June is National Rose Month in the United States. Here are some ideas for celebrating:

  • Visit a public rose garden near you.
  • Join a local rose gardening club.
  • Begin a garden blog to celebrate your rose garden.
  • Send photos of your roses to friends and family.
  • Give a rose plant to a nearby nursing home
  • Volunteer to help care for the roses at a local park.

The new GardenSites.Info Directory is the place to go to find public gardens and rose garden societies by state.

Other bits of rose trivia:

  • Since 1986 the rose has been the official National Floral Emblem of the United States.
  • A rose is the official state flower of: the District of Columbia, Georgia, Iowa, New York, and North Dakota.
  • George Washington was the first rose breeder in the US.
  • Roses are native plants in the US.
  • Roses are big business: 1.2 billion are sold annually.

Source: International Cut Flower Growers Association