Temecula Valley Rose Society

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President's Message

The topics covered were interesting and informative, and I want to share some of it with you here. Walt Kilmer presented a PowerPoint showing how he built a terraced rose garden on the steep hillside behind his house in Temecula.

Jack McClure of ChemtechSupply Inc. gave a detailed presentation titled "Chemical Safety" about the labeling and use of pesticides in the garden. He explained how the EPA and state agencies define, register, license, and regulate pesticides. Interestingly, when a chemical is registered with the EPA it indicates that EPA has reviewed and approved the label—it is not an EPA recommendation of the product. States review the EPA registration and may still deny registration or impose additional restrictions. Each chemical product receives an EPA registration number which is printed on the label: By comparing the numbers, you can determine if two products are actually the exact same chemical! Some organic or "natural" pesticides—such as those derived from plants or their fermentation byproducts—are EPA exempt but not necessarily safe. Always read the entire label before buying and using. Make sure it is intended for your type of site, pest, and application method. Also, heed the recommendations for protective clothing, eye wear, face masks, etc., and the levels of toxicity: Danger (highest toxicity),Warning, and Caution (lowest).

Bob Martin presented "How to Select a Good Rose in the First Place." His recommendations include always buying grade #1 roses, not grades 1.5 or 2. The money you spend on any rose—good or bad—is small compared with what you will eventually pay over the life of the rose in feeding, watering, soil, and time—so why not buy the highest quality available? A rule of thumb: You can only get grade #1 from a high-quality supplier, usually from a catalog or nursery; the roses in the big box stores are almost always lower grade, inferior specimens. Catalogs (printed or online) contain a wealth of information to help you select roses that are right for your location: Color, fragrance, form, ease of care, heartiness, disease resistance, and root stock. That last can be very important: Many roses are now available on their own root stock, and many are available grafted onto "Dr. Huey" root stock, but it appears that "Fortuniana" rootstock often out performs the others in hot climates like ours.

Visit local gardens to identify varieties that grow well in your area. Also try these other recommended sources for identifying good roses:

Bob Martin also provided an extensive list of rose varieties that grow well in hot climates; I will try to publish that list in the fall as we get closer to the rose ordering season.

The next presentation was quick information for CRs updating their status, regulations, qualifications, sources of information, changes to the programs, etc. The Saturday afternoon sessions included:

The Sunday sessions were more informal programs of practical hands-on learning. Marylou Coffman and Helen Baird presented a well-illustrated seminar on the use of backdrops, niches, and "underlayments" that rose arrangers are allowed to use to better showcase their creations at rose shows. This has become especially relevant in recent years as rose shows have abandoned the practice of providing backdrops for their arrangement categories—but arrangers are looking for all available methods to make their creations stand out. These devices help screen out distracting elements encountered at most rose shows, such as "busy" wall coverings, ill-placed doors and windows, other arrangements, etc. The information was pretty much news to everyone. They demonstrated how different colored backdrops enhance or detract from arrangements they brought to the class, and they shared practical techniques for putting them together from readily available materials.

Gerry Mahoney gave an enlightening demonstration with the title, "Building a Court of Etiquette Arrangement." This is combines rose arrangements with compositions using plates, cups, tea pots, trays, etc. but often in surprising ways, such as with the cup lying down, or the plates supported upright—and in all cases, no flatware.

Marylou, Helen, and Gerry then acted as mentors to coach three novices in creating rose arrangements right before our eyes—with "color commentary" by District Arrangements Judge Lauren Toth. Each mentor/novice team worked in a different style: Oriental (e.g., "Moribana"), Traditional ("Line"), and Modern ("Freestyle"). It was very entertaining and informative and the novices were very good sports. They explained what they tried to achieve, how they did it, and what they felt worked well.

The afternoon session was devoted entirely to photography—specifically, taking photos of arrangements for the photo class in rose shows. So, those who brought their cameras were encouraged to take pictures of the various arrangements which were on display in front of backdrops around the room. Dave Mahoney downloaded the photos and Bill Farmer (District Chair for Photography) critiqued the images, giving tips for avoiding various pitfalls.

Wayne and I thoroughly enjoyed the weekend, and we both agreed that many of our TVRS members would probably enjoy similar events, especially if held closer to home and, perhaps, one day only. I encourage you to watch for information in this newsletter for upcoming events. Who knows? You might really enjoy both the program and the people you encounter! (On that note, we were hosted during our visit by our new and dear friends Lynn and Jack Twitchell with whom we have hobnobbed at rose shows over the past year or so. Their hospitality really made it a very special weekend for us.)

  Rose Haven Update

Summer is in full swing and the garden is inviting everyone to come out and visit. Relax in the picnic area shaded by a huge pepper tree, or sit by the pond and enjoy the water. Take a walk and observe all the improvements accomplished in the last six months. The Boos courtyard has been completely replanted. New stairs are in place leading up to the gazebo, and check out the retaining wall, and new bench in the Romantic garden. There is attractive white fencing along our driveway and Cabrillo Ave. bordering the picnic area. A great deal of work has been done in the Hall of Fame area and it looks gorgeous. All of the improvements were achieved with your donations, volunteering, and Eagle Scout participation. Thank you, one and all.

Our next garden committee meeting is Wednesday, August 28th at 9:00. Yes, we have more ideas for next year to discuss—along with the budget. The address is 30592 Jedediah Smith Rd., Temecula . All interested are invited to attend. Please see our web site for additional information and photos at temeculavalleyrosesociety.org/rosehaven.shtml.

   

Make a Difference — Join a Committee!

Our Society has many committees and sub-committees. If you are interested in attending a committee meeting please send an email or call the committee chair to verify the time and place of the meeting. Sometimes changes are necessary and we wouldn't want you to make an unnecessary trip.

The Finance Committee will meet on the first Tuesday of August (6th) from 1 to 3 p.m. Contact Rebecca Weersing at temroses@gmail.com or 951-595-7046 for location. In June the date of the August meeting was listed as August 13th but the change is necessary because the Finance Committee needs to meet the Tuesday before the Board meeting. August is one of those rare months when the 2nd Thursday Board Meeting falls before the 2nd Tuesday.

The Board of Directors meets on Thursday, August 8th from 10 a.m. to noon at the Assistance League located at 28720 Via Montezuma in Temecula. Contact Frank Brines at roseguy2000@aol.com or 951-315-9632. Members are welcome to attend the Board meeting.

The Executive Committee is composed of the President, Vice Presidents, Recording Secretary, Chief Financial Officer and Chair of the By-laws Sub-Committee. Past Presidents are also invited to attend. This committee provides oversight to assure appropriate adherence to the legal and fiscal duties of the Society, plan the next quarter's board agendas, and review future Society activities. The Executive Committee meets quarterly.

The Nominating Committee is a sub-committee of the Executive Committee and begins meeting in August. This committee is responsible for recruiting Board members and for conducting the annual meeting in November. Members of this committee are past presidents, current Vice President Membership, current Recording Secretary, and current Chair of By-Laws Committee.

By-Laws is a sub-committee of the Records Committee. This committee is open to any member and meets at least once each year in August. The committee reviews and prepares amendments to the By-Laws and Standing Rules. Most By-Law amendments must be presented to the membership for approval at the November annual meeting. Contact Rebecca Weersing for date, time and location of meeting. Rose Haven Planning Committee will meet at Rose Haven on Wednesday, August 28th at 9:00 a.m. Contact Phyllis Bettelheim at phyllisb32@verizon.net.

Youth Gardening Committee is a sub-committee of both the Rose Haven Planning Committee and the Education and Outreach Committee. The committee will meet on Wednesday, August 20th at 10 a.m. at the home of chair JoAnn Summers. Contact her at jcsummers60@yahoo.com.

A newly forming Social Media sub-committee of the Communications, Publicity and Publications Committee will begin meeting in August. Contact Rebecca Weersing for information regarding date, time and place.

Make a Difference - Join a Committee!

Hello Rose Exhibitors!

Congratulations for a job well done! Our 2013 show was quite a success. Now with time-off this summer, it's time to get back to business. We still have time before our first 2014 show meeting, but we can start thinking about it. The most important thing is discussing and deciding on a theme. We are completely open to suggestions. Please email me or call me with your ideas. I would really appreciate it! Our first 2014 rose show meeting will be 1:00 pm Wednesday, October 2nd at the Assistance League. I'll look forward to hearing from you! Contact me at 951 694-8968.

Member Meeting Program

August Birthdays & New Members

Survey Results

Thanks to the 42 members and guests who took the TVRS survey at the June member meeting. Members are mostly satisfied with the content, length and format of the meetings and with the current dues. However more rose related topics are desired by some.

• Half of those surveyed participate in the Rose Show and First Boom Event while the other half visit.

• Most people are happy with the number of field trips offered but a minority would like more.

• Buffet lunch is important or satisfactory to almost all

• One fourth would be interested in an overnight trip to the Wasco rose fields.

• More than half would like one summer picnic at Rose Haven and Saturday in the preferred day. Fewer than half would participate in a pre-picnic garden work session.

• More than half do not help maintain Rose Haven because of health issues or lack of time. One fourth would help out if given specific jobs or areas to care for.

• One fifth would be interested in a committee or officer position if asked.

• More than half read all the articles in the on-line newsletter while the rest read some of them.

• One third have smart phones.

• The is little interest in a $100 fund-raising event.

• Reasons for joining the Rose Society in order of importance:

• 1. Programs/lectures; 2. To meet other rose lovers; 3. Support Rose Haven; 4. Go on field trips; 5. The luncheon.

  Kathy's Garden Chat

Come and get it. We have gobs of Basil. Cut a few plants. Make some Pesto. Take enough to dehydrate, cook or freeze. It will make you rich in phytonutrients. Delicious, gorgeous, clean and going to seed fast.

We still have Kale, and the internet is full of delicious salad recipes. The variety is very mild and delicious,cooked or raw. I know it certainly has improved the diet in our home. Just help yourself, remove the clamps and reach right in. You are welcome to our garden.

Pictured below are our new valves to control the water in the Tree of Life. Nardo has raised them, protected them with UV resistant paint and reinforced each with a stake. Sturdy, and a huge improvement as we will be able to control the water ourselves without fearing the black widow spiders and goopy water that always collects in those irrigation boxes. We can see to adjust the timers, change the batteries and even I, with hip problems, can enjoy helping with the veggies.

We are moving ahead. The strong wire from Lyse' garden has made a big difference for us, too. We just have to accept that everything but onions and garlic has to be protected.

 

  2013 Pacific Southwest Garden Of The Year Awards

The Pacific Southwest District invites all local rose societies to participate in our annual Garden of the Year Awards. This recognition is awarded at each annual PSWD convention for three different sizes of gardens: small garden of 1-100 roses, medium garden of 101-500 roses and large garden of greater than 500 roses.

This year's sole winner was the Temecula Valley Rose Society with Rose Haven Heritage Garden in Temecula. It is a fabulous garden with not only roses but desert and companion plantings. They also incorporate minimal watering to maintain the garden.

 

  Families in the Garden

Our committee is coming out of the summer months like a butterfly from its chrysalis. We are making exciting plans to fly into a new season with fun and learning for the "Families in the Garden" third Saturday programs. You are welcome and encouraged to come out and join us on the third Saturday of the month from 9:30-10:30 AM. We will be gardening, doing outdoor crafts and making friends with the families who come to learn about Rose Haven. This is a great public relations opportunity for us to introduce Rose Haven to the community.

We also have a request. Do you know of anyone who can share their knowledge of gardening, nature, or animal life? If so we would like to know about them. Our plan is to have speakers for the months of September, October, April, and May. Please contact JoAnn Summers if you or someone you know would be able to give a short presentation of interest to parents and children.
JoAnn's contact information: Jcsummers60@yahoo.com, 951-699-6855

  Summer 2013 in the 'Tree of Life' Garden

This summer we have had a few students help in the garden most Saturdays. Our dedicated volunteers have been busy building protection for our crops as the "critters" challenge us with every crop we plant. As you can see in the picture (foreground), our kale continues to produce after it was chewed to the ground and now protected with wire. The basil (on the right) is doing extremely well and needs to be picked. The tomatoes (on the left) are very healthy and tall, but unfortunately the tomatoes are harvested before they turn red so we have not had a crop to taste yet. Protecting tomatoes is a bit more difficult, as they grow and produce continuously. We finished harvesting the garlic and onions this summer. Both of these crops were successful and those who tried them said they were delicious.

Last Saturday the students finished building protection for our squash and pumpkins and the seedlings are now in the ground and doing well (see picture). The last crop we will plant for the summer will be watermelon. The bed is almost ready and the seedlings are ready to go in if we have volunteers this Saturday.

We always appreciate help in the garden on Saturday mornings. We are usually there around 8:00 a.m. and finish when it gets too hot. Just contact me and let me know you are coming. If anyone would like some fresh basil or kale, please come to the garden any time and pick them. If you have any suggestions or garden tools or wire that you would like to donate please let me know. My e-mail is barbpurdy@verizon.net. My phone number is (951) 526-5599.

 

Rose Care FUNdamentals

The temperatures in July were generally below normal this year, so you probably have some nice blooms, but not terrific ones. But keep in mind that our area typically experiences very high temperatures well into September and occasionally even October. (Heaven forfend!) I think we should wait until at least mid-September before doing any pruning. For now, just remove the spent petals, put them in the out-going green waste (not the compost pile), and let the rose hips develop a while. Keep watering so your roses are well hydrated and don't fertilize.

Visit your garden daily to look for any untoward changes: It doesn't take long for a rose to suffer if its irrigation emitter fails! Examine the lower leaves. If they look yellow or brown, webby, and/or dirty, you may have an infestation of spider mites. They thrive in hot weather. You'll find them only on the undersides of those leaves. A strong spray of water from below followed by an overhead bath should take care of the problem or, at least, hold it in check. I always say that it's never too late to add a nice top dressing (3" to 4") of composted mulch, but this month let's wait until Mother Nature is no longer trying to kill us with the heat–that would be after your light late summer pruning.

Speaking of which: Do you remember how long it takes to enter a bloom cycle after pruning? (Answer: 6 weeks.) If you want roses for a fall event (such as Thanksgiving), then count back from that date 6 weeks and make that your date to do your late summer pruning. That'll be a light pruning-basically shaping the bush and removing the ends of canes that have branched several times over the past season as they've bloomed and you've dead headed. BUT THAT IS FOR SEPTEMBER, NOT NOW!

So, take it easy (but keep vigilant for those spider mites and failed emitters), keep cool, and look forward to some FABulous roses later this fall!

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. You might also want to visit our section at Meetup.com to find events of interest to you. Spread the joy of roses!