History
Organized 1965
In the early 1960’s Commander Harry E. Stebbings, fresh from sea duty, encountered his first rose bush. Actually, there were 21 bushes and they came with a house he purchased in San Mateo, California. Not having the opportunity to grow roses at sea, he sought the expertise of the San Mateo County Rose Society to educate himself on the care and feeding of roses. After two of the members visited his home and identified the varieties as well as provided advice on nurturing them, he became an active member in the society and an ARS horticulture judge. When he completed his tour of duty at Treasure Island, Captain Stebbings moved to Santa Rosa.
His new home did not come with roses but he was quick to remedy that. Santa Rosa did not have a rose society but with the collaboration of Dr. Dennison Morey, they established the first rose society in Santa Rosa. The first meeting of the Redwood Empire Rose Society was on September 23, 1965 at Harry Stebbings’ home. An ARS officer from San Diego attended. As of March 2004, Dr. Morey is the only surviving member who attended that original meeting. Since that inaugural meeting, RERS has met on the third Thursday of the month. Starting in January of 1966, the meetings have been held at the Luther Burbank Art and Garden Center.
The RERS has been very active in the Santa Rosa community. Each year the Spring Rose Show is attended by many non-members. The RERS entered in the Hall of Flowers Garden Contest at the Sonoma County Fair up to 2003. We are planning to reestablish this activity as our membership numbers are improved.
Thirty-two rosarians have served as President of RERS. Many are distinguished contributors to ARS and the Sonoma County community. Our first President was Capt. Harry Stebbings.
| ARS Bronze Medal for Outstanding Service to a Local Society Awards | |
| 1993 | Rachel Wall* |
| 1994 | Margaret Martin* |
| 1995 | Sally Joy* |
| 1996 | Capt. Harry Stebbings* |
| 1997 | Virginia and Eugene Howard* |
| 1998 | Inez Smith* |
| 1999 | Eleanor Kelling* |
| 2000 | James C. King* |
| 2002 | Dr. Tom Villa-Lovoz |
| 2005 | Phyllis Saccani |
| 2006 | Barbara Ellis |
| 2008 | Ann Barbaro |
| 2009 | Karen Ernsberger |
| 2010 | Karl Scheurman & Ruth Browning |
| 2012 | Martin Kooi |
*deceased
Themes of past RERS Rose Annual Spring Shows
51st Annual | Aloha! | April 29, 2017
50th Annual | Golden Anniversary | May 21, 2016
49th Annual | Roses Dancing in Our Garden | May 2, 2015
48th Annual* | Rain Drops are Dancing on My Petals | May 17, 2014
47th Annual | Star Wars (Tours) | May 11, 2013
46th Annual | Roses in Wine Country | May 5, 2012
45th Annual | Roses on Parade | May 7, 2011 | Fall NCNH Dist. Show “Last Rose of Summer”
44th Annual | Picture Perfect | May 1, 2010
43rd Annual| Simple Pleasures | May 2, 2009
42nd Annual | Change is in the Air! | May 3, 2008
41st Annual | Stop and Smell The Roses | May 5, 2007
40th Annual | Mardi Gras | May 7, 2006
39th Annual | Fire and Ice | May 7, 2005
38th Annual** | Chase The Clouds Away | May 8, 2004
37th Annual** | Remember The Good Things in Life | May 10, 2003
36th Annual | The Year of The Rose | May 4, 2002
35th Annual | The Rose Our National Flower | May 5, 2001
34th Annual | History of the Rose Through the Ages | May 6, 2000 | Fall “It’s a Rose Show Charlie Brown”
33rd Annual | Come Rain or Shine | May 1, 1999 | Fall “Sonoma County in the 1900s”
32nd Annual | Stars: The Roses of the Angels | May 2, 1998 | Fall ?
31st Annual | The Rose: Legend & Lore | May 3, 1997 | Fall “Sonoma County Landmarks II”
30th Annual | California The Golden State | May 4, 1996 | Fall “Sonoma County Landmarks”
29th Annual | Run For The Roses | May 6, 1995 | Fall NCNH District Show “Circus of Roses”
28th Annual** | Wine and Roses | May 14-15, 1994 | Fall “On The Road With Roses”
27th Annual | Tribute to Modern Composer Sammy Cahn | May 1-2, 1993
26th Annual | Rock “n” Roll “n” Roses | May 2, 1992 | Fall A Centennial Celebration
25th Annual | Happy 25th Anniversary | May 4, 1991
24th Annual | Days of Wine & Roses | May 5, 1990
23rd Annual | Summer Dream | May 6, 1989 | Fall Symphony of Roses
19th Annual** | Land, Near and Far | May 11, 1988
18th Annual** | Olympics | May 12, 1984
17th Annual** | Let’s go to the Parade of Roses | May 14, 1983
15th Annual | Rose Garden | May 3, 1981
First Annual Spring Show | April 30-May 1, 1966
