Join us as together we learn to grow beautiful, healthy roses!
No November Meeting
RSSM General Meeting, Monday, September 9 2024, 7pm
The Norman P. Murray Center will be closed on Monday, November 11 in honor of Veteran's Day, therefore there will be no general meeting this month. Hope to see you at the Christmas Party on Sunday, December 15, 2024
Previous Meeting
RSSM General Meeting, Monday, September 9 2024, 7pm
A popular local speaker, Kris Bonner a.k.a. "The Traveling Gardener" will present the gardens of Lake Como, Italy. The presentation will feature a slideshow of some of the most beautiful, intriguing, and inspirational gardens in the world. You will hear travel tips, along with stories of how these gardens have changed the world for the better.
Doors open at 6:30 and refreshments will be served. Visitors are always welcome!
Previous Meeting
RSSM General Meeting, Monday, May 13, 2024, 7pm
This month current RSSM member, George Zilligen presents a program on rambling roses. He retired as a Minnesota Certified Pharmacy Technician in 2016 then moved to California. During his 36 years in years in Minnesota he was a member of The Twin Cities Rose Club, The Minnesota Rose Society, and The North Star Rose Club. He was one of the youngest members of the American Rose Society joining at age 11 in 1965. Four roses he has grown in California now are part of the Huntington Library and Botanical Rose Garden in San Marino, California. His rambling rose presentation has been given at Northern Iowa State University and published in the Minnesota Horticulture Magazine. Some of the pictures included in this presentation are from Steve Jones, former president of the American Rose Society and an avid rambling rose fan. We will be having our amateur "Rose Show" this month, so bring your favorite blooms to enter. See our April Newsletter for further details. You need to arrive early and have all of your entries staged and ready before 7pm.
Doors open at 6:30 and refreshments will be served. Visitors are always welcome!
Previous Meeting
RSSM General Meeting, Monday, March 11, 2024, 7pm
What's Bugging My Roses? We will discuss and learn to identify
and treat pests and diseases that frustrate the rose gardener but we will look at good pests as well. Yes, there are good bugs!
Our presenter is Kathy Monge. Kathy is a Master Rosarian, Horticulture and Arrangement Judge for the American Rose Society (ARS) as well as an exhibitor in horticulture, arrangement and photography competitions. She is two-time past president of the Orange County Rose Society, and has treated our group with several interesting and educational topics in the past.
No Rose Show this month.
Doors open at 6:30 and refreshments will be served. Visitors are always welcome!
Previous Meeting
RSSM General Meeting, Monday, February 12, 2024, 7pm
This month we are excited to have local Master Gardener Kris Bonner, a.k.a. "The Traveling Gardener", treat us to a presentation on the best gardens to visit in Southern California. The presentation will include a slideshow featuring the gardens, as well as recommendations on the best time(s) of year to visit to enjoy the bloom times of specific plant categories. Kris' presentations are always informative and fun!
No Rose Show this month.
Doors open at 6:30 and refreshments will be served. Visitors are always welcome!
Previous Event
Annual RSSM Pruning Clinic, Saturday, January 20, 2024, 9am - 12pm
Join us as we gather for our annual pruning workshop at the Mission Viejo Library Rose Garden! We need all hands on deck as we complete pruning our approximately 100 rose bushes and get them ready for the next season! Please bring your own pruning shears/loppers, gloves, and sun protection. Visitors are welcome and can learn the best pruning techniques from one of our many Consulting Rosarians. Coffee and donuts will be provided!
Previous Meeting
RSSM General Meeting, Monday, January 8, 2024
Caring for Your Gardening Tools
We will be treated to an informative talk regarding keeping our gardening tools in good working order. Bring your favorite pruners and/or loppers and we will be participating in a hands-on demonstration during which you can clean and sharpen your own! You might want to bring a pair of gloves and perhaps an apron to avoid getting too messy!
One of the Orange County Master Gardeners will be leading this workshop.
No Rose Show this month.
Doors open at 6:30 and refreshments will be served. Visitors are always welcome!
Previous Meeting
RSSM General Meeting, Monday, November 13, 2023
John Craig
Founder & Executive Director, weCompost2
At the age of two, John started eating dirt and soon developed a fondness for it. By the age of 10, he had developed the skills to discern the difference between simple dirt and truly living soils, preferring fungally-dominated over bacterial-dominated soil.
While pursuing his Bachelor of Science degree in Geology, he was pleasantly surprised to learn that he was not alone and was actively encouraged by his professors to taste the soil and rock samples, soon learning to identify minerals by taste alone. Years later, John happened to stumble on a Master Composting class and promptly signed up.
With the assistance of a small group of highly qualified advisers, he founded the nonprofit weCompost2 to “Promote on-site composting and create living, vibrant communities in and above the soil” and started Hart’s Worm Farm, where an army of dedicated and passionate volunteers strive to produce nothing less than the world’s best compost and vermicompost. Please visit the https://wecompost2.org website for more information and volunteer opportunities.
John will talk about compost tea and compost extract for growing roses and other plants.
No Rose Show this month.
Doors open at 6:30 and refreshments will be served. Visitors are always welcome!
Previous Meeting
RSSM General Meeting, Monday, September 11, 2023
Kris Bonner, "The Traveling Gardener'
Kris is a certified UCCE Master Gardener, helping to inform and educate the Orange County gardening public with science-based advice to help create and maintain healthier, more productive, and beautiful gardens.
In his new speaking series on garden tourism, The Traveling Gardener, Kris inspires and informs audiences on the transformative power of travel and nature.
Kris will share his visit to Cordoba, Spain where for two weeks every year, garden tourists flock for the “Festival of Patios”, a community-wide celebration that opens up private courtyard gardens to the public.
There will be an amateur "Rose Show" at our meeting. All entries must be completed by 6:55 pm. Please see your Newsletter for further details.
Doors open at 6:30 and refreshments will be served. Visitors are always welcome!
Previous Meeting
RSSM General Meeting, Monday, 3/13/2023
Tom Carruth will Present "My 59 Years in Roses"
Tom Carruth is the current Curator of the Huntington Rose Garden and award-winning rose hybridizer. At the Huntington Rose Garden, Tom oversees the three-acre rose garden which includes over 1300 different cultivars and 2500+ individual roses! Tom has over 150 introductions to his credit and has been honored with numerous national & international awards. Tom is responsible for the creation of many popular Roses including Marilyn Monroe, Julia Child, Perfume Factory, Moonstone, Easy on the Eyes. Tom will be presenting "My 59 Years with Roses" which will give an overview of his long career which included stints with Jackson & Perkins, Armstrong Nursery and Weeks Roses.
Tom will be presenting virtually. You have two options to join our meeting. As usual, we will meet in person at the Norman P. Murray Center in Mission Viejo. If you cannot join us in person, you may view the meeting online at the following GoToMeeting link:
RSSM General Meeting Monday, March 13, 2023
Mar 13, 2023, 7:00 – 8:30 PM (America/Los_Angeles)
Please join my meeting from your computer, tablet or smartphone.
https://meet.goto.com/777115925
You can also dial in using your phone.
Access Code: 777-115-925
United States: +1 (872) 240-3212
Get the app now and be ready when your first meeting starts:
https://meet.goto.com/install
Doors open at 6:30 and refreshments will be served. Visitors are always welcome!
Previous Activity
Annual Pruning at Library Rose Garden and Selma's Fundraiser!
In addition to our January General Meeting, we have a few other activities coming up in January! Please see details below.
Saturday, January 14, 2023 - Pre-pruning at Mission Viejo Library Rose Garden
Wednesday, January 18, 11am - 9pm - Fundraiser at Selma's Chicago Pizzeria & Tap Room, 27702 Crown Valley #E1, Ladera Ranch. Please mention the Rose Society of Saddleback Mountain and a portion of the proceeds will be donated to RSSM!
Saturday, January 21, 9am - Annual Mission Viejo Library Rose Garden Pruning and Pruning demonstration. We need all hands on deck as we prune all the roses in the garden! Bring your gloves, pruners, loppers, sun protection, etc. Refreshments will be provided!
Previous Meeting
Rose Society of Saddleback General Meeting, Monday, February 13, 2023, 7pm
Dorothy Birsic will present "Bringing the Beauty of Roses Indoors with
Arrangements." We will be treated to a slideshow that covers the basics for a wide variety of floral arrangements, both miniature and full-size. Dorothy's beautiful arrangements are to enjoy in your home, plus specific tips will be provided on preparing arrangements for entry to Rose Society shows and the Orange County Fair.
Dorothy Birsic is a Consulting Rosarian and webmaster for the Orange
County Rose Society. She and OCRS newsletter editor and Master
Rosarian Carolyn Elgar authored the 2022 publication "Guide to Growing
Roses in Southern California." Though Dorothy has no formal training
in floral arranging she has been entering arrangements in local
rose shows for nearly two decades. She also has been the Sweepstakes
Winner in amateur floral arrangement at the OC Fair for several years
running, including 2022.
The meeting will be held live at the Murray Center. Doors open at 6:30. Refreshments will be served and visitors are always welcome!
Meeting Location, Norman P. Murray Center, 24932 Veterans Way, Mission Viejo, CA 92692
Previous Meeting
Rose Society of Saddleback General Meeting, Monday, February 9, 2023, 7pm
Please join us as Master Rosarian Ruth Tiffany teaches us about the best fertilization methods for Roses. Ruth is a long time member of the San Diego Rose Society and accomplished rose exhibitor. You can see her take us on a tour of her garden here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S6IfsLUKEdE&t=12s
The meeting will be held live at the Murray Center. Doors open at 6:30. Refreshments will be served and visitors are always welcome!
Meeting Location, Norman P. Murray Center, 24932 Veterans Way, Mission Viejo, CA 92692
Previous Meeting
Rose Society of Saddleback General Meeting, Monday, November 14, 2022, 7pm
We have a special treat this month! Sharie Yeager of HB Dahlias will be sharing with us tips for growing dahlias in our SoCal climate! Why dahlias at a Rose Society meeting? So many reasons! Dahlias pair wonderfully both in the garden and in the vase with roses!! Best of all, when our roses are struggling in the worst heat of summer, dahlias are just starting to bloom to give our gardens a wonderful burst of color in the hottest months.
Here is how Sharie describes herself:
"I'm a local backyard gardener that loves growing flowers organically. I have been growing dahlias every summer for over 15 years. I used to grow vegetables as well but after years of people telling me, "You should sell those gorgeous flowers", I converted my vegetable garden into a dahlia patch. I reached out to a few local floral designers and HB Dahlias was born. I grow garden roses, annuals, perennials and loads of dahlias for cut flower use in floral work. " (https://www.instagram.com/hbdahlias/)
We will be hosting an amateur Rose Show at our meeting! If you plan to show roses, they MUST be prepared and ready for judging by 7pm at the latest!! Please come early if you are showing roses so that the entries are ready well in advance of the start of our meeting!
The meeting will be held live at the Murray Center. Doors open at 6:30. Refreshments will be served and visitors are always welcome!
Meeting Location, Norman P. Murray Center, 24932 Veterans Way, Mission Viejo, CA 92692
Previous Meeting
Rose Society of Saddleback General Meeting, Monday, October 10, 2022, 7pm
Our October meeting program will feature Master Rosarian Kathy Monge from the Orange County Rose Society. Kathy will be sharing tips on photographing roses, and what the judges are looking for in photographs at Rose Shows.
We will be hosting an amateur Rose Show at our meeting! If you plan to show roses, they MUST be prepared and ready for judging by 7pm at the latest!! Please come early if you are showing roses so that the entries are ready well in advance of the start of our meeting!
The meeting will be held live at the Murray Center. Doors open at 6:30. Refreshments will be served and visitors are always welcome!
Meeting Location, Norman P. Murray Center, 24932 Veterans Way, Mission Viejo, CA 92692
Previous Meeting
Rose Society of Saddleback General Meeting, Monday, September 12, 2022, 7pm
For our September meeting, we are privileged to welcome Brooke of Dana Point Nursery! Brooke will present her advice for preparing our fall gardens for planting, best companion plants for Roses, and maybe even a little history of this beautiful family-owned Nursery that has been in business since 1947!!
We will be hosting an amateur Rose Show at our meeting! If you plan to show roses, they MUST be prepared and ready for judging by 7pm at the latest!! Please come early if you are showing roses so that the entries are ready well in advance of the start of our meeting!
The meeting will be held live at the Murray Center. Doors open at 6:30
Meeting Location, Norman P. Murray Center, 24932 Veterans Way, Mission Viejo, CA 92692
