Mike Becker (Master Rosarian, ARS Rose Show Judge)
Mike started with just a few roses on his apartment’s patio. Since then, he has grown roses in Texas, Arizona, California and Florida. At one point in Southlake, Texas, Mike tended his home gardens: more than 500 climbers, ramblers, miniatures, Old World classics, teas and modern hybrids. He is now a Master Rosarian and ARS Judge, rose breeder and international expert in his field.
One of Mike’s favorite research topics is that of rose fragrances. His specially is medieval perfumes. For eight years Mike read hundreds of rose history books while at the same time studying the perfume industry. He developed an hour long Medieval Rose Fragrances program using historical documents and ancient recipes. Imagine blending the essential oils to replicate scents worn by the likes of Queen Elizabeth I and Margaret of Hungary!
– excerpted from The Dallas Morning News article “If it’s fragrance you want, go for the roses” by Barbara Rodriguez, a Fort Worth gardener and writer.
You can contact Mike at MikeBecker@gpbrs.org
Denise Abruzzese (Consulting Rosarian)
After moving from Long Island to Palm Beach County, Denise had to “forget” most of what she knew about tending to roses over the last 40 years and acclimate to growing roses in Florida. A self-proclaimed rose fanatic, she spends at least two hours a day tending her 200+ roses at Foxview Farm. She grows antique and old garden roses, floribundas, grandifloras, hybrid tea and climbers. Denise loves researching scientific studies from various universities and white papers of many rosarians and rose breeders. She has propagated roses for many years and has recently started hybridization. Denise is our newest ARS Consulting Rosarian and we are so very excited to have the benefit of her knowledge.
You can contact Denise at foxviewroses@gmail.com
Geoff Coolidge (Consulting Rosarian)
Debbie Coolidge (Consulting Rosarian, ARS Rose Show Judge)
Geoff and Debbie Coolidge have both been growing roses since the early 80’s. They joined the local rose society in West Palm Beach where they have held numerous positions on the Board. Both became Consulting Rosarians for the American Rose Society. They began Cool Roses, a rose nursery which carries a wide variety of roses grafted on Fortuniana rootstock and antique roses. They also maintain private gardens throughout Palm Beach County. Debbie is an ARS Accredited Judge in Horticulture and Arrangements.
You can contact either Geoff or Debbie at GeoffDebbieCoolidge@gpbrs.org
Bill Langford (Consulting Rosarian and ARS Rose Show Judge)
Bill joined the Greater Palm Beach Rose Society more than 20 years ago. At the time he had five hybrid tea rose bushes and needed to learn how to keep the blackspot and bugs under control. Little did he know that he would end up serving many years on the Board, including stints as Newsletter Editor, 1st and 2nd Vice President and President. Along the way he became a Consulting Rosarian, and a few years later, an accredited ARS Horticultural Rose Show Judge.
He currently has about 45 rose bushes in his garden. About a dozen of those are planted in the ground, but the majority are in pots. After 20+ years, he says, “I am still learning!”
You can contact Bill at BillLangford@gpbrs.org