SF Rose Society Leadership Team

My father grew roses, which was a very common activity among the immigrant Italians in my neighborhood. He loved them. When I moved back to San Francisco, I bought a red hybrid tea, in honor of my father and planted it in my yard, where it still grows. Now I own over 50 roses, and want to explore growing more, of different kinds.

The rose that started it all – I grew up in a family of gardeners - mostly vegetables to augment my family's budget. But a garden wouldn’t be a garden without flowers and those flowers were always roses. As a kid, I wasn’t so much interested in vegetables (what kid is?), I was fascinated with roses and swore when I grew up, I would have as many roses as I could ever want. In the small garden in my first house – under the Lilac bushes – was struggling a beautiful dark velvet, very fragrant rose bush, my favorite color. With no name I tried to copy it by buying as many dark red roses as I could afford – but none matched the original. When I moved to my present house, naturally I brought all the roses with me. The Secretary of the San Francisco Rose Society, living across the street, invited me to join SFRS. It took 7 years until a longtime member identified the rose that took me on my present path of growing 450+ roses. After 55 years of discovering ‘Charles Mallerin,’ he still has a place of honor in my garden.

I am a Nurse Practitioner and home gardener in the San Francisco Bay Area. Many of my Rose blooms have found their way to work with me throughout the pandemic for arrangements and ‘Little Rose Shows’ bringing joy and healing to the workplace. I joined the American Rose Society in 2005 after my rose garden was destroyed by glyphosate overspray from adjacent utility company land management. With the educational support of the American Rose Society, I planted an all-new garden with stronger, healthier, no-spray, award-winning Roses. The San Francisco Rose Society fostered my growth in the organization, serving in the positions of Director, Vice-President, and Secretary... and hosting everything from pleasurable educational events for local Rose and garden societies to Zoom presentations and Treasury audits at my home. On a national level, the American Rose Society has supported my education and certification as a Consulting Rosarian, Horticulture Judge, and Arrangement Judge. I am a member of the San Francisco Rose Society, American Rose Society, and World Federation of Rose Societies. When traveling with the World Federation of Rose Societies in New Zealand, Asia, and Europe, and judging International Rose Trials, I have been embraced by a worldwide network of ‘Rose Friends’. That first call to the American Rose Society in 2005 opened an ever-expanding world of Roses to me.

Alessandro Palumbo, often called Ale or Alex, is a biotech-pharma scientist with roots in Italy's Amalfi Coast. After living in Milan, Zurich, and Ireland, Ale moved to San Francisco for postdoctoral training 13 years ago and has since made it his home. Initially living in a small studio, the pandemic led him to discover gardening as a respite, culminating in joining the SF Rose Society to pursue his interest in roses. With a background in a family of gardeners, Ale combines his scientific acumen with a passion for modern cottage and perennial garden design, particularly fragrant English roses. Recently, he's also explored flower photography. Ale is dedicated to the care and diversification of the roses at the Clipper Community Garden and a shared backyard with a fellow society member. He's eager to grow as a rose gardener, leveraging the community's knowledge and contributing to the society's growth and outreach, particularly through social media.

I’m a neuroscientist based in San Francisco and a recent member of the San Francisco Rose Society. My fascination with the human brain keeps me busy, but in my downtime, I'm passionately devoted to my garden, especially the fragrance and beauty of the roses. This love for gardening was kindled in my childhood in Texas, where my father, a garden enthusiast, and landscaper (while not fighting fires or on military assignment), instilled in me the value of nurturing and caring for plants from a young age. The joy of tending to roses and flowers brings me back to those early days of learning about and tending to our garden. In our garden in SF, amidst the blooms, I find a peaceful balance to the rigors of scientific research, a reminder of the importance of grounding oneself in the beauty of everyday life.

Scott serves as Managing Director of Brakeley Search, an executive search firm serving nonprofits. A nonprofit professional for over 30 years, Scott has demonstrated success in building high-performing teams, budgeting and financial analysis, problem-solving, and creativity, to achieve measurable results. He has served as both staff and consultant to many nonprofits. He was the executive director for the Friends of the San Francisco Public Library and recently Chief Advancement Officer for the Parkinson’s Institute and Clinical Center. Scott has worked in healthcare, social services, medical research, and religious organizations. Scott holds a MPA from Golden Gate University in San Francisco and a BA from Washington University in St. Louis. Among Scott’s hobbies is food preserving (making pickles, jams, and fruit preserves). He lives in the Outer Mission neighborhood in San Francisco, tending his roses and other plants.

I grew up tending to my parents' garden on a tree-lined street in the Pacific Northwest. My childhood chores involved pulling weeds and mowing the lawn, sparking my love for the garden and flowers. Despite initial challenges with growing miniature roses, I pursued my passion as a San Francisco gardener. Joining the San Francisco Rose Society, I sought advice to conquer the challenge of nurturing a rose bush. Now, with 14 thriving roses, predominantly old English varieties, I've embraced the rewarding journey of cultivating these beautiful blooms.

Check back soon for Mike's fabulous bio.

The 2024 San Francisco Rose Society schedule is brilliant. Thrilled to see it for its diversity and, being a Master Consulting Rosarian, the CR credits that are offered add to my education. That is important to me. I'm a grass-rooted rosarian and that is why I place importance on rose education. My garden, which is one acre, offers me the space to experiment and gain data for garden research. Nothing professional but I want to know what my garden is about! How it grows - deadheading, pruning schedule, hip culture (large and small), and disease. The pleasure it gives after a very busy day of work cannot be measured. Also, I believe in each Rose Society and try to help the 22 Rose Societies under the NCNH District. I'm the Membership Chair. My goal is to help and inspire through education. I hope I do...