The Texas Rose Rustlers started as a small group interested in searching for tough roses. The late Pamela Puryear and Mrs. Margaret Sharpe met in 1979, and began their rustling adventures. They formed a loose-knit group of people including Dr. William Welch who were interested in finding old garden roses that were located in old cemeteries and abandoned home sites. If these roses could survive without care, just imagine how wonderful they would be in a maintained garden. Many of these roses have now been identified and are available in nurseries.

In the early days, the small group of rose enthusiasts called themselves the Brazos Symposium on Old Garden Roses. The goal was to collect, preserve, and study old roses and share any knowledge of their cultivation and any historical facts appropriate to their growing. Throughout the early years, the group went on “rose hunts” in the Texas Hill Country, as well as Washington and Brazos County areas. In 1982 the organization published the first issue of The Old Texas Rose, their quarterly publication. Some of the early rustlers included Greg Grant, Mike Shoup, and other known rosarians.

The Texas Rose Rustlers (TRR) meets three times per year:

• The Spring Symposium is usually held in April, location to be determined.
• The Summer Rookie Meeting is held in July at Mercer Arboretum and Botanical Gardens, Humble, Texas.
• The Fall Cutting Exchange is held in October, location to be determined.

At all of the meetings there is the lotto where members bring roses, companion plants, bulbs, books and/or anything related to plants. Everyone gets a number when they sign in and then drawings are made throughout the meeting. Several new additions for the garden usually go home with all.

New members are welcome at any time. The membership year is August 1^st to July 31^st each year. Annual dues of $15.00 include the Old Texas Rose, the organization’s quarterly newsletter and an open invitation to all TRR events.

Joining is easy – download the Membership Form and mail the completed form with check to the address on the form.

Membership/Ordering Forms:

• Membership Form
• Name Tag Order Form (Not available currently)
• TRR Bylaws

Lotto:

At every TRR meetings there is a lotto where members bring roses, companion plants, bulbs, books and/or anything related to plants and gardening. Everyone gets a number when they sign in and then drawings are made throughout the meeting. When your number is called, you go select something. Several new additions for the garden usually go home with all. Use the following labels for plants that you bring so that members will know what they are selecting.

• Label for Lotto Plants