Welcome to the Greater Milwaukee Rose Society
Celebrating our 80th Anniversary!
The Greater Milwaukee Rose Society meetings are held on the second Tuesday of the month, January – October. Our meetings are open and free for the public and always include an opportunity to ask your rose gardening questions. Meeting location information is below.
The May 12th 2026 Meeting Program will feature President Diane Sommers sharing the history of Floribunda roses through the life of Gene Boerner. Born and raised in the Milwaukee area, Gene was focused on creating roses that were hardy and disease resistant, along with many blooms. He led the breeding program at Jackson and Perkins for 34 years and many of his award winning roses are still grown today. You will enjoy this program featuring the life of Gene Boerner and his Floribunda roses, with a bit of rose history thrown in. Everyone is welcome to join us at our meeting!
Welcome!
We are glad you stopped by!
The Greater Milwaukee Rose Society is a nonprofit 501(c)3 (tax free) organization affiliated with the American Rose Society and the North Central District. Founded in 1946, we are a group of amateur rose growers with varied level of experience. We exist to provide rose growing education and inspiration to anyone who would like to grow roses. Come join us! Our meetings are open to everyone!
Meeting Details
Our meetings will be held in the lower level of Waterstone Bank on the second Tuesday of each month, March thru October: 6:30 – 9PM
Meeting Location: 6560 S 27th Street, Oak Creek, WI
2026 Programs
- 1/13: ZOOM program – Growing roses without chemicals
- 2/10: ZOOM program with Ping Lim Rose Breeder; Hardy Roses for Today’s Garden
- 3/10: Weed Identification & Control in Your Gardens; speaker Matt Wallrath, UW Madison, Outreach Coordinator
- 4/14: All about Compost; speaker from Blue Ribbon Organics
- May 12- Floribunda Roses and Gene Boerner by Diane Sommers
- June 9 – Summer Rose Care; Speaker Samantha Gilbert, Boerner Rose Garden and Perennial Horticulturist
- July – October programs to be announced
2026 Activities
- April 8th and 11th (weather dependent): Pruning at Boerner Botanical Gardens
- June 13th: Garden Visit at Will Radler’s, 9AM – Noon
- August 9th: GMRS Hosts the Rose Show at Wisconsin State Fair
- September 11-13th: GMRS hosts the North Central District Convention and Rose Show
Greater Milwaukee Rose Society 