Society Meetings: 7:00 pm social time, program starts at 7:30 pm on fourth Mondays (except summer or holidays), Mounts Botanical Garden, 531 N. Military Trail, West Palm Beach OR online via Zoom. (Zoom link emailed to members before meetings.)

Upcoming Programs and Events


  • January 27, 2025 - GPBRS Meeting at Mounts Botanical Garden, 7:30 pm. Program: “Pruning for South Florida” with ARS Rosarians, Mike Becker and Bill Langford.

  • February 8 and 9, 2025 - Winter Plant Sale at Mounts Botanical Garden, Admission: Adults $20, Senior, Military or College Students is $18. Saturday: open to public 9 am – 4 pm; Sunday: open to public 9 am to 3 pm. Winter Sale Info.

  • February 24, 2025 - GPBRS Meeting at Mounts Botanical Garden, 7:30 pm. Program: “Fertilization and India Fertilizing Protocols” with Denise Abruzzese.

  • February 28 through March 2, 2025 - Deep South District Mid-Winter Meeting, “Roses In Paradise”. Best Western Gateway Grand Hotel, Gainesville, FL. Vendors: Angel Gardens, K&M Nursery, Nelson’s Southern Roses, Rose Petal Nursery, Jim’s Purely Organic.

  • March 24, 2025 - GPBRS Meeting at Mounts Botanical Garden, 7:30 pm. Hands-on Program: “Rose Arranging” with an Italian floral designer from Blossom Express.

    • Wilkinson’s South FL Rose Fertilizer Program

    Back in 2007, Ken Wilkinson shared his Rose Fertilizer program at a Rose Growing class in West Palm Beach. He had hand written his program, copied it and passed it out. Here it is, exactly as he wrote it back then. Back then, Ken and Debbie had about 90 some odd roses in their garden….

    Wilkinson’s Fertilizer Program

    • Milorganite: Every month. Everything in the ground and all roses in 25 gal. pots. 1 cup per bush (HTs, Floribundas, OGRs, Shrubs, Climbers, Mini-Floras). All mini’s in 10 gal. pots 1/2 cup.
    • Alfalfa Meal or Pellets: Every January and mid August. 1 cup per large bush and 1/2 cup per mini.
    • Bone Meal: Every January. 3/4 cup per large bush, 1/4 cup per mini.
    • Fish Meal: March and September. 3/4 cup per large bush, 1/4 cup per mini.
    • Black Cow (Composted Manure): Every February. 2 big shovels for each large bush, 1 shovel for each mini.
    • 12-6-8 Rose Special (chemical): May, June, July, August, December. 1/2 cup per large bush, 1/4 cup per mini.
    • Bloom Buster (12-55-6) or something similar and Fish Emulsion: March 1, 21, April 15, October 1, 21, November 15. Using 2 gal. watering can, 2 Tablespoons Bloom Buster, 2 Tablespoons Fish Emulsion. 2 gal. per large bush, 1 gal. per mini. Most of it right down the middle of each bush. Water all plants GOOD the day before using this.

    Used with permission.