1949 – 2024: 75 YEARS OF SHARING ROSES
By John Hefner, Past President

In 2024, the Indianapolis Rose Society is celebrating its seventy-fifth year of providing rose educational meetings, garden tours and rose shows to its membership and citizens residing in central Indiana. The society was organized in 1949 by Dr. & Mrs. E. J. Nugent, Dr. E. H. Jordan and Marguerite Smith. Throughout its history, the society has been the benchmark for societies in the Illinois/Indiana District of the American Rose Society by providing continual rose education and leadership at the local, district and national levels of the American Rose Society.

In its proud seventy-five-year history, the society has experienced numerous events the included hosting two successful American Rose Society National Conventions held in 1979 and 1995 and the American Rose Society National Miniature Conference in 2005. Additionally, the society has served as host to eighteen (18) Illinois/Indiana conventions/rose shows and countless Horticulture and Arrangement Judging as well as Consulting Rosarian Schools and Seminars.

Members of the Indianapolis Rose Society have provided leadership at the district and national levels having six (6) District Directors and one (1) Regional Director of the American Rose Society. Many members have served and are continuing to serve on national committees and have had the honor of serving as chairman of the American Rose Society National Committees.

Members of the Indianapolis Rose Society have willingly shared their vast knowledge of the many aspects of their rose hobby by contributing educational articles for publication in the American Rose Magazine. Our organization has received recognition for publication excellence by receiving the American Rose Society Gold Medal for its newsletter, The Rosarian and the Award of Merit for the Indianapolis Rose Society’s publication Successful Rose Growing in Indiana.

Throughout its history, members have been responsible for adding twelve (12) new rose varieties to the rose world for their growing enjoyment. Rose introductions have been named for society members as well as family members. Two rose introductions have received the American Rose Society Award of Excellence Award. Individual success has been achieved by exhibiting roses at national conventions, having won six (6) National Queens of Show, three (3) National Miniature Queens of Show and one (1) National Mini Flora Queen. Members have also won Challenge Classes in both Horticulture and Arrangement classes at district and national shows.

The continual focus of the Indianapolis Rose Society has been the sharing of its members knowledge, expertise, and experiences to further promote rose growing. The membership continually participates in local garden show events, the latest of which is Rosefest. Rosefest features a rose garden created at the Hamilton County 4-H Fairgrounds by master gardeners who are also rose society members. The Rosefest event features nationally recognized speakers and local members sharing information to further promote rose growing. Rose Society members have had the distinct honor to present programs at American Rose Society district, regional as well as national events.

In its long 75 years history, the Indianapolis Rose Society is extremely proud of their many accomplishments of its membership. The focus has always been on educating and inspiring many facets of the Rose.

Congratulations are extended to members of the Indianapolis Rose Society for their loyalty and never-ending support as well as their desire to educate others regarding our National Floral emblem – the ROSE.