Mrs. Linda Schork competed at the Kentucky State Fair in the rose competition hosted by the Louisville Rose Society. She had a very successful showing with four roses placing first and one placing second.

Mrs. Schork considers her time in the garden as a form of meditation and reflection. That’s not to discredit the amount of consistency and effort that goes into growing roses of this caliber.

“To grow roses for competition it is important to pay attention to the small things,” Schork said. “Weather, spray schedule and checking plants every day for diseases and pests and deadheading spent blooms so the plant transfers its energy to young buds and new growth.” 

Mrs. Schork makes adjustments to her schedule such as getting up before sunrise and other things of this nature. The commitment to her craft is what truly creates the gap between her roses and the competitors. 

Raising roses requires an intricate routine that includes a spraying schedule, the application of fungicides, pesticides and fertilizers. The judging of the roses includes a meticulous inspection of depth of color, form leaves and stem proportion. The bulb must be centered perfectly with the pedals packed as tightly as possible.

Considering the level of work and judging, this is a very impressive feat accomplished by Mrs. Schork. She hopes to continue her success at her next competition in Knoxville, Tennessee.