Studying the results of the recent spring national rose show in Shreveport, I noted a number of firsts, some significant and others - well maybe I look at things a little too closely.
As noted in my previous, the seven national trophies won by Satish & Vijaya Prabhu was a first - an extraordinary one.
Don & Paula Adlong of Conway, AR recorded their first national trophy, and it was the big one, the Nicholson Perpetual Challenge Bowl. I wondered how often it had occurred that the first national trophy was the Nicholson, so I looked into it, expecting that to have been a rare occurence. It is not - in fact is has happened 47 times in the past, most recently in 2006 with Ron Gregory and in 2000 with Art Davis.
I also noted several of the roses in the Adlong's entry were new to the national challenge classes. Those firsts include 'Blake Hedrick', 'Deidre Hall', 'Here's Sam', and 'Peaches and Cream'. I have had the pleasure of seeing - and judging - roses grown by the Adlongs and they are extraordinary exhibitors. So it is not really a surprise to see them first at the top of the table.
The winning entry in the New Zealand Kiwi Award, shown by Satish & Vijaya Prabhu, also had three roses that appeared for the first time in a winning national challenge class. These were 'Boardwalk', 'O'Rilla', and 'Desperado'. And, for good measure, Dick & Sue Streeper of El Cajon, CA had three first-time floribunda sprays in their winning entry for the William H. Mavity Trophy. These were 'Disneyland Rose', 'Easter Basket' and 'Sixteen Candles'
Another first was the winner of the Garden Web Rose Forum Best in Show Trophy, The winning entry of 'Melodie Parfumée' by Earl & Deanna Krause of Pasadena, TX was the first hybrid tea spray to win this award.
Turning to the peculiar, Sam & Mary Renfroe of Fairhope, AL became the first to win miniature queen of show with a rose named after the city in which they live. It was not, however the first miniature queen for 'Fairhope', in fact it was the 12th time that 'Fairhope' has been national queen of show, a record among all roses.
Finally, the miniflora queen of show 'Abby's Angel', shown by Abby & Philip Leonard of Greenwell Springs, LA became the first queen bearing the same name of a member of the exhibiting team.