By Mark Bialczak

LPL Communications Specialist

The brush with summer-like weather we’ve come across in April has helped usher along the local growing season.Before you know it, it will be ours to take time to smell the roses.

The fifth annual Syracuse Rose Society Rose Fair comes to the LPL’s Carman Community Room from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, April 22.

According to its website, “the Syracuse Rose Society is the oldest rose society in continuous existence in the United States affiliated with the American Rose Society and the Canadian Rose Society. Founded in 1911, the Syracuse Rose Society is a non-profit organization dedicated to promote, educate and celebrate the world of roses.”

That’s plenty of dedication and knowledge to share. Members will bring examples for hands-on demonstrations to help you grow beautiful roses. Subjects will include planting methods, pruning, fertilizing and more. Come with specific questions or just arrive with a general curiosity about or affection for roses.

There will be exhibits to whet your appetite for the time soon when you can turn your yard into a personal version of the Dr. E.M. Mills Rose Garden in Syracuse’s Thornden Park, where Rose Society volunteers work to keep up the luxurious gardens that house more than 3,000 rose bushes and are a favorite for photographers in June and beyond.

The Syracuse Rose Society Rose Fair is free and open to all.