Hello Fellow GRS Members and Friends,
As we are now getting into summer, my thoughts recall the brutal heat of last summer. Here in McIntosh there has already been several days in the low 90’s. Hopefully we won’t have last year’s heat all over again. It was very hard to keep all our plants hydrated and the roses really showed it. This plus the devastation from chili thrips, I was almost ready to trash rose growing.
At our last meeting, the action to change our bylaws was voted on and approved. This action changed the wording on how long the president and vice president would be qualified to serve in their office. We voted these terms would be for two 2-year terms served consecutively. After the second 2-year term, another member will need to step up and serve. If this does not happen GRS will have to become non-affiliated with ARS, losing all privileges and benefits associated with ARS. I’m sure none of us wants to see this happen, so please be thinking about how you can serve in leadership.
This May meeting is our annual picnic. It is being held in Micanopy at the Historical Society complex, in Warehouse II. This is an open-air facility with bathrooms, water and a sink, electricity and a refrigerator so it will be comfortable for us. If anyone wants to visit the Museum after we eat, Jean will be glad to give you a tour. If you have never been, it will be a treat. See directions further in the newsletter. We would love to have family members and guests come too. It will be a fun afternoon.
I want to thank Jean Giesel and Jean Stream for going to the Master Gardeners Plant Sale in Newberry last Saturday. They had fun and talked with a lot of folks who are currently growing roses or are interested in growing them. They were invited back on October 19 to the Fall Horticulture Expo. If we want, GRS will be able to sell roses that day. We will need to discuss this later and make plans if this is what we want to do.
The only business at this meeting will be the installation of our 2024/25 officers, so come for fun. We need to stay on track with what we have volunteered to do for the 2024 DSD Fall Convention and Rose Show. Let me know if you need a reminder, I have a list. Keep in mind there are no meetings in July and August so we can’t wait until September to get our individual jobs done.
I will look forward to seeing you at the picnic. Bring a friend.
Ralph Stream, Master Rosarian, President
