Early Beginnings. The roots of our club go back to the 1930's when amateur rose growers in our area joined together to form the Niagara Frontier Rose Society. The society was very active promoting the cultivation and enjoyment of roses. The society met monthly and held special workshops on rose-growing topics such as rose selection, planting, and pruning, among others. The news article and photo (at the right) presents information on a pruning demonstration given by society members, held at Menne Nursery.

Additional Groups Followed. The formation of the Niagara Frontier Rose Society was followed over the years by the creation of the Greater Buffalo Rose Society, the Niagara County Rose Society and the Greater Amherst Rose Society.

Rose Shows & Events. The societies were very active throughout the years and held activities such as annual rose shows and workshops to spread knowledge and enjoyment of roses. The associated news article and photo (presented here) shows members of the Niagara Frontier Rose Society examining roses in their garden for possible exhibition in the Annual Rose Show.

Internationally known rosarian Clarence A. Davis Sr. (pictured here) was a founder and the first president of the Niagara Frontier Rose Society. He was also affilliated with other rose groups in the US and Canada. Davis began breeding roses as an amateur and ultimately had several of his roses achieve commercial status, a rare feat for an amateur. His roses were commercially available from the Carl Paleck and Sons Nursery in Virgil, Ontario, CA. The Paleck Nursery became the current Palatine Roses, a commercial nursery selling roses throughout Canada and the US. He was active until his death in 1988 at the age of 96, serving as a Consulting Rosarian, certified Judge, and rose gardener and breeder.

Merger. In 1990 the multiple societies consolidated and formed the Western New York Rose Society, which is our current society.