Omaha Rose Society

The Omaha Rose Society was founded in 1955, and is an active member of the American Rose Society . They are a local group dedicated toward growing great roses. During the summer months, they frequently tour members' gardens to offer assistance, advice, and to celebrate the glory of roses.

During the next three years, Omaha Rose Society will be working with the National EarthKind(TM) Rose Team from Texas A&M, University of Minnesota and the University of Nebraska.

The following gardens have used (all or in part) this revolutionary planting methodology:

Haworth Park contains the largest EarthKind(TM) Test site outside of Texas. The park had been flooded again in early 2008. In general many diseases were introduced by the flood waters. In general most plants were affected and showed defoliation-- 'April Moon' and 'Prairie Harvest' seemingly had the flood waters introduce that tendency. The flood meant the May 31st until August 15th the parks personnel, ORS (Gabrielle Green and Mike Eckley) along with a crew of Master Gardeners were involved in the cleanup for a total of 537.5 hours.News Article about flood. Special thanks to Shopko $500 dollar donation, Westlake Hardware plants, Erwin's Jewelry for publication, and a $5,000 donation from an anonymous master gardener. David Zlesak PhD Researcher for the Northern EarthKind(TM) roses. see Springer link. Nursery Management and Production click on May 2008 page 12 - 14 for article. For further reading pleasure see American Rose Magazine: Sept/Oct 2008, pp. 42 -45.

Joslyn Castle is the site of an EarthKind(TM) display garden that has 120 roses plus other perennials planted in the EarthKind(TM)manner. The display bed was planted in the Spring of 2007. The largest Official EarthKind(TM) Display Bed in the Midwest. The Joslyn plantings have demonstrated such success that the planting methodology has been used in many Joslyn Castle beds. EarthKind(TM) landscaping lends itself to several of the features of the "Picturesque" and "Prairie Style" - which were the historic planting of the Nationally Registered historic home. A mixed bed of perennials and roses should be a present & future idea of the historic home.



Lauritzen Gardens has an EarthKind(TM) test bed of 5 rose cultivars replicated 3 times. They were planted in the Spring of 2007. Beside the test roses, the rose garden has around 1800 roses. See Newsletter on Lauritzen website Winter 2008 for EarthKind(TM) article.
Memorial Park 57th and Underwood, is the site of an Omaha Rose Society Test Garden containing 98 Easy Elegance Roses planted in the EarthKind(TM)manner. Other beds contain All American Rose Selection. The beds were planted in the fall of 2007. In the summer of 2008, 150 roses were planted by the flagpole. The roses were planted late July! Plant loss was minimal. The roses by the flagpole were all blooming in late October 2008. The Omaha Rose Society test gardens are maintained by ORS. The ORS test gardens are adjacent to the large cement planter(future statue) to the north of the main garden. The ORS donations:roses 248; 80 volunteer hours; signage $98.00; plant value $2,690.00. ORS will be planting easy hybrid teas in Spring of 2009. The city of Omaha and ORS invite the Dundee/Memorial Park community to help with the upkeep of this garden. Please contact ORS President Anita Eckley at 291-9651 and leave message if interested.



Betty Ford Rose Garden is an EarthKind(TM) display bed that has 88 roses. It was planted in the summer of 2007.
Hospice House Demo Garden, 7415 Cedar Street, Omaha Dr. Steve George - National Director EarthKind(TM); Gary Wylie - National EarthKind(TM) Park Director; Crew Director: Georgene Duke. (Master Gardener) Hospice House just obtained a large grant for their rain garden. 27 Roses that moved from the floods and lack of garden certification by Bellevue Parks - Spring of 2008. ORS gift to Hospice from Star Nursery.





Pre-test Test garden --- watch the web for more information.
Disclaimer: While the advice and information contained in this web page is believed to be true and correct, neither the authors nor committee members can accept any legal responsibility for any errors or omissions that may have been made. The Omaha Rose Society makes no warranty, expressed or implied with respect to the material contained herein.

Web Master:Bill Seretta
Last Updated:21 Nov 2008