Category: Events_archives

Saturday, October 17, 10:00am – 5:00pm, Ron Daniels & Becky Willoughby Open Gardens

Nashville Rose Society members, Becky Willoughby and Ron Daniels, will open their gardens to NRS members and the public on Saturday, October 17, from 10:00am to 5:00pm.

Becky Willoughby at Willoughby Farm
The Willoughby Farm at 169 Horntown Road, Gallatin, Tennessee, is where “A Rose Named David” sits on a hill overlooking the farm. What began for Becky Willoughby as a love of roses has grown into a garden of more than 320 bush roses, representing many different types and varieties, all planted in a self-designed, English-inspired garden setting. As you walk through the garden, you’ll find numerous arbors, trellises, and obelisks supporting an additional 36 climbing roses. Each rose seems to have its own personality.

Growing roses in Zone 7b has certainly come with its challenges. Freezing temperatures and unexpected cold snaps, pest pressures, and late summer heat waves can take their toll. But every season brings something new to learn and enjoy, which is part of what makes this garden so special. Roses bring endless inspiration, opportunities to stay active, and many dear friendships and mentors. Becky says, “I’m grateful to share my garden with you, and I hope it is able to bring you inspiration and joy like it has brought me”.

Ron Daniels’ Gadwall Abbey
Ron Daniels’ garden, known as Gadwall Abbey Rose Garden, located at 1000 Gadwall Circle, Hendersonville, 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. 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.

Today Ron’s garden has more than 150 roses spanning an impressive range of classes. Visitors will find climbers reaching upward, sturdy shrub roses, exhibition hybrid teas, grandifloras, floribundas, miniatures, and mini-floras. Old garden roses and species roses share space with modern varieties, including beloved selections from David Austin. Even tree roses add a vertical element to the display.

Sunday, November 1, 2:00-4:00 pm, Ron Daniels, “Thomas Jefferson’s Gardens at Monticello” and Chili Cookoff

Join us for a special afternoon as we celebrate the 250th anniversary of American Independence with a journey into Thomas Jefferson’s Gardens at Monticello — followed by our annual Nashville Rose Society Chili Cookoff!

The meeting will be held at the Ed Jones Auditorium at the Ellington Agriculture Center, located at 416 Hogan Road, Nashville, TN 37220. Click here for detailed directions.

Our guest speaker, Ron Daniels, Master Consulting Rosarian with the American Rose Society, will bring the historic gardens of Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello to life.

Monticello — meaning “little mountain” — is home to a remarkable collection of roses along with Jefferson’s historic flower and vegetable gardens. Ron will explore the purpose and design of these gardens, with special emphasis on the rose collection that continues to inspire gardeners today.

A lifelong rosarian, Ron has spent 30 years growing roses and currently tends approximately 150 rose plants in his Tennessee garden. He is also the author of Rose Therapy: My Journey of Growing and Caring for Roses. Copies of his book will be available for purchase at the meeting.

And come hungry! We’ll also be holding our annual Chili Cookoff. Bring your favorite chili, cornbread, or desert and join in the fun — or simply come ready to taste!

Guests are always welcome. We’d love to have you join us for roses, history, chili and a great afternoon with fellow gardeners!

Monday, August 17, 6:30-8:00pm – Understanding the Medley of Roses Show Schedule

Whether you’re planning to exhibit or just curious about how a rose show works, you won’t want to miss this special Zoom presentation by Mary Ann Hext, ARS Master Rosarian, member of the Bowling Green Rose Society, Nashville Rose Society, and Rose Show Judge. This meeting is in addition to our regularly scheduled August monthly meeting.

Mary Ann will walk us through the Medley of Roses Show Schedule for the upcoming ARS National Convention, explaining:

  • The three show divisions
  • Show rules and how they apply
  • Selected classes in Horticulture, Arrangements, and Photography
  • Tips to help you understand the schedule and feel more confident about participating

This is a great opportunity for both first-time exhibitors and experienced rose growers to become familiar with the show schedule before the convention. We hope you’ll join us!

Click here to download a pdf copy of the Rose Show Schedule (2026 02 27).

The Zoom link will be shared with members of the Nashville Rose Society by Marty Reich email. If you are not a member of the NRS and wish to attend, To receive the Zoom link, send an email to diane@medleyofroses.org.

Monday, September 14, 6:30- 8:30pm – Katie Schaaf, “Hand-Tied Bouquets: Blending Garden & Market Flowers”

Floral designer Katie Schaaf
Join the Nashville Rose Society for an evening with fellow rose lovers and our special guest speaker, floral designer Katie Schaaf. Katie will demonstrate how to create beautiful hand-tied bouquets by combining flowers and foliage from your own garden with fresh blooms from Trader Joe’s. She’ll share tips on selecting complementary flowers, adding texture and color, conditioning stems for longer vase life, and the simple technique that creates a professional-looking bouquet. Whether you’re cutting roses from your garden or picking up a few market flowers, you’ll leave with ideas and inspiration for creating stunning arrangements at home.

The meeting will be held on Monday, September 14, 2026, from 6:30-8:30 PM in the Frist Center Bradford Room at Cheekwood Estate & Gardens. The evening will begin with time to mix and mingle at 6:30 PM, followed by the program at 7:00 PM. Guests are welcome! Simply tell the gate attendant that you are there for the Nashville Rose Society meeting.

Katie worked as a floral designer for Wildflora in Los Angeles, California, for two years before moving to Nashville in 2022. She created market bouquets and floral arrangements for both the Studio City location and the “grab-and-go” floral shop at The Grove.

While attending college, Katie also owned and operated her own floral design business, KC Floral Co., here in Nashville for two years. Although she has lived out of state for the past two years, she continues to create arrangements for several of her longtime customers whenever she is back home.

Katie sources her flowers from local growers and suppliers, including Trader Joe’s, Wholesale Flowers in Nashville, and her mom’s garden.

LOCATION NOTE: This meeting will be held in the Bradford Room at the Cheekwood Estate & Gardens Frist Center on the Cheekwood campus.

* Address to enter: Back Gate, 111 Cheek Road, Park in Lot C or D
* 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.