The magnificent rose has inspired music, poetry, and literature throughout the ages. "What's in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet," from Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. Gertrude Stein coined the phrase, "A rose, is a rose, is a rose."

Wandering through my friend's rose garden admiring nearly 250 rose brushes, she told me her Rosarian would be at her house the following day to tend the roses bushes. I thought I hadn't heard her correctly. I thought she said a Rotarian or maybe perhaps someone belonging to a religious sect. I quizzed her on the word Rosarian only to find out there really is such a profession as a Rosarian.

I knew nothing about what a Rosarian did, what schooling was required before you called yourself a Rosarian, and what compelled a person to specialize in this variety of flower?

In my quest to find more information about Rosarians, I called my friend to ask if I could come over and talk with her Rosarian while he tended her roses. On a warm and slightly breeze day in the valley, I arrived at my friend's house with camera and questions.

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