The featured speaker at the next Tucson Rose Society meeting will be veteran Tucson rose grower Terry Swartz, immediate past president of the Tucson Rose Society.

He has grown roses for over 40 years and is an American Rose Society Horticulture Judge, Arrangement Judge, Consulting Rosarian and accomplished rose exhibitor.

The meeting will begin at 7 p.m. Monday, Jan. 8 at the Tucson Botanical Gardens. It is free and open to the public.

Terry will explain the secrets of pruning roses in January and discuss all the tools and thought process that will result in stunning rose blooms next April. He also will delve into important tactics with planting roses in January with bare root roses or those being transplanted from 5-gallon containers into the ground.

Terry will also explain the root stock of choice for Arizona rose growers so your plants can withstand the brutal summers we endure, quality large containers for growing roses, the ideal soil matrix which will result in dynamic growth of roots and stems, plus much more.

He also will discuss the merits of soaking bare root roses in water for 24 hours before planting.

Veteran rose grower Les Hayt will also be on hand to answer any questions about growing roses as well. Bring your questions for Terry and Les about pruning, planting roses or any other aspect of rose culture.

The Tucson Botanical Gardens is located at 2150 N. Alvernon Way (one block south of Grant and Alvernon on the east side of the street). 

Over the past 63 years, the Tucson Rose Society has helped over 10,000 people learn about growing great roses in southern Arizona.