REFLECTING ON A WARM OCTOBER SOUP FEST Welcome to November, everyone! Looking back on our October general meeting, our annual "Soup Fest" was an absolute, resounding success. We had a fantastic turnout with a couple of dozen members gathering together to enjoy four or five delicious, homemade soups and sweets.
Beyond the great food and warm fellowship, our program for the evening was outstanding. A special thank you to Larry Wise, James Richardson, and Robert Myers for leading our panel discussion and sharing their deep knowledge on winterizing roses. Their practical insights on soil sanitation, bed protection, and preparing our bushes for winter dormancy gave everyone plenty of valuable takeaways as the season winds down.
LATE-SEASON BLOOMS & WEATHER OUTLOOK If you walk out into your garden right now, you have likely noticed that our roses are still actively growing and pushing out some truly spectacular blooms. In fact, many of us are seeing some of the longest, thickest stems and richest color depth of the entire year right now!
However, looking at the long-range forecasts, it's going to be a bit of a nail-biter to see how the weather unfolds over the next couple of weeks. As every North Carolina gardener knows, late-autumn weather is full of surprises, and it is really anybody's guess whether our bushes will hold on long enough to provide fresh-cut roses for the Thanksgiving dinner table. But who knows—with a little luck and favorable temperatures, this just might be the year! Enjoy these late-season gems while they last.
HOLIDAY CHEER & OUR DECEMBER 6TH HOLIDAY POTLUCK AT BROOKSTOWN! As a quick operational reminder, we do not have a regular general meeting in November. We take this month to enjoy Thanksgiving with our families and prepare for our grand year-end celebration!
Mark your calendars for Sunday, December 6th, from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM as we gather at the historic Brookstown Inn for our WSRS Holiday Potluck Luncheon! This is always one of the highlights of our entire year—a wonderful afternoon packed with great food, festive holiday cheer, laughter, and warm fellowship as we celebrate another fantastic season together.
This will also be a very important meeting for the future of our society, as we will be officially voting on and installing our new officer slate for 2027. We are encouraging every single member to sign up and bring your favorite holiday dish, side, or dessert to share. Keep an eye on your email inbox over the coming days for the potluck sign-up sheet and full event details!
THANK YOU FOR A REMARKABLE SEASON As we approach Thanksgiving, I want to express my personal gratitude to each and every one of you. Your enthusiasm, volunteer spirit, and passion for rose culture are what make the Winston-Salem Rose Society such a special community.
Keep an eye on nighttime temperatures, hold off on any heavy pruning until late winter, and take time to appreciate the beauty left in your autumn garden. I wish you and your families a joyful, blessed Thanksgiving, and I can't wait to celebrate the holidays with all of you at Brookstown on December 6th!
Todd Day
President, Winston-Salem Rose Society