Growing Roses in the Carolinas

photo by Satish Prabhu

The Greater Greenville Rose Society
Welcomes you to the

Carolina District 2026 Mid Winter Meeting

January 23 -24, 2026

Click Here to Download Registration Form

The 2026 Carolina District Mid-Winter Meeting will be held Friday, January 23 – Saturday, January 24, 2026, at the beautiful historic Brookstown Inn in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

See speaker lineup below

As always, you can look forward to wonderful speakers, great vendors, and delicious food. This is a weekend you won’t want to miss!

For more information or to be added to the official mailing list, please contact:

Note: Societies are asked to provide a gift basket or another item for the auction.

Venue:
Brookstown Inn
200 Brookstown Avenue
Winston-Salem, NC 27101
www.brookstowninn.com

Group Name: Rose Society Mid-Winter Meeting 2026
Arrival Date: Friday, January 23, 2026
Departure Date: Sunday, January 25, 2026
Group Rate: $130 + 13% tax per night
Last Day to Book: January 1, 2026

To Reserve:
Call Central Reservations at 336-701-3904
Booking Link – CLICK HERE

Amenities:

  • Complimentary Hot Breakfast (Mon-Fri: 7-9am | Sat-Sun: 8-10am)

  • Daily Manager’s Reception with Wine & Cheese (5-7pm)

  • Cookies & Milk at Bedtime (8-9pm)

  • Free On-Site Parking

  • Complimentary Hi Speed WiFi

The Carolina District 2026
Mid-Winter Meeting Speakers

Craig Dorschel - ARS President
Latest Updates on ARS Revival

Craig serves as President of the American Rose Society, a position he has held since 2024. In his talk, he discusses the challenges ARS faces today and the changes that may be needed to keep the organization strong moving forward.

Bruce Ching- Charlotte Rose Society
Advice for Rookie Rosarians

Bruce is a recently retired transplant to the Charlotte area. His presentation tells the story of an enthusiastic—but initially quite uninformed—newcomer to the world of rose

  • cultivation. He will share the misconceptions, mistakes, frustrations, sources of encouragement, and unexpected successes that have shaped his journey.

    Bruce states: “I am still developing my ‘tastes’ in roses. I find all kinds of roses attractive, but I am most drawn to delicate Minifloras with multiple colors. I am also very interested in understanding the scientific basis of growing roses, including disease management, pest control, and fertilization.”

Cindy Dale - South Metro Rose Society
Basic and Advance Rose Exhibiting

Cindy is a Master Rosarian and successful Deep South and national exhibitor, having won the National Queen of Show a few years ago. This program covers all aspects of rose exhibiting in

  • the horticulture division of most shows for the newer exhibitor, such as selecting roses that have the best chance of winning, growing award-winning roses, harvesting for the show, putting together a prep kit, transporting blooms, grooming the blooms in the prep area, and how the judges choose the winners. It also includes information for the more advanced exhibitor on collections and national and district challenge classes and how to enter them, as well as a short segment on exhibiting arrangements.

Gary Rankin & Monica Valentovic
Great Tools for Rosarians

Gary and Monica are professors in the Biochemistry Department at Marshall University - West Virginia. They are Master Rosarians and frequent contributors to American Rose magazine. For more than ten

  • years, they have tested new products used in rose cultivation and will present the innovative tools and treatments they have evaluated for the American Rose Society.

Stephen & Nicholas Fritz -The Rose
in History - Yesterday and Today     

Stephen and his son Nicholas will share a fascinating presentation on the history of the rose in Western culture, along with their own journey to develop beautiful, fragrant,

  • and disease-resistant varieties. What began more than 30 years ago as Stephen worked in his backyard in a rather vagrant and nonchalant fashion toward this goal. In recent years, Nicholas has joined the project, bringing expansion and a more focused direction. Together, they have made meaningful progress and believe several of their rose varieties show strong commercial promise.

Nar Ranabhat - University of Tenn.
Updates on Rose Rosette Disease

Dr. Ranabhat will present an overview of Rose Rosette Disease (RRD), covering its symptoms, how it spreads, and its impact on roses. For attendees already familiar with the disease,

  • he will also share updates from the Sustainable Landscape Rose Project and discuss current research efforts. The session will conclude with an interactive Q&A tailored to participants’ questions and expertise.

    Dr. Ranabhat leads a research and extension program at the University of Tennessee–Knoxville focused on applied solutions for managing major diseases in landscape plants. With more than a decade of experience working with mite-transmitted viruses, he is part of a multi-state collaborative project aimed at developing sustainable rose cultivars capable of combating rose rosette disease.

Find a Local Rose Society

North Carolina

photo by Satish Prabhu

South Carolina

photo by Satish Prabhu

At the Carolina District of the American Rose Society, we are dedicated to empowering individuals with the knowledge and skills needed to grow exquisite roses. Our journey began with a passion for this timeless flower, and we invite you to explore the elegance and joy that comes from nurturing roses in your garden.

Discover the joy of growing
roses

Learn more

Contact Us

Are you passionate about roses? Do you have questions about how to grow roses or need assistance? Our experts are here to provide you step by step guidance on how to grow roses in the Carolinas. We encourage you to reach out for any inquiries regarding rose care, membership, or events. We are excited to join you on your journey to grow beautiful roses!

photo by Satish Prabhu