Author: Medley Webmaster

Press Release – The Nashville Rose Society to Host “Medley of Roses”

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
We are reaching out regarding Medley of Roses, taking place on October 2 – 5, 2026, at the Sheraton Music City Nashville Airport Hotel, Nashville, Tennessee.

Lisa Sutton, daughter of the late Grammy Award-winning country singer Lynn Anderson (“I Never Promised You a Rose Garden”) is the entertainment director for the Nashville Rose Society, bringing the Medley of Roses – ARS National Convention & Rose Show to Nashville.

We would love to know your interest in an interview or featuring the event with Lisa Sutton to chat all things Medley of Roses and the Nashville-centric music and rose legacy of Lynn Anderson for Gardening Inside Out.

The American Rose Society National Convention travels to a different city each year, and in 2026, Nashville will host the nation’s most prestigious rose competition. For flower lovers, this event is absolute eye candy for those who love to adore florals up close. Nashville adds its own signature flair with rhinestones, cowboy boots, and country music. Rose growers from as far away as California, Canada, Maine, and Florida will expertly transport their blooms by plane, train, and automobile in hopes of capturing a national title. Over the course of the competition, thousands of cut roses will be judged in classes of miniature, floribundas, most fragrant, and old garden, to name a few. The grand ballroom will be bursting with 1st, 2nd & 3rd place ribbons and the Court.

Competitors ultimately hope their rose will be chosen for the Royal Courts- Queens, Kings, and Princesses. And Gold Medal certificates!

Country music queen Lynn Anderson was approached by Rose hybridizer Joseph Winchell to create a namesake flower. The American Rose Society officially christened the flower, ’The Lynn Anderson Hybrid Tea Rose’ in 1995. The Lynn Anderson was one of the world’s most heralded and celebrated roses in history, winning bouquets of accolades and earning the Rose Society’s ‘Queen of Show’ honor less than a year after its debut. And then, time intervened… roads led elsewhere. Lives changed. And The Lynn Anderson Rose all but disappeared.

Following the death of her mother, Lisa made it her mission to revive the champion bloom. Her efforts culminated in the creation of The Lynn Anderson Rose Garden in Nashville in 2018. Today the garden houses the world’s largest collection of Lynn Anderson roses and stands as a living tribute to the singer’s legacy.

As Lisa states, “The rose world is like show business,” she recalled recently. “One day you’re on top, the next day you’re playing motel lounges. You’ve got to keep yourself out there, and reinvent yourself every so often or the new kid on the block or, in this case, the new rose-is who everybody starts talking about. As much as Mom loved her rose, keeping herself out there and reinventing her own career occupied her time, and new roses come on to the market.”

We hope you can join us on Saturday, October 3, 1:00 – 4:00pm, or on Sunday, October 4, 9:00am-1:00pm, to enjoy the roses chat with Lisa Sutton and meet the folks that make this event so special!

The Medley of Roses – ARS National Convention & Rose Show full event info: here. For a pdf of this press release, click here.

We look forward to connecting with you!

Silent Auction! Handmade rose bracelet and lapel pen

We are thrilled to share this exquisite rose bracelet and matching lapel pin, donated by Lynda Fleming — Trustee of the ARS Rose Research Trust, Past President of the Gateway Rose Society, and member of the Greater Milwaukee Rose Society.

The inspiration behind this beautiful set comes from Lynda’s own interpretation of the work of Cary Bruner, “Clover Fields,” and Sandy Bachand, “Rose Petal Posy.” The result is a truly unique piece created especially with rose enthusiasts in mind.

The bracelet and pin feature approximately 88 Swarovski crystals, including bicones, round crystals, and margarita crystals. The petals, brick beads, seed beads, and crystal pearls are from Czechoslovakia, while the box clasp is crafted from sterling silver.

The presentation is just as lovely! Lynda has included a decorative jewelry box with an anti-tarnish tab beneath the black square paper. Under the lid, you’ll also find an anti-tarnish zip-top bag, which the buyer can use for additional storage if preferred.

This is more than jewelry — it is a handcrafted celebration of roses, artistry, and the creativity of a fellow rose lover.

Be sure to keep an eye out for this special treasure in the Medley of Roses Silent Auction – Item #40!

It is Shopping Time!

We have many exciting items up for grabs in the Silent Auction during the Medley of Roses – 2026 ARS National Convention & Rose Show!

The Silent Auction will be open Friday, October 2, through Saturday, October 3, 2026. Bidding will close promptly at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, with checkout beginning at 4:00 p.m. Payment may be made with credit card, check or cash (exact change, please).

Start Shopping!

Click here for the list of auction items and make a note of the item numbers for anything that catches your eye. You’ll be ready to bid when the auction opens!

We are incredibly grateful to all of our generous donors who have provided an exciting selection of rose- and garden-related items for you to enjoy.

Happy bidding—and may the best rose lover win!

“I Never Promised you a Rose Garden” Friday Welcome Reception

You won’t want to miss the Friday evening reception at the Medley of Roses – ARS National Convention & Rose Show! The reception theme, “I Never Promised You a Rose Garden,” may sound familiar. It comes from Lynn Anderson’s legendary 1970 hit song, “Rose Garden.” The song earned Lynn a Grammy Award for Best Country Vocal Performance in 1971 and went gold.

This very special evening will be hosted by Lisa Sutton and Melissa Hempel, Lynn Anderson’s daughters, who will share a glimpse into their mother’s remarkable life and legacy.

The reception will begin at 4:30pm. Enjoy a drink (cash bar), appetizers, and time to mingle with fellow rose enthusiasts as the evening gets underway.

At 4:45pm we will have the Convention Kick-Off with welcomes from our Janie and Liz, our Convention Co-chairs, announcements, and important information about Friday night’s special outing to the Grand Ole Opry Birthday Weekend, featuring the Oak Ridge Boys and Ricky Skaggs.

From 5:00–6:00pm we will enjoy an hour of live musical entertainment by Karen Walrup.

Before heading out at 6:30pm for the evening, take advantage of this final half-hour to visit, linger, and get your picture with Karen and, of course, Maverick!

Come celebrate an unforgettable evening where roses, music, horses, memories, and Nashville come together. You may not have been promised a rose garden — but we think you’ll find that the Medley of Roses Friday reception comes pretty close! For more information, click here.

If you have not included the Reception on your registration, but would like to attend, send an email to diane@medleyofroses.org.

Explore Our Convention Vendors

Be sure to take time to browse the vendor tables and discover something special. You’ll find a wonderful variety of offerings, including rose vendors, garden supplies, painting, sculpture and ceramic artists, jewelry, soil enrichment products, and even a Rose Doctor Clinic.

With so many unique vendors to explore, there’s sure to be something that catches your eye—and perhaps something new to take home for your garden!

Our vendors include:

(Vendors subject to change.)

Live Auction! Taylor Wiedmann original painting featuring roses

Taylor Wiedemann is a Nashville-based still life painter whose floral paintings have been exhibited nationally. Taylor is donating a framed, original still life painting featuring roses grown right here in Nashville. The finished painting will be unveiled at the auction, but below are some examples of Taylor’s floral work to offer a glimpse of her distinctive style.

Taylor has exhibited at Dacia Gallery, the Salmagundi Club, the Loveland Museum of Art and Culture, The Custom House Museum, and Arts Center East, and many other art venues across the country. She is a Signature Member of American Women Artists, a Full Juried Member of the Catharine Lorillard Wolfe Art Club, and a member of the International Guild of Realism.

Visit www.taylorwiedemann.com to see more of Taylor’s work.

Kimberley Dean – “A New Tool to Help You Maintain Your Rose Garden”

Do you dream of an organized inventory of your roses? Notes in one place? Rose photos in labeled albums? Finding roses online with discounts at your fingertips?

In short, do you just want to click, snap, and be done?

Kimberley Dean, ARS Consulting Rosarian and Master Gardener, St. Mary’s County, University of MD, has been growing roses for over 30 years now. She grows 1600 roses in Maryland zone 8. You may know Kim as The Rose Geek on social media. Kimberley will be speaking on Sunday afternoon at 1:30pm. Unfortunately, due to circumstances, Robin Jennings will not be able to join us.

This presentation shares a new tool, My Rose Tracker, designed to help you maintain your garden like a “Rose Geek.”

Kimberley Dean is a passionate consulting rosarian with more than 1,100 roses in her extensive garden. She is known for sharing garden tours, spotlights, and vendor unboxing videos through her YouTube channel, The Rose Geek, giving viewers the opportunity to discover new varieties and see roses growing in a real-world garden setting.

Like many rose gardeners, Kimberley found herself using multiple places to keep track of her roses, notes, photos, and wish lists. She also wanted an easier way to find where roses were available to buy. That led her to create My Rose Tracker, bringing these resources together in one place. The website allows gardeners to build a personal rose inventory, explore a comprehensive Rose Library, map their garden, compare varieties, maintain wish lists, record notes and observations, organize rose photo albums, and connect with participating nurseries offering roses and exclusive discounts.

Kimberley is passionate about helping gardeners move beyond simply growing roses to building a more organized relationship with their gardens. Her presentation will showcase My Rose Tracker and show how an organized garden is possible!

Did you miss it? Understanding the Medley of Roses Show Schedule

Mary Ann Hext, ARS Master Rosarian, member of the Bowling Green Rose Society, Nashville Rose Society, and Rose Show Judge, led a Zoom meeting focused on preparing exhibitors for the upcoming Medley of Roses – 2026 ARS Rose Show which includes the Nashville Rose Show and the Tenarky District Rose Show.

Mary Ann explained the show schedule, the different divisions (Horticulture, Arrangements, and Photography), and the rules for each, emphasizing that all blooms must be exhibitor-grown outdoors. She detailed the various classes within each division, including challenge classes, open classes, and novice classes, and provided visual examples to help attendees understand what to expect. She encouraged new exhibitors to participate, even with just a few roses, and offered to answer questions via email at mhext@outlook.com. This is an excellent opportunity for the members of the Nashville Rose Society and the Tenarky District to attend a national ARS rose show and convention within driving distance of their home town.

The presentation covered how to select and prepare roses for entry, the importance of correct naming, and tips for successful exhibiting.

Click here to see Mary Ann’s presentation. Please note that you will be required to register before the video is played.

Click here for a copy of the Rose Show Schedule (2026 02 27).

Enjoy! Please plan to come and exhibit at the Medley of Roses – 2026 ARS Rose Show.

Silent Auction! Boot Scoot in a new pair of Dan Post Boots

Everyone needs a new pair of boots to Boot Scoot in Nashville.

We will be auctioning off not one, but two pairs of boots – winners choice, women’s
or men’s – provided by Dan Post Boot Company. Any boot (excluding exotic styles) is available. You will receive a voucher to use on their website. The boots are Items 18 & 19 in the Silent Auction.

Take the Nashville Rose Society Bus Tour to Broadway and shop at several cowboy boot shops within a short walk from the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. Dan Post has retail stores nation wide. (The voucher must be used on the website.)

Once you have determined your style and size, go to DanPostBoots.com to order.

New Vendor – Come to The Rose Doctor’s Clinic

The Rose Doctor’s Clinic is an Extension and Outreach booth where we will answer questions about rose rosette disease and other common rose diseases. We will have printed copies of our publications on rose rosette disease available for visitors.

Participants are welcome to bring diseased photos or plant samples to discuss with your “Rose Doctor”, Dr. Nar Ranabhat, Assistant Professor and Extension Plant Pathologist, University of Tennessee. Stop by to share your experiences, including strengths, challenges, opportunities and threats facing your rose garden or the rose industry with Dr. Ranabhat.

And it is FREE!!