FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Peter Bretschger
(949) 833-3822
pbretschger@intgmktg.com

The Flower Fields Color Intensifies with All-America Rose Selection Gardens

CARLSBAD, Calif. (February 2001) - Continuing to inspire home-gardeners to fill their gardens with rich color, The Flower Fields^® at Carlsbad Ranch will open the 2001 season displaying a quarter-acre of new vibrant roses.

An official All-America Rose Selections (AARS) test garden is surrounded by the unique Walk-of-Fame rose garden featuring the 173 AARS winning roses since 1940. This is the only public garden in the United States where all past AARS award winners will be on display.

"We hope that this special attraction will encourage our visitors to enliven their gardens with roses to complement the variety of flowers they can find here," said Michael Cordosa, general manager for The Flower Fields^®.

Some of the featured roses include "Peace," the 1946 winner that was given to each representative during the first United Nations meeting. Today, this variety is one of the most popular roses around the world.

Visitors will also find "Double Delight" along the Walk-of-Fame rose garden. This 1977 winner originated as a rather bland, creamy colored rose that survived because of its rich fragrance. When it was entered in the AARS Trials it received much praise and is a well-known favorite today.

Selected for its cool, coastal climate and growing standards, The Flower Fields^® AARS test garden will have blooming roses beginning in mid-April through the end of May and again in the fall. The roses will be assigned an AARS number and undergo a two-year trial program. Judges will grade the roses tested at The Flower Fields^® based on vigor, growth habit, disease resistance, foliage, flower production, bud and flower form, opening and finishing color, fragrance, stem and easy-to-grow roses.

Most varieties will be scored in the first year during the spring and fall blooms; the climbing varieties will be scored during the second year. After the scores are tabulated, some varieties will be dropped from further scoring. The scoring will continue during the second year and the fall scores will be submitted and tabulated. The AARS will meet in the fall to determine the winners.

The Flower Fields^® at Carlsbad Ranch will open its spring season on March 3 at 10 a.m. to one hour before dusk.