SHUMWAY — The Fort Vancouver Rose Society held its annual rose auction on March 3 at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church. The pandemic prevented the fundraising event for two years and also meant the cancellation of the society’s Rose Show for both 2020 and 2021.
With monthly meetings held safely in December and February, the society decided it was time to stage the fundraiser. Proceeds will benefit the 2022 Rose Show scheduled for June 18 at the First Evangelical Church on Northeast St. Johns Road. A colorful community event, the show is always free and open to the public.
Co-President Sally Rossetto served as auctioneer and rapidly sold 31 donated roses to raise more than $1,100 for the rose show. Rossetto was assisted at the auction table by FVRS Co-President Louis Rossetto and consulting rosarians Jim Swenson and Frank Hecker. Each auctioned rose sported an engraved plant label donated by Wendy Tilley of Harlane Company. Rose plant donors included Chris Prewitt of Weeks Roses, Jan and Dan DeWeese, Marilyn Dille, Katherine Fry, Dave and Julie Goggin, Vicki Holman, Pete and Maggie Mikalatos, David Pfaff, Louis and Sally Rossetto, and Ryan and Wendy Tilley.
Mayor Anne McEnerny-Ogle stepped away briefly from an area neighborhood meeting to stop by the auction and greet society members. She also thanked the society for its volunteer work at the community rose garden at Esther Short Park. The group plans to honor McEnerny-Ogle, a 2021 knighted Royal Rosarian, with the planting of a Cherry Parfait rose at the park garden sometime later this year.
