协会沿革与组织定位
东平顶山山谷月季协会（Mesa East Valley Rose Society，简称 MEVRS）成立于 1995 年，是美国月季协会（American Rose Society，简称 ARS）下属的地方分会之一。协会以亚利桑那州梅萨社区学院（Mesa Community College，MCC）北侧的标志性玫瑰园为依托，会员遍及凤凰城都会区东部山谷，是 ARS 在亚利桑那州东南部最重要的玫瑰文化推广组织之一。协会每年仅收取 25 美元的家庭年费，由志愿者组成理事会运作，致力于在亚利桑那州沙漠气候下推广月季的栽培与鉴赏。
协会下设 8 个常设委员会，分别是 Programs（项目）、Hospitality（招待）、Membership（会员）、Rose Show（玫瑰展）、Newsletter（月刊）、Budget and Audit（预算与审计）、Auction（拍卖）和 Website（网站）。会员可自由加入任一委员会参与日常运营，这一扁平化结构使协会决策高效、会员参与度高，是 ARS 地方分会治理模式的典型范例。
梅萨社区学院玫瑰园与 Deadheaders 志愿者团队
协会的核心活动场地是位于 1833 West Southern Avenue, Mesa, Arizona 85202 的梅萨社区学院玫瑰园，园内种植近 9,000 株不同品种的月季，是美国西南部沙漠地区规模最大的玫瑰园之一。该园同时也是部分育种商的测试花园（test garden），会员和访客可在此提前观察尚未上市的月季新品种在沙漠气候下的表现。
负责日常维护的是 Mesa Community Rose Garden Deadheaders 志愿者团队，成立于 1995 年，与 MEVRS 同龄。每逢周六上午，志愿者在园中进行去残花（deadheading）、修剪（包括秋季修剪与 1—2 月的冬季大修剪）、覆盖堆肥以保持土壤湿度，以及检查与维护灌溉系统等工作。园方常年欢迎新志愿者加入，无需任何经验，现场将有 Rosarians（月季栽培顾问）指导修剪技术，对希望积累社区服务时数的个人或团体尤为友好。
月度例会、年度玫瑰展与教育项目
协会每月第二个周四下午 6:15 在梅萨社区学院图书馆举行例会，夏季会议另有新场地安排。例会内容通常包括玫瑰栽培技术讲座、季节性管理要点分享，以及当季新品种介绍。每月例会的讲题与会议纪要均通过协会月刊《Rose Lore》向会员发布，月刊同时收录会员投稿的玫瑰摄影、栽培心得与协会活动预告。
除月度例会外，协会每年秋季举办年度玫瑰展，最近一届于 2024 年 11 月 16 日在 MCC 图书馆举行，主题为”天空中的玫瑰”（Roses in the Sky），展品包含各类杂交茶香月季、丰花月季、微型月季以及花艺设计作品。展前数月，协会通过例会对会员进行展前指导，展期安排现场工作人员协助评审与陈列。此外，协会与亚利桑那州 Glendale 月季协会联合举办年度 Seminar，2023 年 9 月 23 日的活动包含上午的园艺与摄影讲座、下午的花艺设计工作坊，会员可选择全天、半日或单项目参与。
年度玫瑰拍卖、会员福利与跨地区合作
MEVRS 每年一月举办线上玫瑰拍卖（MEVRS Rose Auction），由协会会员志愿种植的裸根嫁接月季在容器中培育数月，拍卖所得为协会唯一的年度筹款渠道，全部用于支持 MCC 玫瑰园的维护与会员活动。拍卖赞助商 Francis Roses 等知名苗圃会捐赠难以在普通零售渠道购得的稀有品种，起拍价多在 25 美元左右，是会员和亚利桑那州月季爱好者获取新品种的良机。取货时间为每年 2 月中旬周六上午 9:00—11:00，地点在 MCC 北停车场。
会员可享受的核心权益包括：免费借阅《Rose Lore》月刊电子版、参加月度例会与年度玫瑰展、优先参与玫瑰拍卖新品种竞投、获得协会 Consulting Rosarians（月季栽培顾问）一对一的栽培指导，以及免费进入 MCC 玫瑰园进行日常观察学习。协会与 ARS 总会、Glendale 月季协会等周边地方分会保持紧密合作，会员可参加跨分会联合举办的 Seminar、玫瑰园参观与年度品种评比活动。
Heritage and Organizational Mission
The Mesa East Valley Rose Society (MEVRS) was founded in 1995 and is a local chapter of the American Rose Society (ARS), serving rose enthusiasts across the East Valley of the Phoenix metropolitan area in Arizona. Centered on the iconic rose garden at Mesa Community College (MCC), the society is one of the most active ARS chapters in southeastern Arizona and operates as a volunteer-run non-profit with annual family dues of only $25.
The society is organized around eight standing committees: Programs, Hospitality, Membership, Rose Show, Newsletter, Budget and Audit, Auction, and Website. Members are encouraged to join any committee that matches their interests and skills. This flat, committee-based governance model has become a benchmark for ARS local chapters seeking strong member participation and transparent decision-making.
Mesa Community College Rose Garden and the Deadheaders
The heart of MEVRS activities is the Mesa Community College Rose Garden at 1833 West Southern Avenue, Mesa, Arizona 85202. The garden contains nearly 9,000 roses of many different varieties and is one of the largest rose collections in the Desert Southwest. It also serves as a test garden for several rose growers, allowing visitors to preview future commercial introductions under Arizona desert conditions before they reach retail nurseries.
Garden maintenance is led by the Mesa Community Rose Garden Deadheaders, a volunteer group founded the same year as MEVRS (1995). Every Saturday morning, volunteers deadhead, prune (including fall pruning and the major January–February cutback), spread compost to retain soil moisture, and inspect irrigation systems. New volunteers are welcome at any time with no experience required, and on-site Rosarians teach pruning techniques to anyone who brings gloves and pruners. The garden is open to the public 24/7.
Monthly Meetings, Annual Rose Show, and Educational Programs
MEVRS holds monthly meetings on the second Thursday at 6:15 PM in the MCC Library (summer meetings may move to a different location noted on the homepage). Each meeting features a guest presentation on rose culture or seasonal care, member Q&A, and the latest news from the ARS and the local chapter. The society’s newsletter, Rose Lore, documents meeting recaps, seasonal tips, member photographs, and announcements of upcoming events.
The highlight of the MEVRS calendar is the Annual Rose Show, most recently held on November 16, 2024 at the MCC Library under the theme “Roses in the Sky.” Exhibits span hybrid teas, floribundas, miniatures, and floral arrangements, with show schedules and entry guidance distributed to members in advance. The society also co-hosts an annual Seminar with the Rose Society of Glendale. The September 23, 2023 edition combined a horticulture and photography program in the morning with a floral-arrangement workshop in the afternoon; participants could register for the full day, half day, or a single session.
Annual Rose Auction, Member Benefits, and Regional Collaboration
The MEVRS Rose Auction is the society’s only annual fundraiser. Bare-root grafted roses donated by major growers such as Francis Roses are container-planted and tended by society Rosarians during the bidding period, with starting bids typically around $25. Auction proceeds support the MCC Rose Garden and member events. Pickup is held on a Saturday morning in mid-February at the MCC North Parking Lot across from the rose garden.
Member benefits include access to Rose Lore, free admission to monthly meetings and the annual rose show, priority bidding on rare auction roses, one-on-one guidance from the society’s Consulting Rosarians, and 24/7 access to the MCC Rose Garden. MEVRS maintains close ties with ARS national and neighboring chapters such as the Rose Society of Glendale, and members are welcome to participate in cross-chapter seminars, garden tours, and annual variety评选 activities.
Official website: https://roses4az-mevrs.org
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