Temecula Valley Rose Society

President's Message

One of my goals for 2013 is to have 100 members. To hit that goal, I need every member to renew their membership and bring us an additional 10% new members. To date, renewals are lagging and we have added only 8% new members. Welcome to them! So, to wrap THAT up: Spread the word to family, friends, and neighbors, and let's make this the best year ever for TVRS membership!

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 2013 Member Roster before Bonnie Bell completes the list. For those with Internet capabilities you can get and print a form here. On the form, please indicate your interests and any changes you would like to your listing in the Members' Roster.

Have you gotten my message yet? To restate: Renew, join, volunteer! Add your cheer to the fun, excitement, beautiful garden and wonderful memories of being a member of a Rose Society that we can create together at TVRS. Remember, "Many hands make light work."

You probably noticed a new room arrangement for our members' meeting. Committees now have information on the tables with attention-getting signage. Please take a stroll through Room 'B' to socialize and add your name to one of these committees. Your contribution of ideas, knowledge, contacts and background will be of great help in organizing events and programs. Without committees and people to join, many projects just won't happen. Please join to help us grow and become a more vibrant, active, well known community organization.

Our goal for 2013 is to grow and become a more vibrant, active organization. To help reach that goal, 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 pm. The two 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!

There are two fast approaching interesting field trips on the horizon for which you will need to add your name to the sign-up sheet. The first is April 4th to see Kathy Swanson's garden in Riverside. On April 28 a carpooling plan to travel to Rosehill Memorial Park Rose Garden in Whittier with a guided tour given by master Rosarian Dr. Tommy Cairns. There will be a small fee for a catered lunch on the grounds. We need to get an early idea of how many will be going so we can let Dr. Cairns know how many lunches will be needed and what the fee will be.

Do you hear that? It's Rose Haven Heritage Garden asking YOU to come adopt and care for even just a tiny part of her! She'd like you to do a little pruning, a little raking-whatever you can to help her proudly face the new year looking her best for her many visitors! Wouldn't you like to help her out? Then come down to the garden any Wednesday or Saturday morning around 9 a.m. and chat with any of the volunteers to find the area that's right for you. Phyllis Bettelheim will be glad to help you select an area just right for you to adopt.

On Saturday March 23 all new members will meet at Rose Haven at 9:15AM 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.

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

Grocery Cards Benefit TVRS

Donations Needed

Dear Members. If you have any new items that you are not using please think about donating them to add to our Raffle Baskets. You can bring them to the meeting and give to Ann Coakes. Thank you.

Youth Gardening in February 2013

We were happy to see the sun shining on our 3rd Saturday program and the weather was perfect for our onion planting activity. The children came prepared to plant and those who have previously attended our program are becoming expert at the art of planting. The older students were instrumental in getting everything ready for the younger kids and helped complete the job, while the younger kids went down below to plant a summer squash seed to take home and care for. There were 4 rows of onions planted, so we should have a bountiful crop in 3 to 4 months.

Our peas continue to thrive and we hope to have the children tasting them at our next month's program. The winter vegetables are also doing well and we have started harvesting lettuce which is thriving under its protective cage, and there is nothing as tasty as a fresh salad right out of the garden in the middle of winter.

Getting the word out about our programs continues to be a focus for us. Please visit our Facebook page (search for 'gardening for kids in Temecula' and "Like" our page), and check out www.meet-up.com for more information on Youth Gardening activities. (Enter Youth Gardening in the Search box.)

Little Rose Show to Recommence

Member Meeting Program

Tournament of Roses® President Sally Bixby joined the Tournament of Roses Association in 1989 as a volunteer. As president, she will provide the leadership for the 124th Rose Parade® presented by Honda and the 99th Rose Bowl Game® presented by VIZIO on January 1, 2013. Throughout her extensive Tournament career, Bixby has served on many committees and was chairman of three; Queen and Court, Decorating Places and Host committees. She was elected to the Executive Committee in 2005.

Bixby has recently retired from a long professional career as the director of surgical services for two local hospitals. In addition to her 23 years of volunteer service in the Tournament of Roses, Bixby previously served as a board member for the Pasadena Tournament of Roses Foundation, has been a board member for the Wellness Community Foothills and is an Executive Committee member and treasurer for the Association of Operating Room Nurses, Los Angeles Chapter. She is also a member of the San Marino League, the Women of Pasadena, the Operating Room Nursing Council of California, the Association of California Nurse Leaders, the Association of Nurse Executives, the American Nurses Association of California, the National Organization of the American Nurses Association, and the Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing.

A Pasadena native, Bixby is the daughter of Herb and Betty Maas. She attended Pasadena public schools through high school. She earned her R.N. from Pasadena City College and her Bachelors of Science and Master of Science in Health Care Administration from California State University, Los Angeles. She and her husband Harlan have three children, Hayden, Ryan and Parker, and eight grandchildren, Evan, Quinn, McKenna, Madeline, Parker, Duncan, Emily and Taylor. Bixby enjoys biking, golf, gardening and cooking.

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

March Birthdays & New Members

Rose Haven Update

Hillside stepping stones have been installed and Frank and Wayne are planting and working in the gazebo area. Some new roses will arrive in March which will be planted in the entry area and other places in the garden.

Our next garden committee meeting is Wednesday, March 27th at 9:30. The garden is at 30592 Jedediah Smith Rd., Temecula. All those interested are invited to attend. Please see our website for additional information and photos at temeculavalleyrosesociety.org/index.shtml. Come out and visit the garden anytime. The days are warming up and it's pleasant to see the garden waking up after winter.

Special Day Trips

Other Rose Events

EMPRESS JOSEPHINE'S passion for roses and her role in the modern development of the flower is the subject of "La Rose Imperiale: The Development of Modern Roses", which opens Saturday at the Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens. The exhibition, part of a year long celebration of the 100th anniversary of the Huntington's rose garden, show cases 110 rare illustrated rose books, including a first edition of Pierre-Joseph Redoutes multivolume work, "Les Roses" (1817-24). In addition, a lecture series and others programs are planned. Through April 28 at the Huntington's Boone Gallery, 1151 Oxford Road, San Marino. (626) 405-2100. $6 to $20.

Photos for Youth Gardening: Planting Onions

 

Rose Care FUNdamentals

Having pruned your roses last month (you did prune your roses, right?), you should see new coppery-red foliage that is about two to three inches long within six to eight weeks. There has been some cold rain which continues to keep ground temperatures low thus discouraging new growth.

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 after removing all debris. For roses that have sprouted, be more careful in your application and, be sure to follow the "growing season instructions" on the label.

The time to begin a feeding regimen is when new growth is 2"-3" long. To give roots a boost at the start of the season, sprinkle superphosphate (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 Epsom 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. 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. To answer the question of how much water a rose may need is another of those "It depends." Much depends on a lot of factors; weather, the size of the plant, the composition of the soil, the cycle of growth, the variety of the plant, and probably several other factors.

Typical a mature, full-size hybrid tea in Southern California soil requires about 6-9 gallons of water a week when the high temperatures are in the 70s. As temperatures rise into the 80s the rose will require about 9 gallons of water per week. In the 90s, the rose will require about 12 gallons per week and even more. A miniature rose, depending on size, requires about one-third to one-half as much. These figures are rough and based on the amount of water needed to maintain the highest level of show quality; the rose will stay alive on considerably less.

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 root zone. 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. If you plan to use blossoms or petals for any purpose (potpourri, recipes), be aware that these poisons are in all plant parts also in the blooms and thus petals.

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.

Spread the joy of roses. For more ideas, visit TVRS' Rose Haven garden at 30592 Jedediah Smith Rd.,
Temecula, as well as our web site at TemeculaValleyRosesociety.org/index.shtml.