Before even nearing the Chehalis Timberland Library, the sweet scent of roses wafts through the cool summertime breeze.
The Chehalis Municipal Rose Garden is home to more than 300 rose plants. From its perch on top of a hill in downtown Chehalis, it offers passers-by a breath-taking array of red, pink, orange, and yellow roses.
The garden has the prestigious honor of being an All-America Rose Selections garden, one of only five in Washington and of 130 such gardens in the nation.
Each year, official test gardens are set up within public gardens that represent numerous climates throughout the United States. AARS accepts rose specimens to be subjected to a rigorous two-year test. Judges evaluate each plant submitted. The winning roses are all tested on 15 key gardening characteristics, including disease resistance, hardiness, color, form, flowering effect, fragrance, vigor and novelty.
The Chehalis Municipal Rose Garden received the 2004 winners in April, and they have already become the newest additions to the garden. Each AARS garden receives six plants of the winning species for the following year.
John Smith, the property maintenance technician for the city of Chehalis Parks and Community Services, is in charge of taking care of the roses on the grounds. A Master Gardener and a 12-year veteran of his position, he has received much of his care instructions from the hands-on experience he receives.
To make room for the three 2004 winners, Smith took out a patch of grass in front of the library window. Now the two floribunda winners, Day Breaker and Honey Perfume, and one hybrid tea winner, Memorial Day, occupy the spot.
"The last two years, I have had to remove pieces of grass to make room for the next year's winners," said Smith.
Every rose plant in the garden was at one time named an AARS winner and most remain in their original position. Smith does not like to remove the plants and instead will continue to add on, one day extending the reach of the garden to the bottom of the hill.
There are two main types of roses, Smith explained. The hybrid teas are a single large bloom on a single cane, and are typically used in floral arrangements. Floribundas are four or five smaller blooms in a mass on top of a single cane.
There were two 2004 floribunda selections. Day Breaker's color is yellow blending to pink and apricot, and opens to reveal 4-inch blooms. Honey Perfume is marked by its strong spicy scent, as well as 4-inch apricot yellow blooms.
The single 2004 hybrid tea selection is the Memorial Day rose. Its color is a clear pink with a lavender wash. It emits a strong damask scent, which is the classic smell that is expected from a hybrid tea rose.
Although not many people walk through the garden, those who do and happen to catch Smith during the time he is doing maintenance often ask about care of roses.
Smith waters the plants once a week, even during the hot summer months. The garden has an underground watering system so the water goes straight to the roots where it is needed. Smith also uses a granular fertilizer and prunes the flowers once a week, and alternates a water-soluble fertilizer every other week.
His care for the roses is evident, as every plant has deep green leaves and very vibrant bloom colors.
The meticulous care can be seen by Chehalin Jerry Kaija, who is an inspector for AARS. Kaija is required to do surprise inspections, and lately he has noted the pristine form of the garden.
"The garden is in a great condition, as it has been the past few years," Kaija said.
Although many may be aware of the garden's presence, Kaija believes few understand how special the garden is.
"The Chehalis garden is a little-known thing. The AARS gardens are very rare, and we are fortunate to have one an d have it so well cared for by the city," he said.
Not much is recorded about the history of the Chehalis Rose Garden, but it was believed to have been started in the late 1940s, at which time there was a very active Rose Society.
The current rose society is also very active, although the Chehalis Municipal Rose Garden is no longer a project of the group.
On July 12 and 13, the Lewis County Rose Society will hold its 70th annual Rose Show. Since 1933, competitors from Washington and Oregon have come to Chehalis to see who has the best roses around. The show offers numerous categories including arrangement, a junior section for those entrants 16 years and younger, a section for Lewis County residents only, and an open section for the more advanced growers.
Kaija is expecting close to 600 entries from participants residing in Everett through Albany, Ore. The Lewis County show is larger than most shows in Olympia, Tacoma and Seattle, but Portland hosts the largest in the region, as well as the nation.
To enter, participants need only to bring roses cut with the longest stem possible to the Lewis County Mall in north Chehalis. All other needs will be provided for by the society. Entry time is from 6-10 a.m. July 12, and the public may come see the entries during the hours of 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. July 12 and 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. July 13.
The Lewis County Rose Show and the Municipal Rose Garden are two of the attractions that help Chehalis to cultivate its title as "The Rose City," and Kaija believes that citizens should "definitely take time to smell our roses."
Ashley Forsyth is an intern in The Chronicle's news department. She may be reached by telephone at 736-3311, or by e-mail at aforsyth@chronline.com.
