FROM STAFF REPORTS

HELENA–Helena Beautification Board Chairman Chris VanCleave will host an Open Garden Day at his residence in Helena located at 219 Chadwick Lane on Saturday, April 29, from 9 a.m. to noon.

VanCleave invites everyone to come tour his rose garden to see more than 100 varieties of roses in a glorious flush of blooms.

“At last count, we have nearly 200 shrubs of all types of roses,” VanCleave, who is a nationally known rosarian and sought after lecturer and authority on growing roses, said. “Our garden is an experimental one. We try new varieties each year and always save room for our tried and true favorites.”

Anyone is urged to come to the Open Garden Day to see the different types of roses that can be grown in the area.

“We open our garden each year so folks can stop by and see what can be grown in this area,” VanCleave said. “Many people think roses are difficult to grow, my garden disproves that myth. I hope everyone will come by and enjoy the blooms.”

He and his wife, also a certified consulting rosarian with the American Rose Society, will be on hand to answer any questions at the event.

The Helena Beautification Board recently announced plans to partner with Texas A&M to conduct an Earth Kind Rose Trial in the city. Groundbreaking activities are slated for later this summer.

The Helena Beautification Board is an appointed board of the Helena City Council. The board believes that people and places are profoundly connected and thriving communities are rooted in individual responsibility and action. They host a variety of opportunities for the community to come together and serve each year. Events are posted on the Helena Beautiful Facebook page and announced via Twitter at @TweetHomeHelena.