By BECKY GOODRICH
Planted in 1946 to honor local service members killed in World War II, the Memorial Rose Garden has been a Missoula institution for 74 years. Parks and Recreation and the Missoula Rose Society invite residents to volunteer in the Garden, located at 800 Brooks, on Saturday, October 26, from 9 to 11:30 a.m.
Working with experts from the Rose Society, volunteers will be preparing the rose beds for winter. Volunteers may stay for the entire event, or drop by to help for a shorter period. Parks and Recreation will provide tools, gloves and refreshments. Volunteers may email deckert@ci.missoula.mt.us to sign up, or register through www.volunteermissoula.org.
The all-volunteer Missoula Rose Society was established in 1944 and since then has planted and maintained the Memorial Rose Garden, which is part of the City’s WWII memorial. The Garden’s obelisk memorial lists the names of local casualties of the war.
Today, the Garden’s 41 beds are home to over 600 rose plants of all varieties. Through a long-term partnership, the Missoula Rose Society provides for the planting and care of the roses, and Parks and Recreation maintains the park. Volunteers are needed in the fall, spring and summer to prepare the Garden for the season ahead.
Parks and Recreation director Donna Gaukler says the hard work and commitment of the Missoula Rose Society has kept the Garden flourishing for the last 74 years. “Without the experienced and talented Rose Society members providing leadership, the Memorial Rose Garden would not succeed,” Gaukler says. “I hope folks will consider volunteering a few hours this weekend or year-round. It is an easy way to show support for an important community resource, learn more about roses and the memorials, and share community pride.”
Parks and Recreation will host additional volunteer workdays at the Rose Garden next spring. To learn more about volunteer events, donate to the Memorial Rose Garden, or join the Rose Society, visit www.missoulaparks.org.