Temecula Valley Rose Society

President's Message

One example: In February, we received an incredibly generous donation from Week's Roses, one of the premier rose breeders in the world, based in Wasco, California. Week's shipped us 90 bare root rose plants—and these weren't the leftovers or the bottom of the barrel—they were first-quality specimens of newer varieties. (By the way, the plants were free, but the shipping was not: One of our members paid the freight to get them down here.) On top of that, a dozen society members showed up on March 9th, dug holes, planted the roses, and installed drip irrigation. It was a tremendous accomplishment. (More about that in, "They Said it Couldn't Be Done!" elsewhere in this newsletter.) The courtyard looks fabulous!

Another example, but on the down side: We recently discovered an irrigation wiring malfunction that explains why so many roses have been struggling. We had to bring in a professional to diagnose and repair the problem, but he generously cut his rate by 40%. However, without an emergency repair fund we could really use your help paying that bill!

All projects are started—and finished—with labor and/or money donated by members. Go down to Rose Haven, find an area that strikes your fancy, and make a donation designated for that area—your money will be used only for that project. And believe me, every penny shows. That's your legacy. Of course, if you prefer, you can make a donation for the garden's general upkeep, just indicate it on your check or in a letter. Questions? Not sure what to donate to? Call me at (951) 315-9632!

One more thing: Rose Haven needs to be looking better than ever because she's getting a lot of attention from the outside. She has the potential to be a paid venue for small weddings, and members of other rose societies have expressed interest in visiting. One big national event will be the 2014 National ARS Rose Show and Convention which will convene in San Diego next year. Many fellow rose lovers from across the nation (and even internationally) will attend and will be exploring Southern California. There is a very real possibility that a contingent will visit Rose Haven.

Please do what you can to help Rose Haven look her best when these and other visitors arrive! If you need ideas on how you can help, call me at (951) 315-9632.

Grocery Cards Benefit TVRS

PSWD is closer than you think

News release: Pacific Southwest District Convention is coming your way in May of 2013. Our district convention is being hosted by California Coastal Rose Society and will be held in the lovely city of Carlsbad, Ca.

The dates to mark on your calendar are May 3rd, 4th & 5th, 2013. You can go to the district web page, pswdroses.org or to CCRS web site at Californiacoastalrose.com, click on PSWD 2013 for more information plus finding the registration form. We were lucky enough to get the hotel to give us a great rate so you can enjoy three days before the event and three days after the convention at the same low price. The Carlsbad by the Sea Resort has a lovely pool to swim around in your leisure time or just to soak up some of the sunny rays that will float our way during the convention, so make your reservations soon and take a nice holiday as well as enjoying the roses.

Friday we will start the morning out with an all day seminar with guest speakers, John Bagnasco, talking about rare and hard to find exhibition roses, then Tom Carruth will talk to us about getting fragrance into our roses and how things are shaping up at the Huntington Garden, then of course you need to know all about what the Horticulture and Arrangement judges are looking for in your rose entries on Saturday, and how to enter your photographs into a rose show, then last but not least, a quick overview about new things for keeping your CR credentials up to date.

Entry for the rose show will be on Saturday morning from 6 AM until 9:30 AM, and you do need to be registered to enter any of your lovely roses. The awards will be given out at 3 PM for all the categories except PSWD convention challenge class winners, and those will be handed out at the awards banquet dinner on Saturday evening. The guest speaker at the awards banquet will be Dr. Jim Sproul, so don't miss out on hearing Jim that evening.

Our garden tour is one to be included while at the convention, you need to be registered for the convention to join in on the fun. The garden tour is on Sunday, May 5th, and will leave the hotel, by bus, at 9:45 AM, and return at 4:30 PM; still leaving you time to get home if you have to go to work on Monday. This tour will include the home of Bob and Dona Martin with about 500 roses, James and Lindy Waldman having a lovely BBQ lunch served up in an English Cottage style garden of over 350 roses, the new nursery for Ping Lim Roses, and Ping will be there to talk to us, then onto Jane and Mike Diliberto's garden with about 200 roses, so bring your cameras and leave the driving to us. Now if you need more information please send me an email at originalsbydiana42@verizon.net and I will get back to you right away. Looking forward to seeing you at our wonderful 2013 PSWD Convention. Diana and Walt Kilmer, Convention Chairman.

Rose Show News

Hello rose lovers! Plans are now actions! Things are moving along nicely. I hope that your gardens will have abundant blooms by May 18th. We need to fill those show tables with roses.

We are also shaking things up this year. If you look on the attached show schedule you will see some of those things.
  1) We are still separating the rose specimens by type and class on the entry tag but they will be placed by color on the tables.
  2) We can use store bought roses in some classes.
  3) We are also adding photography. Photos will be allowed a wide range of subject matter. They need not be new, just so that they are not larger than 8"x10" with or without matte.
  4) We are also adding back an old favorite - the "Blooming Art" class. People usually have so much fun with class because it allows for creativity. The artists will be our guests at the April member meeting and will be bringing their paintings. There will be up to 18 paintings to choose from. All it needs is you!

Remember! You must make a reservation for the artistic classes. Some classes have limited space.

We also need help for before, during and after the show. So please sign up or email me at tvrsroseshow2013@yahoo.com.

To view our beautiful Show flyer and poster go here. In closing, remember that this is YOUR show. You own it! So please come and have fun with it! Linda Black, Rose Show Chairman.

The next Rose Show Planning meeting will be held on April 3rd at 1:00 PM at the Assistance League, (near old Sizzler restaurant on Jefferson). Click here for a map: 28720 Via Montezuma, Temecula.

Member Meeting Program

Temecula Berry Company began as a family farm in the late 90's. Since then, Ray & Mike Graesser (father & son) have planted 9 acres of southern high-bush blueberries in the Temecula Valley. The Graesser's began farming here in Temecula in the late 70's. Ray and Mike are enjoying sharing their farm with the public. Some of the events at the farm during the season are Nana's Story Time, the daily chicken show, field-trips, and planting workshops. On Friday nights during June, we show movies at the farm that are free to the public.

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

May 16 Program: Member Garden Tour which includes 4 to 5 gardens. Remember there will not be a meeting at the Library. The tour will start at Rose Haven at approximately 9:30 AM to pick up driving instructions, maps and organize any car pooling.

April Birthdays & New Members

Youth Gardening in March

The older kids were again instrumental in getting the garden ready for the potato planting. Without their help, the ground would not be so easy for the little kids to dig. They have also been busy preparing the bed for our April tomato planting (this year we have 8 varieties started). The winter vegetables that they planted (rutabagas, cauliflower, lettuce, beets and kale) are now ready for harvest.

Our newest method of communicating is at http://www.meetup.com/Temecula-Valley-Rose-Society/. It is now up and running and is a great way to receive notices about all of our Youth Gardening activities. You can also keep updated on upcoming events at the garden and our Rose Society meetings which highlight a new and interesting speaker each month. Meetup.com not only invites you to attend, but sends you a helpful reminder. What a great way to keep organized.

They Said It Couldn't Be Done!

That's right: "They" said it couldn't be done, but "they" were wrong! On the morning of March 9, 2013, as the first rays of the sun shone through the mists hovering over South Temecula, an eager band of people armed with shovels and clad in gardening gloves converged on Rose Haven. Their mission: Transform the Boos Family Courtyard and the surrounding gardens by planting nearly 100 husky bare root roses donated by Weeks Roses.

It really was a team effort. Betty Dixon put out the call the week before. Wayne Blizzard, Jim Moss, I loaded the giant box of roses into Jim's pickup truck and he drove them to the garden. Wayne stopped by Armstrong's to pick up a dozen bags of E.B.Stone potting soil and a couple of boxes of Smart Start root stimulator. The other volunteers pitched in digging holes, mixing soil, and planting rose bushes, earning a place in our hearts and on this honor roll:

Rose Haven Update

Spring is in the air and it is a great time to visit our garden. With the warmer weather rose buds have formed and will soon burst into bloom. There are new flowering peach trees near the gazebo which are showing fabulous blossoms. We've been watching and waiting all winter for the roses, trees, irises, and water-wise plants to show us their brilliant colors.

Have you heard the Boos Courtyard has been completely replanted with roses, boxwood, and shrubs? It was a very exciting experience to dig, amend, and plant, the area. A group of volunteers including some new members accomplished the task with the guidance of Frank and Wayne. This is something you will want to see as the area is stunning now. Also, the entry and nearby areas have been planted with new roses. Thank you so much everyone for your participation. This was quite an achievement.

Our volunteer days remain Wednesday and Saturday mornings—light work only. Come out and join us.

Our next garden committee meeting is Wednesday, April 24th at 9:30. Address is 30592 Jedediah Smith Road, Temecula. All interested are invited to attend. Please see our website for additional information and photos at temeculavalleyrosesociety.org/index.shtml.

Rose Care FUNdamentals

My message this month is primarily about caring for the half of your rose garden you don't see much of: The soil environment. I grew up on a farm. My dad only used aged barnyard waste on the land. His crops were always good. I realize now that this practice has profoundly influenced my outlook on gardening. I developed a sense that we need to keep the soil "healthy" but didn't quite know what that really meant. So I've sought out information and shared it the best I can. I recently read a terrific article in the March/April edition of American Rose magazine, the official publication of the American Rose Society (ARS) that brings together a lot of what I've learned as well as new information.

The soil's microbiology is complex and multi-tiered. A healthy garden soil system is teeming with beneficial microbes that inhibit, compete with, and consume disease-causing organisms. This creates a sustainable soil "immune system." In fact, plants grown with organic fertilizers are themselves more resistant to pests and diseases. In addition, when you feed those beneficial organisms, they feed your roses. That's because they are busy breaking down organic matter and releasing mineral nutrients slowly and reliably.

Many gardeners become discouraged when they first experiment with organic treatments while still using chemical fertilizers. It is difficult—in fact, almost impossible—to have it both ways. Chemical fertilizers negatively impact the soil food web by killing off entire portions of it. The fact is, chemical fertilizers are salts! What gardener hasn't seen what table salt does to a slug or snail? Salts absorb water and dehydrate the soil microbes which are the foundation of the soil nutrient system. Once you've used chemical fertilizers regularly you must keep adding more because the soil microbiology is weakened and unable to do its job of releasing naturally available nutrients to your plants.

Chemical fertilizers are artificial growth stimulants and, in the long run, harm your soil and pollute local waterways. This is because, as dissolved salts, they quickly leach through the soil (becoming unavailable to your plants) and enter the ground water. On the other hand, organic amendments (such as manure, compost, or mulch) stay where you put them, break down slowly, and don't contribute to ground water pollution (as long as you prevent run off into drains). In addition, they improve the soil food web, so in the long run you end up using less product.

How about swearing off chemical fertilizers for the rest of the year and starting to use organics? Give it a year. See if your roses don't reward you!

And when you've got a moment to spare, go visit Rose Haven. You might also want to visit Meetup.com to see what current news and events are happening at the Rose Society of interest to you.

Now, let's get out there and spread the word and 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.