Once again we open the gates of our private garden in Sebastopol this May. There is no charge for entry but we entreat you to offer a $10 donation to help to maintain this extraordinary collection of old and classic roses, and to benefit the Heritage Rose Foundation, a non-profit organization that promotes the preservation of historic roses.

PLEASE NOTE that the garden is NOT AT OUR NURSERY SITE! The nursery is reserved for propagation and shipping and is not open to the public. The Garden is located at:
3003 Pleasant Hill Rd. in Sebastopol, California 95472

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The garden will be open this year a couple of days less than in past years, so please pay close attention to the following times and dates. We don’t want to frustrate you with the gate closed when you arrive.

OPEN GARDEN DATES AND TIMES

From 10 am until 3 pm on the following dates:
PLEASE NOTE: we have CANCELED OPEN GARDENS ON THESE DATES:
Saturday May 1st, and Sunday, May 30th

THE FOLLOWING DATES THE GARDEN WILL BE OPEN

Saturdays, May 8 & 22

Sunday, May 9

Closed Memorial Day, May 31

BAND PLANTS WILL BE FOR SALE AT THE GARDEN.
ROSE ORDERS FOR PICK UP AT THE GARDEN MAY BE REQUESTED.

GARDEN PARTY! Satuday May 15th.
Please note: due to lack of response to our call for a potluck, we will not be hosting a pot luck on this date. You are encouraged to bring your lunches instead and picnic in the garden!

Open to all who are willing to spend the morning helping to pick specimen blooms for the Celebration of Old Roses, the following morning in El Cerrito. From 8 am until Noon, we will cut and label stems of old roses for display at the Celebration. Bring pruners and a pot luck dish, and join in this rosy party to enjoy the garden at its peak bloom. Friends of Vintage Gardens will be here in full force, and you can meet some of the dedicated volunteers who help to keep this garden growing!

Contact Gregg if you plan to attend: glowery@vintagegardens.com

EL CERRITO CELEBRATION OF OLD ROSES—Sunday May 16th, 2010

On Sunday, May 16, the Heritage Roses Group produces the most extraordinary rose show on earth at the El Cerrito Community Center, on Moeser St. near Ashbury in the city of El Cerrito, home of the founder of America’s old rose movement, Miriam Wilkins. This is not the rose show that you’ve come to expect. There are no competitions for the best-grown roses, just thousands of stems of old roses on display identified by name and grouped by their antique classification. It’s a place to look, smell, learn and enjoy. Vendors of old roses, modern roses, and wonderful companion plants provide an opportunity for you to take home plant treasures galore.

If you are able to assist in any way, please contact Kristina Osborne, Northern California co-ordinator of the Heritage Roses Group at: kmosborn@earthlink.net
Helpers are always welcome to stage roses, set up signage and help with the day’s end cleanup—the best part of the job; choosing rose cuttings to take home!

LIKE TO CUT FLOWERS FROM OUR GARDEN? Saturday May 15th, 2010

If you’d always wanted to wander around our garden with a pair of clippers and cut flowers, this is your chance! On Saturday morning, May 15th, we ask for volunteers to cut sample flowers from our garden for us to take to the Celebration of Old Roses for the educational display. We never have enough helpers. Email Gregg if you’d like to join in and he’ll reply with details. After the rose picking, join with the Friends of Vintage Gardens in an early afternoon pot-luck lunch and wander through the garden with friends!

Contact Gregg if you’d like to join the fun at: glowery@vintagegardens.com