Learn how to plant, grow and harvest garden roses on a private rose farm in the bucolic Sacramento Valley of California.

Do you dream of growing out of this world garden roses for your own bouquets?

If your answer is yes, this hands-on educational experience on the farm is exactly what you've been waiting for. Take a leisurely stroll through our field, filled with thousands of garden roses, and immerse yourself in the enchanting fragrances of the farm. Throughout this immersive day, we will explore seven key elements: an introduction to the different types of roses, a seasonal overview of garden rose care, rose harvesting techniques, post-harvest care for cut roses, a simple fertilization plan, an exploration of "must grow" rose varieties and management of insects & diseases.

Just imagine how you could grow beautiful garden roses  if you had the answers to these questions:

• What varieties are easy to grow?
• How do I deadhead properly?
• How can I harvest roses as fresh cut flowers and have them last longer in my vase?
• What can I do to manage pests and diseases?
• What tools make the job of rose care easy?

This is the only workshop Felicia teaches each year focused on the cultivating and production of roses. With a limited number of tickets up for grabs, we're keeping the group cozy, giving Felicia the chance to craft unforgettable connections with all attendees.

Overview

Join us for an enriching workshop dedicated to cultivating garden roses for cut flower production. This immersive experience will explore seven essential elements for growing stunning roses: an introduction to the different types of roses, a seasonal overview of garden rose care, rose harvesting techniques, post-harvest care for cut roses, a simple fertilization plan, an exploration of "must grow" rose varieties and management of insects & diseases.

The day begins with a guided tour of our breathtaking rose fields, led by Felicia Alvarez, founder and farmer at Menagerie Farm & Flower. You'll have the chance to admire the roses in their spring glory. In the morning sessions, Felicia will demonstrate proper harvesting techniques and how to prepare roses for optimal vase life. This interactive class invites you to learn by doing, as you'll have the opportunity to harvest your own roses from our production field alongside Felicia.

Afterward, enjoy a delightful farm-to-table lunch with fellow attendees. In the afternoon, we’ll delve into rose variety selection and effective pest and disease management strategies. The workshop will conclude with an open Q&A session with Felicia, and you'll take home a gift bag filled with her favorite rose-related treasures!

No prior gardening or pruning experience is required; we’ll ensure you feel right at home with the roses, even if you’ve never cared for one before. This workshop is perfect for gardeners and flower farmers eager to learn seven essential elements of cultivating thriving garden roses. It promises a unique hands-on educational experience, fostering connections with fellow attendees in an intimate setting where friendships can flourish. So gather your friends and join us for a delightful morning of exploration and learning on the farm!

The workshop will be held at Menagerie Flower in Live Oak, California (95953), nestled in the beautiful Sacramento Valley. Please note, this is NOT an online workshop.

Schedule

The workshop will run from 9am-3:30pm on Saturday, April 26, 2025.

Arrivals & Introductions

Rose Field Tour & Overview of The Types of Roses

Deadheading & Harvesting Demonstration

Post Harvest Care For Cut Garden Roses

Lunch

Rose Variety Selections To Grow As Cut Flowers

Felicia's Simple Fertilization Plan

Disease & Pest Management Techniques

Open Q&A With Felicia

Details

DATE & TIME: The workshop will run 9am-3:30pm on Saturday, April 26, 2025.

INCLUDED WITH YOUR TICKET: This workshop includes refreshments throughout the day, along with a farm-to-table lunch. All necessary materials for harvesting roses, including clippers, gloves, and floral processing supplies, will be supplied. Participants will also receive a printed, guide on the Elements of Rose Growing. Additionally, you’ll take home a gift bag filled with Felicia's favorite items!

PRICING: Workshop prices will increase from early bird pricing on January 1, 2025. Early bird ticket: $899.97 per person; standard ticket: $999.97 per person.

LOCATION: The workshop will be held at Menagerie Farm & Flower in Live Oak, California (95953) in the Sacramento Valley. (This is NOT an online workshop.) Exact farm address and additional travel information will be provided after ticket purchase.

SUPPLIES: While we do provide all supplies needed for the class, we find many folks prefer the comfort of using equipment they are familiar with. (It's not so fun to harvest with a pair of gloves that doesn't "fit like a glove"😉.) We welcome you to bring your own worn-in gloves and clippers with you, if you have them, so you can practice with the tools you use at home. If you’re looking for new gloves, our favorite is the . You can order them from  or  when you arrive at the farm. 

WHAT'S COVERED: The workshop encompasses seven components: an introduction to the different types of roses, a seasonal overview of garden rose care, techniques for harvesting roses, post-harvest care for cut flowers, a simple fertilization plan, an exploration of "must grow" rose varieties, and management basic strategies for insects & diseases.

While we would love to cover every aspect of cultivating roses for cut flowers in just one day, it would be a challenge to fit it all in. Instead, Felicia has curated seven most essential elements to help you get off to a successful start to grow and harvest roses. Please be aware that this workshop does NOT include topics related to pricing roses/flowers for sale, shipping flowers, advanced botany or entomology, soil health & amendments, irrigation & water management, dormant rose pruning, winterizing techniques, landscape/field design plans, cultivation in hoophouses and greenhouses, chemical applications or safety training, growing annual flowers or bulbs, marketing strategies or, business/ farm planning. You are encouraged to ask Felicia any questions outside of the seven main session elements during the open Q&A session.

WORKSHOP ACTIVITIES: This is an interactive class that takes place in our commercial rose production field. You will be walking over uneven and possibly dusty, muddy terrain. For the hands-on portion of the workshop, standing and bending are required to harvest and process the roses. If you require any accommodations for activities or have questions about the physical activity requirements, please contact us PRIOR TO PURCHASING your ticket.

EVERYTHING ELSE YOU NEED TO KNOW: Workshop attendees must be over the age of 18 years of age. In case of severe weather or other act of God the workshop may be rescheduled or canceled. No pets are permitted on the farm & nursery property. Your online email receipt will serve as your workshop ticket, and additional details, including the farm address, will be emailed to you prior to the workshop. 

For any questions about this workshop, please 

Farmer & Instructor

Felicia Alvarez is the founder of Menagerie Farm & Flower, a farm and nursery dedicated to cultivating garden roses, specialty flowers, French prunes, a variety of stone fruits, nuts, and rice across more than 100 acres of picturesque California farmland. As a third-generation farmer and entrepreneur, she brings over two decades of farming experience to her students.

Felicia’s sustainable farming practices embody a holistic approach to cultivating a vibrant small-scale farm. Through educational outreach, she passionately shares her love for nature, art, science, and farming, inspiring both novice and seasoned gardeners and farmers worldwide. Her greatest joy comes from helping others discover simple ways to integrate food and flowers into their homes & gardens.

She studied Crop Science and Agricultural Business at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, has been featured in Sunset Magazine, Slow Flowers Journal, Style Me Pretty, Team Flower, and the First Lady’s Luncheon, to name a few, and serves as the Vice Chair of the Board of Directors for Certified American Grown Flowers. Her first book,Growing Wonder: A Flower Farmer’s Guide to Roses, was released in March 2022. She enjoys spending time on the farm with her husband and two young sons.