Blanche at the 1996 NCNH District Conference in Fresno. Blanche was honored for her many years of dedication to the San Joaquin Valley Rose Society and the Northern California-Nevada-Hawaii District
Photo by Baldo Villegas
In 1945 Blanche and her family moved to a home in Fresno. She probably didn't realize that might have been the beginning of her love for roses. There were a few roses at that home, but it wasn't until she moved with her family to her present location in 1953, that her love for roses really started to blossom. She remembers a few of the roses that were on the Ranch (Eclipse, Hadley, Dainty Bess and Shot Silk.) Mermaid was growing in an area referred to as the lane.
Blanche had become a Charter Member of the San Joaquin Valley Rose Society in January, 1950. But raising two children and helping with six grandchildren in seven years put growing roses last on the priority list. Blanche become a member of the American Rose Society in 1958 and that's when she really started adding roses to the Ranch!! Some of the first roses added were:Sutter's Gold, Mission Bells and Charlotte Armstrong. There were sixty acres in almonds and alfalfa so there was lots of room for roses. And when the new home was built on the Ranch in 1960, what better reason than to plant roses.
In 1959 Martin J. Martin, District Director, appointed Blanche to be a Consulting Rosarian. Blanche felt she really wasn't qualified to take on the responsibility. But that changed quickly as Blanche was President of the San Joaquin Valley Rose Society for 1960-1961. That was one of three terms as President that she has held in the Society. 1961 was also the first year for winning a ribbon at a rose show. Blanche had three entries and one had won a third place ribbon. Nocturne, a red Hybrid Tea was the rose that gave Blanche "rose show fever." The bush still grows in Blanche's garden today. "Rose show fever" soon turned into becoming a judge. In 1970 Blanche became an accredited Horticulture Judge.
Blanche's love for roses and involvement in rose society activities still continues today. She is a life member of the San Joaquin Valley Rose Society, a Life ARS Consulting Rosarian and a Life ARS Horticulture Judge. Blanche is the current newsletter Editor of "Thorny Thoughts," a position she has held for over 25 years.
Through the years Blanche has grown lots of varieties of roses. She like all types of roses so she grows all kinds of roses. But Blanche won't hesitate to say that yellow roses are her favorite color for roses. There are over 350 rose bushes in her garden now. This includes a collection of 36 polyanthas that Dr. John A. Shaw planted.
When you walk through Blanche's Garden, you walk through a history lesson. Blanche can give you a reason why and when each of her roses was planted. So when you have some time to spare visit with Blanche in her
rose garden. You probably will learn a lot of rose history.
If you have any questions or comments my e-mail address is: lburg@kings.k12.ca.us
Get your own Free Home PageLast Updated November 21, 1997
1997 Linda Burg