The Greater Milwaukee Rose Society members enjoy many programs and events throughout the year. Rose Shows are one of those activities. Not able to feature our State Fair Rose Show in 2020 – we decided to go Virtual!! Enjoy viewing the Best of the Show and all of the wonderful entries.

If you would like to learn more about growing these fantastic roses, enjoying programs on rose gardening and participating in our rose shows, consider joining the Greater Milwaukee Rose Society!

Hybrid Tea roses are well known for their tall upright growth habit with a single, large well formed bloom. Grandiflora’s typically have a similar growth habit to Hybrid Teas with the exception of most often displaying a spray of blooms in place of a single flower.

Floribunda Roses were developed by crossing Hybrid Teas with Polyantha Roses. They are generally shorter in height than a hybrid tea and often display large sprays of colorful blooms.

Class 1: Hybrid Tea or Grandiflora

Queen: Moonstone – exhibited by Jim and Kaye Wessbecher

When judging a hybrid tea rose, the judges are looking for a tight center with unfurling petals. The entry should have a stem of proportionate height and display healthy leaves.

Class 3: Fully open Hybrid Tea, Grandiflora or Floribunda

Queen: Miss Congeniality, exhibited by Don Bechtle

Class 4: Hybrid Tea or Grandiflora Spray

Queen: Wild Blue Yonder, exhibited by Larry Heebsh

Class2: One bloom per Stem Floribunda. Queen is Chihuly, displayed by Larry Heebsh

Class 6: Floribunda Spray

Queen: Radox Bouquet, exhibited by Joe and Carrie Bergs

Polyantha Roses are generally shorter than floribundas, with many small blooms in clusters. The Polyantha is one of the parents of floribunda roses.

Climbing Roses are used to bring height to the garden. They are typically used on house walls or trellises, but can also be grown on pillars, obelisks or arches.

Class 7: Polyantha single bloom or spray; Queen: Wing Ding, exhibited by Ruth Rutkowski

Class 8: Climber, spray or single bloom; Queen: Lady in Red, exhibited by Joe and Carrie Bergs

Shrub Roses include a wide variety of roses, including the very oldest forms of roses, referred to as “Old Garden Roses” to the new and hardy varieties that are in many forms, including the hardy Explorer series of roses and David Austin roses. They are available in many sizes with a variety of growth habits. Shrub roses tend to be hardier than other varieties and therefore do well in the Greater Milwaukee area zone 5 climate.

Class 9: Any Shrub, single bloom or spray; Queen: Champlain, exhibited by Diane Sommers

Class 10: Any Old Garden Rose; Queen: Sidonie, exhibited by Joe and Carrie Bergs

Miniature and Miniflora roses are smaller version of large roses. While both classes of roses are generally 1 – 3 ft tall, the leaves and blooms of Miniflora roses are larger than that of miniatures. These rose varieties have a variety of form and color, and due to their smaller size are well suited in the landscape. They also repeat bloom faster.

Class 12: Miniature, one bloom per stem; Queen: Rainbow’s End, exhibited by Larry Heebsh

Class 14: Miniflora, one bloom per stem; Queen: Princess Katelyn, exhibited by Lynda & Ken Fleming

Class 13: Miniature Spray; Queen: Renegade, exhibited by Lynda & Ken Fleming

Class 15: Miniflora Spray; Queen: Bold Ruler, exhibited by Joe and Carrie Bergs

Class16: Miniature or Miniflora single (5-8 petals); Queen: Violet Hour, exhibited by Diane Sommers

Class 11: An Entry from any new GMRS member and/or novice (any cultivar from any class). Queen: Olympiad, entered by Donald Bechtle

In addition to Horticulture Entries, rose shows often have a number of “Challenge Classes”, that provide the exhibitor an opportunity to display their roses in a different format. Our rose show included three challenges, including Rose in a Bowl, Rose in a Picture Frame, and Hi-Lo Challenge (two varieties, one large, one miniature or mini flora, similar in appearance). Challenge classes add a little extra interest in our show.

Class 17: Rose in a Bowl; Queen: Sunny Sundays, exhibited by Jim and Kaye Wessbecher

Class 18: Rose in a Picture Frame; Queen: White Licorice, exhibited by Joe and Carrie Bergs

Class 19: Hi-Lo Challenge; Queen: Moonstone & Joy, exhibited by Jim and Kaye Wessbecher

Flower Designs are an additional way to enjoy ones roses. In a typical rose show, there is a theme around which various types of design are created. While the designs can feature a variety of floral material, the rose must be the dominate flower in the arrangement.

Traditional Designs: Traditional Designs stress smooth transitions, harmonious relationships, with similarities. Forms progress logically in size and shape. Traditional design categories include, line, line-mass and mass designs.

Designs in the Oriental Manner: Arrangements in the Oriental Manner show an appreciation of nature. A majority of Oriental arrangements are based upon the asymmetrical triangle.

Modern Designs: Modern Designs take a fresh approach and typify todays world with quick movement and spatial involvement that is interpreted in roses and other plant materials. The key to these designs is simplicity with emphasis on color, form, texture and space.

Class 20: Standard Roses, Traditional Line; Queen: Queen of Elegance; created by Margaret Anderson

Class 21: Standard Roses, Oriental Design; Queen: Never Alone, created by Margaret Anderson

Class 22: Standard Roses, Modern Design; Queen: Gift of Love, created by Andy Plasz

Class 23: Mini/Miniflora Traditional Mass; Queen: Cupcake, created by Margaret Anderson

Class 24: Mini/Minflora Oriental Design; Queen: Abby’s Angel, created by Andy Plasz

Class 25: Mini/Miniflora Modern Design; Queen: Magic Show, created by Diane Sommers

Class 26: A Picture of Your Rose Garden: Queen: Joe and Carrie Bergs garden

Participants of the 2021 American Rose Society National Convention will have an opportunity to visit this lovely garden! The convention is scheduled for September 10 – 14th in Milwaukee, WI. See our Home Page for details.