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Roses are the most important element of my garden. I always cut them rather than let them stay on the bush, so my garden is never as colorful as many others. The advantage is that I do almost no deadheading. I have a little more than 100 each, standards and minis.

Almost 2 years ago, I found a great place to take my cut roses. It's the Arizona Folklore Preserve in beautiful Ramsey Canyon, just south of Sierra Vista, Arizona. Since I became involved there, my fresh roses (and other flowers, and often flowers I get from other sources) adorn the tables in the performing arts center and throughout the brand new and very old (a 1929 ranch house) buildings.

I encourage everyone to share their cut flowers with a non-profit oroganization of some sort, even if you just take a bucketful to a rest home every week or two. I don't think anyone else could be as lucky as I have been, though. I found the perfect place. I started out just dropping off the flowers on Saturday mornings. Then I started helping to make the arrangements. Now I'm there for every Saturday and Sunday afternoon show, and am learning about all the operations except the actual performance.

We moved into a new building in mid-2001, and the demands are becoming much greater. The "high season," which runs from mid-January into May, will be upon us soon, and we can expect crowds on a regular basis, to the point that extra shows will be necessary. I am working with The Balladeer to formalize the volunteer program.

The Arizona Folklore Preserve Web site is http://www.arizonafolklore.com. Dolan Ellis, the Official Arizona State Balladeer for more than 35 years, is the resident artist and in charge of finding wonderful and often unique folk artists from throughout Arizona and bringing them to the AFP. Dolan himself is an incredibly talented man. He was one of the original members of the New Christy Minstrels, and has dedicated himself since then to exploring, studying the history of, photographing, writing about, and singing about our wonderful state and its people, historical events, and beautiful scenery.

5 years ago I never would have dreamed I'd be furnishing flowers on such a large scale (in the summer, my donation averages 20-30 dozen roses per week, plus many other flowers). And I certainly would not have dreamed that I, who have no musical talent, ability, or knowledge (except that I know what I like) would be learning a sophisticated sound and lighting system, greeting guests, serving as a museum docent, or doing whatever needed to be done at the time. It's great!