Temecula Valley Rose Society

President's Message

The Rose Show was a huge success and now that it's over we can sit back and relax....but not for long as, sooner than later, we'll be planning next year's show to make it even better. Congratulations to all the winners, as well as the Rose Show committee headed by Frank Brines and Roberta Costa who worked so hard to make it the success that it was, along with the rest of the members who helped.

Ann Coakes continues year after year to open her home for the Judges Luncheon and her culinary skills and hard work are always appreciated by all.

The Members Garden Tour was throughly enjoyed by all and we thank the following members for sharing their homes and gardens: Lyse McGonigle, Marta Pilling, Jim Moss and Frank Brines.

A very special thank you to the Grant Writing Committee headed by Betty Dixon. Through her efforts the monies received from the Roripaugh Foundation helped to beautify Rose Haven even more.

As we continue in our efforts to one day make Rose Haven "The Gem of the Temecula Valley", please keep in mind that your participation in supporting, donating and improving Rose Haven is always at the top of our list.

Have a great summer everyone.

Little Rose Show: Results For May

There was such a beautiful display of entries, a little unexpected since we held the show outdoors at Rose Haven, before the club's home tour. As always, the garden gives us a perfect activity area. Many members were wandering around, viewing the rainbows of color everywhere, while waiting for the carpools to form.

October Talent Search

Do you cook? Do you craft? Will you share your talents at our October meeting? “How, and what, to share?” you may be asking. Well, there is a well-kept secret among our members! The Temecula Valley Rose Society published a cookbook in 2003 titled 'Rose Haven Recipes: Cooking and Crafting with the Roses We Love'. This cookbook is really delightful, and was created as a fundraising project by all of the members, and edited by Susan Puma.

The Programs Committee is looking for members to select either a recipe or a craft from the cookbook and to give a short presentation about the joys and challenges in creating your selection. We will all appreciate again the enjoyable foods, drinks and gifts that can be created by true rose lovers for family and friends. Those volunteering to be a part of our program will receive a complimentary cookbook. If you are interested in presenting at our Thursday, October 21st meeting, please e-mail Rebecca or see me at the June meeting.

Rebecca says "I have dibs on the Villa Rosa Bread Pudding with White Chocolate Sauce recipe!"

Rose & Arts Festival Meeting for 2011

After refreshments at our meeting on Thursday, June 17, from 1 to 1:45 p.m., members will meet to debrief our 2010 show and look forward to what 2011 offers. Members are welcome to send thoughts and comments to Rebecca in advance of the meeting.

Garden Mulch

Time changes everything eventually. Who would have ever imagined that Rancho Waste Management would need to change the way they dispose of the green waste they collect? Ed Campos, who has been our very generous mulch benefactor for the last two years, recently informed me that he no longer has access to that mulch. This is because Agri-Scape has moved to a new processing location. This has increased the cost of hauling, making it necessary for them to shred their own green waste—but they do not have the facility to compost it.

All those hungry, thirsty roses at Rose Haven still are crying out for composted mulch, but now we must purchase it ourselves. Back to stage one: Anyone willing and able to donate funds to purchase mulch would be greatly appreciated. Please contact Frank Brines at a membership meeting or by email at roseguy2000@aol.com.

In Need of a Little Romance

Rose Haven's "Romantic Garden"—the area adjacent to the gazebo—needs a little interim help. We would really appreciate some donations, either specified plants or dollars, so we can purchase some basic plants to begin creating the foundational plantings while waiting for other opportunities to apply for grants. Please contact Frank Brines at a membership meeting or by email at roseguy2000@aol.com.

Rose Haven Update

The beauty at Rose Haven just continues to expand. Besides the new heritage garden and walkway at the entry, a courtyard was installed in May just adjacent to the entry. This is an outstanding enhancement and provides an impressive focal point upon entering the garden. The area is surrounded by Mutabilis roses and catmint with a sun dial to be installed in the near future.

On Friday, June 25th a summer potluck dinner is planned with a brief dedication ceremony for all recent improvements. We invite all our members and friends to join us and let the festivities begin. Six o'clock is the time.

Recently, a group of photographers from Riverside Community College visited the garden and took pictures galore. A separate group of children and parents have visited several times during the month and have had so much fun looking here, there, everywhere for flowers, bugs, rabbits, the pond, and stuff. We certainly are delighted to provide such a beautiful garden for the community to enjoy.

Our next garden committee meeting is Wednesday, June 30 at 9 a.m. All are welcome to attend. Our regular Wednesday and Saturday work days will commence with deadheading after the long spring bloom. Come on out–we sure can use the help.

A note of thanks to Phyllis Bettelheim for her continuing effort in coordinating all the workers, meetings, and practically everything else in keeping the garden in tip-top shape.

Member Meeting Program

Come and meet Richard W. Halsey, author, teacher and wildland firefighter. Halsey has been researching California chaparral for over three decades. He is a popular teacher of natural science at the San Diego Natural History Museum and has been trained as a wildland firefighter and will be speaking about fire, chaparral and survival in southern California. Halsey coordinates education and research efforts, through the California Chaparral Institute.

A light buffet luncheon will be served around noon. Guests are welcome.

June Birthdays & New Members

Special Trip This Month

Directions to the Ranch (not available on the internet). From Rose Haven proceed to Hwy 79 South (Temecula Parkway). Follow it east for approximately 18 miles until you reach a stop sign at Highway 371. Turn left on Hwy 371 and look to your right. There will be a large white sign that says "Temecula Olive Oil Company". Turn right onto the dirt road just before the sign and follow the trees to the first left turn into their parking lot.

I have 21 members who have signed up for this trip. If you would like to be added please email me at mailto:X.Rumbold@verizon.net. I hope you enjoy this special trip. Thank you.

Save The Dates

Please join your fellow Rose Society members for a "Sunset Celebration" at the Rose Haven Heritage Garden. The parties will take place on June 25, July 23 and August 27 from 6 to 8 p.m. Bring your own main course, tableware and beverage, and a salad or dessert to share. There is seating for 20-25 but you are welcome to bring your own chairs. Come enjoy our beautiful garden and the company of other rose lovers. If you have any questions please contact Bonnie Bell (951) 676-6135 or Rebecca Weersing (951)595-7046.

Rose Haven Heritage Garden Milestone

Five years and four months ago Rose Society members including Bonnie Bell, Phyllis Bettelheim, Frank Brines, Betty Dixon, Margaret Granlund, the late Bill Scheufler, and Rebecca Weersing decided to embark on an impossible dream. They decided to apply for a seventy-five thousand dollar grant from the Metropolitan Water District to develop Rose Haven None of the group had written a grant request before and the Rose Haven property did not yet legally belong to the Society. The grant request was due in six weeks.

But it all came together, the grant request was submitted and accepted, the property title was obtained and the garden was installed. There was one condition, however, that remained. The garden had to be maintained in an acceptable condition for three years after its dedication or the seventy-five thousand dollars would have to be returned to MWD.

The three years were completed in May and the group met at Rose Haven to celebrate with a toast "to the dream and to the dreamers."
 —Phyllis Bettelheim

Member Profile: Frank Brines

We have learned about most of our board members now, and we know a lot about Frank Brines' current involvement with roses. We get some insight into those interests when we learn about his childhood in central Wyoming.

Frank was next-to-youngest in a family of eight. His parents homesteaded their small farm, and everyone had to pitch in. From an early age, Frank helped tend the 2 acre vegetable garden that provided the family with a great deal of their food. The family grew beans for a cash crop, alfalfa for the cows, and wheat for their own use. They milked the cows by hand and sold the milk. They had sheep and a few pigs for their own use; the children learned to care for and nurture many different animals through their life cycles. Frank had his own lamb, and got the money from its wool. Frank developed an early love and involvement with all kinds of ornamental plants, but had a special affection for roses. He fondly remembers the yellow rose variety "Harrison Yellow" that the Bureau of Land Management distributed to farmers in those days, and how its fragrance made life in Wyoming's sometimes harsh environment a little more pleasant.

When Frank was fifteen the family left the farm and settled in the Seattle area. Frank finished school there and went to work for the Post Office. Little by little he and his father built a house over a period of seven years where he was able to care for his parents during their declining years. In 1979 he got a transfer to Palm Springs, and then to Escondido, where he spent 20 years creating and tending a magnificent garden (with a little help from his partner of 23 years, Wayne, who describes his own contribution as "the unskilled labor.") They now have a lovely home and garden in Murrieta.

This is what Frank wrote about himself: “Growing up as a farmer's son, I helped tend the fields, vegetable gardens, and flower gardens. My entire extended family fostered my early interest in horticulture. This interest became a life-long love of learning about and growing plants, and especially roses, which became one of my greatest interests–at times even an obsession." Frank's experience in growing, caring for, propagating, and learning about roses has spanned many decades and four distinct climate zones. He has received many awards in rose exhibitions, for specimens and arrangements. He is a Certified American Rose Society Consulting Rosarian and Rose Horticultural Judge, has been a member of several rose societies, including the Temecula Valley Rose Society, for which he served as VP, board member, and Co-President.

Rose Haven Heritage Garden Poem

Thanks For Your Gardens

The Temecula Valley Rose Society wishes to thank our members who generously shared their gardens with us on our recent May Westside Garden Tour. Also, if you live on the eastside of I-15 and would like your garden on our May 2011 tour, please let Rebecca know. Sharing gardens is great fun and educational as well.

The Lyse McGonigle Garden

Four acres of boulders, oak trees, greenhouses and mountain views provide me with gardening joy. Just a few short miles from the bustle of Temecula I live in an area that is very quiet and accommodates my love of growing all kinds of plants, particularly euphorbias.

The Marta Pilling Garden

My garden is located in Olive Hill Ranch, a gated community. I have one acre landscaped mostly with roses. Some of my favorites are Graham Thomas, Madame Isaac Perierre, Abraham Darby, Intrigue, Blueberry Hill, Outta the Blue, Hot Cocoa, Altissimo, Flower Girl, Reine de Violettes and Therese Bugnet. Berries and Cream is doing great this year. My latest additions are thornless, the Prairie Rose, Thomas Affleck and Mrs. Dudley Cross, who I purchased last year from the Antique Rose Emporium. We were lucky enough to visit it last year in Brenham, TX. - Marta Pilling

The Jim and Laurie Moss Garden

At our home in Murrieta we currently have 44 roses. There were about 6 or 7 when we moved here 4 years ago but they had been neglected and planted in almost full shade, so we removed all except two tree roses and a Polyantha which was transplanted. Last fall, after encountering numerous problems with our lawn sprinkler system we decided to remove all the grass and put in hardscape and other landscaping. About this same time we saw an article in the newspaper

After the hardscape landscaping was in, we drove all over southern Riverside County and northern San Diego County looking for the roses that Frank and we agreed on. This took well over two weeks, but on February 2 we planted 39 roses: 17 Floribundas, 20 Hybrid Teas and two Climbers. In addition to the 3 that were already here and the free one we received at the New Member Orientation we now have 44.

We used the recommendations of the TVRS, L & M, Armstrong and one or two others in selecting, preparing, planting, fertilizing and maintaining our garden. I think they are coming along fine for being newly planted and we have had some beautiful blooms so far. If everyone wants to come back in 4 or 5 years, I am photographing the progress of the roses and there have already been significant growth, so in a few years there will be a huge change.

Thanks to Rebecca and Frank, and all the folks at the TVRS for welcoming us and for taking an interest in the "new guys". We appreciate it. - Jim Moss

The Frank Brines Garden

How does my garden grow? Wildly and exuberantly! It is hard to believe the change that has occurred in our garden from bare dirt and roses in pots just a few years ago. There are garden rooms, terraced beds, poolside roses, bountiful beds around grass, nooks for meditating - the list could go on and on. Now that the back garden is full to overflowing, our next garden adventure will be to create a waterwise oasis in the front garden.

Another water-saving practice is applying 3" to 4" of composted mulch to the entire garden. I know that I harp on this pretty much every month, but it's that important! By reducing evaporation, that thick layer of mulch moderates soil temperature and moisture, giving roots a more consistent and friendly environment to thrive in. In the long run, evenly distributed moisture makes the soil better able to absorb more moisture, again reducing runoff. When applying mulch to woody plants, avoid piling mulch against the woody parts of the plant, including rose canes—give them a clear area of about 6" or so all around the base. And don't mulch out to the rose's drip line-cover the entire bed. I strongly recommend this because our valley's heat, sunshine, low humidity, and wind combine to turn bear soil surfaces into powerful wicks that draw moisture from soil several feet away. Even roses with plentiful mulch around them can suffer when adjacent surfaces are left bare.

Speaking of mulch, it isn't just for the top surface of the soil. If you are planning a new garden or planning a new rose, augment the soil with about 30% composted mulch. The wide range of particle sizes makes for better distribution of oxygen and water, producing healthier plants and a more diverse community of helpful soil organisms.

And while we are on the subject of easily-absorbed nutrients, I will once again put in a plug for organize fertilizers. They work in much the same way, improving soil vitality by providing a more complete mix of slowly-released and easily-absorbed nutrients. And once again, this helps reduce ground water contamination because the minerals are released slowly and in dilute solution. In the long run, organic fertilizers are less expensive because they improve the soil to the point where you actually use less product. This is especially true if you augment the soil for new planting holes with composted mulch. (I'll let you in on a little secret: I've been so busy this year that I have fed my roses only once this year, and thanks to a long-time use of organic fertilizers, I've had some of my best roses ever!)

When choosing a fertilizer, choose one slightly higher in phosphate-that's the "P" in the "NPK" printed on the package. If you can't figure it out, ask the salesperson.

Remember to NEVER fertilize a dry or a water-stressed plant-even if you are applying a solution of dilute fertilizer. Always water the plant the day before. This is especially true if you must use inorganic fertilizers because they tend to be much more concentrated. Also, I advise against using any product with the word "Systemic" in its name. These usually contain pesticides and/or fungicides that can harm beneficial organisms above and below the ground. (Yes, there ARE beneficial fungi! In fact, the roots of nearly all plants-and certainly all horticultural plants-have intimate mutually beneficial relationships with fungi in the soil. You want to keep those guys alive!) By fostering the beneficial insects, worms, bacteria, and fungi, you build a healthier, more diverse garden community, better soil structure, and eventually, you reduce your need to feed as much per application.

For a little inspiration, a relaxing picnic, or just a break from the daily grind, take some time this month to visit the Temecula Rose Society's Rose haven Heritage Garden located at 30592 Jedehiah Smith Road (the cross street is Cabrillo Avenue) in Temecula. Spread the word and spread the joy of roses! Also, visit www.TemeculaValleyRosesociety.org/index.shtml regularly for great information and events!