I received my ticket in the mail so am officially in. I decided to splurge and booked a one bedroom cottage through Priceline. Am staying at Arden Acres Executive Suites & Cottages Address 2421 Clay Street Sacramento (California), CA 95815 Phone +19166417866 Diane

Online AND offline registration forms are now available at the HRF website or the HRF FaceBook page (search "Heritage Rose Foundation". I hope to have the fall 2013 newsletter emailed to the membership in the next few days. If you're not a current member and would like a copy, please email me and I'll get you one. It will contain the full schedule, with speaker bios, conference logistics, etc. I'm not sure why, but that web page seems to be a bit 'sticky,' in that if you've been there before, you may get the old, non-updated page. If that seems to be the case (e.g., no downloadable registration form), try refreshing the page in your browser. Here is a link that might be useful: HRF website This post was edited by malcolm_manners on Sat, Aug 24, 13 at 9:56

Malcolm, let me speak for everyone that I met at the conference when I say ... Thank you for a WONDERFUL experience! I absolutely loved every minute that I was there. The atmosphere was energized and full of enthusiasm, and I got to know SO many great people from all over the world. We got a small taste of the event at the reception at the college on Thursday evening. (I wish everyone here could have seen the beautiful flower arrangements in person ... they were stunning!) Friday's bus tour took us to Rose Petals Nursery and garden, where I finally got to see Cydney and Art's place in person. It's so interesting to see how different roses that I am familiar with up here can look when grown in a milder climate. The Dudley Farm is a place that I WILL return to, because we didn't have nearly enough time to absorb the history of that place. It was a long day, but it was spent in the company of such lovely people ... Pamela, it was a pleasure to spend the day as your seatmate. We got down to business on Saturday, with presentations. Dr. Morvillo from FSC described DNA and its analysis in language that all of us could understand. The students in NYC who reported on their DNA project were scary smart and sweet as can be. Lunch in the new FSC rose garden designed by Stephen was a great opportunity to get to know some more of the attendees. I had lunch with Gregg Lowery and others, and it was my first time to talk to him for more than, "Hi, it's great to see you." My presentation was after lunch, and I was a tiny bit apprehensive about the maiden voyage of a program on such an important subject ... but I needn't have been concerned. The program about Hollywood Cemetery went super smoothly, and I was told by lots of people for the rest of the weekend that they enjoyed it and are now a LOT more interested in cemeteries and their history. (I don't get nervous at all about talking to a large audience like that, thank goodness.) The programs wrapped up with a beautiful presentation by Peggy Cornett about Thomas Jefferson and his roses. Saturday night's buffet dinner and live auction was so much fun!! The food was good (though I still don't know what the one dish was ... it was sort of like antipasti salad.) Stephen Scanniello auction skills and his energy to work the room like he does always brings lots of laughter and lots of $$$ for HRF. Sunday was more relaxed, with the general HRF meeting, a taste of the new Rosa Mundi given by Gregg Lowery, and an inspiring program by Mike Shoupe on considerations for rose breeding in the future. And then it was over. Memorable snapshots from the weekend were the time I spent visiting with the lovely rose people from Bermuda, or having dinner chatting and eating Thai food with Tom Carruth and Etienne Bouret, or comparing notes with Stephen Hoy (Singularly Beautiful Roses), or reconnecting with the lovely ladies from Sacramento, and so much more. The whole weekend was a who's who of so many rose people that I admire ... don't pinch me, because I don't want to wake up. This said, I am so glad to be home. I am motivated and energized to get to work on my own roses. I got a great idea for a new garden while I was at the Dudley Farm. Speaking of roses, I only came home with two new ones ... I still can't believe that I had that kind of restraint. To all of the GardenWebbers that I met this weekend, it was a pleasure to make your acquaintance in person! I know that we took a couple of group photos, so I hope that they end up posted here for all to see (though I really don't like having my picture taken, I do it so I can be among such a great group.)

Earth Day (I believe Saturday, April 24?) will be another planting event in upper Manhattan for their Historic Rose District. No conference associated with this event. November (exact dates to be decided) -- HRF conference in New Orleans. Details to come later. June 2011 (exact dates to be decided) conference in Lyon France. Sorry I don't have more details just now.