MARYSVILLE – The entire Maryfest Board of Directors was honored at the Rose Planting at the April Friesner Memorial Garden at Totem Middle School Saturday.

The Royal Rosarians from Portland, Ore., have been planting roses there since 2001 to honor community members or volunteers with Maryfest, the nonprofit organization that puts on the Marysville Strawberry Festival each year.

Often the recipient is the Maryfest president. But since Jodi Hiatt, won it last year, she wanted to recognize the entire board this year.

“We’re still working to dig ourselves out of a hole,” she said, referring to problems that developed a few years ago.

The Rosarians not only plant a rose, but they water it and bless it as well.

A plaque is placed in front of the rose, saying who is being honored and what type of rose it is.

A couple dozen people attended the event, including the senior and junior royalty for the festival.

Freisner was co-director of Maryfest when she died in 2004.

The entire board could not attend because they were volunteering elsewhere at the festival. But it includes: Chris Nation, president elect; Ed Giesler, vice president; Jodi Condyles, secretary; Art Maldonado, treasurer; and board members Jim Brennick, Leslie Buell, Jennifer Hansen, Veronica Love, Tom King, Alice VanBeek, Darrell Wigdahl, Carol Kapua, Gail Frost and Cara McCoy.