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Everything’s coming up roses tomorrow, a day ahead of Mother’s Day, as rose enthusiasts gather at the Pleasanton Senior Center to share their prize blooms.
And it all starts with exhibitor registration from 8-10 a.m., judging from 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. and the show open to the public from 2-5 p.m. The awards ceremony is scheduled for 2:30 p.m.
It’s the 73rd annual Pleasanton Rose Show, known as “the people’s show” because anyone can bring roses from their home garden to enter.
For many years, Pleasanton rose-growers have brought the best from their gardens to a community rose show to be enjoyed by others and to be judged against their petaled peers. It all started in the 1930s when banker Harry Harding gave his customers rose bushes in appreciation for their business. Continuing the reciprocation, the customers would bring back blooms in the springtime for him.
The beauty and fragrance that spread throughout the bank inspired Harding to start the Pleasanton Rose Show so everyone could share the loveliness. The show eventually outgrew the bank and moved to other venues including the Century House on Santa Rita. In 2011, it was held at the library, then last year it moved to the Senior Center.
Somewhere along the line, the roses began to be judged.
The show wasn’t held for a few years until a trio of women, who call themselves the Rosettes, decided to bring it back seven years ago. The women, Leslie Faught, Marti Gilbert and Joyce Jones, are Alain Pinel Realtors, which sponsors the show. The city of Pleasanton has also joined in.
“When we first started out about we probably had about 400 people come through the Century House, and at the library we’ve actually had up to 2,000 people come through, over 400 entries,” said Jones in an interview on Tri-Valley Community Television last year.
Because of the growth, the event moved to the Senior Center last year. Also the city became a sponsor, which allowed the Rose Show to add even more features, Gilbert said.
The schedule for Saturday is as follows:
* Exhibitor registration: 8-10 a.m.
* Judging: 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
* Show opens: 2-5 p.m.
* Awards ceremony: 2:30 p.m.
This year’s Rose Show will again include wine tasting for $5 featuring Little Valley Winery of Pleasanton.
A rose is a rose
What: 73rd annual Pleasanton Rose Show
When: 2-5 p.m., Saturday, May 11
Where: Pleasanton Senior Center, 5353 Sunol Blvd.
Cost: Free and open to the public
Pleasanton Weekly staff.
Pleasanton Weekly staff.
