Socially-Distanced Queen’s Coronation a First for Rose Festival

Socially-Distanced Queen’s Coronation a First for Rose Festival

by | Aug 8, 2020 | Events, Features, News, nonprofit

Portland, OR. Lincoln High school senior Anya Anand was elected 2020 Queen of Rosaria on July 30th, Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, a special, socially-distanced Queen’s Coronation was held at the Queen’s Walk in the International Rose Test Garden at Washington Park. 

Traditionally, the Queen’s Coronation is an event that gathers a large ensemble of community volunteers who determine the year’s Queen; however, under this year’s unique circumstances, in the interest of keeping the event small, the Rose Festival had the Rose Princess’s vote to elect one of their peers to the Queendom—making it the just second time in the Rose Festival’s 112-year history that the Court elected their own Queen.

Asked what it was like to be the first Queen elected by the court since 1930, Anand said, “It’s an incredible experience […] it just means a lot that so many of my fellow Rose Court sisters believe in me so much and gave me the honor of being Queen.” 

As Queen, Anand is awarded a college scholarship provided by the Randall Group. Anand plans to attend the University of California at Davis to study psychology; from there, she plans to attend medical school to become a pediatrician. According to a press release, “[Anand] was very active at Lincoln: as a volunteer Co-President of the Associated Student Body and Asian Student Union, as well as Co-Chair of the Multnomah Youth Commission Committee. [Anand] has been passionate about education from an early age and is president of REAL (or Rural Education and Literacy), in India.”

Many who attended the event socially distanced themselves and wore masks, including the Princess’s and the Royal Rosarians, who wore intricate red masks as a part of their traditional Rose Festival garb. 

Rose Princesses at the Queen’s Walk in the International Rose Test Garden at Washington Park.

Speaking of some of the differences of this year’s Rose Festival, Anand said, “First of all, I know half of the Princesses didn’t get their in-person announcement. Some of them were announced over Zoom, and we all met for the first time over Zoom.” 

Anand said meeting the other Princesses in person for the first time was her favorite moments of the season so far, ”It was such a different experience to meet them in person because you could feel all of the energy—and you can feel it over Zoom, but it’s a totally different feeling when you’re all together: you’re all looking at each other’s outfits, dressing up, getting ready together. I love all of these women with my entire heart.” 

Many at the event spoke of the inspirational resilience of this year’s Court, and commended their fortitude in the face of many obstacles that made this year’s Rose Festival one of the most unique in its extensive history. 

“The inspiration that is this Court and Queen Mya [2019 Rose Festival Queen] is a lesson to us all,” said Royal Rosarian Prime Minister Kimberly Brown, “their optimism and resilience and attitude has been so mature. It’s been inspiring to watch them overcome those hurdles that came up.” 

At the laying of the Queen’s plaque along the Queen’s Walk, Anand had each of the Rose Princesses press their thumbs into the cement surrounding the plaque, a tradition started by 2019’s Queen Mya Brazile.

2020 Rose Festival Queen Anya Anand and Royal Rosarian Prime Minister Kimberly Brown getting ready to lay the Queen’s plaque along the Queen’s Walk.

“Just like Queen Mya did last year, I would like to invite my Rose sisters to place their thumbs in my plaque, because we did this together,” Anand said, “this year has been very tough, but we all made it together, and I love you all and I would love to share this moment with all of you.” 

In the end, despite the hurdles of the pandemic, the official Rose Festival crown—worn by every Queen since 1922—was ceremoniously placed upon Anand’s head. 

“I’m looking forward to representing my city and the Rose Festival,” Anand said, “I think it’s really important, especially because the Rose Festival has been around for so many years, and it’s another way to instill that tradition and sense of normalcy in such a changing and evolving time.”

About the Rose Festival Court: 

“The mission of the Rose Festival Court program presented by Unitus Community Credit Union, is to provide scholarships courtesy The Randall Group for higher education, to promote community outreach and volunteerism, and to offer networking and mentoring opportunities to outstanding young women in a program that perpetuates an appreciation for Rose Festival history and tradition.”

About the Rose Festival: 

Part of Portland’s popular culture for more than a century, the Rose Festival has its roots in tradition while its programming is both contemporary and nostalgic. Foresighted city leaders started the festival during the first decade of the 20th Century in order to put Portland on the map and brand it the ‘summer capital of the world.’ Little did they know that more than a hundred summers later the Rose Festival would be world famous for its amazing, award-winning events, as well as serving as a community leader for celebrating values like volunteerism, patriotism and environmentalism. In 2010, the Rose Festival was finally acknowledged as Portland’s Official Festival by proclamation of the Council.

With dozens of events spotlighting the diverse interests and culture of the community, the Rose Festival makes a positive impact on hundreds of thousands of lives annually, bringing smiles to the faces of both locals and guests. Peruse this website to learn more about the festival’s three popular parades, its three-weekend urban fair packed with great entertainment, good food and fantastic features, and about the iconic Court made up of local high school women making goodwill visits all around the state. The Rose Festival makes Portland a better place to live and visit.

Rosie the Riveter Memorial Garden Planted in Portland Rose Test Garden

Rosie the Riveter Memorial Garden Planted in Portland Rose Test Garden

by | Mar 30, 2018 | Events, Features, News

Portland, OR. An original ‘Rosie the Riveter’ was on hand as a new memorial garden was planted to honor the hundreds of thousands of women who worked in factories, building ships, planes and armaments, during WWII. Rosarian Royal Gardener Barbara Brennan, Adeena Rose Wade, Ada Wyn Parker Loy, a 94-year-old ‘real’ Rosie, and Barbara Jensen President/Founder Oregon Spirit of 45 were all on hand for the event in the International Rose Test Garden in Washington Park.

Royal Rosarian Royal Gardener Barbara Brennan, Living history Character Actor Adeena Rose Wade plant roses.

The Rosie the Riveter Memorial Rose at International Rose Test Garden in Washington Park was supported by all seven Oregon Congressional delegates.

Marilyn Clint, Chief Operations Officer, Portland Rose Festival speaking at the Rose the Riveter Rose dedication at the International Rose Test Garden on March 21st.

Real Rosie family members and volunteers posed with Royal Rosarian Prime Minister Adam Baker and the Royal Rosarians.

Here’s more information on the program:

75 years ago, our nation was at war. As hundreds of thousands of men across our nation answered the call to serve and protect our freedoms, hundreds of thousands of women on the home front volunteered to support them in our factories, building ships, planes and armament, to support them. They become known as “Rosie the Riveters” and we are here today to honor those amazing women.

In 2010, Congress passed a resolution establishing the second Sunday of August as “Spirit of ’45 Day” to honor all those who served in WWII both those who defended our freedoms on the battle field and also honor those who were there on the home front, to support our troops on the front lines.

This year 2018, Congress passed a resolution establishing March 21, ‘Rosie the Riveter’ Day as part of Women History Month. Over 50 dedications and plantings are occurring in 21 states including Alabama, Arizona, California, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Virginia, Texas and the District of Columbia.

Oregon is a model in the country with 12 sites with at least one in each of our state’s congressional districts. These gardens are part of a National effort to create a network of “Living Memorial” rose garden across America. Working with WEEKS ROSES, the National Spirit of ’45 Organization was delighted to announce this unique rose this past January and Congress was equally pleased to swift to endorse March 21 as ‘Rosie the Riveter Day.’

These gardens in full bloom this spring, summer and fall seasons will help us to remember, honor and always be inspired by their example of courage, shared-sacrifice, ‘can-do’ attitude, spirit, unity and service.

Here’s a link to the International Rose Test Garden in Washington Park.

https://www.portlandoregon.gov/parks/finder/index.cfm?action=viewpark&propertyid=1113

Hundreds Celebrate 100th Anniversary Portland’s International Rose Test Garden

Hundreds Celebrate 100th Anniversary Portland’s International Rose Test Garden

by | Sep 2, 2017 | Events, Features

Portland, OR. The smell of roses wafted over the crowd celebrating 100 years of roses in Portland. The August 26th event at Washington Park featured rose tours, art displays, rose ice cream from Salt & Straw Ice Cream and a special concert. The 4.5 acre garden is the oldest continuously operating public rose test garden in the United States and helped provide Portland with its nickname: “City of Roses”.

The terraced garden attracts nearly 700,000 visitors a year who revel in sweet scents and sweeping views. There are over 7,000 rose plants of approximately 550 varieties.

The roses bloom from April through October with the peak coming in June, depending on the weather. New rose cultivars are continually sent to the garden from many parts of the world and are tested for color, fragrance, disease resistance and other attributes.

Here’s more information about Portland’s Rose Garden:

The garden is located in Washington Park, at 400 SW Kingston Avenue. 

Garden hours: 7:30am-9:00pm
FREE public tours are offered daily at 1:00pm, from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend. Meet at the Rose Garden store 10 minutes prior.

SPECIAL NOTICE FOR VISITOR PARKING
Effective September 2016 to March 2018, parking is extremely limited in Washington Park due to a multi-year Portland Water Bureau project. Visitors are encouraged to take TriMet MAX Light Rail to Washington Park to avoid delays in parking. Visit explorewashingtonpark.org for further information on parking and the free shuttle bus that runs throughout the park. Find out more about the Reservoir Improvements Project at Washington Park.

Tour Groups
Guided tours for groups of 11 or more are available during the year for a nominal fee per person. Call 503-823-3664 to make arrangements.

Visit the Rose Garden Store website at www.rosegardenstore.org.
The American Garden Rose Selections organization has eleven test sites nationally:

  1. Portland International Rose Test Garden
  2. Orangeburg, SC
  3. San Jose, CA
  4. Farmer’s Branch ,TX
  5. Baton Rouge, LA
  6. Kennewick, WA
  7. Westfield, MA
  8. Columbus, OH
  9. Glencoe, IL
  10. Ames, IA
  11. Lexington, KY 
Program Information

Founded in 1889, the Portland Rose Society is a nonprofit organization offering educational programs on rose culture and encouraging the use of roses in the landscape. For information on Rose Society programs or membership, write or call Portland Rose Society, PO Box 515, Portland, 97207, voice mail: 503-777-4311.

Volunteer opportunities are available in both garden and non-garden work. Garden tasks include deadheading, planting, pruning, sign painting, and garden improvement projects. Non-garden tasks include strategic planning, fundraising, updating educational materials, leading garden tours, maintaining inventory records, and coordinating volunteer efforts. Contact the Rose Garden, 503-823-3636 or Volunteer Services, 503-823-5121.

 

Historical Information

Portland has long had a love affair with roses. In 1888, Georgiana Burton Pittock, wife of publisher Henry Pittock, invited her friends and neighbors to exhibit their roses in a tent set up in her garden; thus the Portland Rose Society was established.

Madame Caroline Testout was a late 19th century French dressmaker from Grenoble, the proprietor of fashionable salons in London and Paris. She regularly purchased silks from Lyon, which was an important center for rose breeding. The nurseryman Joseph Pernet-Ducher was called ‘The Wizard of Lyon’ due to his success in developing hybrid tea roses. Madame Testout was an astute businesswoman and understood the value of good publicity. She asked Perner-Ducher to name one of his new roses after her. He agreed, but considered her choice of seedling to be mediocre. The ‘Madame Caroline Testout’ rose made its debut at the salon’s 1890 spring fashion show. It was not strong on scent, but became an immediate success with Madame Testout’s well to do customers as well as the gardening public for its abundant silky, rose-pink flowers. The new variety’s popularity spread to America, and in Portland, nearly half a million bushes of ‘Caroline Testout’ were planted along the sidewalks. By 1905 Portland had 200 miles of rose-bordered streets which helped attract visitors to the Lewis and Clark Centennial celebration. Portland came to be known as the ‘City of Roses’.

In 1915 Jesse A. Currey, rose hobbyist and Sunday editor of the Oregon Journal, convinced city officials to institute a rose test garden to serve as a safe haven during World War I for hybrid roses grown in Europe. Rose lovers feared that these unique plants would be destroyed in the bombings. The Park Bureau approved the idea in 1917 and by early 1918, hybridists from England began to send roses. In 1921 Florence Holmes Gerke, the landscape architect for the city of Portland, was charged with designing the International Rose Test Garden and the amphitheatre. The garden was dedicated in June 1924. Currey was appointed as the garden’s first rose curator and served in that capacity until his death in 1927.

Part of the original design, the Royal Rosarian Garden is home to the namesake roses of all past Prime Ministers of the Royal Rosarians, a civic group which serves as the official greeters and goodwill ambassadors for the City of Portland. Founded in 1912, the Order of Royal Rosarians modeled their mythical ‘Realm of Rosaria’ after the government of England’s King Henry VII, whose rise to the throne in 1485 ended the War of the Roses. Members are ‘knighted’ into the organization under their chosen variety of rose, which is then their ‘namesake’ rose. The garden also features a stone bench honoring Jesse Currey.

In 1945, the Shakespeare Garden, located at Crystal Springs Lake in southeast Portland, was moved to Washington Park to allow for expansion of Eastmoreland Golf Course. Designed by Glenn Stanton and Florence Gerke, it was originally intended to include only herbs, trees, and flowers mentioned in William Shakespeare’s plays. The garden continues to honor the Bard with roses named after characters in his plays. The focal point of the garden is the Shakespeare Memorial, a brick wall with a plaque featuring Shakespeare’s image and his quote, “Of all flowers methinks a rose is best.” Donated by the LaBarre Shakespeare Club, it was dedicated on April 23, 1946 – the 382nd anniversary of Shakespeare’s birth. In 1957 the club added a sundial to the garden.

In 1967, rose curator Rudolph Kalmbach wanted to establish a formal garden featuring Gold Award roses. (In 1919 the City of Portland issued its first annual Gold Award for the best new rose variety.) With the support of the Portland Rose Society, Wallace Kay Huntington was selected to design the garden which was dedicated in June 1970. In 1991, the Portland Rose Society donated the pavilion which overlooks these award-winning roses.

Established in 1975, the Miniature Rose Garden is one of only six testing grounds for the American Rose Society (ARS) miniature rose test program. The national annual winners from both ARS and AARS associations are displayed in the middle of the garden along the center aisle.

Set in a sunken section on the upper level of the garden, the Frank Beach Memorial Fountain was dedicated in June 1975. The stainless steel sculpture, titled Water Sculpture, was designed and built by Oregon artist Lee Kelly. The fountain was a gift from the Beach family to honor their father, Frank Edwin Beach (1853-1934), the man who is said to have christened Portland the ‘City of Roses’ and who first proposed the annual Rose Festival.

Awards
The award called Portland’s Best Rose was established in 1996. Rose experts from around the world attend a one-day judging in June and select the best rose that day from thousands of submissions. Portland remains the only North American city to issue such an award.