All rose for this judge: Family court jurists hobby began in childhood, still provides respite from stressful challenges of job

WINFIELD - Putnam County Family Court Judge William Watkins spendshis days with a constant flow of people plagued by tense domesticconflicts.

But by evening, the former Marine spends his time with some lovelyladies named Countess Celeste, Rio Samba and Miss All-AmericanBeauty.

If it sounds a bit risque, relax.

The judge, who goes by the nickname Chip, counts those stunningspecimens among his bevy of about 100 rose bushes. It's a hobby he'shad since he was a boy.

"They don't talk back," said Watkins, 54, of the contrast the rosegarden provides to his position as the county's only family courtjudge.

Watkins oversees more than 2,000 hearings a year, including allPutnam County divorces, custody disputes and domestic abusecomplaints. It can be stressful, he says, dealing with people who areupset and contentious.

The roses pose their own challenges.

They can easily become victims of too much water, too littlewater, extreme temperatures, disease and insects.

"Not all rose bushes are going to do well. They don't all makeit," Watkins said. "When they die, I plant another one."

Watkins favors old-fashioned, or antique, roses for their beautyand scent. He also is willing to try out experimental new roses fromlocal garden centers.

The multi-level rose garden bordering his Winfield home wasconstructed with raised beds and a stepped walkway. The entire gardenhad to be wrapped in netting to deter deer.

"My grandfather was a judge in Taylor County," said Watkins. "Andthat's where I started learning about roses. I remember my AuntNettie; she'd con us into making it fun.

"She'd have us dropping Japanese beetles into a can, and thenshe'd smash them with a brick," said Watkins. "That got me started atan early age."

As a junior high and high school student, he planted roses at hishome in South Charleston. And when he returned to West Virginia fromMarine Corps stints in Okinawa and Los Angeles, he took up rosegrowing again.

"I started out small and I kept getting more and more," Watkinsexplained.

While entering rose shows isn't his favorite activity, he has wonawards at local competitions.

"I'm very competitive but not when it comes to roses," he said. "Ijust enjoy playing in the garden."

Watkins keeps a detailed notebook about his roses, their origin,their care, their placement in the garden and their performance. Buthe doesn't usually need to refer to it to know their names.

Double Delight, Fourth of July, Mister Lincoln, David Austin, RiaSamba and the rest - he can rattle off the names and the attributesof each. While some are newer bushes, others have been with him aslong as 20 years.

His arms bear the marks of a rose grower - many scratches. Hekeeps his pruners in his pocket so he's always ready to snip somedead flowers or bring in armfuls for his wife, Rhonda, to enjoy.

"I love it," she said, pointing out her favorite roses in thegarden.

"I'm pretty good at arranging them."

Watkins, a graduate of West Virginia University School of Law, waselected as Putnam County's first family court judge in 2002.

Contact writer Cheryl Caswell at cherylc@dailymail.com or 348-4832.