By Carol Wong, President

Happy New Year! The Holiday Potluck featured delectable food from the chefs at Peninsula Rose Society, red and white cyclamen thanks to Pam Schenk, and tables decorated by Jill Ferguson and Linda Kowalski. Barry Johnson showed us the year in photos taken of the San Mateo garden exhibit with which he and Brian won second prize, the enjoyable July picnic in Priya Kamath’s rose garden, and popular demonstrations of holiday rose arrangements by Karen Flores and Marian Vanden Bosch and rose hips by Barbara Gordon.

Joan Goff, district chairman, traveled from Marin county to install the 2016 officers and board members in a formal ceremony. Laughter erupted when Jill’s English poppers were pulled apart and the silly riddles read aloud. A glorious chocolate cake donated by Priya topped off the evening.

We hope that we will see many more of you during the new membership meeting days of third Tuesdays of each month except July. Vice President Eleanor Rakonitz is planning for stimulating speakers, and we are hoping to involve members in activities that will expand the social in our society! Do you have any ideas about what you would like PRS to do? Would you be willing to help us realize that idea? Email or call anyone on the board, fill out a survey, or attend a meeting.

January marks the pruning season for roses, when we strip off old leaves and cut out lanky or crossing branches leaving an urn-shape of naked limbs with prickly goose bump thorns bearing outward-facing buds. We can always use a refresher course in how to achieve a shapely bush. Given the water situation, how tall to leave the bushes? Any changes in garden planning, fertilizing, and watering? Come get the low down from our own experts including Dave Amaral at the membership meeting at 7:30 p.m. on January 19 at the Veteran’s Memorial Building.

Outside of our area, the UC Master Gardeners of Napa County are sponsoring a Fruit Tree Pruning and Care workshop on Saturday, January 16 2016 in Napa. Also check out the Master Gardeners websites of Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties for workshops in our area.

I am looking forward to working with you because of our mutual interests in roses, gardening, and activities. Get involved and let us get to know you!