>> Deborah: SPRINGTIME IN OUR STATE IS ALWAYS A BEAUTIFUL
EVENT, BUT VISITORS TO WILSON CAN ENJOY EVEN MORE BOUNTY WHEN
THEY STOP TO SMELL THE ROSES AT THE WILSON ROSE GARDEN, WHERE
OVER 1100 ROSE PLANTS AWAIT.
>> Derek: THE IDEA FOR A WILSON ROSE GARDEN WAS FIRST PRESENTED
TO THE PARKS AND REC DEPARTMENT BY RUFUS SWAIN IN 1992.
THROUGH THE DILIGENT WORK OF VOLUNTEERS AND PRIVATE FUNDING,
THE FIRST 120 ROSEBUSHES WERE PLANTED IN 1995.
>> WE STARTED WITH TWO BEDS FROM PRIVATE DONORS BECAUSE WE'RE A
NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION.
AND THROUGH DONATIONS AND EVERYTHING, THE GARDEN HAS GROWN
TO WHAT IT IS TODAY.
>> Derek: TODAY, THE GARDEN DISPLAYS ABOUT 1200 PLANTS OF
MORE THAN 200 VARIETIES OF ROSES FROM HISTORIC OLD GARDEN TO
MODERN ENGLISH ROSES AND OVER 75 VARIETIES OF ALL-AMERICAN ROSE
SELECTIONS AWARD-WINNERS.
>> WE ARE A CERTIFIED SANCTIONED GARDEN.
AND WE HAVE TO TAKE NEW PLANTINGS THAT THEY SEND US EACH
YEAR.
THERE'S ABOUT 65 BEDS IN THIS GARDEN NOW, AND THESE BEDS
VARIES IN CAPACITY OF NUMBER OF SHRUBS IN IT ANYWHERE FROM EIGHT
TO 15.
>> Derek: THE WILSON ROSE GARDEN IS A MEMBER OF THE AMERICAN ROSE
SOCIETY.
AND IN 2002, THE SOCIETY DECLARED WILSON AN AMERICAN ROSE
CITY IN RECOGNITION OF THEIR ALL-AMERICAN ROSE SELECTIONS
ACCREDITED GARDEN AND THE ANNUAL SUNDAY IN THE GARDEN FESTIVAL
HELD THE THIRD SUNDAY IN MAY.
>> PEOPLE COME FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD, REALLY, NOT JUST COME
HERE TO THE GARDEN, BUT IF THEY'RE HERE, THEY MAKE A VISIT.
WE'VE HAD THEM FROM JAPAN, SWITZERLAND, GERMANY.
AND WE HAVE A LOT OF GROUPS THAT COME THROUGH HERE THROUGH THE
TOURISM.
>> Derek: ONE VISITOR DESCRIBED IT AS AN OASIS OF THE SENSES.
THE GARDEN'S BRICK WALKWAYS AND BATHROOMS ARE A.D.A. ACCESSIBLE.
ARBORS, TRELLISES AND THE GAZEBO COMPLEMENT THE AESTHETIC
LANDSCAPE OF THE GARDEN.
MANY BENCHES AND PICNIC TABLES MAKE THE GARDEN AN INVITING
PLACE TO COME AND STAY FOR A WHILE.
ANOTHER ELEMENT OF THE GARDEN'S LANDSCAPE IS THE NUMBER OF
PIECES FROM LOCAL AND INTERNATIONALLY KNOWN ARTISTS,
THE CENTERPIECE BEING A 10-FOOT WORK BY SCULPTOR HORACE FARLOWE.
>> IT'S MADE OUT OF GEORGIAN MARBLE WITH A JAPANESE MOTIF.
>> Derek: A BRONZE WORK CALLED "CHILD WITH ROSE" BY WILSON
SCULPTOR SHERROD DUGGAN HIGHLIGHTS THE FRAGRANCE GARDEN
AREA THAT IS SURROUNDED BY HYBRID TEA AND GRANDIFLORA ROSE
VARIETIES.
>> MAYBE IT'S HER DAUGHTER STANDING THERE HOLDING A ROSE IN
HER HAND.
>> Derek: YOU'LL ALSO FIND ONE OF VOLLIS SIMPSON'S WHIRLIGIGS
TWIRLING IN THE BREEZE.
>> NOW, ALL THE BEDS ARE DRIP-SPRINKLED, AND WE USE
RECYCLED WATER FOR THE IRRIGATION OF THE GARDEN.
>> Derek: VOLUNTEERS ARE THE HEART AND SOUL OF THE WILSON
ROSE GARDEN.
THEY LEAD TOURS AND HELP MAINTAIN THE BEDS.
>> ALL THESE BLOOMS, ONCE THEY'RE ABOUT SPENT, WE HAVE A
SOCIETY CALLED THE DEADHEADERS.
AND THEY COME IN, AND THEY'RE ASSIGNED DIFFERENT BEDS, AND
THEY PRUNE THEM OR DEADHEAD THEM ONCE A WEEK OR EVERY 10 DAYS,
WHATEVER -- WHENEVER'S NEEDED, SO THAT THEY'LL REPRODUCE MORE
FLOWERING.
>> TO ME, IT'S SOLITUDE.
I CAN COME OUT HERE AND DEADHEAD AND WHATEVER AND HAVE PEACE AND,
UH, ALSO KNOW I'M DOING SOMETHING FOR THE COMMUNITY,
SOMETHING FOR THEM TO SEE AND BE PROUD OF.
>> Derek: THIS IS DEREK LONG FOR "NORTH CAROLINA WEEKEND."