The Santa Clarita Valley Rose Society will host its 19th annual Rose Show themed “Wild West Roses” on Saturday, Nov. 3, and Sunday, Nov. 4, 2012, at William S. Hart Park, 24151 Newhall Avenue, Newhall, CA 91321. The show will be located in Hart Hall, and is Co-Sponsored by the County of Los Angeles Department of Parks & Recreation. Concurrent with the rose show, there will be an art exhibit on the second daythat will feature rose art by many local artists. The public is invited to attend both events free of charge.

Everyone is welcome to exhibit their own home-grown roses at the rose show, including novices and children.You do not have to be a member of the rose society to exhibit, and there are no entry fees. Simply bring your roses in a container of water, and the rose society will furnish the vases and the entry tags. The name of each rose, and the exhibitor’s name, must be included on the entry tags.

There will be 76 prizes (crystal and cash) awarded to many types of roses. Waterford Crystal trophies will be given to the top roses, including Hybrid Tea Queen, Miniature Queen, Floribunda Queen, Miniflora Queen, Best Antique Rose and Most Fragrant Rose. Two novices can win a crystal prize as well as a $25 gift certificate sponsored by Green Thumb Nursery. Fifty other categories of roses can win $20 cash prizes for the best blue ribbon winners.

Rose entries will be received in the parking lot from 7:00 a.m. to 9:45 a.m. on Saturday, November 3rd. Please arrive early because entries will close promptly at 9:45 a.m. From 10 a.m. to noon, 12 horticultural rose judges will select the best roses to be awarded prizes. The rose show will open to the public at 12:30 p.m. (or as soon as judging is completed) at which time the winners will be on display. All winners will be presented their awards at 2 p.m. The show will close at 4 p.m.

On Sunday, Nov. 4, the Rose Celebration and Art Exhibit and will be on display inside Hart Hall from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.Many rose growers from throughout Southern California will exhibit hundreds of superb rose specimens, such as the miniature roses ‘Bee’s Knees’, ‘Magic Show’, and ‘Irresistible’; popular hybrid teas like ‘St. Patrick’, ‘Gemini’ and ‘Black Magic’; and floribundas such as ‘Julia Child’, ‘Fabulous’, and ‘Purple Tiger’. There will be 45 tables full of rose specimens on display in vases as well as artistic arrangements, the colorful Artist’s Palette of five different roses, blooms floating in silver bowls, and roses presented in picture frames. Antique roses from the 1800’s, David Austin English roses and a table celebrating the Most Fragrant Roses will also be featured.

A free bouquet of roses will be given to new members who join the rose society at the rose show. Annual membership dues are $20, which includes 9 issues of the 12-page, award-winning newsletter Rose Ecstasy, which is e-mailed in full color.
For a complete show schedule, exhibit rules, and extensive information about roses, visit the Santa Clarita Valley Rose Society website at http://scvrs.homestead.com/RoseShow.html. For other information, contact Kitty Belendez at (661) 296-5033, or e-mail rosextckb@aol.com.