Join us at our Monthly Meetings and Events
The Nashville Rose Society serves all of Middle Tennessee by sharing knowledge and information about our national flower, the rose. Through a monthly newsletter and meetings that feature regional and nationally recognized speakers, we bring you advice and instruction geared to growing roses in the specific soil and climatic conditions of this area. For all scheduled Meetings & Events, click here.
A Garden with a Purpose: The Roses of Ron Daniels
Article from American Rose
The Magazine of the American Rose Society, Spring 2026
Written by Chris VanCleave
Photos by Katelyn Daniels
His garden, known as Gadwall Abbey Rose Garden, is a carefully designed landscape of beauty, learning, and hospitality that has earned admiration among rose enthusiasts and visitors alike.
Established in 2013, Gadwall Abbey is Daniels’ third rose garden. Experience shows in every detail. Rather than simply planting roses wherever space allowed, Daniels approached the project with clear priorities: accessibility, strong plant performance, and ease of care. The result is a garden that balances serious rose growing with thoughtful design.
Register now for the Medley of Roses – 2026 ARS National Convention & Rose Show and receive a complimentary desk copy of the Rose Atlas (vol. 3): 20th Century Hybridizers. Register at MedleyOfRoses.org to secure your copy.
Click here for the full press release.
Upcoming Meeting and Events
The 2025 meetings of the Nashville Rose Society will be held at the Cheekwood Estate and Gardens or at the Ed Jones Auditorium in the Ellington Agriculture Center. The meeting location, dates and times are shown on the Meetings & Events page of the website.
The Cheekwood Estate and Gardens is located at 1200 Forrest Park Dr, Nashville, Tennessee 37205. The meetings are free to guests, as is admission to Cheekwood for meetings. Simply tell the gate attendant that you are there for the Nashville Rose Society meeting.
The Ed Jones Auditorium at Ellington Agriculture Center is located at 416 Hogan Rd, Nashville, TN 37220. More information on how to find the Ed Jones Auditorium, click here .
Here’s a little preview of what’s waiting for us at this year’s picnic . . .just look at John Wendler’s roses.
Join us for a relaxed afternoon at John’s beautiful home and garden in Burns. We’ll enjoy garden strolls, great company, and plenty of time to take in the blooms.
We’ll be serving BBQ with drinks provided, so come hungry and ready to linger a while.
Please bring a chair along with an appetizer, salad, or dessert to share.
Address and RSVP details will be sent to members by email.
Howard has lived in Big Spring, Kentucky his entire life and began growing roses in 1997 after being inspired by the Kentucky State Fair. What started with a few roses quickly turned into a lifelong passion that led him to join both the Louisville Rose Society and the American Rose Society. Over the years, he expanded his garden to more than 200 roses, built a homemade greenhouse, became a horticulture judge in 2004, and today still grows around 125 roses including hybrid teas, floribundas, shrubs, miniatures, and minifloras.
Howard will be sharing his experiences with propagating roses from cuttings, hybridizing, and the journey that turned a hobby into a lifelong passion for roses.
As always, we’ll have time to visit with fellow members and guests before the program begins. Guests are always welcome!
LOCATION NOTE: This meeting will be held in the Bradford Room at the Cheekwood Estate & Gardens Frist Center, a new meeting location on the Cheekwood campus (not the Massey Center used in previous years).
* Enter 1st Floor of Frist Center from Lot C – Turn left and you will find the elevator.
* Take the elevator to 3rd floor and enter Bradford Room on the Right.
The meetings are free to guests, as is admission to Cheekwood for meetings. Simply tell the gate attendant that you are there for the Nashville Rose Society meeting.