Welcome to Texas Rose Rustlers.  This organization of gardeners who love and promote antique and old garden roses is happy that new members are joining in our pursuit of the oldest, prettiest, hardiest roses and, to quote Ray Ponton, the best Mexican restaurant in any city.

Many times people who are not members will ask:  What exactly is a Rose Rustler?  Have you ever been asked that?  What do Rustlers do?

On Saturday, July 19, at Mercer Arboretum in Houston, some projects, activities and growing techniques of Texas Rose Rustlers will be discussed, examined and demonstrated.

10:00 am… Sign in; coffee, conversation and Shirt Sale.

10:30….A Journey of Roses  by Sandra and Michael Smith.

This film presentation documents the Rustlers mission to help restore old roses to Louisiana gardens damaged by H.Katrina. If you aren’t already in love with antique roses, you will be by the end of this story.

12:00….Bring a picnic lunch and soft drink to share in the cool air-conditioned comfort of Mercer meeting room and be a part of an open forum with Rustlers who  implemented  the Vintage Rosery Rose Rescue Program.  

Join Faith Bickley, Phyllis DeGelleke, Audrey McMurray, Becky Smith and a Mystery Rustler who participated in “The Front Lines” and “In The Trenches” who will tell touching, inspiring and hilarious stories of saving the roses of Marcia Roenigk’s dream garden.

1:30….After lunch, John Ferguson of Nature’s Way Resources will share more information about the benefits of composted soil, mulching, and keeping our soil “alive”.  John actually has a degree in what I call “dirt works” and it shows in his methodical and well documented examples of how soil differences affect plants.  John and his staff are good friends to the Rustlers, and love to help us keep our roses beautiful and blooming even in drought, clay, sand, chemicals and other adverse conditions.

So, call your friends, and spread the word.  Bring a sack lunch and a friend or two, stay out of the heat, but in the know, with the Texas Rose Rustlers. Of course, we will also conduct our lotto drawing for plants and products donated by the Rustlers.  Don’t miss this wonderful program. Come fall in love all over again with an old rose, or two, or more. 

Call Doana Fite if you have any questons:  281 468 3677.

Mercer Arboretum is located at :  22306 Aldine-Westfield, Houston, 77373.