President’s Pruning - September 2026
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE: SEPTEMBER 2026
REFLECTING ON A FANTASTIC SUMMER PICNIC
Welcome to September, everyone! Looking back on our summer social, I could not be happier with how our annual picnic turned out. We had a truly wonderful turnout, and the food brought by our members was absolutely incredible—our society certainly knows how to put on a potluck spread!
I want to extend a special note of gratitude to the Brookstown Inn team for providing us with such a wonderful, comfortable setting and venue for our event. Having a dedicated indoor space made the afternoon seamless and relaxing for everyone.
Our first-ever Reverse Raffle was an absolute highlight of the day. The energy in the room was electric, bringing a lot of great fun, suspense, and laughs throughout the afternoon. Based on the fantastic response from the room, this is definitely a tradition we hope to continue building on for future socials!
CELEBRATING MEMBER ACHIEVEMENTS
Our society is fortunate to be filled with exceptionally talented growers, writers, and leaders. I want to take a moment to offer some well-deserved congratulations to a couple of our outstanding members.
irst, congratulations to Cindy Scalf on her receiving the Award of Merit for her article, Gallica Roses: 7 Stunning Varieties of these Historic Blooms! Sharing your knowledge and passion for rose culture with the broader community is a fantastic achievement, and we are all very proud of your work.
Additionally, a massive round of applause goes to Ed Lewis for the well-merited recognition he received for 9 Awards of Merit articles published in 2025 Clippings. Ed’s ongoing contributions, insights, and numerous articles continue to elevate our society and educate rosarians across the region – and he’s quiet the entertainer, too. Thank you both for representing the Winston-Salem Rose Society with such excellence!
LOOKING AHEAD: THE CAROLINA CLASSIC FAIR & TWO ROSE SHOWS
Hard to believe it, but we are officially just one month away from the Carolina Classic Fair! This is one of the biggest opportunities of the year for us to showcase our passion to the public, and it features two full rose shows during the fair's run.
Whether you are a seasoned exhibitor or a novice grower, these shows are a fantastic platform to bring your best autumn blooms out for display. I am hoping for a massive turnout from our membership to make our footprint at the fair stronger than ever.
IMPORTANT EXHIBITOR DEADLINE EXTENSION
If you were worried about getting your entries finalized, you are in luck: the entry deadline has officially been extended! You should have already received an email detailing the updated cutoff dates and submission instructions.
Please review that notice closely as you map out your garden cuts over the coming weeks. If you have any questions at all about the submission process, how to prepare your entries, or what to expect at the fairgrounds, please do not hesitate to reach out directly to myself, Jimmy Speas, or Melissa. We are here to help guide you every step of the way to ensure you feel confident putting your roses on the table.
THE HOME STRETCH FOR 2026
As the weather begins its gradual shift into early autumn, our garden routines will soon transition toward preparing for that final, brilliant fall flush. Keep up with your water management and foliage monitoring so your bushes remain strong through September.
Thank you all for your ongoing enthusiasm, your support of our summer events, and your dedication to making our society so vibrant. Let’s bring that same high energy into the fair next month!
See you all soon,
Todd Day
President, Winston-Salem Rose Society