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
History of RERS Rose Annual Spring Shows
2017 Aloha! April 29 51st Annual
2016 Golden Anniversary May 21 50th Annual
2015 Roses Dancing in Our Garden May 2 49th Annual
2014 Rain Drops are Dancing on My Petals May 17 48th Annual*
2013 Star Wars (Tours) May 11 47th Annual
2012 Roses in Wine Country May 5 46th Annual
2011 Roses on Parade May 7 45th Annual – Fall NCNH District Show”Last Rose of Summer”
2010 Picture Perfect May 1 44th Annual
2009 Simple Pleasures May 2 43rd Annual
2008 Change is in the Air! May 3 42nd Annual
2007 Stop and Smell The Roses May 5 41st Annual
2006 Mardi Gras May 7 40th Annual
2005 Fire and Ice May 7 39th Annual
2004 Chase The Clouds Away May 8 38th Annual**
2003 Remember The Good Things in Life May 10 37th Annual**
2002 The Year of The Rose May 4 36th Annual
2001 The Rose Our National Flower May 5 35th Annual
2000 A History of the Rose Through the Ages May 6 34th Annual – Fall “It’s a Rose Show” Charlie Brown
1999 Come Rain or Shine May 1 33rd Annual – Fall Sonoma County in the 1900’s
1998 Stars: The Roses of the Angels May 2 32nd Annual – Fall ?
1997 “The Rose in Legend and Lore” May 3 31st Annual – Fall “Sonoma County Landmarks II”
1996 California The Golden State May4 30th Annual – Fall “Sonoma County Landmarks”
1995 Run For The Roses May 6 29th Annual – Fall NCNH District Show”Circus of Roses”
1994 Wine and Roses May 14-15 28th Annual** – Fall “On The Road With Roses”
1993 Tribute to Modern Composer Sammy Cahn May 1-2 27th Annual
1992 Rock “n” Roll “n” Roses May 2 26th Annual – Fall A Centennial Celebration
1991 Happy 25th Anniversary May 4 25th Annual
1990 Days of Wine & Roses May 5 24th Annual
1989 Summer Dream May 6 23rd Annual – Fall Symphony of Roses
1985 Land, Near and Far May 11 19th Annual**
1984 Olympics May 12 18th Annual**
1983 Let’s go to the Parade of Roses May 14 17th Annual**
1981 Rose Garden May 3 15th Annual
1966 First Annual Spring Rose Show April 30-May 1