SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- There is national recognition now for volunteers who helped to grow and maintain the Mills Memorial Rose Garden at Syracuse's Thornden Park. The Syracuse Rose Society finished second in a nationwide competition among similar societies from coast to coast.

"The statistics are huge and daunting. 3000 volunteer hours and all of the time and the energy that you have to put in, virtually every day to make this such a beauty to behold. I can tell you that every day, when we see the results, we're thinking to ourselves, job well done," said Mayor Stephanie Miner.

The Rose Garden at Thornden Park has been the joint domain of the city's parks department and the Rose Society since the 1920s.