Day Trips

Tyler and roses have become synomous over the past 100 years. The town that is the self-proclaimed "Rose Capital of the U.S." celebrates its long love affair with America's favorite flower with the annual Texas Rose Festival on Oct. 14-17.

"It's the sandy soil that makes for great roses," says Jennifer Bennett, director of the Tyler Rose Museum. Smith County and its county seat, Tyler, now account for one-third of the commercially grown rose bushes in the United States. More than half of the entire U.S. crop of antique, tea, and hybrid roses are processed in the county. The second largest processor of rose bushes, Certified Roses Inc., calls the northeastern Texas town home.

All impressive statistics for an industry that grew out of a near-tragedy. Since before the Civil War, Smith County and Tyler were known for the agricultural products that were shipped around the country. But most area nurseries depended on fruit trees, particularly peach trees, to make their living. Then in 1900, insects destroyed the peach orchards and sent farmers looking for a new cash crop. They had to look no further than the rose bushes that proliferated in the Piney Woods gardens and cemeteries.

Throughout the 19th century, as home landscaping became a more popular hobby, Tyler steadily grew as a rose-producing and research area. The Texas Agriculture Department and the locally sponsored Texas Rose Research Foundation led the way in developing new, more colorful, and fragrant varieties, combating diseases, and improving production methods.

Although some farmers sell cut roses, most of the production is in field-grown rose bushes that are replanted around the world. The two-year growth cycle of the bushes begins after the first frost in November or early December. Workers trim cuttings from the bushes in the fields and then plant the twig-sized cuttings. During the winter, the cuttings take root to become a future crops.

By October, 24 months later, the mature plants are dug up and sent to cold storage for two to four months before they are shipped to market. Millions of Tyler roses are mixed with bushes from California and Arizona which are waiting for the winter months to pass. By the first of the year, bushes are being shipped to southern climates and follow the spring planting season across the Northern Hemisphere.

"There is a rose named after Tyler, but everybody has their favorites," Bennett says. The Broadway and the New York roses are two of the dozens of roses developed in East Texas. The local farmers knew they had a special product when they traveled to the 1933 World Trade Fair in Chicago and saw Tyler roses prominently on display. They returned home and six months later started the Tyler Rose Festival to coincide with the annual harvest.

Unlike the spring Azalea Trail, held the last week of March and first week of April around town, the fall Rose Festival centers around the Harvey Convention Center, Smith County Fairgrounds, and the Rose Museum. "It's not just a fair, but a beautiful garden experience," Bennett says. The festival offers a wide variety of activities with flower shows, seminars, arts & crafts shows, car shows, a parade, and a Saturday night dance. One of the most memorable events happens on Sunday afternoon, when musicians play in the 14-acre Municipal Rose Garden behind the museum.

Opened in 1992, the Tyler Rose Museum is 7,000 square feet of exhibits dedicated to Tyler and roses. "There is something for everybody in the museum," Bennett says. Alongside the bejeweled gowns from past Tyler Rose Festivals are farm tools. There is even a display honoring "The Tyler Rose," former UT and NFL star Earl Campbell, who started his football career at the local high school.

The museum primarily is dedicated to preserving and researching the hundreds of varieties of roses. The beautifully landscaped rose garden behind the museum contains more than 10,000 bushes representing more than 400 varieties of roses. A favorite backdrop for portrait photographers, the garden was opened in 1952 and is still the nation's largest municipal rose garden.

The museum and garden are open year-round, but fall and spring are the best times to visit. The rose center is at 1900 W. Front St. (TX 31) next to the convention center. During the festival, visitor and field tour information are available at the museum; the rest of year, information is available at the Tyler Convention and Visitors Bureau, 407 N. Broadway, 800/235-5712 or http://www.tylertexas.com.

Although there are some 30 commercial nurseries in Tyler that sell locally grown rose bushes, one of the best is Chamblee's Rose Nusery, three miles north of Loop 323 on US 69, 800/256-ROSE. Besides free tours and demonstrations, Chamblee's also operates a gift shop and bed and breakfast inn.

Coming up this weekend ...

Bluegrass Festival & Antique Tractor Show in Medina mixes music with the chugging of antique motors. Don't miss the tractor parade at 2pm, Oct. 9. 830/589-7224.

Heritage Crafts Day at the Johnson Settlement in Johnson City provides a look at pioneer skills, Oct. 9. 830/868-7128.

Scarecrow Festival in Chappell Hill decorates the front yards of this historic community while the town throws a party, Oct. 9-10. 409/836-6033.

John Lennon's Birthday Jam in the coastal town of Olmito features Tommy X. Hancock and others celebrating the music to benefit the AIDS community, Oct. 9. 956/350-9714.

Night in Old Luling presents an old-fashioned get together all day, Oct. 9. 830/875-2056.

Southwestern Canoe Rendezvous at Huntsville State Park offers a clinic, product demonstrations, and tips on Texas waterways, Oct. 8-11. 713/467-8857 or http://www.houstoncanoeclub.org

Free visit day to the Environmental Learning Center at McKinney Roughs waives the usual entrance fee to the LCRA nature center between Austin and Bastrop 1-5pm, Oct. 10 and includes a guided evening hike, 6-8pm. 800/776-5272.

Coming up ...

Texas Guitar Show at the Arlington Convention Center is one of the largest string instrument swap meets in the Southwest, Oct. 15-17. 817/473-6059.

Kerrville Art Club Starving Artist's Show & Sale fills the Duncan-McAshan Visual Arts Center Gallery in Ingram, Oct. 12-24. 830/367-5120.

Murder on the Dis-Oriented Express takes over the Texas State Railroad in Rusk for a evening of fun and gourmet food, 800/442-8951.