Looking forward to meeting you, Carol! And seeing all the other GW rose people. I know many faces by sight, but we ought to have a way to recognize each other.

Rosefolly

I also look forward to meeting you, Carol.

I have to be honest, and admit that meeting other people who love Old Roses is one of the main forces drawing me to events like this.

OH, and I have had a look at the catalog of roses for sale, while I work on the auction catalog -- I think there will be lots there to get folks excited, too.

Jeri

I'm getting excited, too - I was just telling Jeri that it's renewed that spark of discovery, as I work on the list of roses for sale and get involved in the program details.

Carol, I will be tied up most of Sunday with the Heritage Rose Foundation board of trustees, so don't think I'll have time for that bike ride, unless you are still around on Monday. Sorry. I'd really like to do it.

Does everybody have what they need in terms of directions, places to stay, etc?

We'll have the list of roses out soon - can I do it before you leave, Carol? I'll try... Jeri's putting together the catalog of auction roses, and that may take a bit longer.
Anita

I sooo want to go!

You all need something that only people from this forum will know. Hmm like a hat or a rose pinned on...oh wait....lol

(I organized a photo group in Death Valley, because we had $$$ gear in the cars we had "Mojave Rattle Snake Appreciation Society" cards in our windows rather than "Photographer group here". Figured no one would want to see what was in the box under the blankets in our cars. But we were all in on the joke and could find each other)

It might be horribly ordinary, but what about those "Hello My Name Is..." stick-ons. Will they be handed out at the registration table? If so, put your real name AND your forum handle on them.

Carol

I'll make sure that we have stick-on tags at registration. We are doing pre-made name tags. I think that many of us will be at the reception on Friday so that will be a good time to put faces with names. Perhaps we can do a photo during the lunch break on Saturday - that would be fun. There are about 80 people coming - eight or ten GW folks, perhaps?
Anita

It all sounds wonderful. And that is a nice size group for lots of interaction.

I'll be there! I'm flying in on Friday morning, and out on Tuesday evening ... leaving all day Monday and most of Tuesday to bum around after the official festivities conclude.

I'm really excited about this trip!! It has some of my favorite things all wrapped up in one package ... cemetery, roses, and lovely folks to meet and hang out with!

If any of you are comfortable with the idea, PM me and we can exchange cell phone numbers.
Connie

I'm going to try to come just to the cemetery on Sunday-I can't make it to the formal portions of the weekend. Sunday will be the day they are selling roses and doing garden tours, right?

I'll have my little girlies with me too. But they enjoy the roses (for a while) and now that someone told us about Vic's and their ice cream just down the road last time we went to the Open Garden, they can't wait until Mommy goes to the cemetery again.

I'm looking forward to seeing the cemetery in the fall. I've only ever gone in the spring.

Annabeth

Annabeth, the rose sale is on Saturday during the conference. Sunday is a garden tour.

At least that's what I understand is happening.

Diane

Yes. The roses will be sold late in the day on Saturday -- toward the end of the day of talks.

There are also two auctions -- a day-long (more or less) Saturday silent auction, and a "Live" auction folllowing dinner on Saturday night.

(I only know all this because I have been working on the Auction catalog.)

Jeri

IF we have roses left over from the Saturday event and
IF any of us organizers have the energy to sell more plants
THEN we will be selling roses on Sunday, too.

Two great big "IFs" but we'll do what we can. There are only a handful of us putting on this event and we are tired already - but very excited about it, too, and looking forward to it very much!
Anita

Thanks for the info. I'll take my chances on the IFs on Sunday. But, please don't exhaust yourself. Maybe Sunday should be your day to just enjoy the fruits of your labor-the day you show that glorious garden off to all the symposium attendees.

I think it would be so interesting to hear Stephen Scanniello's comments on the Sac Rose Garden! I'd love to eavesdrop. Has he seen it before, Anita?

It is still IFFY for me if I'm going to make it to Sacramento on that Sunday, but I am going to try. Thanks for all that you all do.

Annabeth

Now that Autumn in The San Jose Heritage Rose Garden is behind us -- and I am between Newsletters to edit or print, I can concentrate on Seminar weekend.

I told Anita yesterday that I'd be happy to help sell roses on Sunday -- so I think that will happen. All we have to do is schedule our travel around dog training classes. :-)

Just a few more odds and ends of information to get ready for the event ...

Jeri

I'm happy to say I'll be there. My grand daughter was born last Thursday. This will be such a fun time. I'm realy looking forward to seeing everyone. I'm hoping for a nice fall bloom in the wonderful cemetery garden.

Annabeth -- the first time I saw the Cemetery garden, it was the 17th of November -- cold in the morning -- warming up -- with rain late at night. It was nothing short of life-altering. :-)

Jeri

Yes, Stephen Scanniello has been to Sacramento before, just once. So have Dr. Malcolm Manners and Pat Shanley. However, it will be great to have them come here again. I'm on the Heritage Rose Foundation board with them and will be tied up in a meeting on Sunday rather than in the garden with Jeri and other folks. I really hope that people spend a lot of time on Sunday enjoying the roses in the cemetery and that's where my heart will be! I hope to get over there mid-afternoon after the meeting is over, with any of the board members who'd like to come.

Looks like we will do the rose sale of anything left over on Sunday. We'll also have access to the visitor's center and can sell our aprons, shirts, and other rosy items if anybody is interested. And we'll be selling the DVD with the documentary about the roses! It's looking good, and will be a great way for people to hear from some of the key people of the garden and to see it digitally.
Anita

I'm really looking forward to it too - and to seeing old friends and making new ones! My hubby and I will be at the Friday reception, the Saturday symposium and the Sunday tour. We haven't seen the Cemetery garden before and can't wait!

We are also very thrilled to be attending the Symposium, seeing old friends and meeting new ones! We'll see everyone there!

Cydney

Hey! Cydney! I'll be looking for you! :-)

Nametags DEFINITELY needed, for this event.

Jeri