The lady’s love is showing

It’s not often that someone can be a witness to art. Well, perhaps it happens more than I think but not to me. Today it did. Today marvelous stuff happened right before my eyes. I was a witness to creativity and grace. Said another way, creative grace. I watched Carolyn Parker transform ‘floral material’ into serene works of art. I watched as her creative mind worked gently and effortlessly to reveal her heart for roses. She shared some mechanics of flower arranging, but more importantly, she shared her gift with confidence in our gifts, living out her belief that her purpose is to infuse us with the confidence and passion to create our own art – with roses. I will always be grateful that I was a witness to her gift. She has changed my life.

Buckets of flowers were harvested from Carol Green's vast garden for Carolyn to use.

Containers to fill up with charming roses.

Carolyn used the little dish in the center of the top row for all sorts of single-petaled roses of which she is particularly fond and various buds that she described as surprises for the recipient of such a bouquet..

This was Carolyn's first trip to Florida and her delight for roses that were new to her just bubbled over.

She bubbled especially over Griffith Buck roses that are in abundance In Carol's garden. This is 'Distant Drums'.

The vase is a prized possession of Cydney Wade. Carolyn thought this lovely glass piece would be perfect for the unique colors of 'Distant Drums'.

And it seems I could not stop clicking the shutter, especially after trying the 'P' setting on my camera. Voila! Creativity was already happening.

Carolyn was thrilled with more of Griffith Buck's roses.

And the 'P' setting has suddenly made reds available to me. I wish I could tell you what it does. Being a techno-ditz when it comes to cameras, I'm just ecstatic that I stumbled onto it.

Oh, my, I share Carolyn's enthusiasm for these roses that are so beautiful and so healthy (mostly) in Florida.

I feel like I must say that it was the camera that was doing this. I was just holding it up in the air, and I'm just beside myself with joy. Life changing? Absolutely! About ten minutes after Carolyn stopped talking.

Carolyn was quite taken with 'Belinda's Dream'.

She's a healthy and extremely floriferous rose in the south and especially Florida.

Carolyn believes in quantity when it comes to roses in vases. Of course, we agree with her, don't we?

Carolyn is a lover of Old Garden Roses, and listening to her recite the beautiful attributes of these Tea roses made me swell with pride as though my own under-appreciated child were finally receiving the recognition she deserved.

It's hard to convey to you how I felt while she was making this arrangement. Carolyn's tender touch with these delicate roses filled me with nothing short of joy. She even extolled the Tea rose's leaves. They really are beautiful.

And though this particular vase with its wide opening proved itself to be a challenge, Carolyn deftly worked her way through to an exceptional finish.

David Austin roses in another challenging vase. Carolyn assured us that we could stop at almost any point in this arrangement, and it would be fine from minimalist to abundant flower quantities. 

David Austin is becoming a more prominent partner in my garden. I hope I do him justice.

Can seven flower arrangements really change a life? My mind and my heart are racing, so I think they can. I think they have set me on an unexpected path. I think they have inspired me on so many levels and in so many directions to dream bigger and to step out more confidently yet more tenderly toward my art. Life-changing is what teachers do. Carolyn Parker is a graceful and refined artist and teacher who had my number today.




My special thanks go to Carol Green for making her longtime inspiration a reality in my life and in the lives of the Marion County Rose Society members who attended. We are all beneficiaries of her drive and passion to bring Carolyn Parker to Ocala for us. Thank you to all of the officers and members who worked so hard on the 2012 Festival of Roses. May we stay inspired and be inspiring to others.

We have some winners!

The Festival of Roses today was a lovely success, and without further delay here are the roses!!

Ed and Barbara Bull – Most Fragrant Bouquet or Arrangement for ‘Double Delight’

Most Beautiful Bloom went to John Botlensek for ‘Perfume Delight’. John and his wife live in Jacksonville and became new members of MCRS today. In view of our conversation at the lunch table today I’m sure Mrs. Botlensek understands why I have no clue what her first name is. Thankfully, their name tags will be ready for the next meeting.

Linda Rengarts took the Most Beautiful Spray prize with ‘Lyda Rose’.

John Botlensek also took the prize for Most Fragrant Bloom with ‘Fragrant Cloud’. Welcome!!

Ed and Barbara Bull won again, too. Most Creative Rose Display with ‘St. Patrick’

Most Beautiful Flouting Display went to Nancy Stout for ‘Fame’.

And Carolyn Parker’s choice for Best in Show was Bud Stout’s ‘Double Knock Out’ in the bikini vase.

Congratulations to the happy winners and big thank yous to the voting public. It just shows that democracy works with roses, too.

Now on with the rest of the show with my apologies to most of the red roses. Apparently, there is a secret to getting red right that no one is telling me, so rather than present ‘Don Juan’ and ‘Kanegem’ badly, I chose to leave them out along with many other stunning reds. Darn! (All photos are clickable for a larger view.)




        

 



           

      
      
        

My proudest contribution to the Festival was my dear 'Madame Abel Chatenay'. Would you like to know the difference between early Hybrid Teas and the modern versions? Take a look at the photo below. My demure Victorian lady stands among giants.

     
     

     

'Anne-Ayemone Giscard d'Estaing' was my personal favorite. A definite winner that can live in my garden anytime, assuming she doesn’t need spraying. I’d appreciate no one telling me what I don’t want to hear.

Just yummy!!

My choice for second best in show. I had no idea this rose is so beautiful.

     

There was an abundant supply of roses for sale, and considering I have no place to plant them, I brought home more than my share. Perhaps that explains the look on DH’s face.



         

'The McCartney Rose' is still a favorite from last year.

We’ll just have to recruit more OGR lovers so we can make up for size with quantity!

    
         
    
         
          
       


  
     

Mm-mm, I really do love this one.

 
     
    
   
   
Don’t you think there should have been an award for Teensiest of Show. ‘Serratipetala’ would have won!


   

'Sweet Juliet' really is sweet.

 
I knew ‘Belinda’s Dream’ is gorgeous, but ‘Hawkeye Belle’ was a surprise and left me weak in the knees.

So we’ve gone from the winners’ table to tomorrow’s lunch table. The centerpieces should do wonders for our appetites.



Carolyn Parker’s presentation today was a delight. If you weren’t there, you really missed a good one. We all sat with jaws slightly hung open and eyes glistening like kids in front of a candy store window. We must have been a funny sight from Carolyn’s point of view. Rosarians are such an easy audience!