While winter holds us firmly in its grip here in the DC area, The Potomac Rose Society invites you to escape—if only for an afternoon—to some of the most breathtaking rose gardens in the world...
Join us on Sunday, February 15 at 2:00 pm (via Zoom) for European Rose Splendor, a richly illustrated program presented by PRS members Nicky Sensale and Cynthia Giordano, who traveled together through France and England in search of extraordinary roses and unforgettable gardens.
Through stunning photographs and engaging commentary, Nicky and Cynthia will transport us to iconic destinations including:
France
• Parc de Bagatelle
• Roseraie du Val-de-Marne (L’Haÿ-les-Roses)
• Claude Monet’s Garden
England
• David Austin Roses
• Peter Beales Roses
• Moor Wood (home to England’s largest National Collection of Ramblers)
• Kew Gardens
This virtual journey offers a rare opportunity to experience legendary European rose gardens through the eyes of fellow rose lovers—perfect inspiration as we dream of the growing season ahead. We invite you to settle in, imagine the scent of roses in full bloom, and let Nicky and Cynthia take you along on an unforgettable European adventure—no passport required.
Nicky Sensale is a Certified Landscape Designer and Master Gardener with over 20 years of experience in North Georgia and Florida. She is the former owner of a landscape company in the North Georgia mountains and is now retired in sunny Florida, where she grows roses full time. A past president of the Brooksville Garden Club, Nicky has been cultivating roses for more than 25 years and currently grows over 200 varieties in her garden. She has a particular passion for old roses and draws her greatest inspiration from visiting world-class rose gardens around the globe. Nicky is also affectionately known as “The Rosie Rosarian.”
Cynthia Giordano practices land use law in Washington, DC, and in her spare time has always loved flowers. She had a years-long infatuation with orchids and learned how to grow them by volunteering in the Hillwood Museum greenhouse. She also tried growing flowering shrubs and perennials outdoors, but it was an uphill battle with the neighborhood deer population. Eventually, Cynthia invested in a tall backyard fence and removed her deer-resistant plants and overgrown Knock Out® roses. She then planted a few non-Knock Outs, and was quickly captivated!
Today, Cynthia spends much of her spare time researching and dreaming about roses. She is especially interested in climbers and ramblers to make the most of her limited space, and in incorporating beautiful and unusual structures to showcase them. Cynthia focuses on disease-resistant roses and strives to garden chemical-free, using sustainable practices and supplements, including mulch blends produced by DC’s Blue Plains facility from biosolids byproducts.
This event is FREE and open to the public. Registration will remain open through Saturday February 14. Attendance is limited, so remember to register early to avoid disappointment.
ARS Consulting Rosarians will earn one credit towards recertification for attending this program. A recording of the Zoom presentation will be posted to the MEMBERS ONLY section of the PRS website.
Photo 1: Roseraie du Val-de-Marne, courtesy of Sortiraparis.com , Photo 2 courtesy of Peter Beales Roses, Photos 3 & 4 courtesy of Nicky Sensale.
