California, United States

Kitty has been an American Rose Society (ARS) member and volunteer since 1986. She is an ARS Master Consulting Rosarian, and Horticultural Rose Judge. She has served 31 years as editor of "Rose Ecstasy," the award-winning newsletter of the Santa Clarita Valley Rose Society. She was previously editor of the district newsletter "Pacific Southwest Rose" (2000-2003), editor of the ARS "Rose Exhibitors' Forum" (1994-1997), and Editor of the 2007 ARS American Rose Annual. She has written over 350 educational rose horticulture articles for various publications. Kitty is co-author with Steve Jones of the book "How to Grow Roses in Santa Clarita," as well as the California Association of Nurseries and Garden Centers book "Growing Roses in California Gardens."

Kitty and her husband Bob currently grow 275 roses of all types. Kitty & Bob are enthusiastic and very successful rose exhibitors, having won 1500 trophies on the rose show circuit, not only at local shows in Southern California, but also throughout the Pacific Southwest District, and at American Rose Society National Rose Shows.

Kitty enjoys photographing and writing about roses. She serves as webmaster of the Santa Clarita Valley Rose Society web site for 20 years (since 2001), and webmaster of the Pacific Rose Society for 12 years (since 2009). Kitty is Co-founder, Past-President, and Life Member of the Santa Clarita Valley Rose Society; Life Member of Pacific Rose Society; and President-Emeritus and Life Member of the Los Angeles Rose Society.

Kitty and Bob received Bronze Honor Medals from both the Los Angeles Rose Society and the Santa Clarita Valley Rose Society. Kitty was honored as the Outstanding Consulting Rosarian of the Pacific Southwest District in 2001.

In 2020 Kitty was awarded the Silver Honor Medal by the Pacific Southwest District.

Kitty Belendez designed and hosts websites for both the Santa Clarita Valley Rose Society http://www.santaclaritarose.org, and the Pacific Rose Society http://www.pacificrosesociety.org/index.html. She also created and monitors the Facebook of Santa Clarita Valley Rose Society https://www.facebook.com/Santa-Clarita-Valley-Rose-Society-127658903531/?ref=ts, and the Pacific Rose Society.

The American Rose Society committees on which Kitty has served are: Publications/Bulletin Competition Committee; Garden Evaluation Committee; Product Evaluation Committee; Member Services Committee; Year of the Rose 2002 Committee; Chairman of the ARS Editorial Advisory Committee; and Photo & Slide Competition.

Very experienced (40 years)

Accredited or certified authority, Author, Breeder, Photographer, Society officer, Society member, Show judge, Show exhibitor, Volunteer or Staff (non-commercial)

Last visit: Sunday, November 10th