THOMASVILLE — The cherry-red rose that took Queen of Show status on the opening day of the 87th annual Thomasville Rose Show performed an encore.

The Marilyn Wellan rose won Queen of Show in the 2007 show and repeated the performance Friday in the 2008 event.

The rose was entered by Anna and Bill Price of Tallahassee, Fla. The Prices, who have won numerous Rose Show awards for a number of years, are active members of the Thomasville Rose Society, Rose Show sponsor.

The show continues today — from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. — at the intersection of Broad Street and Remington Avenue.

Steve and Margaret Goldberg, also of Tallahassee, entered their first show this year and won a blue ribbon with a Fragrant Cloud rose. The couple won a second novice ribbon. A third entry did not fare as well.

The Goldbergs had been growing roses, but decided to do something different.

“Last year, we took it a little more seriously and planted a garden of 16 roses,” Goldberg explained.

A City of Thomasville employee who works in information systems, Goldberg takes pride in the city’s rose role.

“Finding out there was a novice class, I said I was ready to go,” Goldberg explained.

Dr. Ben Grace, a retired Thomasville dentist, presented Rick Thomas with the Dr. Ben Grace Perpetual trophy. Grace has been awarding the trophy annually since 1948, the year he moved to the Rose City.

“It has to be seven roses in a vase. They have to be the same rose,” Grace said, pointing out the exquisite Elizabeth Taylor roses in Thomas’ arrangement.

When asked why he had provided the trophy for so many years, Grace said, “Because I think the Rose Show is good for Thomasville.”

Pamela Turney, a Gainesville, Fla., resident, attended her first Thomasville Rose Show Friday. She has always wanted to attend the event.

“It’s hard to grow roses in Florida. It’s nice to see some nice ones,” Turney said.

She admired the colors and shapes of different rose varieties. “It’s fantastic. It really is,” Turney commented.

Gail Lane, Thomasville Rose Society official, said recent cool temperatures reduced the number of entries. “But the roses we have are gorgeous,” she explained.

Lane said the entries had not been counted, but she pointed out that the show tent was full.



Senior reporter Patti Dozier can be reached at (229) 226-2400, ext. 220.