2015 Program

Tue., May 5, 2015 at 1:30 PM – “From Pretty Polyanthas Come Fabulous  Floribundas” by  Barbara Gordon.  Amador Senior Center, 229 New York Ranch Rd, Jackson CA

We are delighted to have Barbara Gordon as our featured speaker May 5th.

Caldwell Pink polyantha, also known as Pink Pet. Photo credit Chris Van Cleeve, the Redneck Rosarian.
Caldwell Pink polyantha, also known as Pink Pet. Photo credit Chris Van Cleave, the “Redneck Rosarian.”

She will be discussing and presenting a wide range of roses in the polyantha and floribunda class.  Rather than slides or photographs, Barbara brings in the real thing:  actual cut specimens of the many gorgeous roses she is discussing, so we can truly enjoy their beauty and fragrance.

Barbara will be discussing the history of these two families of roses (polyanthas and floribundas) and various aspects including Heredity (chromosome count), characteristics, similarities, and differences.

A bed of Julia Child floribunda. Photo by Beverly Rose Hopper
Julia Child floribundas in the San Jose Muni Rose Garden, photo by Beverly Rose Hopper

Barbara Gordon is an accredited American Rose Society Horticulture and Arrangement Judge.  A Master Rosarian, she’s  NCNH Silver Honor Medal recipient and President of the Santa Clara County Rose Society. She grows 475 roses in her Mt. View, CA garden, which her husband calls “The Forest.”  A  collector of rare polyantha roses, it features 100 polyanthas and 150 miniature roses.