Page 4 May 18, 2017 TORRANCE TRIBUNE TerriAnn in Torrance A Rose for Torrance By TerriAnn Ferren Did you know that the City of Torrance was the recipient of a very special honor from the American Rose Society? It happened at a Torrance City Council meeting, which I attended, on April 18 when Mayor Patrick J. Furey formally accepted The City of Torrance Rose from the American Rose Society. Our special rose is a mini-flora, orange/pink-color rose. It all began when Robin Gee of the American Rose Society covered Torrance’s float last year on Facebook Live. It was during that project that Robin spoke with Beverly Findley, President of the Torrance Rose Float Association (TRFA), about their possible participation in the 2018 rose float. That started the ball rolling, so to speak, and ushered in the City of Torrance being the recipient of our very own rose. The American Rose Society developed the rose especially for the City of Torrance as part of the former’s 125th year anniversary celebration. One rose bush will be planted in the city rose garden so everyone can view the new addition. During the Tuesday Council meeting, Pat Shanley, President of the American Rose Society, flew into town from New York, arriving at carrying the City of Torrance rosebush planted and ready to present. I met her outside the Council chambers and she told me, “I am honored to be here and present you [the City of Torrance] with a rose. They should be available for sale later this year. The nursery is called, For Love of Roses, and it is located in Brighton, Tennessee, and they’ll be the ones selling the rose.” I asked if the rose will be available for purchase and she indicated it would be available online through the For Love of Roses website at www.forloveofroses.com. Glancing at the bloom of Torrance’s rose, it looked as if it was toward the end of its bloom--but I could definitely see how beautiful the rose will be when it is in perfect bloom. Inside the Council chambers, during the presentation, Executive Director of the American Rose Society, Laura Seabaugh, from Shreveport, Louisiana, Pat Shanley and Beverly Findley posed for a photograph with the new City of Torrance rose along with Mayor Patrick J. Furey. Pat Shanley announced, “We flew in today especially to present you with this rose that has been named City of Torrance. We are grateful for the opportunity to be a part of the Torrance Rose Float Association effort and we look forward to be a part of the float for 2018. This rose is a mini flora. The rose will probably grow to four feet [and about one-and-a half-feet in width] and is an orange/pink in color. It looks a little darker now because it is a little bit of an ‘old spent bloom,’ unfortunately. Earlier this week there were four or five beautiful roses on it, but as we all know timing is everything. But we did manage to get you part of it--but I believe we have sent you a photo of it as well.” Then Laura Seabaugh, added, “We want to thank all of you for having us here and to be able to do this for you for your city… our mission is to ‘promote the culture and appreciation of the rose through education, research and preservation.’ And so, we have been doing this for 125 years.” Then Mayor Furey said, “A little back story on this--this past year, City Cable arranged for Robin Gee to volunteer to provide live Facebook coverage of the Torrance float being constructed and decorated. Robin happens to be on the board of the American Rose Society and she presented to them an opportunity to provide sponsorship for the 2018 float in honor of the Rose Society’s 125th anniversary. The Rose Society has already purchased seeds of Torrance’s 2018 float from Pat and Laura and on behalf of the City. Thank you for your sponsorship. However, this is the honor that we are having--to have a rose named after our city is very special obviously and a treat and special to you--but Torrance is very special to all of us.” Beverly Findley added, “We are really excited that they will be out here riding on the float and some of them might even help us decorate. It is going to be a real good time this year. We are really looking forward to working with them. And while I am here, I would like to show last year’s float.” At that moment, Beverly presented a framed picture of the 2017 Torrance float, winner of the Tournament Volunteer’s Trophy. “Be Your Own Knight” depicted West High School senior Lindsey Beckmeyer’s winning concept design for the float, where a brave female knight defends her castle and citizens from a furious winged dragon. No wonder Torrance won the Volunteer’s Trophy. We are still one of the proud few original cities who decorate their own float. After leaving the Council meeting, I started thinking about Torrance’s special flower and tree. Torrance does have a ‘city tree’--the Cork Oak (Quercus Suber)--and a ‘city flower,’-- the Hybrid Delphinium (Ajacis), which was a favorite of our founder Jared Sidney Torrance’s wife Helena Childs Torrance (Torrance Tribune, July 7, 2011). Somehow, I think having a rose completes us--in a horticultural sense, that is. Imagine how beautiful our town would be if every citizen planted our new City of Torrance rosebush, the Hybrid Delphinium, and the Cork Oak. Hopefully, by the fall the rosebush will become readily available for purchase. I, for one, can’t wait! The 2018 Pasadena Tournament of Roses Parade will include Pat Shanley, National President of the American Rose Society, and Laura Seabaugh, the Executive Director, riding on the all-volunteer City of Torrance float as it makes its way down Colorado Boulevard. • Beverly Findley, Torrance Rose Float Association President; Mayor Patrick Furey; Pat Stanley, National President of the American Rose Society; and Laura Seabaugh, Executive Director of the American Rose Society. Photo by American Rose Society. The City of Torrance Rose. Photo by American Rose Society. Pat Shanley, National President of the American Rose Society. alone aloI linve e FREE Saving a life from a potential catastrophe EVERY 10 MINUTES! but I’’I’m m never alone. I have Life Alert.® One touch of a button sends help fast, 24/7, can’t • medical • fall • fi re • invasion • CO gas emergencies. For a FREE brochure call: Medical Alert Medical Alert Industry Leader Industry Leader Since 1987 Since 1987 No landline? No problem! 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