February meeting, February 11, at 9:30 AM at the Botanical Center Garden Classroom - Roger Williams Park. Mike and Angelina Chute will present their new PowerPoint program, " Pesticides & Garden Safety."  This program has been approved for 1 Consulting Rosarian Credit by the ARS and includes hand-outs.  It will cover  the best ways to combat fungal diseases and rose creepy crawlies.
 

Annual meeting. Installation of Officers. Marci Martin will present a slide show on the building and development of Elizabeth Park, the oldest public rose garden in the country. March 10 Meeting: Please add to your information (that you have already listed)  that the meeting will be held at the Riverside Library, 475 Bullocks Point Avenue, Riverside RI. (not the Weaver Library).  The time has been changed to 10 AM (not 9:30).

The 2012 Yankee District Convention

 Hosted by RI Rose Society

he Rhode Island Rose Society is proud to host the American Rose Society (ARS)Yankee District Convention the weekend of March 23-25, 2012 in Newport at the Best Western – Mainstay Inn located across from Newport Grand Casino at 151 Admiral Kalbfus Road. You may make hotel reservations by calling 401-849-9880 and mentioning “Yankee District” to receive the phenomenal group rate of $62.09 (plus tax) per night.

Anyone may attend. You don't have to be a member of the ARS or even belong to a rose society; so invite your friends and family. Registration will be only $35 per person.

There will be something for everyone! Opportunities will abound to exchange ideas with rosarians who share your passion, to be entertained and educated by the experts, and to socialize with old friends and make new ones. It will be a fun-filled weekend in Newport starting with Friday night in the Hospitality Room. Rosarians from all over New England will congregate to share beverages, appetizers and conviviality.

Our Keynote Dinner Speaker is the renowned Claire Laberge, Horticulturist of the Rose Garden at the Montreal Botanical Garden where she tends to over 10,000 roses and 1000 different varieties.

On Saturday, a full program of rose garden related presentations will be featured. Speakers include Harry Eudenbach, head gardener at a private estate and author of Estate Gardeners of Newport: A Horticultural Legacy. We will also offer a session featuring Consulting Rosarians from the Yankee District who will answer all your rose growing questions and concerns.

A super raffle will also be held on Saturday with donated items from businesses, rose societies and other rosarians. After dinner on Saturday, the traditional and popular Rose Auction with Auctioneer Mike Chute is on the schedule. This will be your opportunity to purchase fabulous roses at great prices. There may even be some new introductions not commercially available. Be the first on you block to own one!  The Convention will wrap up on Sunday with the District Meeting.  This is just a sampling of what will go on at the Yankee District Convention 2012.

Come to the Convention at the Mainstay in Newport in March. Only a short hop to the mansions, the cliff walk, shopping, restaurants and the scenic coastline. Registration forms will be included in the February 2012 newsletter.

We'll be looking for you.

Clive Nickerson and Frank Karikas, Convention Co-Chairs

9:30 - 10:20 am Jerry Amoroso – New Roses for 2012

10:45 – 11:35 am Harry Eudenbach – Estate Gardeners of Newport, book signing

1:30 – 2:20 pm Heather Faubert – Winter Moths (one CR Credit)

2:45 – 3:30 pm ARS Master Rosarians - Sustainable Rose Challenge (one CR Credit)

Claire Laberge, our after-dinner speaker, has been the horticulturist in charge of La Roseraie, the Rose Garden at the Montreal Botanical Garden, for the past 22 years. She supervises the care and maintenance of 1,000 different varieties totalling over 10,000 roses. Her program describes how Integrated Pest Management has changed the environment of the rose garden followed by a brief overview of the stunning MBG Rose garden She will include details about the MBG's award-winning Species Rose Collection.

Jerry Amoroso is the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic Regional Sales Manager for Weeks Roses. His program will describe the hot new roses for 2012 plus a sneak peek into what’s coming in 2013!

Harry Eudenbach holds a Bachelor of Science in Plant Science with a concentration in Landscape Design and is also a licensed Arborist. Presently, he is the head gardener on a private Newport estate. His program will focus on Newport's Estate Gardeners whose expertise played a crucial role in the development and maintenance of some of the finest gardens and grounds in America. Harry will sign copies of his book, Estate Gardeners of Newport, A Horticultural Legacy, after his program.

Heather Faubert has been a plant scientist at the University of Rhode Island for 30 years. She is currently the director of the URI Plant Protection Clinic. Her program discusses winter moths and the damage they cause and concentrates on biological control. Eligible for one CR credit.

ARS Consulting Rosarian Panel: Four ARS Master Rosarians discuss the challenges of sustainable rose gardening as an alternative to using chemical pesticides. Each panelist will present a personal list of sustainable varieties. Questions and comments from the audience will be encouraged. Eligible for one CR credit.

 Check your mailing label for your membership expiration date. To renew, send $20 to RIRS c/o
Bob and Linda Joslin
1 Gilcrest Drive
 West Warwick, RI 02893

Recent meetings with photos

Previous Meeting History