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Belmont Hosts Rose Society Regional Show

With breath-taking landscaping featuring a formal rose garden reminiscent of the 1853 grand Belmont Plantation summer home of Adelicia Acklen, Belmont University is the host site for the TENARKY District Fall Convention and Rose Show on Oct. 5-7.

The TENARKY District of the American Rose Society is comprised of 10 local societies in Tennessee, Eastern Arkansas and Kentucky. Rose garden enthusiasts throughout the region will travel to Nashville with their blossoms in coolers in hopes of  having their roses named “Queen of the Show.” Upon arrival, exhibitors groom their roses and display them in individual vases for the rose show. At least 30 area exhibitors displaying several hundred roses, including hybrid teas, floribundas, minifloras, miniatures, easy-care shrub roses and old garden roses, are expected to compete in the show.

“We are grateful for the warm hospitality that Belmont has given to the TENARKY District Convention and Rose Show,” said TENARKY District Director Sam Jones, of Nashville. “We look forward to an exciting weekend filled with beautiful roses and people who love them. We hope many in the community will come and enjoy the varieties, designs and fragrances, and perhaps begin growing them. Contrary to what people often believe, ‘roses are easy to grow, elegant, and beautiful,’ according to Nashville Rose Society Master Rosarian, Cecil Ward.”

“Belmont University is honored to host this wonderful show.  With the leadership of Judy Fisher, the hard work of our landscaping team, and the help of the Rose Society of Nashville, we have been able to bring Adelicia Acklen’s roses back into bloom. We look forward to sharing this most beautiful and historic setting with rose lovers from Tennessee, Kentucky, and Arkansas,” said Belmont President Bob Fisher.

Portions of the rose convention are free and open to the public:

  • Rose show from 1 to 5 p.m. Oct. 6 in Neely Hall.
  • “Rose-Growing Basics” seminars from 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Oct. 6 and 7 in Massey Business Center.  Master Rose Gardeners Ron Daniels and Cecil Ward are experienced in teaching and inspiring beginners about loving and growing roses in Tennessee.
  • Rose garden tours 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Oct. 7.

Sunday morning garden tours will take participants through Belmont’s formal rose garden, the Nashville Music Garden across from the Country Music Hall of Fame and private rose gardens in the Bellevue and Brentwood areas. Beginning at Belmont’s Massey Business Center lobby, tour participants will caravan by car to the garden locations. For addresses and directions visit for the garden tour, more information on the convention or to register, visit  http://www.tenarky.org.

Also, Belmont Mansion Director Mark Brown will give the keynote address “Belmont Garden and Horticulture Heritage” at the rose show’s awards banquet on the evening of Oct. 6.

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