This beautiful gown was worn by last year's Tyler Rose Festival Queen
and is included in the Rose Museum.

 

Tyler Rose Festival Scheduled for October

 

by: Bobby McDonald

 

 

Like most other communities in East Texas, Tyler celebrated the cotton industry, that was a large part of their agricultural heritage, until 1933, when a group of ladies in the Tyler Garden Club convinced chamber of commerce manager, Russell Rhodes to hold and annual Texas Rose Festival, to promote the local industry. And, you might say "the rest is history." Now, Tyler celebrates the autumn Rose season in grand style, each October, with an abundance of activities, "fan fare," queens, ceremonies, workshops, and pays tribute to the multi-million dollar industry that makes Tyler known throughout the world as the Rose Capital.

With a rich, rich heritage in the rose industry, it is only natural that the Nation's largest Municipal Rose Garden and Museum, is located in Tyler, Texas, near the East Texas Fairgrounds, on Front Street, and near Rose Stadium. One of Tyler's favorite and most beautiful attractions is the Tyler Rose Museum, which entertains thousands of guests from all across the nation, and the world. The museum allows the visitor view the story that chronicled the rose in the Smith County and Northeast Texas region. Unique displays of Rose Festival activities, field cultivation and growth of the rose, the processing and shipping of roses all over the world, and the people that have been instrumental in the development of the industry, are all included in the museum. Admission is $3.50 for adults, and $2.50 for children 3-11 years of age.

 

 

    

 

The museum shows the excitement of the annual Rose Festival and includes 7,500 square feet of displays devoted to the Tyler area and the impact that the rose has had on this city. Theater presentations and videos are included for you to view, as well as supporting displays of The Tyler Apache Belles and other organizations that have been a vital part of the development of the industry. It's certainly an interesting tour of an industry, that is located within easy driving distance of Hopkins County, and offers a great way to spend an afternoon. The museum is open year-round.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And, once you've toured the museum, the Municipal Rose Garden is a "must see," located adjacent to the museum. The Rose Garden opened in 1942 and has brought Tyler critical acclaim, around the world, as it addresses the needs of the local home gardener and the commercial horticulturist. It serves as a display garden and a trial garden for the industry, where a number of test areas for new rose varieties are established.

 

 

 

 

 

      

 

Tyler's All American Rose Selection (AARS) trial garden is one of only 24 throughout the U.S. and roses in the ARRS trial garden are evaluated over a two-year period, must be varieties that have not been previously introduced in the U.S., and must pass a test and become patented to be included in the ARRS selection for rose gardeners.

 

 

 

 

 

Each of the trial roses are tested for vigor, flowering characteristics, and disease resistance. Following the two year testing period, the best of the group are recommended to the public, as superior new rose introductions. The research has attracted rosarians from all around the world to Tyler.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Throughout the Tyler Rose Garden are these beautiful new varieties that are constantly becoming available, and can be seen in their natural setting.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dates to remember for this year's Tyler Rose Festival include:

October 8-21, 9:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. daily, is the Rose Festival Gown Exhibit at the Rose Garden Center & Museum.

Rose Nursery Tours are available on October 12, 13, 19, 20, 26, and 27th. Every hour from 9:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m., daily.

"How Roses From Around the World Came to Tyler," 3:00 p.m., October 19th, at the Rose Garden Center.

Rose Festival Afternoon Tea & Tour, October 16-19th, 2:00 p.m. Daily at Roseland Plantaion-Hambrick House.

October 19th, Rose Queen Coronation, 2:00 p.m. Matinee, and 7:00 p.m. Production, This year's 2012 Theme is "Indochine...Year of the Dragon."

Saturday, October 20th, Tyler Rose Festival Parade, begins at 9:00 a.m.

For other Rose Festival Activities you may call the Tyler Chamber of Commerce or the Rose Garden Center.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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