I still need to label them all, but at least they are posted.

Malcolm

We got a small taste of the event at the reception at the college on Thursday evening. (I wish everyone here could have seen the beautiful flower arrangements in person ... they were stunning!)

Friday's bus tour took us to Rose Petals Nursery and garden, where I finally got to see Cydney and Art's place in person. It's so interesting to see how different roses that I am familiar with up here can look when grown in a milder climate. The Dudley Farm is a place that I WILL return to, because we didn't have nearly enough time to absorb the history of that place. It was a long day, but it was spent in the company of such lovely people ... Pamela, it was a pleasure to spend the day as your seatmate.

We got down to business on Saturday, with presentations. Dr. Morvillo from FSC described DNA and its analysis in language that all of us could understand. The students in NYC who reported on their DNA project were scary smart and sweet as can be. Lunch in the new FSC rose garden designed by Stephen was a great opportunity to get to know some more of the attendees. I had lunch with Gregg Lowery and others, and it was my first time to talk to him for more than, "Hi, it's great to see you."

My presentation was after lunch, and I was a tiny bit apprehensive about the maiden voyage of a program on such an important subject ... but I needn't have been concerned. The program about Hollywood Cemetery went super smoothly, and I was told by lots of people for the rest of the weekend that they enjoyed it and are now a LOT more interested in cemeteries and their history. (I don't get nervous at all about talking to a large audience like that, thank goodness.) The programs wrapped up with a beautiful presentation by Peggy Cornett about Thomas Jefferson and his roses.

Saturday night's buffet dinner and live auction was so much fun!! The food was good (though I still don't know what the one dish was ... it was sort of like antipasti salad.) Stephen Scanniello auction skills and his energy to work the room like he does always brings lots of laughter and lots of $$$ for HRF.

Sunday was more relaxed, with the general HRF meeting, a taste of the new Rosa Mundi given by Gregg Lowery, and an inspiring program by Mike Shoupe on considerations for rose breeding in the future.

And then it was over. Memorable snapshots from the weekend were the time I spent visiting with the lovely rose people from Bermuda, or having dinner chatting and eating Thai food with Tom Carruth and Etienne Bouret, or comparing notes with Stephen Hoy (Singularly Beautiful Roses), or reconnecting with the lovely ladies from Sacramento, and so much more. The whole weekend was a who's who of so many rose people that I admire ... don't pinch me, because I don't want to wake up.

This said, I am so glad to be home. I am motivated and energized to get to work on my own roses. I got a great idea for a new garden while I was at the Dudley Farm. Speaking of roses, I only came home with two new ones ... I still can't believe that I had that kind of restraint.

To all of the GardenWebbers that I met this weekend, it was a pleasure to make your acquaintance in person! I know that we took a couple of group photos, so I hope that they end up posted here for all to see (though I really don't like having my picture taken, I do it so I can be among such a great group.)

I thought I'd post a bit of aftermath. When the conference ended, I drove up to Ocala to visit my brother and to give him some roses. They were very much appreciated, especially by one family member.

Rosefolly

R