Temecula Valley Rose Society

President's Message

While there is still so much work to be done at Rose Haven, the garden's beauty provides us with a beautiful place where you can enjoy the fragrance in the air, the multi-color display, serenity and gentle breezes. I don't think we take full advantage of this magical place to stroll, or sit down. Not only can we appreciate the beautiful blooms but, as an added bonus, how gratifying it is that we can pick fresh vegetables from our "Tree of Life" vegetable plot. During the months of April and May this place is "Spectacular," and during the spring and summer what better place to have a picnic. We look forward to all the additions that are being planned for this community garden—the best Temecula has to offer.

Once again I would like to bring to your attentiion that for those of you who do not belong to the ARS (American Rose Society) they are now offering a 4-month trial for just $5.00 as they are giving a $5.00 discount to members of any rose society. This is a wonderful and once in a lifetime opportunity to find out if you would like to continue a regular membership after that.

I hope that you have all taken the time to look at the beautiful online pictures of our Little Rose Show held last month. It turned out better than we had anticipated and it was certainly very inspiring. Congratulations to Ellen Noel for the most perfect "Irresistible" mini.

Wishing each and everyone of you along with your families a very healthy and happy Christmas and New Year.

See Rose Haven from Space

Little Rose Show Photos Here

Rose Haven Update

Our garden committee meeting will skip December as preliminary research and bids for work to be completed has already been received. Outside labor to trim trees and prune hillside roses has been budgeted and donations received to pay for the work. Our next garden committee meeting will be January 25, 2012 at 9:30 a.m. Also, another storage shed will be installed in the near future to house Rose Show properties and other items.

Volunteer pruning begins in January every Wednesday and Saturday morning, and please plan to attend the rose pruning demonstration scheduled for January 14, 2012 at 9:00 a.m. Come out and join us—there's always something new to learn or encourage our new rose enthusiasts.

For more ideas, visit TVRS' Rose Haven garden at 30500 Jedediah Smith Road, Temecula, as well as our web site: TemeculaValleyRosesociety.org/index.shtml.

Youth Gardening Update

The Youth Gardening Committee was all ready for our Third Saturday program for kids 12 and under when a day threatening rain wiped us out, again. We are wondering if we need to rethink our program, since we are so often rained out. We are considering other ways to get news of our program out. All ideas are welcome.

The Tree of Life vegetable garden continues teaching many lessons. The students have been very busy and few have come lately, but most of the weeding and a little planting is getting done. There are many plants and veggies damaged by critters but amazing is what has lived and produced anyway.

There are still lots of herbs; curry, lemon balm for tea and cooking, still some basil leaves and mints. Even a few leaves of these, raw or cooked, are often extremely beneficial for your diet and health.

A plethora of tomatoes continue to grow, with very little frost damage (my tomatoes at home were severely frosted). If you are worried that tomatoes are not ripening this time of year, just pick them as soon as they have turned color a little (yellow or pink) and ripen them the rest of the way at home, they will still taste better than most commercial tomatoes.

There are many ways to finish the ripening process, all explained on various web sites. No sun is needed. You can just leave them out on the counter, you can wrap them individually in newspaper and put them in a cupboard, basket or drawer, or put them in a paper bag and close the top. If you check every couple of days you will catch them at just the right stage for use.

If after a week or so they are still not ripening, try making fried green tomatoes. They do not need to be a greasy, deep fried product. Try dipping them in a little milk or buttermilk, then dredging in flour, corn flour, Matzo Meal or bread crumbs. Saute in a non-stick pan on both sides until golden. Finish with a few minutes in the oven. This method also works to make onion rings that are not deep fried but still terrific and healthy.

There are still squash and pumpkins up there. The blossoms are very healthful and good to eat (prepare like fried green tomatoes), and the pumpkins can all be harvested for roasting or other cooking methods. Many people like to roast the seeds, easy to do and fun to eat.

Please continue to help your self to the bounty and be careful stepping over the fence, or open it where you see a cut place.

Native and Waterwise Plants

Many of the tall grasses at Rose Haven, that are just gorgeous this time of year, would do just as well in your garden. The Mexican Margaritas are in full bloom and visible from far away. All of these plants take little water or care. The names and habits of all of them can be looked up and identified in the Rose Haven Book found in the garden shed.

Member Meeting Program

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

December Birthdays & New Members

Little Rose Show Results - November 2011

Comments: We had a great turnout for this show. This was a great learning experience for all involved. Thanks to everyone who participated. Looking forward to an even bigger show next year. Arrangements were a fun addition, with 7 entries.

One caveat for future judged shows - be sure to check spelling and punctuation when making out your entry tags. As an example - Rainbow's End and Veterans' Honor (singular and plural). Also, look for any unusual spelling of the name, such as "Outta" instead of "Out of", or "'n'" instead of "and". The judges could disqualify your entry.

Rose Care FUNdamentals

With Thanksgiving over and preparations for the coming holidays I hope that your shopping expeditions haven't worn you out, but if they have, take heart: December is a relatively leisurely month in the rose garden, considerably more relaxing than going to the mall. However, while you do your online shopping, why not take some time to visit a few rose supplier web sites? There you can research the varieties they're offering for next year. It's always best to order roses early to make sure you get what you want. Many companies do not have catalogs for retail customers . If you find one that does, and you like to have hard copies then have one sent to you to peruse during the month. Also, when you're out and about, give yourself some time for a few quiet visits to plant nurseries and garden suppliers too. It can give you lots of ideas and you might find some bargains.

You still have time to follow last month's suggestions. Those included preparing the planting sites for new roses that you'll put into the ground in January or February. That advance preparation gives the soil a chance to settle down and become colonized by the good soil critters. You should also take some time to clear away debris on the soil surface; that will save you a lot of time and anguish later because it eliminates or reduces the presence of many diseases, harmful fungi, and other critters spending their winter vacations in your garden. A new layer of composted mulch is recommended any time before Spring—it can prevent all of the pests mentioned above, some spreading by splashing rain. We've already had a very welcome rain, but still a little bit below average. As predicted, the unstable La Nina forming out in the Pacific hasn't decided if it will bring us more moisture or present us with a drier winter.

Because you want to signal to your roses that it's time to slow down and prepare for the spring, there are a few things you can just NOT do this month. For example, don't apply fertilizer this month; also, don't deadhead—just leave the spent flowers and their rose hips on the plants. And don't prune the canes; instead, wait until January or February. Watch this column for announcement of pruning demonstrations in January at Rose Haven Heritage Garden. DO, however, remove the spent petals of blooms and discard.

I do encourage you to take a stroll through your garden every day or two just to keep appraised of its condition or need of any attention, and to imagine the great blooms you're going to have in the spring! Hopefully, you did a major ground clean-up from under and around the plants last month, including fallen petals, leaves and weeds.

Oh!! And let me make a last-minute plea: Rose Haven Heritage Garden needs more composted mulch. This year you can be one of Santa's little helpers by pledging a cash donation to buy a cubic yard or more of mulch. Every little bit will help replenish the dressing for our magnificent public garden and at the same time help us use water more efficiently. There is also a wish list on the website for any one to help with a donation. Contact me at the next meeting or send me an e-mail: roseguy2000@aol.com. All donations from anywhere will be accepted. Until next month, I wish you all the best holiday wishes!

For more ideas, visit TVRS' Rose Haven garden at 30500 Jedediah Smith Road, Temecula, as well as our web site: TemeculaValleyRosesociety.org/index.shtml.