The City of Duluth and the Lake Superior Rose Society have announced this year's 'Tipping of the Roses' event. Scheduled for Saturday, residents of Duluth and rose enthusiasts are welcome to congregate at the Rose Garden in Leif Erikson Park, between 9:00 A.M. and noon, to engage in a rose-protecting tradition that gears these delicate flowers for the approaching winter frost.
For those unfamiliar, the Minnesota Tip Method will be demonstrated by seasoned rose tippers during the event, a tribute to regional horticulture savvy. This technique, essentially a plant's equivalent of bundling up in a thick winter coat, is a tried and tested means to guard against the city's brutal winter cold. According to the city's announcement, volunteers need no previous experience.
The event is open to plant lovers from all walks of life, from groups and families down to the solitary green thumbs. With no prerequisites other than showing up at the right place—15 S 13th Avenue E—you'll find ample parking both on-street and in the lot just east of the Rose Garden. Guests are advised to dress according to the whims of the weather, but all the necessary tools and gloves will be provided.
Adding to the community spirit, the city's turning over a new leaf with a request for bagged leaf donations to support the winterizing effort. As noted in their statement, a section of the parking lot will be reserved for community members to drop off clean and tied garbage bags of leaves, though the requirement is tighter this year with new matting techniques in place.
