Roses 101: Growing and Caring for Classic Blooms

Rancho Los Alamitos presents

Saturday, March 14, 2026

Doors Open at 10:30 PM; Talk from 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM

$12 per person. $10 for RLA Members. Free onsite parking.

Join us for a Roses 101 course led by Rancho Los Alamitos' gardener, Ara Öraöspa. In this hour-long course, you will include the following information:

• The annual life cycle of a rose and seasonal care appropriate to coastal Southern California.
• Basic rose anatomy, growth habits, and what these patterns mean in practical terms
• Rose classification and a brief history of their hybridization
• Best practices for soil, fertilizer, watering, and transplanting, both in-ground and in containers
• Common pest and disease management

This class will cover everything you need to know about selecting a rose before purchase and maintaining beautiful blooms year after year. The class will also include an outdoor tour of the Rancho's Rose Garden, where concepts will be demonstrated.

This course is aimed for novice gardeners. No previous experience is necessary.

More about the Instructor, Ara Öraöspa:

Ara Öraöspa [she/her] is one of the Rancho's gardeners and spends most of her time in the historic gardens. She is a multi-hyphenate horticulturist, designer, and artist. In her free time, she practices bonsai, landscape design, fresh and preserved arranging, as well as multimedia fine art focused on plant material. All these practices are rooted in the trade skills of a gardener, which is what pays the bills. They specialize in California natives, vegetable growing, roses, and orchids. Looking at a tree is her idea of a good time.

Rancho Los Alamitos' historic Rose Garden

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Host or Publisher Rancho Los Alamitos Foundation