Welcome to the Private
Rose Gardens of Our Members
We Hope You Enjoy Your Visit
Most members of our rose society live in the Santa Clarita Valley (30 miles northeast of Los Angeles), which includes the towns of Saugus, Newhall, Valencia, Canyon Country, Stevenson Ranch, and Castaic. Some of our members live in other areas of California as well as in other states, and countries of the world.
Bob & Kitty Belendez
Saugus, California
The Belendez Rose Garden is located in Santa Clarita, California. Bob and Kitty used to grow about 350 roses of all types, but have now downsized to about 225 rose bushes. This includes hybrid teas, floribundas, minifloras, miniatures (mostly grown in 7-gallon pots), old garden roses (antiques), Austin shrubs, and a few polyanthas and climbers. Mostly hybrid teas and floribundas are in the front yard, while the antique roses, shrub roses, miniature and miniflora roses are in back. Arches and trellises lead along the side yard to the rear yard where a natural rock waterfall captures the attention of visitors. Our summers are hot and dry, with temperatures often reaching 100 and more. Humidity is rare. Our winters occasionally dip down into the mid-30's at night, with averages in the 50's during the days. We do not need to winter protect our roses. Kitty and Bob are Master Rosarians, and were award-winning rose exhibitors.
Harvey & Sharon Kale
Valencia, California
Our garden evolved from the 1994 Northridge earthquake. At that time, our backyard was a swimming pool. The earthquake damaged it so bad that we had to make a decision: major repair or bury the pool. We vacillated for six months, and after visiting some gardens in Montreal, we decided that with our daughter leaving for college, the pool wasn't for us. So we decided to bury the pool and put in landscaping...but because we love water, we left the pump/filter and created a waterfall. The back yard only included 10 roses, and our front yard had only 4 tree roses. Harvey loves working in the garden...and decided that he wanted to grow roses since it was one of the only plants that bloom over and over again. So little by little, each area of the front and back yard that had some "free space" became a home for a rose. Over the years, the initial 14 roses became over 150 roses. Some of Harvey and Sharon's favorite roses are Nicole, Brandy, Centennial Gold, Moonstone, Veterans' Honor, and Perfect Moment. Of particular interest to garden visitors is a special pair of roses named George Burns and Gracie Allen. A lot of Harvey's ideas, motivation came from the SCVRS, including a couple of visits to the Belendez' home during the rose tours. They have a beautiful yard OF roses. We have a beautiful yard WITH roses.
Burlingham Garden
Saugus, California
Two years ago when I moved into this attractive Spanish style house the exterior grounds were quiet and serene but nowhere was there a hint of a flower garden. It was landscaped for a career couple whose goal was minimum care. That all changed dramatically with my goal which was to create a cottage garden with a delightful and chaotic profusion of all types of roses with other plantings interspersed. Hundreds of bulbs give color in the winter and spring but the roses are the stars during the late spring, summer and fall. They crowd the fountains, pergolas and patios and are starting to climb he walls and fences. Most of the roses are the usual suspects, that is, hybrid teas, floribundas, grandifloras, procumbents, climbers and a few old roses. The major challenge is shade, too much shade but I find that when summer temperatures reach 105 degrees for several weeks at a time, the shade becomes a benefit. I now have my heart set on building a collection of English roses to delight the eye and infuse the air with their delicious scent.
Charles & Susan Maness
Saugus, California
The garden of Charles and Susan Maness is a collection of about 160 roses reflecting a long-standing and constantly evolving love of roses. The open setting includes hybrid teas, grandifloras, floribundas, minis, old garden roses, shrubs and climbers. An arch at the front gate is covered with two climbing 'Altissimo' that welcomes visitors to the garden. A magnificent specimen of 'Sally Holmes' is a focal point in the back yard. A new interest in old garden roses has allowed varieties to escape the beds and find themselves mixed with the rest of the landscape. Some of the larger old garden roses have been "pegged" to increase bloom production or have been trained along a fence at the back of the yard. David Austin shrub roses are another feature. Colors of these are varied, as are style and form, but all must be fragrant to gain entry! Miniature roses are grown in 7-gallon pots and will be seen throughout the landscape where space can be found. A large white arbor outside of the arched living room window, with four climbing roses, brings the view of the garden into the house.
George & Karen T.S. Gubert
Saugus, California
Karen has a fairly new garden that has evolved considerably over the past few years. She has several hundred roses, which include an awesome collection of antique roses, shrubs, and polyanthas. Additionally, she also has many miniatures, floribundas and a few hybrid teas and climbers. She has installed several arches and obelisks where roses will eventually grow over them. Some of Karen's favorite roses include her collection of modern shrubs Ambridge Rose, Perdita, Be-Bop, and Molineux. She has one of the largest collections of polyanthas (27 varieties) in the Santa Clarita Valley. Her favorites are Mothersday and Gabrielle Privat. Karen also collects single-petalled roses some of which include Dainty Bess, Mutablis, Happenstance, Mrs. Oakley Fisher, and Kitty's own light pink sport of Playgirl named after her granddaughter Puanani.
Jan Parsoneault
Valencia, California
I've always had an addiction for gardening since about 9 years old. Dad gave me a small area in our yard. He taught me "only grow things you can eat." Later, I did garden to eat: fruit trees, grapes and berries. I also had a few roses and perennials. I've always dreamed of English cottage gardens and wished for more room to garden. My local nursery told me about the SCVRS rose show at the mall. I really got hooked on OGRs. Nurseries hardly ever have OGRs to buy. I needed to know why there were so many classes of OGRs. Instantly I had to have everything. The grape vines turned into climbers, the berries turned into Austins, and the fruit trees transformed into ramblers and hybrid species. Sorry Dad. I like planting different herbs around my roses for shades of greys and greens. I'm always hoping the next day I will find more space for more roses. Now I almost have my cottage garden. The rose addiction now continues because ...
"The love of gardening is a seed that once sown never dies."
--Gertrude Jekyll
© Copyright Kitty Belendez
