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Temecula rose society asks city to add Rose Haven Heritage Garden as official plein-air site
Summary
Members of the Temecula Valley Rose Society urged the Community Services Commission to ask staff to add Rose Haven Heritage Garden to the city's Ralph Love Plein Air contest roster so artists paint there as an authorized site and to raise awareness of the volunteer-run garden.
Scott Reager, representing the Temecula Valley Rose Society, asked the Community Services Commission on the evening of the meeting to add Rose Haven Heritage Garden to the three official site designations for the Ralph Love Plein Air contest, saying the garden is already a frequent subject for competing artists.
The request was made during the public-comment period by Scott Reager, Susan Wilton and Rebecca Wiersing, all identified as members of the Temecula Valley Rose Society. "Adding Rose Haven to the designated sites would provide yet another beautiful and appropriate location for plein-air painters competing in the contest," Reager said. He and other society members emphasized that Rose Haven is volunteer-managed, not a city park, and that formal designation would both guide artists to authorized locations and increase public awareness of the garden.
The society described the site as a year-round public garden managed through donations and volunteers. Susan Wilton said volunteers prune "over 2,000 rose bushes," fertilize and donate produce, and that the society donated about "500 pounds of produce to the food bank" last year from a garden of gardens that includes a pollinator area and community plots. Rebecca Wiersing summarized some history and outreach activities dating back to the society's formation in 1990 and described ongoing educational and Scout projects.
Director Russo responded later in her report that she supported the idea in principle and, "with the concurrence of commission, we'll take that to staff and we'll discuss and assess and see whether or not that can be done." The director did not set a timeline for staff review or a formal decision.
The society also announced plans for a rededication in October 2026; speakers gave slightly different phrasing for exact dates during the presentation. Commissioners thanked the speakers and said staff would evaluate the request.
Why it matters: Rose Haven is run by volunteers and supported by donations; formal designation would clarify the garden's status for artists, could increase visitor traffic and donor visibility, and would not change the garden's volunteer-operated status unless the council or staff decide on a different arrangement.
The commission did not vote on the request at the meeting; staff agreed to investigate the feasibility and report back.
