The Indianapolis Rose Society's rose show has come and gone for another year. As usual it was a tremendous success. Over the years our show has been getting smaller and smaller, and we sometimes wonder if putting on the show is worth the effort. However, each year we are rewarded by the occurrence of so many positive things at the show that the answer to that question is always a resounding yes. Let me mention just a few of those positive occurrences.

Candice Haase was so excited when she won the Queen of the Miniature Rose Class, that she gave that old grizzled exhibitor, John Hefner, a hug that brought a big grin to his face. Doris Oesterreich won the Classic Shrub Class with a rose called Ballerina and we couldn't get the smile off of her face either. Al Nanny, a novice exhibitor, brought two beautiful roses to put in the show, Tropicana and Touch of Class. The Tropicana was good enough to be a blue ribbon according to one of the judges and may have made it all the way to the winners table. Unfortunately, Al, just like many experienced exhibitors, got in a hurry and switched the entry tags, so both blooms were disqualified. Better luck next time Al, but you are to be commended for your effort; the public thought they were lovely blooms nevertheless.

Everyone that visited the show was spell bound by all of the variety and color. Many of the visitors stopped to smell each rose; it was as if they were giant birds bobbing their heads for a sip in a pool of water. After the show a woman collected many of the roses to put in dried flower arrangements that will adorn her home for months to come. Another lady collected the blooms from the awards table to place on the graves of her deceased relatives. Shopkeepers and employees at the mall came to get the roses that were left over at the end of the show. With the exception of Al, everyone had a big smile on their face; for me that is sufficient justification for having the show next year, and the year after, etc. Thanks to all that helped make our show a success again this year.

We had a wonderful speaker at the June meeting at the Nature Center. Hilary Cox did a terrific job of showing us how to grow roses naturally. She only uses organic fertilizer and insect repellents. For the most part her roses are disease free. I plan to test her formulations with regard to insects in my own garden this summer. If they work, I will let you have the formula. Of course, there will be a fee for the formulation. Our next meeting will be at our home on Saturday the 8th of July. Bring along a folding chair for your comfort. Donna Tarrant, the President of the Louisville Rose Society will present a program on insects and roses. After her presentation we will go into the garden and try to locate the insects she discusses in her program. There will be plenty of Japanese beetles; whoever catches the most will receive a door prize. We will also serve some delicious ice cream and other refreshing deserts.

Please don't forget the District convention and rose show will be here in Indianapolis in September. We have some tremendous speakers lined up to do programs, please make plans to attend. See you at the Great Bug Hunt in July.

Mark Nolen, President.