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Their rose garden fulfills its promise

After Mother Nature made a mess, they made beauty. Such proud rosarians will show their stuff this weekend.

By ELIZABETH BETTENDORF
Published May 5, 2006

Since then, the Dekles have joined the ranks of the 280-member Tampa Rose Society and found a new passion. Their garden blooms in hues of magenta, coral and red, and smells every bit as good as the perfume counter at Saks.

The roses all have names worthy of serious mulling: Chrysler Imperial, Ivory Towers and Princess of Monaco.

"We're very proud of it," said Jan Dekle, 52, who works as secretary to her husband, Pat, 62, a civil trial attorney whose office is in downtown Tampa.

New to the hobby, the Dekles are typical rose growers, said Marilyn Bertch, a rose grower herself and spokeswoman for the Rose Society, which is hosting its 35th annual Spring Rose Show this weekend at Westfield Brandon Mall.

"After six rose plants most people get hooked - six is really the magic number," Bertch said. "And Florida is a great place to grow roses; they're in bloom 12 months a year, love heat, humidity and full sun."

This year, the rose show has attracted ardent growers from across the state who will display blooms befitting a painter's still-life. Hundreds of homegrown roses, including hybrid teas, climbing roses, miniatures and antique varieties, will compete for accolades in 50 classes. Competition also will include rose arrangements in standard, modern and Oriental styles, all judged by a panel of American Rose Society judges.

"The idea behind the event," Bertch said, "is to bring attention to the joy of rose growing. There's a myth about rose growing being so hard. But it's really not. The important thing is to buy the right rose and know the right root stock for Florida. And the Rose Society makes it so easy."

Fresh cut single roses from members' gardens will be available for a suggested $1 donation. Arrangements also will be available for a donation. The show - from noon to 9 p.m. Saturday and noon to 6 p.m. Sunday - will offer new or tentative rose growers tips on successful growing in the Tampa Bay climate as well as information on the Rose Society.

For an $11 annual membership, the organization offers information-packed meetings and seminars at Sun City Center and in Central Tampa. The society's expert local gardeners also will be on hand this weekend to offer advice on all varieties of roses, including the much-buzzed-about, old-fashioned looking "knockout" rose that seems to thrive with little care in the Florida climate.

Though the Dekles still receive weekly help with their dozens of hybrid tea rose plants from the Personal Touch Rose Service, they like mucking about in the garden regularly. It's not only therapeutic, they said, but a necessity after working 10-hour days, sometimes seven days a week.

"The best part is when Pat comes in with 30 roses in a vase," Jan said. "We have so many roses that we give them to everybody."

Their split-level, architect-designed cedar home sits on a lot shaded by oak, hickory and magnolia trees in a small 1980s subdivision not far from Lithia-Pinecrest Road.

The house features a see-through wood-burning fireplace, a big screened porch and a generous, good-looking kitchen (redesigned last year by Jan) where Pat, a serious baker, turns out his famous pancakes, pies and desserts for party guests.

Outside the house, six bird feeders and three birdbaths hint at the property's rural feel, something that has been slowly shifting over the years as development encroaches.

From a second-story pine deck in the treetops, the couple enjoy the back yard in their downtime.

"I'm with people all day long, and when I need a break, I go out on the rooftop deck," Pat said.

Thanks to the profusion of roses, the front yard looks nearly as good as the back, lending the whole place the serenity of a gardener's paradise.

An expanded garage used to house Pat's race-car collection, including a McLaren, which he sold last month. For 19 years he competed in races at tracks in Ohio, as well as Sebring and Daytona.

"Now I'm a rosarian," he said. "There's never a calm moment in race car driving, but there's nothing but calm in rose growing."

[Last modified May 5, 2006, 08:49:49]