Vancouver-area Rose Gardens Being Renovated for 2009
– a Legacy Project

With the anticipated attendance of 800 Rose Society members to the 2009 World Rose Convention (June 18-24), and up to 15,000 attendees to the associated World Rose Festival (June 19-21), the Organizing Committee took a critical look at the public rose gardens in the Vancouver area to see which ones would be of interest to rose lovers from around the world.

While there are some notable “bright spots,” the Committee found there were a number of gardens which had become less-than-stunning examples of the kind of rose-growing success that is the norm in temperate coastal British Columbia. The Committee noted that a number of gardens had old, neglected rose beds, tired soil, and some had made poor choices of non-disease-resistant rose varieties. Spraying of fungicides and insecticides has been prohibited in most Vancouver-area municipalities over the past two years, so disease-resistant rose varieties and good soil are now essential for a beautiful rose garden.

The Committee had also been looking for a “legacy” project which would be a lasting memento in the Vancouver area of the 2009 World Rose Convention, and had considered a number of different projects, none which seemed to quite “hit the spot”. It occurred to the Committee members almost simultaneously – renovating the deficient rose gardens in the Vancouver area would be a lasting and beautifying legacy of the 2009 World Rose Convention.

Committee-member Brad Jalbert, who is a Vancouver-area rose breeder and nursery owner, was dispatched to the public gardens in the area to make contacts with the gardeners and administrators, to assess the current situation, and to discuss renovation prospects. Brad, who is also the 2009 World Rose Convention Website blogger, is a “whirling dervish” of rose-growing enthusiasm and knowledge, and he quickly found ways to involve many gardens in the renovation project.

In February 2008, Brad contacted various large rose-growers in the US and Canada, to let them know about the 2009 Convention, and to enlist their support in providing disease-resistant, vigorous roses for the renovation project. Weeks Roses USA jumped in with an offer of 350 plants, 100 of which are a new disease-free landscape shrub rose they are promoting. Jackson and Perkins Roses USA followed suit with 200 plants. Palentine Roses Canada, a small grower which handles many of the Kordes roses, provided 30 plants of a new disease-free shrub roses. Brad’s own Select Roses is also providing 200 roses over a two-year period.

With the enticing offer of free roses in his pocket, Brad again contacted the public rose gardens to offer them his services to:

discuss the current inventory of roses in the gardens and suggest better varieties to replace poor performers or spent specimens;
take delivery of the donated roses from the various growers, sort them and deliver them to the public gardens;
provide the gardeners with planting and handling information for the new roses, and encourage them to replace the old soil before planting the new plants;
regularly keep in touch with the gardeners at the public gardens via phone, email and in-person visits over the course of 2008 and spring 2009.

With this kind of incentive, a number of public gardens in the Vancouver area have enthusiastically joined in the rose garden renovation project:

Queen Elizabeth Park in Vancouver – this park, which has the best rose garden in the area, has a healthy mix of hybrid tea roses, floribundas, shrubs, species, and Canadian-bred hardy roses. There is also a 500’ chain loop fence that has been installed for climbers and ramblers. Brad and the head gardener at Queen Elizabeth Park are collaborating on which donated roses would complement their already good collection.

UBC (University of British Columbia) Rose Garden – this garden, which had already started a renovation project in 2007, was happy to be included in the donated rose program to continue their renewal of the rose garden.

Queens Park in New Westminster – this park has an old, large rose garden of approximately 1,000 plants, and had scheduled a renovation for 2009-10. When they found out about World Rose 2009 and the donated rose program, they moved their renovation plans up to spring 2008, and are now working with Brad in selecting varieties for a total replant of the rose garden.

Burnaby Mountain Rose Garden – this large formal rose garden faces challenges of poor soil and insufficient rose care. Again, their own renovation plans have been boosted by the 2009 Rose Garden Renovation project, and Brad is helping them select better varieties and upgrade their soil.

Stanley Park Rose Garden – the oldest and biggest rose garden in the Vancouver area, arguably with the most challenges. Some of the plant material provided by Brad has been installed in this garden.

VanDusen Garden in Vancouver – This garden is in the beginning stages of a complete garden redevelopment plan and they have included renovation of the rose garden in their plans.

As you can see, the Rose Bed Renovation Projects are underway, and the Organizing Committee hopes that when the Convention and Festival take place in June 2009, the new plantings will be flourishing and in full bloom for all Convention and Festival attendees to enjoy. Over 2008 and 2009, Brad will be keeping in touch with the Vancouver area gardens to maintain their momentum in the renovation projects. Thanks to Brad Jalbert for his dedicated and energetic support of this lasting legacy project.

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Did you know…?

Imagine - A rose with your name on it.

The draw to name a rose by registering and paying for the Rose Convention and booking your accommodation at the Westin Bayshore Hotel by October 15, 2008 is now closed. The contest winner will be announced at the Convention Banquet. Remember, you need to actually stay at the Westin to win! The "Name a Rose" contest is sponsored by breeder Brad Jalbert of Select Roses.