DIANE MAKAR MURPHY Rose shows are a hobby that really grows on you

Dick Anthony has always been competitive. When he was younger, he took on the big three -- baseball, basketball and football. When he got older, he played golf. As his scores started to slip, he sought a new sport to compete in.
And, of course, he found roses. Roses?
At first blush, you may think that funny. But after a few minutes talking to Anthony and Patricia Martinec, both certified public accountants and both on the board of the newly revived Mahoning Valley Rose Society (which has a rose show this weekend), you'll soon be on deck.
Exciting stuff
Contrary to what you may think, growing roses can be competitive and exciting. Look out baseball, basketball and football. Well, sort of.
"My mother always had roses," Anthony said, "and though I never had anything to do with growing them, I grew to appreciate them." When he started growing them himself, however, Anthony "promptly killed 20" in his first week.
Martinec's family grew roses as well. "My grandmother used to start a rose for each child," Pat said. "She started a half-dozen bushes that way. Then, she also made a cutting for each wedding. She had roses growing all over the yard."
The first rose Martinec planted was a Patrician, selected because they shared the same name. "From there it started," the Poland resident said. Martinec began showing and competing, eventually urging business associate Anthony to compete in a Columbiana show.
"I still didn't know anything specific about roses," Anthony said. "But one judge went crazy over my entry." That inspired him.
Got serious
When, the following year, he did "very poorly" in the same show, Anthony was even more charged up. "I'm very competitive by nature; I got really serious about it," he said.
Anthony went home and ordered 80 more bushes of varying types, to include the American Rose Society selections that had hit the top 20 list for Columbiana County. He also started talking to more rosarians. Among those giving advice were Warren Knopp and Richard Stromberg, sort of the Mark McGwire and Barry Bonds of local rose growers.
"They were very free with their help," Anthony said. "I can honestly say, in all sports, you meet people you aren't interested in meeting again. But roses -- as competitive as it is -- I've never met someone I didn't like." Martinec agreed.
It worked. Anthony began taking home ribbons. He went to the Warren Rose Society Show hoping to get a rose on the head table, but exceeded that goal when one was chosen Queen of Show. Next, at Fellows, he won Hybrid Tea and Miniature, found his roses placed on a table next to those of his mentors, Knopp and Stromberg, and he was off to the races.
Since then, Anthony has had two roses get second place in the American Rose Society's national competition. "If you have a competitive nature, can rise to the occasion and if you love flowers, roses are the way to go," he said. He now has more than 200 rose bushes around his Poland home.
Revived club
Martinec and Anthony became so involved, they decided to revive the Mahoning Valley Rose Society in 2001 and have almost 50 members to date (some of whom, it should be said, have no interest at all in competition, but are attracted to the relaxing nature of rose growing).
This weekend, the organization will hold The First Annual Mahoning Valley Rose Society Rose Show in conjunction with the Rose Festival at Fellows Riverside Garden in Mill Creek Park. From noon to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, visitors can tour the exhibited flowers, see demonstrations, and discover the Queen of Show.
Perhaps best of all, at close Sunday, roses will be available for sale at just 50 cents and $1. It's unlikely you can get these to take root and grow. But perhaps, like Anthony and Martinec, your love for competitive rose growing will!
murphy@vindy.com