Thursday, October 7, 2010

Ralph Moore and His Roses

It's been almost a year since we said goodbye to this Tulare County great - Ralph S. Moore, the "Father of the Modern Miniature Rose." So, it's only fitting that we should take a minute of our day to thank Ralph Moore for the great work he did in Tulare County. Not only did his work earn us national recognition, it still inspires us today.

A native of Visalia, Ralph Moore set up shop back in 1937, at Sequoia Nursery at Noble Avenue near Lovers Lane. The nursery closed several years ago, and only remnants of it are around today, but it was once the place where Ralph spent more than 70 years creating over 500 varieties of roses.

He won many awards for his work. So many, in fact, it's hard to name them all. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame time and time again. He won numerous gold medals, nine of the first 10 Awards of Excellence ever given out by the American Rose Society and his work brought every serious rose person in the world to Visalia.

All of his life, Ralph Moore worked to create the perfect rose. And after every beautiful accomplishment, he would strive to create something better. It was amazing to be in the presence of someone who worked so selflessly and with such determination. He was so determined that before he passed, Ralph Moore had the foresight to ask that his work continue. That's exactly what's happening today at Texas A&M University. The university's horticultural sciences department has Moore's plants, including 80 rose patents, and the department has added miniature roses to its breeding program.

Ralph S. Moore was truly a Tulare County the Great.

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