Temecula Valley Rose Society

President's Message

This year the Last Rose of Summer will not be held in September. It has been moved to Saturday, October 9 from 4pm to 6pm. I sincerely hope that everyone will make an effort to attend this very important annual fundraiser, not only for the great music, food and camaraderie, but also because this is what keeps Rose Haven going as far as maintenance and upkeep in general. If you have not purchased your ticket please do so as soon as possible. Also, remember to contribute plants for the plant sale as well.

I couldn't help notice the beautiful banner displayed at our booth at Palomar Winery thanks to the efforts of Yolanda Hepburn and Simone Arnould.

Once again, I would like to remind you that we need volunteers for both Blooming Angels and Hospitality. Anyone interested please call me at 951 696-5103. Cheers to a Sweet September.

Youth Gardening Committee News

Mark your calendar for the 1st Youth Gardening program of the year at Rose Haven. The date is Saturday, September 18th and the time is 9:30 until 11:00 a.m. The target ages are from Pre-K through 5th grade. September's program will feature a flower arranging garden talk by May Olson. This is the first program in the series of youth gardening activities that we have planned for the year. Each program will be on the 3rd Saturday of the month (excluding December and the summer months). In addition to the garden talk, each month we will have a variety of learn and explore activities planned that will change with the seasons. These activities include: scavenger hunts, bud burst, little rose show, worm station and take away activities. We appreciate your support of our programs. Please help promote this program to anyone you know who may have children interested in attending. There is no sign up or cost involved, just show up and enjoy. Children must be accompanied by an adult during the program.

Youth gardening for the older students continues to grow as does their vegetable garden. If you have not walked to the top of the hill at Rose Haven to see their progress, please take the time to do it. Their tomatoes, potatoes and pumpkins are all thriving and the students are continuing to add new beds. We will soon be starting a lasagna garden. If you have never heard of one, we will be updating you with pictures and information in the coming month. The students work in the garden every Saturday from about 7:00 a.m. until about 10:00 a.m. (this varies each week as the students depend on rides to the garden from their parents). The students involved in this program have been dedicated to their project and they have helped with many "need an extra hand and strong back" projects at Rose Haven as needed this summer. They always seem to have a lot of energy and are willing to help out.

Last but certainly not least is the visit to Rose Haven requested by the Youth Church group of 25 students (ages 12 to 18). This will be on Wednesday, September 8th from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. This group has requested a brief tour of the garden and then they want to do some community service. We are still in need of a few more people to help out that night. We only need your help for one night for 1-1/2 hours.

If you are interested in helping out with any of the above youth programs please contact: Barb Purdy. E-mail: barbpurdy@verizon.net Phone: (951) 526-5599.

Member Profile: Kathy Katz

While attending Cal State Northridge(then SFVSC) as an Anthropolgy student she met Howard. They wanted to travel, so while Howard finished school Kathy worked for Veterinarians. As soon as Howard graduated and snagged a job with IBM he began agitating for a foreign assignment. Two years of hard work found them in Venezuela with an 18 month old son, pretty big egos and a lot to learn. Corporate America was a heady experience in the sixties, with the secret service guys all around, USIS and the Embassy in Venezuela under the cross hairs, the Vietnam War in full swing, and oil money funding a boom that made Caracas second only to Paris in expense and luxury.

A daughter born in Venezuela was not healthy in the tropics. IBM was gracious enough to send the still young family back to the U.S., New York this time. Poughkeepsie and then Endicott were really different, and the family was very glad to get sent back home to Southern California. Kathy finished college while the children finished primary school. They were lucky enough to be able to keep a couple of horses in the back yard along with enough small animals to give her children the knowledge of nature she had been raised with. Kathy taught in a private school, grades one through three.

When IBM sent Howard to Dallas, Texas in the late seventies, the horses and ponies the family had accumulated to ride on together were a major problem. Rather than give them up, Kathy found a partner, rented an empty riding establishment in North Dallas, and worked to build a successful horse business. "Talk about fun." Texas was booming and people could claim their polo ponies, cutting and jumping horses as investment tax shelters. There were local celebrities, the beginning of the Komen Foundation at the Polo Club next door, horse shows and Pony Club for the kids at the barn. It was hard to give up when the opportunity to work in Tokyo opened up for Howard. Talk about the opposite of Texas. It was a great experience, a wonderful education for the now almost grown kids. Travel everywhere was available and the Japanese esthetic an absolute that can not be forgotten.

After five years in Japan, reassignment to Texas, the kids graduating from college and leaving home, Howard took early retirement and the couple returned to California. Howard's parents were in failing health in Murrieta Hot Springs. As an only child he needed to be near his Mom. When the climate seemed to agree with Kathy's increasing allergy issues they found some acreage and built a hypoallergenic dome home in Wine Country. They have been retired several years. Kathy has been active in the Rose Society, the Garden Club, and a member of the Native Plant Society and the Iris Society. She is dedicated to preserving open space for the next generations.

What's In a Name?

Currently our Society has two ARS (American Rose Society) Consulting Rosarians – Frank Brines and Rebecca Weersing. Consulting Rosarians are often called 'CRs'. There are a number of duties and qualifications listed in the ARS Guidelines for Rose Society Leaders. Over the next several months I hope to share the important role of Consulting Rosarians in the Rose World. Any member of the American Rose Society may qualify as a Consulting Rosarian.

To become a CR a person must be a member of the ARS for three consecutive years, must be an active member of a local rose society, must have grown roses of various types for at least five years and should be knowledgeable in equipment and materials related to rose culture. To be continued...

2011 Rose Show: A Place in The Sun

Plan to attend the initial committee meeting for the 2011 Rose Show. This will be immediately after the general membership meeting September 16, and will be a discussion of ideas, dates, venues, and tasks. Remember, many hands make big tasks small and can move mountains. Everyone is welcome, join in the discussion, share your thoughts and ideas, help plan a great 20th year celebration of the Temecula Valley Rose Society!

Member Meeting Program

What is the difference between a bouquet of roses and rose arrangements? How do you take an arrangement theme from our rose show schedule and interpret it in roses? When a rose judge looks at an arrangement what does the judge look for specifically? These topics and more will be explored.

Please, if you are so inclined, bring a vase that you enjoy using for your own arrangements.

From the ARS Guidelines for Judging Arrangements: "All branches of art are governed by the elements of design and the ideas necessary to use them effectively. The painter works with canvas and paints; the architect works with blueprints and computer plotters; the flower arranger works with plant materials, supporting mechanics and components to create a unified, harmonious and beautiful design."

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

September Birthdays & New Members

'Last Rose of Summer' Picnic

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 per person and the date is Saturday, October 9th, from 4 to 6 p.m. As seating is limited bring folding tables and chairs. Food and non-alcoholic beverages are provided.

Roses In Review

Attention members and any other rose enthusiasts: I need your help in compiling a list of roses that do well here in the Temecula Valley! Will you participate in my study? It's easy: Simply complete the simple form I will distribute at the September membership meeting with brief information about your roses and how you care for them. The results will help us in many ways, including identifying the best date for future Rose Haven "Last Rose of Summer" events.

There are some things that you'll want to make notes on before getting the form. Make a list of your rose varieties (e.g., Hot Cocoa, Gemini, etc.). For each one, note down the date of your mid-season pruning (mid-August to mid-September)*, date fertilized and type of fertilizer, frequency and amount of watering. You will transfer your information to the form when you get it, along with a few measures of the results.

I may be able to make the form available as a download from our website, and instructions on how to track participants. It would be really great if every member would participate in this study so we get the broadest possible information to distribute to local rose lovers.

If you have any questions at all, please don't hesitate to ask me! Thanks for your participation and enthusiasm!

*To have blooms as early in the fall as possible, minor pruning is necessary. As a rule, this minor "mid-season" pruning can begin in mid-August.

Rose Haven Update

Did you see something new at the garden? There is a new circular bench installed just beyond the pond. It actually covers the huge aquaduct manhole and is a great place to sit and view the garden – all 360 degrees. Our thanks go out to Woody Melton, a good friend of Phyllis Bettelehim, for designing and building this innovative bench.

We had a blast at our August Sunset Celebration picnic. The weather was a little cooler and everyone was walking throughout the garden. Eating, drinking, walking, talking, and sharing yummy desserts – all were great fun.

Our focus this month will be readying the garden for the Last Rose of Summer event. Deadheading is underway, weeding is almost complete, and some general raking still needs to be done. Come on out and spend an hour one morning doing a little maintenance so the garden will look its best for the event.

Last Rose of Summer – October 9th. This is our annual fundraiser with proceeds used for garden maintenance. We encourage your support of this event. The cost is $25 per person which includes light foods, swing band, and company of rose lovers and friends. Tickets may be purchased from Ann Coakes or Bonnie Bell.

The next garden committee meeting is Wednesday, September 29th at 9 a.m. We've been researching grants, cost of covering the pathways, advertising-flyers, and improvements in the Hall of Fame area, so there is plenty to discuss. All members are welcome to attend.

When you feel that the threat of extended hot, dry weather has past sometime in September, you should do what we call a "mid season pruning." It's a minor operation that's more than deadheading and less than the radical pruning you'll do at the beginning of the new year.

First, get ready by cleaning and sharpening your pruners. Use a little elbow grease, a soft clean cloth, and some 70% rubbing alcohol (from any pharmacy) to remove dried plant juice and debris. (Did you put your pruners away dirty last time you used them? Don't let that happen again!) If the mess requires stronger stuff, use 0000 steel wool instead of the cloth. You can buy the steel wool at any hardware store.

Once clean, get your pruners sharpened. You can have this done at some feed and fertilizer stores, but because your pruners should be sharpened every 100th cut or so, it's worthwhile to learn how to do it yourself. It's an acquired skill. Use a diamond grit file–also sold at feed and fertilizer stores; they come in fine and medium. Start out with fine and, if that isn't enough, try the medium. Carefully follow the bevel of the blade and don't press down too hard.

Second, inspect your irrigation system. Make sure each plant is getting enough water and that there are no leaks in the lines. Give them a good watering before you prune, and keep them irrigated to sustain the new growth that is going to take off after pruning.

Third, have fertilizer on hand; that will allow you to get the entire project done in a weekend without interruption.

Now about the mid-season pruning: As the year has passed, your roses have had two or three bloom cycles, and they've sprouted two, three, or more small canes at the end of each major cane you left on the plant at the beginning of the year. Do your best to prune these off, leaving a single cane. Also remove any canes growing into the center of the plant, as well as twiggy growth–none of it is going to be productive anyway, and it improves air circulation to prevent mildew and rust as the weather cools and we get more dew at night.

Clear all the pruning debris away, along with any stray dead petals and leaves, and beef up your composted mulch to 3" or 4" where needed. Then give the plants a good irrigation. The next day, feed them. As you may recall, I recommend two feedings a month. I use diluted fish emulsion for one of those feeding (see container instructions), at a rate of 2 gallons for each standard rose and 1 gallon for mini roses; if the mini is 4' tall or taller, you can feed it like a standard rose. Two weeks later, feed with an 8-10-8 granular organic fertilizer. Continue this feeding program through October or mid November. (If you notice any roses producing the grotesquely misshapen flower centers that are typical of too much Nitrogen, cut back on their feeding.)

(One last thing: Please avoid injury when working with roses. The risk of serious and even life threatening infections is very real, especially as we grow older and our immune systems weaken. Wear protective clothing on your legs, arms, and hands. If you get a puncture or scratch, immediately use that 70% rubbing alcohol to cleanse the wound, no matter how superficial it may seem, then go in and wash the injury with soap and water, treat it with an antibiotic ointment, and cover it with a bandage. And talk with your doctor about getting a tetanus booster!)

After all this work, consider making a relaxing visit to a SoCal rose event; to find dates and times, go to the American Rose Society Southwest District website: www.pacificsouthwestrose.org/page/page/7208919.htm.

Better yet, plan to exhibit some of your blooms at a Southern California rose show listed on that site! You'll find links to the individual rose societies to get the rules and guidelines for their shows. The next Rose Show i am aware of is in El Cajon, hosted by the East County Rose Society, October, 02,2010.

For a really great time from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. October 9, attend TVRS's annual "Last Rose of Summer" fund raiser at Rose Haven. You'll be able to stroll the garden and partake of food and beverages al fresco while enjoying the music of the 17-piece Valley Winds Swing Band. There will also be a silent auction for fabulous gift baskets. For tickets call Bonnie at (951) 676-6135. Tickets are $25 per person.