CV Horticultural Society Meeting: June 16, 2025
Where: Florence Filberg Centre & Via Zoom
What Time: Doors open at 6.30pm, meeting at 7.15pm
Speaker: Dianne Volrich & Roland Semjanovs
Topic: Everything you wanted to know about Roses!
Website: https://comoxvalleyhortsociety.ca
Media Contact: Dulcie Smith – [email protected]

The Comox Valley Horticultural Society will welcome master gardener Dianne Volrich and photographer Roland Semjanovs as guest speakers at their June 16, 2025 meeting. The duo will present “Everything You Wanted to Know About Roses,” offering attendees a comprehensive journey through rose history, varieties, and cultivation techniques.

Dianne Volrich, a published author and master gardener, teams up with Roland Semjanovs, an avid photographer currently documenting their extensive rose collection. Together, they bring decades of combined expertise in horticulture, photography, and public speaking on topics ranging from art and history to their shared passion for roses.

The presentation will explore the fascinating history of roses, from ancient historic varieties that serve as the ancestors of today’s modern cultivars, through to the newest hybrid developments. Attendees will gain insights into the diverse characteristics that make each variety unique.

“Roland and Dianne have created something truly special in their Fanny Bay garden,” notes the Society. The couple transformed a neglected half-acre property over eight years into a showcase garden featuring 170 roses spanning the entire spectrum from historic varieties to cutting-edge hybrids. Their garden has been featured on the Society’s popular member garden tours.

Want to attend? If you’re joining us in person, we’ll be at the conference hall in the Florence Filberg Centre in Courtenay. Doors open at 6.30pm and the meeting will begin at 7.15pm. If you want to join us via Zoom see below for registration details.

How do I register for Zoom? Advanced registration for Zoom is required for both members and non-members. Current members will receive a separate Zoom invitation. Registration for non-members ($5.50) is very simple – visit our website at www.comoxvalleyhortsociety.ca by 5:00pm on Friday, June 13, as it requires two days to process. CVHS 2025 memberships are now available to purchase from our website or download a registration form and mail it in!