Temecula Valley Rose Society

President's Message

Which brings me to another reminder to those you have not renewed your membership: The deadline for being included in the member roster is March 1. DO NOT procrastinate—submit your dues today! You may still be able to be included in 2012 member roster before Bonnie Bell completes the list. For those with Internet capabilities, go to temeculavalleyrosesociety.org/memapp.html and click on the Membership link, which will lead you to the Membership page and a link to a form. On the form, please indicate your interests and any changes you would like to your listing in the members' roster.

I've set goals for 2012 to help us grow and become a more vibrant, active organization. To help reach those goals, I need each of you to join one of the committees listed in the back of the members' roster, or on the TVRS Web site. (From the home page, click "Member's Page" then click the link to "Committees List.") Most committees meet right after the monthly members' meeting and run from 1:00 pm to 1:45 p.m. The three committees that met after February's meeting made some good plans for upcoming projects and events. There were some new participants, but we need more committee members to accomplish these. Many more committees need YOU to volunteer. If we don't have enough volunteers on these committees we may need to cancel some activities, events or projects. Please don't let this happen! So, please join or renew, and become more a part of the fun, excitement, and wonderful memories that we can create together at TVRS!

On March 17, all new members will meet at Rose Haven at 9:15 a.m. for orientation. All directors will be there to give information about their area of responsibility. Each new member will receive their potted rose plant at that time.

The Little Rose Show committee will be scheduling a meeting in near future. I will be presenting rules and guidelines that will be used for judging roses during the coming year for the Little Rose Show. All exhibitors should plan to attend this meeting. The date will be announced at the general meeting March 15.

Oh, big news: The new Rose Haven shed for our rose show properties should arrive the first week of March and be erected by about March 4. If you have any show properties in your possession count them up because Jeanne Brubaker will be be asking you for that information so she can complete inventory. (Thanks to all of you, and to Jeanne!)

I hope to see you (and your family and friends) at the March meeting. It promises to be a good one, with a presentation about Staghorn ferns, the Opportunity Table, and our monthly pot luck luncheon. See you there!

Rose Haven News

Oh, the garden has been cut back on all fronts. Thankfully, the rain held off and the spraying for weeds is mostly done, all but the Organic Vegetable Tree of Life. Jeremy will finsh the spraying sometime next week. We will fertilize the main parts of the garden after the 28th. Barb has pea plants to transplant ASAP. I sure hope a bunch of students show up to help this Saturday. The foundation for the new shed is proceeding and the roses in that space were transplanted. Everything seems to be growing well. Please send any information, news or anything you want to chat about at Rose Haven to me kkatz@iinet.com and I will get right back to you.

Grocery Cards Benefit TVRS

Dear Members: I trust that you have made a determined effort to use Stater Bros. Script/Gift Cards for your everyday normal purchases. Even in these financially difficult times we all must eat. Purchasing a $100.00 Script Card will let you spend $100.00 for groceries at Stater Bros. There is no extra expense or donation coming out of your pocket and the Rose Society will get a $6.00 donation for the upkeep of the Garden. Your support is greatly appreciated. See Ann Coakes to order Cards. Tel 951 693-5635

San Fernando Valley Event

The San Fernando Valley Rose Society is holding our Annual Rose Show on Saturday, April 14th, at the Sepulveda Garden Center, located at 16633 Magnolia Blvd., Encino, Calif. We will accept entries between the hours of 6:00 am to 10:00 am. Judging will start at 10:00 am or shortly thereafter. The public will be invited in to view the rose show around 12:30 or 1:00 pm.

We look forward to seeing you, our friends, for a day that will fill your senses with scent, color, and beauty. Novices are encouraged to enter. Please visit our website for information and for updates on our rose show. A link to our website is sfvroses.org. For further questions, please contact David Bassani at hiptalk@sfvroses.org.

Member Meeting Program

Read an article from Wikipedia about these unusual plants here: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Staghorn_ferns.

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

March Birthdays & New Members

Special Thanks

CR&R Waste Management has donated trash pickup service at Rose Haven since 1991. This year, to assist with our major pruning project, they also donated the use of a 40 cubic yard dumpster and added additional pickup days at our request. Also, baskets and bags of clippings and leaves were hand loaded into their truck. The TVRS Rose Haven Committee and the Society express their heartfelt thanks for this greatly appreciated and very special donation.

Youth Gardening

We were happy to see the sun shining on our Third Saturday program this month. Although our turnout was small, the children who attended had a great hands-on experience planting miniature roses and onions, and discovering the world of composting. We encouraged them to come back often and follow the progress of their garden growing.

The Tree of Life vegetable garden was a flurry of activity toward the end of the month. A second batch of pea plants and another trellis were put in as the first batch is beginning to bloom and produce peas. The flowers are so pretty and I can't wait for everyone to try these sweet peas. The Green Thumbs children also prepared the garden for a potato planting which we will do the first Saturday in March (the 3rd). These students really like to dig and they do it so well. I think we have a good start to producing a great crop of potatoes and hopefully we will be successful enough to make a nice contribution to our local food pantry.

We also had a group of volunteers from Van Avery Prep who got their hands dirty (and loved it) planting onions and broccoli and getting rid of some of the weeds. They enjoyed their day in the garden and told us they would like to come back again. With all the digging and planting I think we all slept well that night, but it was a good tired, knowing that if everything grows as it should (onions, peas, potatoes, carrots and broccoli) we are on our way to being able to make a great stew.

Rose Haven Update

At last, new leaves are bursting out on the roses, new shoots on ornamental grasses, and flowers on the succulents are blooming. We know spring is coming this month just from observing the garden. And the daffodils are in full bloom bringing color and cheer. All the tremendous work by our volunteers and hired help in January and February is really paying off. Our thanks to everyone who donates their time and energy in caring for our beautiful garden.

The weekly "Rose Haven News" from Kathy Katz via email is intended to keep members up-to-date on the progress and activity going on in the garden. We hope you enjoy this new feature. Many favorable comments have been received and we appreciate Kathy going the extra mile in keeping us informed.

The concrete pad is ready for a new tool shed, a gazebo for Hall of Fame has been ordered, and additional mini-roses were added to the ABC garden on our 3rd Saturday "Families in the Garden" day. Additional lavender plants will be added this month to the lavender garden near Hall of Fame area. An Eagle Scout has proposed a plan to provide benches/viewing platform and enhancements to the pond area. We look forward to reviewing his project next week.

The next garden committee meeting will be Wednesday, March 28, 2012 at 9:30 a.m. All interested members are invited to attend. Visit TVRS' Rose Haven garden at 30500 Jedediah Smith Road, Temecula, as well as our web site: TemeculaValleyRosesociety.org/index.shtml.

 Yellow Verde

Rose Care FUNdamentals

Whether or not your roses have sprouted, apply lime sulfur dormant spray now in order to prevent disease fungi on surface debris from spreading to new growth. Follow the directions on the label. In a new rose garden, or with newly pruned roses that haven't sprouted, thoroughly wet all canes and the surrounding soil. For roses that have sprouted, be more careful in your application and, be sure to follow the "growing season instructions" on the label.

Now's the time to begin a feeding regimen. To give roots a boost at the start of the season, sprinkle super phosphate (available at home stores and nurseries) on the soil surface at a rate of 1 lb for every 10 square feet. Lightly water it into the soil. Also sprinkle 1/2 cup to 1 cup of Epson Salts widely around the base of each plant. (Use half as much for minis and mini-floras.) There is some indication this helps in producing new cane growth.

Given that your roses are about as bare as they're going to be for the rest of the year, you might take time to inspect and repair your irrigation system. I just replaced an old drip system with a new drip line and emitters in one of my gardens. Drip systems are the most thrifty, and they avoid the problems of above-ground sprayers and sprinklers which waste water and can foster molds (mildew and rust). Make sure your irrigation system is in good working order; for example, make sure all the emitters are delivering the expected amount of water and that there are no leaks.

Top your rose bed with a 2" to 4" layer of organic composted mulch. If you've read this column for more than a month or so, you know that I'm a big believer in composted mulch! It's best covering the entire rose bed. It will help supply nutrients for beneficial soil organism that transport these nutrients deeper into the soil and even into the plant. While naturally adding nutrients through leaching it will also insulate the upper 8" to 12" where most rose roots feed, keeping it cooler in summer and warmer in winter. Mulch also helps prevent water loss and evens out the soil moisture.

For your regular feeding program, I recommend that you avoid products that describe themselves as "systemic." These contain insecticide and/or fungicide (mold killer) that enter the plant through the leaves and roots, and circulate within it. I avoid such products for two reasons. First, because much of the product ends up washing into the soil, you are laying waste to a wide range of soil organisms, including beneficial ones, thus making your soil less diverse and dynamic—this can only be bad in the long run for your plants. Secondly, because these poisons circulate within the plant, there's a chance that the bad bugs will feed on the poison and be eaten by beneficial insects, such as birds, butterflies, the praying mantis, and lady bug; because these predators are further up the food chain, they concentrate the poisons and can be killed by them too.

Also, I use and emphatically recommend organic types of fertilizer, as vs. inorganic or "chemical" ones, because organics are less concentrated (thus less likely to burn), and their nutrients are released more slowly. This fosters better soil development, making for a richer, livelier, and more viable soil that is able to break the elements into an easily absorbed form and releases them slowly to the plants. As your soil develops, you'll be able to use less and less product and save money in the process.

Our area has had some rains, so fertilizing now is opportune. If you can't feed now, while the soil is moist and the plants are well hydrated, be sure to water them the day before you do begin fertilizing. (Never feed a dry plant!) A typical feeding program involves applying products every two to four weeks. You can decide what works best for you, your soil, and your roses. Alternate using dry and liquid foods. For example, for the first application, use any good non-systemic organic brand of fertilizer; for the next application (two to four weeks later), apply diluted fish emulsion to help boost the micro-nutrients necessary for good plant health and disease resistance.

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