THE AWARD OF EXCELLENCE

While the exact origin of the modern miniature rose is uncertain, most authorities would agree that the role of Rouletii is generally established as a major parent. Although discovered in the early part of the past century, only four miniature rose varieties were sufficiently propagated to be commercially recognized in the early 1930's - Rouletti, `Rosa indica pumila', `Pompon de Paris' and `Oakington Ruby'. The potential of breeding miniature roses was then seriously developed by a few hybridizers in Europe, but the father of the modern miniature rose was Ralph Moore of Visalia, California. Through his wisdom and insight, the miniature rose then gained popularity, form, description, color, beauty and above all, its place in rose history. The increasing popularity of miniature roses has now resulted in the competitive hybridization programs of many new breeders and with great success.

The development of miniature roses since the discovery of Rouletti led to a rapid availability of a fairly large number of varieties as seen in the explosive number of registrations made during the 20th century. Clearly the classification was well established reaching over 500 registrations in the last decade of the century. In this last decade the evolutionary development of the sister classification known as MiniFlora has had an instantaneous acceptance resulting in over 320 registrations.

The Award of Excellence Program

To recognize the emerging development of miniature roses, the American Rose Society set up rose trials to promote miniature roses and their development as a popular form for smaller gardens. Today the program is administered by the AOE Committee and I am proud to say I have been its Chairman for 9 years. Evaluation is carried out at six large public gardens distributed throughout the United States as well as a number of private member gardens belonging to members of the Committee. Scoring is performed using eleven criteria with 10 points maximum awarded in each category.

The criteria are:

Novelty: May be regarded as an emotion of the first impression: does it make your heart throb, or does it put you to sleep!
Bud Form: A pleasing assembly of petals, considered from the calyx to the half open stage. Flower Form: Balance and appeal of petal arrangement from the half open to full blown, as influenced by the number of petals, their shape, configuration and overall size.
Color Opening: Color consciousness contemplates the clearness and cleanness of single colors and the harmony and graceful progression of combined colors.
Color Finishing: Ever heard of "growing old gracefully"... we look for the quality and attractiveness of the color during the later life of the bloom as it ages.
Substance: Measure of the durability or lasting quality of the petals and their ability to open in all weather to maintain a pleasing flower form.
Habit: Judging the overall pleasing effects by the structure of the plant.
Quantity of Flowers: Consider how well the plant does its main job - producing flowers throughout the growing season.
Vigor/Repeat Bloom: Looking at ability for rapid growth after blooming.
Foliage: The amount, size, shape, quality and distribution of greenery.
Disease/Insect Resistance: Specifically the ability to resist diseases such as rust, mildew and blackspot.

Varieties are evaluated for a two year period and the winners are awarded the prestigious AOE Certificate permitting the breeder/introducer to use the logo in their promotional materials.

Looking at the AOE Winners

In the first year of the program in 1975, it was agreed to honor multiple varieties to catch up with previous introductions for the past 20 years and as a result 10 varieties received the honor - 9 of them belonging to Ralph Moore and 1 to Ernest Williams; `Beauty Secret',`Lavender Lace',`Judy Fischer', `Over The Rainbow', `White Angel', `Starglo', `Sheri Anne', `Mary Marshall', `Toy Clown' and perhaps the best known miniature throughout the world, `Magic Carrousel'.

In 1977 there were 2 winners, `Peaches `n' Cream' by Woolcock, still a lovely variety after all these years, pink blend booms with good exhibition form and `Jeanne Lajoie' by Sima, the first climber to win the AOE award, it is still grown across the US for its ability to produce hundreds, if not thousands of blooms all season long.

In 1978, 4 winners were announced, `Avandel' by Moore, a pink and yellow blend with a fruity fragrance; `Humdinger' by Ernest Schwatrz, a garden variety with upright bushy growth; `Gloriglo' by Ernest Williams, an orange with yellow reverse that can brighten up any dull garden with dramatic color; `Rise `n' Shine' by Moore, originally planned to be called `Dorothy Hamill' for the Olympic ice skater which she later declined, a classic yellow rose passing on its desired genetic traits to many prize winning offspring.

In 1979 four varieties received the AOE award, `Cuddles' by Ernest Schwartz, deep coral blooms strictly for garden display purposes and its major asset the ease of growing, difficult to kill; `Puppy Love' by Ernest Williams, boasts of well formed flowers of pink, coral and orange making for a dramatic color display, was quite popular during its heyday; `Red Flush' by Ernest Schwartz, small red blooms on a very compact plant, and `Zinger' by Ernest Williams, semi-double red blooms, now only remembered as the proud parent of `Snowbride'.

In 1980, one of the two winners was `Holy Toledo' by Jack Christensen. Legends circulate that when the hybridizer saw the first blooms of his seedling, the first words that came out of his mouth was "Holy Toledo". Those words stuck and became the rose name. It is a very dependable variety even after all these many years.

In 1981, we saw two wonderful varieties that would later make history all by themselves, receive the award, `Party Girl' by Saville, one of the finest creations from the late Harm Saville that would pass on its form and great qualities to a long line of prize winning miniatures, named to honor Jan Shivers, herself the party girl of her time; and `Pacesetter' by Saville, still a classic white miniature with all the endearing qualities that make a star!

In 1982, there was only one winner of the AOE Award, `Center Gold' by Saville, florets a gorgeous deep yellow that age to nearly white on a compact plant, excellent for planting in containers.

Then in 1983, one of the winning varieties has become a world favorite, `Valerie Jeanne' by Saville, globular buds of deep magenta pink open to give stunning clusters of neon pink flowers that last and last! In 1984 two of the 4 winners were `Julie Ann' by Saville, an orange blend double bloom with HT form, low growing bushy plant, ideal for planting as a border, and `Little Jackie' by Saville, light orange blooms with a yellow reverse, upright growing plant producing lots of one to a stem flowers

In 1985, the five winning varieties were `Black Jade' by Benardella, a deep dark red bloom with good exhibition form and stamina; `Jennifer' by Benardella, almost porcelain like blooms with a good fragrance; `Centerpiece' by Saville, small medium red blooms on a low growing plant excellent as a border planting; `Winsome' by Saville, lilac lavender blooms with a red tinge on the outer petals, can produce some good exhibition quality stems; and `Loving Touch' by Jolly, the best in its color class during the mid 1980s and early 1990s, it is still widely grown across the US and prized by those who favor apricot colored blooms.

In 1986, one of two winners was a stunning novel bicolored variety, `Rainbows End' by Saville, one of the best and most dependable miniatures you can grow in your garden. The very attractive blooms of yellow and red combination aging to a tapestry of many colors has made it one of the most popular varieties for garden display.

In 1988, two varieties were awarded AOE status, `Heavenly Days' by Saville, indian orange blooms with lemon yellow reverse, easy to grow and maintain, a great choice for container grown for the backyard patio; and `Old Glory' by Benardella, a dependable variety for either the garden or exhibition. It won Champion Miniature Bloom at the "RoseWorld 94" Convention in Christchurch.

In 1989, three of the four winners were `Dee Bennett' by Saville, a loving tribute from one miniature rose breeder to another, eye catching color combination with good exhibition form; `Nighhawk' by Hardgrove, medium to dark red flowers borne profusely on a well shaped plant; and `Jim Dandy' by Benardella, one of Frank's lesser known creations, pointed buds, medium red florets, flushed with yellow on the reverse.

In 1993, two of the 5 winners became legends. `Child's Play' by Saville, the first miniature to also win AAR,S status. These pink blend blooms have seen their way to the trophy table so many times. It is easy to grow and disease resistant. No one should be without this variety in their garden. `Kristin' by Benardella, one of Frank's best bi-colors, white petals edged with carmine red, outstanding exhibition form either as a single specimen or in large clusters.

In 1994 there was only one winner, `Hot Tamale' by Zary, a vibrant neon orange and yellow variety with exceptional exhibition form, prolific, disease resistant adding masses of color to any garden display.

In 1997, there was again only one winner, `Tropical Twist' by Walden of Jackson & Perkins, coral orange and apricot blooms with a pronounced yellow reverse, profuse bloomer and an attractive choice as a border grouping.

To end the 20th century, there were 4 winners in 1999, two of which were `Autumn Splendor' by Michael Williams, the first MiniFlora to win the AOE Award, spectacular orange and yellow blooms, produced single on a tall, vigorous bush; and `Sweet Caroline' by Michael Williams, red with a white reverse, high centered exhibition blooms produced single on a short of gangly growing plant.

In 2000, one of the three winners was `Lemon Gems' by Walden of Jackson & Perkins, a rich deep yellow variety, low growing. But producing a profusion of blooms all year long adding a bright addition to any garden.

Then in 2001, two of the three winners were `Ruby' by Benardella, small medium red blooms with good exhibition form that lasts for a relatively long time, a clean plant with excellent repeatability; and `Michel Cholet' by Jacobs, first AOE win for amateur Betty Jacobs, pointed buds that open up to reveal dark rich aprico5t blooms with excellent exhibition qualities, great grower, prolific in bloom quantity, clean and easy to maintain.

Then in 2002, two of the three winners were `Merlot' by Benardella, long lasting red blooms with a slight silver reverse, mainly produced singly and in small clusters, it is an excellent exhibition variety; and `Best Friends' by Bridges, a seedling of `Hot Tamale', it is almost similar to its parent except for size and form of bloom, vigorous and prolific, quite an eye catching variety!

In 2003, three varieties were considered worthy to receive the AOE status; `Baby Boomer' by Benardella; `Doris Morgan' by Bridges and `This is The Day' by Dr. Jim Sproul. This trio of winners are all excellent for exhibition and garden display, producing blooms all season long with impeccable flower form.

In 2004, two of the three honored varieties were `Salute' by Wendy White, introduced at the Washington DC Rose Convention, dedicated to the men and women of the armed forces of the US, dark red blooms on a small compact vigorous plant; and `Picotte' by Benardella, low growing bush with blooms very similar to 'Kristin', not much as an exhibition variety but a profusion of blooms makes it ideal for border plantings or perhaps container grown.

In 2005 we will have three winners: `Life Lines' by Dr. Jim Sproul, his 2nd AOE winner, it is only the 2nd climber to win the award, the first being `Jeanne Lajoie'. Striped orange and white blooms that are produced in large clusters with a slight fragrance. `Harm Saville' by Carruth/Bedard, a great tribute to an outstanding miniature rose hybridizer from the dynamic duo at Weeks Roses, deep dark red blooms, produced profusely on a well rounded bush with excellent resistance to diseases. `Chattooga' by Michael Williams, deep pink blooms produced singly on a tall (up to 36 inches plus) bush with good exhibition form, inherited from its parent `Pierrine'.

Delivered by Luis T. Desamero at the World Federation of Rose Societies Regional Convention in Auckland, NZ, 16 Nov. 2004