By Mary Scheulen, prepared April 8, 2021

The Society was organized in 1949 as Wichita Rose Society by a group of people interested in growing roses and establishing a Test Rose Garden.   The Test Rose Garden was a project of the Wichita Rose Society, and its members participated in caring for the roses.  Mrs. Fred Cravens kept a constant watch over the roses and kept a daily diary of which roses bloomed and did well.  An Open House in early June 1949 attracted about 200 visitors.  This test garden was abandoned in 1954.  

Wichita Rose Society exhibited roses at the Wichita Garden Club Flower Show at The Forum, May 20-21, 1950.  Wichita Rose Society sponsored their first Rose Show at Butts Cadillac-Oldsmobile Show Room, 1900 East Douglas on May 27-28, 1950.  Approximately 2,500 visitors attended the non-competitive show of over 250 exhibits of about 150 rose varieties.  Another show was held on September 30 – October 1, 1950, with about 250 exhibits, with thousands attending again.

On July 11, 1950, approximately 40 members and guests celebrated their first anniversary of the Society with a covered dish dinner at Park Villa Shelter House where the club was started.  In 1950, 8 ½ acres of land located on Seneca Street between the Arkansas River and Stackman Drive was donated by the City Water Company to be used as a Municipal Rose Garden.  It was planned to be completely funded with private funds, but this apparently never happened.

The dream of real garden beauty for Wichita finally came true in 1988 with the founding of Botanica, The Wichita Gardens.  Botanica became the meeting place for Wichita Rose Society.  Meeting days and times changed over the years, but eventually settled on 2nd Tuesday of the month.  Fund raisers, such as rummage sales, live auctions and other events helped the club grow and hold rose shows and other public events.  WRS became affiliated with American Rose Society and held sanctioned and judged rose shows for many years.    In September 1999, Wichita Rose Society hosted its 50th Anniversary at Botanica Gardens, in conjunction with Central District Convention and Rose Show.   The Rose Show was held at Wichita Airport Hilton, with an Awards Banquet following.  WRS again hosted the Central District Convention and Rose Show in 2010 at the Holiday Inn at Rock Road and Kellogg.  

Wichita Rose Society has continued to meet at Botanica monthly and share information on rose culture, with rose exhibitions as well as other community events to share the love of roses.  WRS helps maintain the Rose Garden at Botanica with pruning and other volunteer opportunities.  

In 2009, Wichita Rose Society established a Memorial Fund after the death of long-time member, Eva Louise Warren.  The initial monies of $1000 were donated by her husband, Vernon Warren, in memory of her and for the express purpose of purchasing Memorial Bricks to be placed in the Rose Garden at Botanica, The Wichita Gardens, 701 Amidon, Wichita, Kansas.  The guidelines for purchasing memorial bricks are that the person has been an active member of Wichita Rose Society for 10 years prior to his/her death.   The bricks currently cost $100 per brick.  Several bricks have been placed in the Rose Garden.  The funds are in an interest-bearing account and are also supplemented by donations or transfers of a portion of funds from various fundraisers.