On the eastern shore of San Francisco Bay is a 3.9-mile jewel of a city named El Cerrito––Spanish for Little Hill. Miriam Wilkins, founder of The Heritage Roses Group, has lived there most of her life. Her home has a perch on that little hill with two breathtaking views: one of the San Francisco Bay – the other – Miriam’s legendary rose garden.
During her acceptance speech, at El Cerrito City Hall, Miriam eloquently said she’s unable to put into words how much roses mean to her.
Tuesday evening, December 2, Miriam was honored with a framed portrait on the El Cerrito Wall of Fame. The citizens of this well-educated, vibrant community honored her profound dedication to Old Garden Roses. Through Miriam's guidance, thousands of people, over a thirty-year period, have streamed through the doors of the El Cerrito Community Center to enjoy one of the greatest rose shows on earth.
The framed portrait, of Miriam Wilkins, that will be on El Cerrito’s Wall of Fame.
The Celebration of Old Roses came about when Miriam thought people interested in roses needed a day to celebrate and study the vast world that makes up genus rosa. Each May, on the Sunday after Mother’s Day, rose lovers count on being enveloped in a scented sea of blooms, displayed on long tables, grouped by rose family. Rose vendors and craftspeople lend the occasion a festive air, and the opportunity to purchase rare roses, perennials, and rose-inspired items.
In 1975, Miriam launched a quarterly Rose Letter, which promotes the love of old roses with information and new discoveries. Over the years, guest editors and writers have filled the journal’s pages with invaluable articles.
For a more personal take on her favorite subject, Miriam created the biannual Old Roser’s Digest. In the second issue, Miriam writes: Dear friends, there is so much in the old rose world to mystify and entrance us. Now as the roses spring forward and buds of known and unknown beauties form, I find the old excitement rising, filling me with wonder. The old world goes oft awry, but there is always the comfort of the garden.
Last year, Miriam passed the ORD’s editorship to Joanie Helgeson, however Miriam continues to contribute to each issue. Members hoard their issues of both publications for the wealth of information offered.
Besides her rose work, which included a garden of well over a thousand roses in its day, Miriam was an elementary school teacher in El Cerrito before becoming the busy mother of four children. Leading both Boy and Girl Scout troops and keeping abreast of city business at council meetings, Miriam is one citizen El Cerrito residents are very proud of.
Congratulations Miriam!
