Temecula Valley Rose Society

President's Message

Our next member meeting on August 19th will be about Strategic Planning, and we welcome all of your ideas. We are in need of finding new ways for fundraising as well as attracting new members, so don't be shy and bring all of your ideas to this very important annual meeting.

As of this day we really do not have anyone in charge of Community Outreach and we desperately need two to three volunteers to become Blooming Angels. Volunteers make and deliver bouquets to Murrieta's City Hall, Library and Senior Center. Anyone interested in this very rewarding activity please see me after the meeting or call me at 951 696-5103. Stay cool, everyone.

August Sunset Celebration

Please plan to join your fellow Rose Society members at Rose Haven on Friday, August 27 at 6 PM for our next picnic in the Rose Garden. Bring your own main course, tableware and beverage. If you wish you can bring a dessert to share. It may be cool so bring a sweater or jacket. Seating is limited so consider bringing a folding table and chairs.

The July picnic was a great success with a good time had by all. Come to the garden on August 27 and experience the fun for yourself. Hope to see you there!

Any questions? Please call or e-mail Phyllis Bettelheim or Bonnie Bell.

Share What You've Learned

For those members who are entering the Little Rose Show each month, you might want to keep some notes on your successes/failures in growing roses in the Temecula area, so that the information can be shared. As you already know, climate can influence your results.

The idea is to think about the varieties you grow which are suitable or not suitable for this area. Some are nicely disease-resistant because of hybridization improvements during more recent years, while some are very susceptible to powdery mildew. Cultivars that I have which were introduced in the 1950s and 60s can be devastated by mildew and blackspot, even though sprayed with fungicide. Early Spring can also bring misty mornings, another pesky problem with the Coastal influence, especially for "whites" whose buds become heavy with moisture and then do not open. And of course, there are some which cannot tolerate the extreme heat in August, September and October. Their blooms become very small and plants drop their leaves. But then, all is forgiven, with great blooms in November and December.

At the November member meeting, members will be sharing what they have learned, so please plan to participate. We also want to pass on information to the Roses in Review program for Temecula Valley and the American Rose Society. Please contact me if you have questions.

Rosey Says "Thank You"

I'm Rosey, the kitten who was abandoned at Rose Haven 14 years ago. I was so lucky that day to "find" Virginia and Roy Boos, who took me home to be their 3rd cat. My life with them has been wonderful, making me feel really grateful. So I say, thank you for honoring them with the dedication of the new courtyard area in their name. They are so appreciative, but want to say that many members have worked at Rose Haven, through the 20 years, as well as for the Rose Society's successes. Thank you to ALL of them. It's been a hard–working group, accomplishing so much. My wish is that everyone has enjoyed, and will continue to enjoy, the camaraderie of membership and the rose knowledge to be gained, for many years to come.

Little Rose Show, June 17, 2010

In Memoriam

Al Perez, TVRS member from 1998 to 2005. Al passed away at the age of 92 years. Several members attended the service at St. Catherine's. Fond memories were recalled: "Always the perfect gentleman." "A helpful and willing member, contributing to our Cinco de Mayo rose show." "Encouraged my daughter to work hard on her education." He held many honors in the education world. Condolences to Celia and his family.

My, How Rose Books Do Travel

This letter arrived at our Society PO Box yesterday. It will speak for itself.

"7/21/10 Dear Temecula Rose Society,
I recently purchased a used copy of the Ultimate Book of Roses from an on-line book seller in California. Hidden in the pages was a copy of your membership list from 1995. It is enclosed. I am a new member of the Grand Valley Rose Society here in Michigan. I understand how close the bonds of friendship in a group can become, so I am mailing the old list back to you in honor of members who love roses and each other dearly. Blessings and Buds! Rev. Karen Fitz LaBarge."

Member Meeting Program

No luncheon will be served this month, so bring a sandwich and a beverage for yourself.

August Birthdays & New Members

Rose Haven Update

Summer in the garden – life just slows down there. Besides enjoying your own garden come out to Rose Haven, relax under the pepper tree, and watch the walkers, dogs, alpacas across the street, horse-riders and breathe in the fragrance on the breeze. Take a walk up the hill for a little exercise and gaze at the beautiful view. What a gorgeous summer – it can't get any better than this.

An abundance of activity has been happening in the upper gardens. Frank and Wayne have been planting and sprucing up the area around the gazebo and near the Romantic Garden. Additionally, a group of students from Chaparral High School have diligently been developing a vegetable garden area with raised beds and pathways under the guidance of our Youth Committee. Of course, you will see some wire cages too. The pesky rabbits and squirrels wrecked havoc in both areas, but their invasion seems to be under control. The students have also helped with the regular maintenance – you know – weeding, raking, moving and spreading mulch, and planting erosion control vegetation. Thank you so much, students.

A locked port-a-potty has been installed for your convenience just beyond the water-wise plants along the Metro. Water Dist. road. The entry code may be obtained from Phyllis, Bonnie, or Kathy.

We are in need of volunteers who like to spray weeds. We know you're out there. For heaven's sake, there are commercials on TV expounding its virtues, so give us an hour or two a month and spray away. We have the equipment and there are very few weeds this time of year.

Our next garden committee meeting is Wednesday, August 25th at 9 a.m. All are welcome to attend. Also, the next Sunset Celebration picnic is Friday, August 27th at 6 p.m.

Lastly, the Last Rose of Summer picnic tickets are available and may be purchased from Ann Coakes or Bonnie Bell. This is our annual fundraiser used for maintenance of the garden beyond what our volunteers can accomplish. We encourage your support of this event. A live band will be performing. The cost is $25 each and the date is Saturday, October 9th, from 4 to 6 p.m.

Sunday August 15 Garden Party!

Mount Palomar Winery will host a garden party this month featuring acoustic live music, a fashion show, lawn bowling, croquet and an art bazaar.

At the event, several local clubs will have tables set up showcasing their activities, including the Temecula Valley Rose Society, Temecula Valley Garden Club, Temecula Valley Woman's Club, Menifee Valley Woman's Club, Riverside Lawn Bowling Club, San Diego Lawn Bowling Club and the Hemet-Joslyn Lawn Bowling Club.

Guests are asked to wear all white. Gourmet lunch picnic boxes will be sold for $12 and wine will be sold by the glass.

An "Applause-O-Meter" will be used and a prize will be awarded for the most beautiful and creative garden hat. The fashion show slated for 4:30 p.m. will feature local designers and 20 models. There is no cost to attend and guests will receive a complimentary glass of Sangiovese Rosé. The event is scheduled from noon to 6 p.m. August 15 at the winery, 33820 Rancho California Road. For information, call 951-676-5047.

TVRS MEMBERS, we will need a few volunteers for our Society table. Contact Phyllis Bettelheim by email at phyllisb@temvalley.com or phone her at 951-694-1198. We hope that all members will enjoy this wonderful day in the Mount Palomar Winery Garden. Phyllis says the view from the hilltop is fabulous!

Youth Gardening on the Menu

Wednesday, August 11 for those interested in encouraging gardening among children and youth in the community: We will meet at Mad Madeline's Grill, 28495 Old Town Front Street, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. for a leisurely lunch and discussion of planning ideas for the upcoming year. Contact Barb Purdy by email (barbpurdy@verizon.net) or call 951-303-2351 for information.

Youth gardening is divided into two areas of interest:
● Volunteering with children ages 12 & under and their families. The program we are developing for ages 12 & under focuses on tending the mini-roses in the "Medley of Roses" bed. Date & time: Third Saturday of each month (excluding August, December and July) beginning at 9:30 a.m. in the Peppertree Picnic Area.
● Volunteering with youth 13 & older.

At the top of the garden a vegetable garden is beginning to take shape, thanks to the efforts of about half a dozen Chaparral High School students. Tomatoes, beets, and corn are growing. These young men have done a variety of tasks in the garden with enthusiasm and energy. The students will be available most Saturdays, so if this is something you are interested in let Barb know.

July and August are two months when your mulch is really going to pay off. It is holding and spreading the soil's moisture and preventing the roots from baking in the hot sun. If your mulch has gotten a little thin, add enough to a depth of 3"-4". (We didn't apply mulch this spring—see, I'm not really perfect!) so my garden is experiencing a real population explosion of weeds. Get out there in the cool mornings or evenings to remove those, before they go too seed; otherwise, you'll have more to fight later and will be wasting water on the weeds! Then mulch, if you have the time and energy. If you can't get composted mulch, almost any vegetative matter will work, including grass clippings and pine needles.

Now that Southern California is in the fourth year of drought, with reduced imported water, consider upgrading your garden with a good drip irrigation system. Even if you're still hand watering, or using some other method, monitor all your roses every day to avoid serious water stress. It's best to irrigate your roses before the sun gets too high so they have a chance to hydrate before the heat.

Spider mites increase in the summer heat. They are very tiny and hard to see, and they live on the underside of the leaves. Signs of an infestation include leaves that look dried out, grayish green, or transparent; you may feel a little grittiness when you rub an infested leaf gently; and you might see some fine webbing. You can reduce their population by removing all leaves that are on the lower 8" of the plant. You may also be able to dislodge them with a strong blast of water to the underside of the lower leaves.

For those who into container gardening, you might find it difficult to keep the soil moist enough. This can be a problem if the soil has pulled away from the sides of the container; you'll know this is the problem if water runs out of the pot as soon as you begin watering. If this is the case, try pressing the soil down all around the inner sides of the pot. This should help keep the water on the full surface of the soil long enough that it will soak down more evenly through the soil. In extreme heat, you might have to water once or twice a day.

Don't forget to take a little time off and visit the Rose Haven Heritage Garden some time this month. Consider joining other club member's from 6pm to 8pm on Friday August 27th for an informal and fun picnic—bring food for your party and maybe a dessert to share. It's been great fun! Rose Haven is located at 30500 Jedediah Smith Road (the cross street is Cabrillo Avenue) in Temecula.

Editor's Addition: “Mites are tiny and difficult to detect. Usually plant damage–stippling or yellowing of leaves–will be noticed before you spot the mites themselves. Check the undersides of leaves for mites, their eggs, and webbing; you will need a 10x hand lens to identify them. To observe them more closely, shake a few off the leaf surface onto a white sheet of paper. Once disturbed, they will move around rapidly. Be sure mites are present before you treat [your roses]. Sometimes the mites will be gone by the time you notice the damage; plants will often recover after mites have left.” Source: UC Davis Statewide Integrated Pest Management Program.