History and Purpose
Founded in 1973 as The Evergreen Rose Society by Edith Schurr, our club reflected a newly-emerging desire to study and grow Old Garden Roses (OGRs), also known as heirloom, heritage, or antique roses. Other rose lovers of the 20th and 21st centuries were smitten with the bright and saturated colors, large, high-centered blooms of hybrid teas and floribundas, but The Evergreen Rose Society, affiliated with the American Rose Society, was composed of members who wanted something more: a sense of history before the modern roses, a desire to share the beauty and diversity of all rose classes, and a commitment to preserving those early roses as they were dropped from commerce. Schurr, a retired schoolteacher, had written for years about these beauties and the need to save them. In 1974, she joined with Lily Shohan, Brian Cato, and Miriam Wilkins to form The Heritage Roses Groups, based in California's North Bay, and loosely organized with societies of like mind and interest across the country. Evergreen Rose Society changed its name to Heritage Roses Northwest, and dropped its affiliation with ARS.
In the years since, HRNW has held quarterly meetings and provided a quarterly newsletter; it has taught classes and workshops; sponsored an annual Heritage Rose Festival in conjunction with The Antique Rose Farm of Snohomish; developed publications related to rose care; offered speakers to garden clubs and others; planted OGR gardens at historic sites; joined with Sacramento City Cemetery's Heritage Rose Garden to preserve Found roses from the Gold Rush era; and encouraged members to specialize in growing classes or categories of heritage roses that need a hero in order to survive the vagaries of commerce and taste. In addition, the Club offers rare roses for sale and tours of members' private gardens, including some that are world-famous.
Membership has remained at a very manageable $5 per calendar year so that everyone may participate in activities. Drop us a note to join our group and share our passion for the roses! President Margaret Nelson and all members of the club welcome you.
In the years since, HRNW has held quarterly meetings and provided a quarterly newsletter; it has taught classes and workshops; sponsored an annual Heritage Rose Festival in conjunction with The Antique Rose Farm of Snohomish; developed publications related to rose care; offered speakers to garden clubs and others; planted OGR gardens at historic sites; joined with Sacramento City Cemetery's Heritage Rose Garden to preserve Found roses from the Gold Rush era; and encouraged members to specialize in growing classes or categories of heritage roses that need a hero in order to survive the vagaries of commerce and taste. In addition, the Club offers rare roses for sale and tours of members' private gardens, including some that are world-famous.
Membership has remained at a very manageable $5 per calendar year so that everyone may participate in activities. Drop us a note to join our group and share our passion for the roses! President Margaret Nelson and all members of the club welcome you.
