Rose Society hosts annual seminar
The SCV Rose Society held their annual rose care seminar at the Senior Center on Sunday.
Kitty Belendez, the SCV Rose Society co-founder and current president, led the seminar with her husband Bob. They taught attendees how to properly prune, fertilize and care for their rose plants.
“We’ve put this event on every year for the past 26 years,” Belendez said. “Over the years, we’ve seen up to about 125 people come to these events. What many people don’t realize is how low-maintenance rose plants are.”
The nonprofit organization, which was founded in 1992, hosts public events and publishes articles to highlight their favorite flower and helps teach the public about how to better grow their own roses.
“Our mission is to help educate the public and make roses easier to grow for all,” she said. “My husband and I are master rosarians, accredited judges with the American Rose Society and compete in rose competitions, so it’s safe to say my life revolves around the flower.”
Teresa Mathers, a nine-year member and past president of the SCV Rose Society, said she joined the organization when she moved to the area and was looking for a way to make friends.
“Flowers and being in a garden create a happiness for me and like other members of the Rose Society, just being outside puts a smile on my face,” Mathers said. “In many instances, the rose represents love, and, usually, when someone receives roses as a gift, it shows endearment.”
Thomas Lawn discovered the Rose Society on Saturday at a booth at the Green Thumb Nursery after he bought some roses. Sunday’s seminar was his first.
“I enjoy gardening, because it’s exercise,” he said. “I’m out in the fresh air, and I’m growing something. As long as you know what you’re doing, roses are easy to grow in the Santa Clarita area, so I’m hoping to learn how to prune roses today. I look forward to coming back to more meetings in the future.”
For more information about the Santa Clarita Rose Society or to access their newsletter, visit scvrs.homestead.com/index.html.