Jeff has been working for East Bay Regional Park District for 19 years. 6 years as a Park Ranger and 13 years as a Gardener. He is the gardener at Dry Creek Garden in Union City, California. Dry Creek is approximately 4.5 acre public garden that is open on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 10am-4pm. (Currently closed due to 2022 flood damage)The gardens at Dry Creek were developed in the 1930’s by the Meyers sisters. They donated the garden and the 1.200 acre Pioneer Ranch to East Bay Regional Park for all to enjoy. The garden consists of a cottage, a meandering creek through stands of 300 year old sycamore trees, a chicken coop, fruit trees and many miscellaneous plantings. There is a picnic area to sit and have your bagged lunch. Entry is free and so is the parking. In 2019, the garden was a tour spot for the American Iris Society’s annual convention. It now boasts almost 2,300 varieties of bearded and non-bearded irises. The Dry Creek Iris Garden is open every year for 3-4 weeks. This year we will be open April 23rd to May 17th . Only on Thursday through Sunday from 10am to 4pm. Follow the posted signage from the parking lot up the road to a long hill. Best address to get to the Dry Creek Staging Area is 400 May Road Union City, CA.

He grew up with irises in his family’s yard, but only remembers purple and an occasional yellow. The purple was probably Crimson King or Eleanor Roosevelt. In 1991, he discovered Schreiner’s Iris Catalog. Never knowing there were soo many other varieties, I soon became a collector. I grow many types of plants from Cycads, coleus, a large vegetable garden at work, I have chickens at home and at work. I have recently started growing many types of cactus and succulents from seed.

I believe in improving your soil with compost over fertilizers and we are now incorporating biochar into all our planting areas at work as each one gets re-worked. I also prefer in-line drip irrigation over all others.

Fast forward to 2013. While buying irises at the Benicia Peddlers Fair, one of the members I knew introduced me to the convention director who was looking for a display garden for an upcoming AIS Convention in 2018 or 2019. Dry Creek became the master planting for the AIS 2019 Convention. I joined Mt. Diablo Iris Society in 2014 and became president for 2019-2021, 2024-2025, 2026-present. Also a member of the Clara B. Rees Iris Society, Monterey Bay Iris Society and Sydney B. Mitchell Iris Societies, The Historical Iris Preservation Society, Dwarf Iris Society, Spuria Iris Society, The Society For Japanese Irises, Aril Society International, Pacific Coast Iris Society, The San Francisco Cactus and Succulent Society, San Leandro Dahlia Society.

Emerald Glen Rose Garden Prunathon

The Annual Prunathon of the Emerald Glen Rose Garden is complete!

The 167 roses are now a Winter Wonderland of tidy, sculptured plants ready to burst into Springtime bloom. Pruning is finished for 2026! .

Why does MDRS prune the garden and deadhead it during the growing season? Because the City of Dublin provides us with a free meeting room in the Dublin Library. Last time I checked, it saves us $200 to $300 per meeting.

Many thanks,

Kathy Knabke - The Grateful Deadheader (and Pruner / Raker)

Thank you to the many members that helped prune and rake during the Purnathon:

Heather Brillhart, Nicole Duemmlein, Linda Nardy, Sheryl Reed, Elizabeth Wiener, Peggy Carlson, Lou Evans, Andy Miller, Cathy & Charlie Ruberta, May & Tun Lee, Helen Zawlik-Moyot, Andrew Mays, Susie Chan and me.

Kathy Knabke and MDRS President Andy Miller pruning during the Prunathon.

Where to buy Roses

Local Nurseries

Alden Lane www.aldenlane.com

981 Alden Lane, Livermore CA

Regan Nursery www.regannursery.com

4268 Decoto Road, Fremont, CA

Mail Order and Out of area nurseries

K and M Roses www.kandmroses.com
Wisconsin Roses www.wiroses.com
Palatine Roses www.palatineroses.com
Angel Gardens www.angelsgardens.com
Laguna Hills Nursery www.lagunahillsnursery.com
Plant Depot www.plantdepot.com
Rogue Valley Roses www.roguevalleyroses.com
Green Thumb www.greenthumb.com
Cool Roses www.coolroses.com
Otto & Sons **Pickup Only www.ottoandsons-nursery.com
Heirloom Roses www.heirloomroses.com
Burlington Roses www.burlingtonroses.com
Antique Rose Emporium www.antiqueroseemporium
Roses Unlimited www.rosesunlimitedsc.com

Memberships

Become an MDRS member

Full membership in the Mount Diablo Rose Society with interesting and educational meetings
Questions answered by expert Rosarians, Master Rosarians and expert Rose Judges
A beautiful meeting place - Dublin Library's Community Room
Programs on all aspects of rose growing, for beginners as well as for experienced rosarians
"Little Rose Show" at almost every meeting - learn how to show and exhibit roses
Annual Rose Show - usually in April or May
Instructions and inspiration through fellowship with other rosarians
Field trips, garden tours, potlucks, pruning demonstrations, etc.
Drawings and refreshment goodies, hand-outs and educational materials
Families and guests are welcome

Membership Costs

Membership is open to anyone interested in growing or showing roses. Membership is $25/year per person, or $30/year per couple.

When We Meet

Mount Diablo Rose Society meets the second Wednesday of each month

(except July & August)

In Person meetings are at the:

Dublin Library, Community Room

200 Civic Plaza, Dublin, CA

See Meetings page for upcoming programs.

Download the Membership form

Contact Us

President ~ Andy Miller

(925) 963-0422

Vice President ~ Open position

Treasurer ~ Jan Soderstrom

(925) 833-9184

Secretary ~ Kathy Knabke

(925) 552-7310

Director-at-Large ~ Helen Zawlik-Moyot

(510) 289-5316 (prefers text)

Director-at-Large ~ Carl Meyer

(925) 519-3350

Past President ~ Lou Evans

(925) 371-6115

Newsletter ~ Open position

Emerald Glen Rose Garden ~ Kathy Knabke

(925) 552-7310

Mount Diablo Rose Society

200 Civic Plaza, Dublin, California 94568, United States

Mount Diablo Rose Society

Mount Diablo Rose Society

Membership meeting Wednesday, Feb, 11

All About Iris

Emerald Glen Rose Garden Prunathon

Where to buy Roses

Local Nurseries

Mail Order and Out of area nurseries

Upcoming Events

Memberships

Become an MDRS member

Membership Costs

When We Meet

Consulting Rosarians

If you have rose growing questions or problems, please feel free to contact one of the Consulting Rosarians listed below:

Contact Us

Drop us a line!

Mount Diablo Rose Society