November 5, 2-4:40 pm – Todd Breyer, “Garden Design with Entertainment In Mind”

Todd Breyer, Landscape Architect
Photo credit Gloria Ballard
Our guest speaker for the November, 2023, monthly meeting of the Nashville Rose Society is Todd Breyer. Todd will share with us different elements of gardens and outdoor entertaining, along with examples from historic Nashville estates.

Todd is an award-winning Nashville landscape architect who specializes in residential garden design. He has a Bachelor of Landscape Architecture from the University of Georgia. Todd’s many projects and positions in Nashville include Cheekwood Botanic Garden (twenty years chairman Plant Collections Committee, Botanic Garden Committee, docent, fundraising, design projects), Nashville City Cemetery Association (past president, landscape and grounds coordinator, holiday party coordinator, Living History Tour, liaison to Metro Parks and Metro Historical Commission), Metro Beautification & Environment Commission (past county-wide Chair & District 24 Commissioner), Antiques and Garden Show (Board member, Gardens Chair), Nashville Lawn and Garden Show (event producer, garden chair, lecture coordinator, grants, event, PR & Media liaison), Friends of Richland Park Library (grounds committee chair & NPL Seed Exchange), Richland Park Farmers Market (garden designer, founder and organizational committee, litter abatement, plantings and grounds, liaison with Metro Parks) and West Nashville Community Festival.

It is also that time of year for our annual Chili Cookoff. Everyone will vote for the best chili and the best cornbread – a good chili needs a good cornbread! Cook up a batch of your favorite recipe and bring it to the meeting. One thing is for sure, no one is going home hungry.

Our hostess this month is Janie Hagan. The meeting will be held in the Massey Auditorium of Botanic Hall / Visitor Services Building at Cheekwood Garden and Estate.

Directions: Enter Cheekwood and drive up to the parking attendants at the top of the hill. If they direct you to park outside the stone gates and it is difficult for you to walk far, tell them that the Rose Society has spaced reserved in Lot A. If those spaces are full, there is a golf cart shuttle that roams the large parking area. Once you park, bypass the ticket booth and come into the first building on your left with a large, covered entrance, which is Botanic Hall. The Cheekwood Campus Map shows the location of Botanic Hall. Enter that building and proceed to Massey Auditorium. You do not have to purchase a ticket.


2023 Nashville Rose Society Annual Rose Show Results

Best of Show – Neil Diamond
The 2023 Nashville Rose Society Annual Rose Show was held on Saturday, October 14, in Massey Auditorium at at Cheekwood Estate & Gardens.

The Show classes included:
Division I – Horticulture
* Section A – Miniature Rose Challenge Classes
* Section B – Miniature Roses – Single Stem
* Section C – Large Rose Challenge Classes
* Section D – Large Rose – Single Stem
Division II – Rose Arrangements
Division III – Rose Photography

Marty Reich with her Best of Show entry, Three Roses – Neil Diamond

Marty Reich, member of the Nashville Rose Society, took away the award for the Best in Show with her entry of three hybrid tea roses Neil Diamond. In addition, Marty won Challenge Class 3 – Three Mini or Miniflora Roses with Mango Blush, Challenge Class 7 – Miniflora in a Bowl with Mango Blush, and Class 15 – English Box with Veterans’ Honor.

Ricky Lockhart, member of the Bowling Green Rose Society, won the most trophies (20), including Queen of Show with Moonstone and King of Show with Ring of Fire. Gene Meyer won Princess of Show with Mohana.

And now for the Courts!

Hybrid Tea or Grandiflora Roses Court

VarietyShown byCertificate
QueenMoonstoneRicky LockhartARS
KingRing of FireRicky LockhartARS
PrincessMohanaGene MeyerARS
Royal CourtLet Freedom RingRicky LockhartNRS
Royal CourtGeminiRicky LockhartNRS
Royal CourtDonna’s GraceRicky LockhartNRS
Royal CourtParis de Yves St. LaurentRicky LockhartNRS
Royal CourtGirls' Night OutRicky LockhartNRS

Miniature Roses Court

RoseShown ByCertificate
QueenRenegadeGene MeyerARS
KingPink PearlGene MeyerARS
PrincessPerrineRicky LockhartARS
CourtCaptivatingGene MeyerNRS
CourtArcanumRicky LockhartNRS

Miniflora Rose Court

RoseShown byCertificate
QueenFirst ChoiceGene MeyerARS
KingWhirlawayRicky LockhartARS
PrincessGarden QueenRicky LockhartARS
CourtGame ChangerRicky LockhartNRS
CourtWright TouchGene MeyerNRS

Rose Photography

SubjectPhotographerAward(s)
Class 3-One Open Bloom, any type roseAngel FaceRita WebbBest of Class, Gold - Queen
Class 6-Creative InterpretationMixed BouquetNeil RickBest of Class, Bronze - Princess
Class 7- ArrangementJulia ChildLinda BowenBest of Class , Silver - King

Rose Arrangements

SectionClass-TitleRosesShown ByAward
Section ATraditional
Class 2-“Broken Promises”Broken PromisesLanni WebbRoyalty, Bronze
Section BModern
Class 4-“Fried Circuits”Mr. CalebLanni WebbArtist , Silver
Section COriental (East Asian)
Class 5-“Kintsugi”Francis MeillandLori EmeryEast Asian (Oriental)
Section DTable Class
Class 7-“Don’t Cry Over Spilt Milk”BeverlyJanie HaganCourt of Etiquette Award
Section ESpecial Classes
Eligible for DuchessClass 10-“Rock Bottom”Easter Basket, TranquilityBarbara TaubeDuchess
Best NoviceClass 11-“Whiplash”Day BreakerLinda BowenNovice, Gold
Section FTraditional
Eligible for Mini Royalty:Class 13-“Cracked Eggs”Perrine, ArcanumLanni WebbMini Royalty, Mini Bronze
Section GModern
Eligible for Mini Artist:Class 15-“Possum on the Half Shell”Memphis KingBarbara TaubeMini Artist, Mini Gold
Eligible for Mini East Asian (Mini Oriental):Class 17-“Springing a Leak”Bridal SunblazeMary Ann HextMini East Asian (Mini Oriental), Silver

For the list of all the winners, click here.

Thanks to our Rose Show Judges!

The American Rose Society judges that give so freely of their time and resources are essential to the success of any rose show. They often travel many miles giving up their weekend time because they love roses, and they appreciate the rosarians and rose societies they serve. The Nashville Rose Society greatly appreciates our 2022 panel of judges.

Horticulture Judges
* Howard Carman – Louisville Rose Society
* Mark Nolen – Indianapolis Rose Society
* Linda Kimmel – Indianapolis Rose Society
* Mike Thompson – Holston Rose Society
* Paula Williams – Louisville Rose Society
* Barbara Taube – Nashville Rose Society

Arrangement Judges
* Barbara McFarland – Huntsville-Twickenham Rose Society
* Glenn Fuqua – Memphis & Dixie Rose Society

Photography Judges
* Paula Williams – Louisville Rose Society
* Linda Kimmel – Indianapolis Rose Society


October 21 – CANCELED – Ron Daniels Fall Open Garden & Book Signing

Please note that the Open Garden that Ron planned to have on October 21 has been canceled.

Ron has over 170 roses of all types and many companion plants in his Gadwall Abbey Garden. Ron’s garden produces many Rose Show winners and has been featured on Talk of the Town.

If you have not seen Ron’s garden, put this event on your calendar!


Arranging with Roses – Lanni Webb, NRS Member

Lonnie Webb, NRS Member, and Floral Arranger

While the judges were judging the 2023 Fall Grand Prix entries, Lanni Webb shared information on how to make award winning floral arrangements.

Lanni demonstrated and explained the guidelines of three types of arrangement designs – traditional, modern, and Oriental (East Asian).

Traditional Designs
Modern Design
Oriental (East Asian) Design

Lanni also reviewed the ARS Score Card for Judging, explaining how the 100 possible points that the arrangement is judged by, are allocated.

To see Lanni’s PowerPoint presentation, click here. Her main message – “Have Fun with It!”

Lanni has been a member of NRS for 13 years and has won awards at rose shows, including the Nashville Rose Shows and the Wilson County Fair Rose Shows. She has many roses in her garden and spends much time doing flowers for weddings, showers and other events for family and friends.


October 1, 2-4:00 pm – “Nash Creek Farm” Tour and Monthly Meeting

The October monthly meeting of the Nashville Rose Society will be held at the Nash Creek Farm, owned by NRS members Tina and Tony Roy, on October 1, 2023, from 2-4:00pm. NOTE: This is a change from our previously published meeting scheduled on October 8.

The Farm is a micro cut flower farm, located at 5045 Clarksville Highway, Whites Creek, TN, 10 minutes north of Nashville (five minutes from Bates Nursery).

Tina and Tony grow over 50 varieties of flowers such as sunflowers, zinnias, cosmos, snapdragons, celosia, amaranth, ranunculus, tulips, etc. Their greatest love and specialty is Dahlias – they grow over 5000 plants and 150+ varieties. Over the last two years, they have started to learn about roses and now grow about 75 young plants.

Nash Creek Farm sells flowers to local florists, restaurants, salons and farmers markets as well as creating floral designs for parties, weddings and other events. They also do u-picks, allowing the community to walk around and cut their own vase of flowers.

The meeting will include a talk by Tony and Tina on growing and caring for Dahlias. During the Farm tour, attendees will be able to cut their own flowers, five or so dahlias and any other variety that is blooming, for $35 which includes a vase/jar.

Please send email to RSVP to Diane Coleman by September 27, 2023, if you are interested so they can have enough snips and vases available. This outdoor event will be held rain or shine (wear a raincoat!), unless the weather is potentially dangerous. If the event should be canceled, Marty will send out an email blast and notice will be posted on this website.

The Farm is a small, working farm so please wear closed toed shoes, bring a bottle of water (or your drink of choice), sunscreen and bug spray and a lawn chair if you want to hang out a bit. There is a small building with restrooms and air conditioning , as well as a covered porch with limited seating. Parking is limited, so PLEASE carpool if possible.

If you would like to see some photos of the flowers at the farm, you can view them on Nash Creek Farm Facebook and Instagram pages.

Come and enjoy the beautiful blooms! Many thanks to Tina and Tony Roy!