Welcome
Who We Are
IN 2024, FORT VANCOUVER ROSE SOCIETY
CELEBRATES 71 YEARS OF ALL THINGS ROSES!
We are the rose society in Vancouver, Washington, established in 1953, and a proud member of the American Rose Society (ARS). Join us at our next general meeting and let's talk roses! Our General Membership Meetings are 7 p.m. on the first Thursday of the month, February through June,
and September through December.
In July of 1953, the Fort Vancouver Rose Society was founded through the inspirational efforts of Helene Schoen, Judge Eugene Cushing, Florence Talbot and Bob Broeren. The society consisted of 133 charter members.
The Fort Vancouver Rose Society encourages the interest in and the cultivation of the rose. It is affiliated with the American Rose Society and endeavors to spread the love of the rose whenever and wherever possible.
The Fort Vancouver Rose Society is very active throughout the community and is open to all who wish to grow in their understanding and enjoyment of the rose. Our present public service and educational activities include planting, pruning and caring for the roses each year at the Esther Short Park Rose Garden and the Covington House Rose Garden. Additionally, the Fort Vancouver Rose Society provides consulting services at the O.O. Howard House Heritage Rose Garden.
The society also holds public rose pruning demonstrations (rose care seminars) each spring and an annual rose show. The show attracts exhibitors and visitors from the Pacific Northwest.
Last year--our 70th Anniversary Year--was celebrated with special speakers at our monthly meetings, sales of vintage as well as current FVRS apparel, a spectacularly successful Rose Auction in March and Silent Auction in May, a beautiful Rose Show in June, Garden Tour in July and a special celebration of our 70th Anniversary Year in September... ending our 70th year in December with our well-attended (and delicious!) annual dinner meeting at the Old Spaghetti Factory.
Our first meeting of 2024 on February 1, featured guest speaker and FVRS member Samson Ramirez of Catalonia Investments. He shared his knowledge and experience with growing roses via aeroponics. a no-soil gardening system. In March, the Society held its annual Rose Auction on March 7. What a fabulous, fun event it was AND successful as well. The event is one of several major fundraisers benefitting the FVRS Rose Show, scheduled for June 29; and this year we raised just over $2,200 with the auction proceeds and the Pot 'o Gold 50/50 drawing.
On Thursday, April 4, FVRS members heard a 4-member panel of experienced Consulting Rosarians who answered questions about rose care and why applying to be an American Rose Society-certified Consulting Rosarian is beneficial not only to the community but also to the individual CR applicant. As a Consulting Rosarian you can achieve a broader understanding of the rose, provide confident rose care education to others, and help the community grow roses successfully.
Our May 2 meeting was a lively time of browsing the 2nd Annual Silent Auction (a fundraiser for the 2024 FVRS Rose Show on June 29) tables and enjoying ice cream sundaes. It was also a social night to catch up with each other and opportunity to have pruners sharpened and soil pH tested by our expert Consulting Rosarians. Special thanks to FVRS First Vice President and Membership Chair Carol Adams for organizing and conducting the auction, which raised $826 towards the rose show. A great time had by all!
The last meeting in the first "half" of the FVRS calendar was Thursday, June 6. Members, guests and visitors heard a 5-part panel that demonstrated "all things Rose Show!"
The Society held its 69th Annual Rose Show on Saturday, June 29, in the gymnasium at the First Evangelical Church on NE St. Johns Road. What a marvelous show! Thank you to all our exhibitors and, of course, all those who visited this year's show.
And, speaking of show, FVRS held is annual In-House Rose Show on Thursday, September 5, in the Parish Hall at St. Luke's-San Lucas Episcopal Church in Vancouver. There were approximately 30 entries, judged by Gary and Cheryl McClain, both members of the Portland Rose Society and Fort Vancouver Rose Society. Congratulations to all the winners and huge thanks to all the participants. Table decorations for the meeting and meal (hot dogs, chili, sauerkraut, desserts) were beautiful arrangements by FVRS members.
October's General Membership meeting featured special speaker Jason Croutch of Fraser Valley Rose Farm in Deroche, Canada. Jason's webinar presentation was on essential fall season care practices he uses to ensure his roses are healthy, vibrant and ready to bloom next spring. He covered topics including pruning, soil conditioning, disease prevention and winter protection. Jason generously gave extra time during and after his presentation to answer many questions asked by those in attendance.
FVRS members further enhanced their rose knowledge at the November 7 meeting. Special speaker, Dr. Charold Baer, expertly reviewed "Marvelous Minis and Magnificent Minifloras" by providing the definition, history, hybridizer background and growing advantageous of miniature roses and miniflora roses. It was a marvelous and magnificent presentation!
Our next meeting will be our annual holiday dinner at The Old Spaghetti Factory (730 SE 160th Avenue in Vancouver) on Thursday, December 5, at 6:30 p.m. Reservations are $27 per person. More information can be found on this website under News and Events and in the FVRS November newsletter (click on "MORE" above).
Be sure to visit the NEWS and EVENTS page to learn more about activities of the Society and upcoming events!
LOCATION OF MEETINGS
Parish Hall of St. Luke's-San Lucas Episcopal Church
426 E. Fourth Plain Blvd.
Vancouver, WA 98663
Directions to St. Luke’s ~ San Lucas Episcopal Church: St. Luke’s is west of I-5 on Fourth Plain Boulevard, just 1.3 miles north of the Columbia River. Our parking lot is reached from Fourth Plain Boulevard by driving north on “F” Street and then driving west on East 27th Street. The lot is posted. There is no parking on Fourth Plain.
I-5 Southbound Directions Take exit 1D, keeping right onto Fourth Plain Blvd Westbound, Turn right at the first light onto “F” Street, Turn left at the first intersection onto 27th Street and into our parking lot.
I-5 Northbound Directions Take exit 1C/1D keeping left and following the signs to Fourth Plain Blvd, Turn left onto Fourth Plain Blvd. Westbound, Turn right at the second light onto “F” Street, Turn left at the first intersection onto 27th Street and into our parking lot.
For additional information, contact FVRS representative (see our Contact page).
Our website is always undergoing renovation. We appreciate your patience!