Category: Events_archives_2026

Join us Sunday, July 12, from 2:00–4:00 PM in the Bradford Room at Cheekwood Estate & Gardens for an afternoon with fellow rose lovers and special guest speaker Howard Carman.

Click here to see Howard’s presentation.

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 is a past president and current treasurer of the Louisville Rose Society and currently serves as the Tenarky District Director, beginning his term in 2024. His love of roses has also led him into propagation and hybridizing, with two roses now registered with the ARS — the miniature “Miss Paula,” a sport of Miss Flippins, and the miniflora “Anna Mae,” named in honor of his mother.

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! Please bring roses from your garden to share!

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).

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.

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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.

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Note meeting location at end of post!

Join the Nashville Rose Society at our May 3, 2026, meeting in the Bradford Room at Cheekwood Estate & Gardens.

Get ready for the Bowling Green Rose Show on Saturday, May 23! Marty Reich, Master Rosarian, will start the meeting with a demonstration of some rose grooming techniques and briefly talk about show schedules and entry tags. Click here to see the schedule for the Celebrate America 250 Bowling Green Rose Society Annual Rose Show.

Next we will see a video that Spenser Thomas has recorded for us on Nashville specific soil health and nutrient management. Spenser is the soil-health focused product manager at Great Big Plants, where he specializes in developing biologically supportive inputs designed to improve plant performance from the soil up. His work centers on compost extracts and soil-based solutions that enhance nutrient efficiency, root development, and overall plant vitality.

Spenser has recorded a Nashville specific soil health and nutrient management presentation that will be shown at the May meeting. Click Nashville Rose Society Great Big Roses & Flowers to view Spenser’s presentation.

With a deep interest in both flowering plants and high-yield vegetable crops, Spenser works to help growers achieve healthier growth and more consistent performance by optimizing the underlying soil system. His approach prioritizes long-term soil health over short-term synthetic feeding, focusing on practical, results-driven outcomes for home gardeners and enthusiasts alike.

Spenser is particularly focused on making soil science more accessible to the public. By helping gardeners understand the complex interactions between biology, organic matter, and minerals, he aims to provide the tools necessary to cultivate stronger, more resilient plants through a “soil-first” philosophy.

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).

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.

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Join us for a wonderful morning all about roses with Ron Daniels, Master Rosarian and Sumner County Master Gardener. Ron will share his extensive experience growing roses and explain the different types and groups of roses along with their proper pruning methods.

The presentation will also include a live rose pruning demonstration, giving you practical tips you can use in your own garden. Whether you’re new to roses or already love growing them, this talk will help you care for them with confidence. 🌱🌸

📍 Hendersonville Public Library – Community Room
🗓 Saturday, April 4, 2026
⏰ 11:00 A.M.

Free and open to the public. Bring a friend and grow with us! 🌿✨

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Please join us for our April 2026 meeting of the Nashville Rose Society in the Massey Auditorium of Botanic Hall / Visitor Services Building 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.

The presentation will feature a curated collection of member-submitted photos and descriptions showcasing roses that are thriving in Middle Tennessee gardens.

The program will highlight varieties demonstrating strong disease resistance, repeat bloom, and overall garden performance in our local climate.

Guests are welcome to attend. Simply tell the gate attendant that you are there for the Nashville Rose Society meeting.

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