James Duease Rose

James Duease Rose was born August 2, 1948 in Orange County and raised on Balboa Island, the only child of Stanley and Margaret (Adams) Rose.

As a young adult, James enrolled at UCSB in Anthropology, but found working at a local orchid nursery more interesting. In 1971, he began learning orchids at the Santa Barbara Orchid Estate, owned and operated at that time by Paul Gripp. Paul was an engaging teacher and the two of them learned about orchids from books and publications. James, Paul and fellow employee Jim Burkey began developing fine Lycaste, Cymbidium, and Odontoglossum hybrids.

In 1973 James met Lauris Hawkins, a Santa Barbara native who had graduated college as an English major. She was an avid gardener and tennis player and with her mother, Fran Hawkins, often visited the Orchid Estate and Orchids By Rowe, which was across the street. Lauris was offered an opportunity to work at SBOE and it wasn’t long before James and Lauris found they had more in common than just orchids. They were married in 1981 and enjoyed the life orchids afforded them: International travel; friendship; and a unique career. It was an exciting time to be involved in the orchid world.

In 1987 James and Lauris purchased Orchids By Rowe, owned by longtime Goleta local Bob Rowe and his son, John. The nursery was a cut flower production operation dominated by Cymbidiums. The Roses converted the inventory to a wide variety of orchid species. James loved helping visitors who travelled to Santa Barbara to learn more about orchids. Visitors were delighted and fascinated by his stories.

Cal-Orchid exhibited at orchid shows as far away as Japan and South Africa. The large displays James designed for the Santa Barbara International Orchid Show were famous for superior orchids and elaborate props, some of which he found via movie business friends. James was mischievous by nature and enjoyed playful or unusual exhibits which frequently were rewarded with the coveted Sweepstakes Best Display in Show Award, the trophy for Best Artistic Design, or the prestigious Gold Medal from the American Orchid Society.

Under the hybridizing direction of James and his wife Lauris, Cal-Orchid has submitted over 5000 seed pods for unique orchid species and hybrids. They have been awarded well over 450 plant quality awards from the American Orchid Society alone, plus hundreds of trophies from around the world. In 2017, the American Orchid Society recognized James and Lauris Rose with the exclusive and prestigious Award for Excellence in Hybridizing for lifetime achievements.

James had an exceptional eye for orchids and became a noted authority in his five decades as an orchid man. His knowledge combined with an enthusiastic and witty manner made him a prized international lecturer who spoke all over the world, most notably at many World Orchid conferences. His articles were widely published in the orchid world, such as by the American Orchid Society and Orchid Digest. He served in multiple organizations, including on the American Orchid Society’s Conservation Committee and on the organizing committee of the Japan Grand Prix of Orchids—one of only two non-Japanese members to have had that honor.

In 2003, James was fortunate to qualify for an organ transplant. Thanks to his cousin, Jeff Gray, to whom he had been close since childhood, James could continue as an orchid man for 22 more years. He would brag about “going to work” seven days a week, but it never really was work. James loved every moment of walking the nursery aisles looking for new growth or flower spikes. He enjoyed the many friendships he made with orchid growers and plant lovers of all levels whom he met on his travels around the world or who came to visit the nursery. James seemed to know how to say ‘Hello’ or ‘You are very pretty’ in just about every language!

James left this world peacefully on January 2, 2025. His energy and contributions will be missed by the orchid world and the local Santa Barbara community. He is survived by his wife, Lauris, who is grateful for every one of their years together. Lauris is comforted by the outpouring of cards and messages from his many orchid friends and by the knowledge that their shared hybridizing legacy will live on in generations of orchids.