Don Suderman discovered his passion for roses more than four decades ago.
“I grew some roses starting in the 1980s. Then I went to a garden tour in Wichita and got invited to a Wichita Rose Society meeting, which increased my knowledge on how to grow them,” said Suderman, who is now president of that group. “There is something about the unique form and fragrance of a rose that I’ve always loved.”
His wife Marcee’s fondess for the flower goes back further, to memories of her grandparents’ roses blanketing their front yard in Kansas City when she was a child. Today, the Sudermans cultivate several rose gardens at their home near Newton.
They’re also among enthusiasts staging the Rose Society’s 75th anniversary celebration. “A Rosy Weekend” will be held Sept. 21-22 at the Drury Plaza Hotel Broadview and Botanica, The Wichita Gardens.
“It does take a lot of work, but our members will be volunteering in various areas throughout the weekend,” Suderman said. “We want our guests to have a good experience.”
It has been more than a decade since Wichita hosted a rose show by the American Rose Society Central District, which includes seven rose societies throughout Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa and Missouri. Registration to exhibit is open until check-in on Sept. 20. Exhibitors are not required to be a member of the American Rose Society but cannot accept a certified award if they are not.
The show is expected to feature nearly 600 entries of long-stem and miniature roses representing about 45 classes, such as hybrid tea, floribunda, mini roses and shrub roses. Coveted old garden roses are not typically on display at fall shows as they bloom in the spring.
A private judging will take place earlier Sept. 21, with a free show open to the public at the Drury Broadview, 400 W. Douglas, from 2-4 p.m. A convention the following day will feature educational speakers and a tour of the Rose Garden at Botanica, The Wichita Gardens, for a cost of $10 at the door.
Suderman says exhibitors typically bring in dozens of roses in ice chests to keep them preserved, then choose the best of their cuttings when preparation begins around 4 a.m. the day of the event, perfecting their entries right up until judging. Categories include single-stem specimen arrangements, miniature roses, shrub roses and a photography contest.
“You’ll see traditional shades of red and yellow as well as purples, peaches and oranges, whites and bicolored roses,” Suderman said.
A silent auction of items donated by society members helps offset the cost of hosting the event. The Wichita Rose Society has about 35 members, who also provide vases for the event.
The Sept. 22 schedule includes:
9:30 a.m. — Matt Douglas of High Country Roses in Denver, who will discuss “Old Garden Roses Belong in Your Yard”
10:45 a.m. — Raymond Cloyd of Kansas State University, who will present ‘Pesticide Use and Safety’ 12:30 p.m. — Tour of Botanica Rose Garden led by garden manager Laura Shumaker
The Wichita Rose Society was organized in 1949. At one time, area rose shows boasted thousands of attendees. Interest has declined over the years as other pastimes and hobbies competed for the public’s attention. But specimens of roses have continued to expand over the years. Suderman says about 25,000 varieties exist worldwide with 30 million rose plants sold in the United States every year.
Rose gardeners often hear comments from newbies on how difficult it can be to create a thriving rose garden. Despite the varieties sold in local big box retailers, not all are right for the Kansas climate, Suderman discovered early on.
“I heard a speaker, Dr. Steve George from Texas A&M, talk about lower maintenance roses. I took a special training in Texas regarding the ‘Earth-Kind’ rose trials. After that, we started growing a lot more roses, because they were easier to grow. The Wichita Rose Society introduced Wichita to these roses and sold them for many years, before they finally started showing up in stores,” he said.
Earth-Kind roses are registered trademarks of Texas A&M AgriLife Extension. The roses so designated must demonstrate heat and drought tolerance and a high degree of pest resistance. They are known to thrive with little help from their owners and include dwarf, small and medium shrubs as well as climbers.
Marcee Suderman suggests that anyone interested in learning more about the best specimens for local growing conditions attend a meeting of the Wichita Rose Society, which gets together regularly at Botanica. Society members are eager to share information on rose culture and also volunteer to help maintain the Rose Garden at Botanica.
“There is a lot of knowledge amongst our members, and we’re more than happy to steer people in the right direction,” Marcee Suderman said.
With the right care — including proper light, fertilizing, watering and winterizing — roses can last through generations. Don Suderman says he hasn’t lost one in years.
“I think they are the most beautiful flower there is,” he said. “They bloom all season long, clear into the first of November.”
Contact Sherry Graham Howerton at sgaylegraham@hotmail.com.
