Temecula Valley Rose Society

Co-President's Message

Both committees and the Board have begun planning for 2016 programs and events. Thank you to everyone who participated in the program survey at the October meeting. This gives the Programs Committee valuable input as to topics that will be of interest to members.

Planning for the 2016 Rose & Arts Festival has begun. The venue will again be the Assistance League and the date is Saturday, April 23, 2016 with setup on Friday beginning at noon. The first committee meeting was at 12:30 PM after the October Member Meeting. Additional meetings will be held after member meetings in November, January, February, March and April. Please feel free to stay and add your thoughts and wisdom to the planning.

A Pruning Workshop for the community will be planned for Saturday, January 23 from 9 to 11. The following two Saturdays will be held in reserve in case there is rain on January 23rd. The Education and Community Outreach Committee could use your assistance on the "day of" the event as well in the preliminary planning stages.

We are now moving into our "thankful" season. We will take a few minutes at our November meeting to share something we are thankful for in this season. Personally, I am thankful for all of the caring, concerned and creative members we have in the Rose Society.

Rose Haven Update

The pond development at Rose Haven Garden began back in April 2006. As one can see by the photos, the before and present day differences are remarkable. Such soothing surroundings await our members and visitors. There are three benches on which to relax and enjoy the atmosphere.

The roses revived nicely in October with the cooler and longer nights. Certain varieties have bright hips this time of year instead of blooms. Dortmund is an outstanding example with vivid orange hips, and is located along the fence in the picnic area. The native California shrubs and water-wise areas are also looking delightful.

Our Next garden committee meeting is Wednesday, November 25th at 9:15. We are discussing projects for 2016. Erosion control and shading the education area are on the agenda. Members interested are always welcome to attend the meeting. The garden address is 30592 Jedediah Smith Rd., Temecula.

Building the pond

The pond today

Grocery Cards Benefit TVRS

Member Meeting Program

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

November Birthdays & New Members

Birthdays Phyllis Bettelheim, Nov. 1, Jane Brodbeck, Nov. 5, Lorraine Kline, Nov. 8, Fay Devor, Nov. 9, Edie O'Hair, Nov. 15, Ray Jacques, Nov. 20, Wayne Blizzard, Nov. 24, Jim Moss, Nov. 28, Trish Hawkins, Nov. 29, Kathleen Turgeon, Nov. 30 Margaret Granlund, Nov, 30

New Members Loral Standish

Little Rose Show

Remember the prime items we've been working on: clean, untrimmed foliage nicely distributed, appropriate containers for the length of the rose, and, please, clearly labeled tags which should be left on the table after you take your rose home. We welcome unknown roses to enjoy.

Families in the Garden

Membership and Volunteerism

Our society depends on volunteers. Every single thing that gets done here, from the potluck lunch, to planning programs, putting out the newsletter, or maintaining our beautiful garden, is all done by people who volunteer. We thrive when members say "Yes, I will do that for our organization."

While many of our members do volunteer to do the work of the society, we need every member to participate in some way if we want this to be a more vibrant and effective organization. All contributions are valuable and helpful.

• Write an article for the newsletter or website
• Make food for the potluck lunch
• Call and remind members of the meeting
• Join a committee
• Help with advertising our organization
• Pull some weeds or deadhead some rose bushes in Rose Haven
• Donate prizes for the opportunity drawings
• Grow plants for the sale at our rose show
• Bring a friend to a meeting

In hopes of increasing awareness of and participation in volunteering time to the Society, we will be starting an annual contest in January. The member who puts in the most volunteer hours during the year will be honored as our Volunteer Rose of the Year. See next month's newsletter for more details.

Rose Care FUNdamentals

If you completed the light mid-season pruning in September/October as suggested in an earlier article, you pruned out dead, crossing canes, and thinned the middle of the plant. This will improve air circulation through the bush and reduce possible fungal diseases. This mid-season pruning and fertilizing encourages a new blooming cycle. Cutting some of the early blooms now (and taking inside for bouquets) can help ensure having blooms around Thanksgiving. If you stagger your bloom cutting, you might have some for your December holiday table. That might is the big unknown, the main factor being the temperature (again). The average first frost date in our area is about November 17.

You may make a final application of fertilizer for the year before mid-November. If you do this, use a fertilizer lower in Nitrogen (N) and higher in Phosphate (P) and Potassium (K); that is, if your fertilizer has an N-P-K number on it, the first digit will be lower than the other two. If it lacks an N-P-K, read the ingredients and/or ask your professional nursery person for guidance. To explain: Nitrogen encourages foliage growth-something we want to discourage as the plants go into their winter dormancy; Phosphate helps build root structure and resistance to stressful conditions (e.g., cold at this time of year); Potassium is a helper of Phosphate and aids in bloom quality. If you use an organic fertilizer it will be readily available when the soil warms, adding to the nutrients needed for that Spring growth spurt.

Don't apply fertilizer after mid-November because it will only encourage tender growth that could be damaged by frost and will forestall your roses going into dormancy as the soil and general environment cool, daylight shortens, etc.

Some people think Southern California lacks distinct seasons, but we do have seasons: They are only discerned by those with a more sophisticated palette! So get out of the house and enjoy the subtle delights of the air, sun, and the rich aroma of our magically misty Fall. When you have a moment to spare, or feel the need to get away, or when the day cools down, take your favorite healthy beverage, a picnic basket, and visit Rose Haven Heritage Garden, 30592 Jedediah Smith Road, Temecula (cross street is Cabrillo Avenue). The early morning and late afternoon sunlight across the pass is magical this time of year-it even makes the freeway seem a little bit romantic! Other venues this time of year available for your interest check out the website http:pswdroses.org/calendat.html

Oh, one last thing-something to do when it gets just a bit too nippy out there: Start perusing rose catalogs (printed and online) for that next "gotta have" rose variety. (Come on-you deserve it! You work hard to have lovely roses, so let yourself go!) And we expect to see you enter that perfect bloom in the next rose show in April 2016!) Also, this time of year many nurseries and garden stores are liquidating their remaining inventory of potted roses-and you're in luck because November is an ideal time to purchase and plant!

Until next month, Happy Roses to you!

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. Spread the joy of roses!