Southampton’s Annual Running Of The Roses

Anyone who has ever said, “A rose is a rose is a rose,” has never sat among competitive rose show veterans discussing how their prized bloom can win the “Queen of Show” title.

June is prime rose season on the East End, and the highlight is the “Southampton Rose Show,” which will be held on Saturday, June 18, at Rogers Memorial Library. The show will include a rose competition as well as a rose art/photography competition.

Celebrating its 35th anniversary, the Southampton Rose Society hosts this annual event with awards in categories based on type of rose (such as hybrid tea, grandiflora, or classic shrub), scent and arrangement.

Helga Dawn-Frohling, a lifelong rose devotee, noted that at her former home on Ox Pasture Road, which was featured in “Architectural Digest,” she grew more than 2,000 rose bushes. When she moved from that house, she made sure that all the bushes would find new and loving homes, including some at her new residence. She opened her home and rose gardens last Saturday for the Southampton Rose Society member workshop, led by horticulture judge Freda Smith.

The rose road to Queen (which is better than King—the award for second place) begins with the selection of the type of rose. For serious competitors, a few days before the show, the search for the perfect rose begins in earnest. Ms. Smith advised offered a few tips for finding the perfect rose.

“Look at the garden first to see what’s happening and tag promising buds,” she said.

On the day of the show, competitors rise at 5 a.m. to cut the rose when it has the most systemic water in the bloom. Out comes a grooming kit worthy of a fashion shoot, which includes: a makeup brush, pruning shears, serrated scissors, knitting needles, tweezers, an X-Acto or utility knife, a plastic drop cloth, plastic wrap and more.

The X-Acto knife can seamlessly cut off an unwanted bud while serrated scissors can magically trim a leaf of a hole or brown spot. A makeup brush gently sweeps away any bugs or dirt. But the magic weapon? A Q-Tip.

To achieve a perfectly symmetrical open bloom with evenly spaced petals, cotton swabs are gently inserted between the petals. The bloom is then put in its clear base and wrapped in plastic.

The show itself is an exact science where the misspelling of the rose’s name on the tag can mean disqualification. Exhibitors have a window of opportunity to place their show roses on the table for a final check.

Despite the healthy competition, Southampton Rose Society’s Second Vice President, Nancy Rollins, admitted that the best part of the society is the true camaraderie of its 195, and growing, members. She emphasized that even the rose show is meant to be fun and that there is a special category for novices to give it a go without any pressure.

“People really enjoy our meetings and programs and we’re open to anyone with an interest,” she reported.

The Southampton Rose Society’s 35th annual “Southampton Rose Show” will be held on Saturday, June 18, at Rogers Memorial Library from 1 to 4 p.m. The event is free. To learn more, visit southamptonrose.org.