Temecula Valley Rose Society

Co-President's Message

Just as this is a time for us to tidy up the garden, it is a time for us to tidy up our organizational matters. Our annual meeting will be held at our November 17, 2016 Member Meeting. There will be reports concerning what has happened this past year and an election for the 2017 Board of Directors. We will have a chance to reflect on both our successes and our not quite successes.

Dreaming and planning for things to come in 2017 starts now as well. New roses for our gardens and new ideas for special events celebrating roses will dance in our heads along with the sugar plums from the 'Night Before Christmas'. Budgets and meetings will help us accomplish these hopes and wishes. Be prepared to "dream a little dream with me" in the coming year.

Nominating Committee Report

As a California Corporation we have procedures to follow for the election of our Board of Directors at our annual meeting. Each year, beginning in August, the Nominating Committee begins the process of soliciting members to serve on the Board of Directors. The names of those individuals willing to serve, along with the details of the meeting and a proxy form, will be sent out at least 10 days prior to the meeting via email to members of record as of October 20, 2016.

If you are unable to attend the November 17th annual meeting, please mail your proxy vote to our post office box (P.O. Box 890367, Temecula CA 92589) or give your proxy to a friend who will be attending the meeting. Every vote counts!

An Autumn Stroll In Rose Haven

We are walking up the main path, on our way to the vegetable garden. Most of the plants are roses, but there are plenty of trees and bushes that are native to California and very thrifty in water use all around.

Our roses only get a few gallons of water each with drip irrigation. There is a small hole in the line by each plant and the timers dole out just a few gallons each per week.

Upkeep of the garden is paid for by donations by volunteers who love nature. You will see signs here and there acknowledging a few of those people. There are lots more of us who work her for the joy of it.

Along the path are many kinds of roses. Some are bushes, some climbing vines. Many are very fancy and each flower is a unique jewel. Each kind has a name, and we have a book that lists them all, if you are interested.

The plants on the other side of this path and towards the back are mostly native to California, very water-wise and good for hummingbirds, bees and butterflies. These plants tend to bloom and grow in the fall and winter, a wonder for the wildlife when the rest of the plants want to sleep. California and this garden is very important for the survival of many rare and important creatures.

You can visit the pond that many wild things drink from. The pergola on top of the hill is a lovely place to watch the herons and ducks in winter that stop by here. The blooms from the cactus and succulents provide nectar and draw the insects the bats and hummers need to survive.

There is a Port-a-Potty by the road. You can see its roof from the pergola. Even though it has been a hot and dry year, there are many beautiful blooms and plants to appreciate.

ROSES PAST AND PRESENT VIII

In past articles we have discussed the evolution of roses from "Wild" or species roses in ancient times up until the era when people began to appreciate the beauty of these plants and brought them onto their own private property, thus introducing the generation of "Old Garden Roses". The key word here is "Garden" implying plants grown on private property for the enjoyment of the property owner and a few close friends or neighbors.

Again there is no exact cutoff point at when this transition occurred. Sometime in the middle ages the beauty and charm of roses attracted the attention of the nobility and royalty of western Europe. The members of these elite classes had a desire to show their wealth and influence, and what better way than with something visual like a garden.

A visit to England will suffice to illustrate this point. The gardens at Hampton Court will illustrate the desire of the monarchy to show its gratitude to court favorites by installing beautiful gardens to honor these people. The gardens at Hampton Court are among the most spectacular in all of England and were installed initially by Henry VIII to honor his friend Cardinal Wolsey.

Across the English Channel however, the French were not to be overshadowed by their rivals in England. The ex-wife of Napoleon Boneparte, Josephine, who inherited a chateau as a part of her divorce settlement and became the owner of Malmaison, the estate. Josephine commissioned the grounds to become what we know today as a world class rose garden. This garden, still in existence today is one of the greatest gardens in France, and possibly the world. Numerous Old Garden Roses are named for either Josephine or Malmaison in tribute to her fabulous garden.

Even though there was a span of about 300 years between the creation of Hampton Court and that of Malmaison, this period saw the growth of rose breeders and the international trade of roses. By the late 1700's Old Garden Roses that we know of today began to appear and by the early 19th century rose breeding was a very important and respected trade. It appears that France led the field in this area, and that will be the focus of our study next month.

Garden Chat

Last week there was a gentleman with an elaborate camera and an encyclopedic knowledge of hummingbirds at Rose Haven. He knew many of our plants, insects and wild creatures. It seems he has been photographing and cataloguing some of those non-rosy residents we tend to take for granted. He pointed out that some of the hummingbirds have lived in the native trees and bushes for years. He said that when hummers seem to be hovering and darting aimlessly around the pond, they are catching gnats, hundreds of them. Hummingbirds like nectar, but live on insects. Thankfully, we don't spray poisons.

It was wonderful to see someone valuing our garden as much as we do, and for different reasons. There seems to be more and more interest in the value of our space to wildlife and water and soil conservation. As more wild spaces are developed the usefulness of Rose Haven as a resource will surely increase. The possibility of developing the last undeveloped space at the top as a pollinator garden remains an enticing and very useful possibility.

Grocery Cards Benefit TVRS

Member Meeting Program

You can easily fill your garden with many kinds of fragrant, beautiful roses! Master Gardener Francie Murphy will explain how to grow healthy roses in our Southern California climate with tips on fertilizers, pest control and pruning. She will offer advice gleaned from 20+ years of growing many kinds of roses. A comprehensive Rose Resource Guide also will be distributed.

Francie has been growing roses for more than 20 years and became a University of California-certified Master Gardener in 2014. She follows a no-fuss policy for her mix of antique and modern roses. Before retiring from her public relations business, she managed national and global public relations programs for more than 30 years. Ms. Murphy frequently lectures on how to work with the news media. She also helps to publicize many events sponsored by Master Gardeners.

A light buffet luncheon will be served at 11:30. Guests are welcome.

November Birthdays & New Members

Birthdays Phyllis Bettelheim, Wayne Blizzard, Jane Brodbeck, Lorraine Kline, Ray Jacques, Stephen Brubaker, Jim Moss, Kathleen Turgeon.

New Members There are no new members this month.

Little Rose Show

Our last Little Rose Show of the year is coming up at our November meeting. Cooler weather and some rain should bring us some better blooms. Let's all scour our gardens for some great entries. Awards will be made at our December member meeting.

Rose Haven Heritage Garden

Yay, some rain has finally arrived in our area. It was exciting with plenty of thunder and lightning going on, and Rose Haven Garden received just enough showers to perk up all areas of the garden.

If you are a rather new member of the Society, compare photos of the hillside at Rose Haven from 2006 and 2016. Quite a difference after we were awarded grant money from Metropolitan Water District to develop the additional two acres which were originannly covered with weeds.

The project in the education and special events area is coming along slowly as the fabricator has to make some adjustments for the structure to fit exactly in the designated area.

Due to holidays coming up, we will not have a garden committee meeting in November or December. But get ready for January. The big rose pruning season begins the first week in January. Also, check out the Eagle Scout project list on our website.

Hillside 2006

Hillside 2016

Families in the Garden: October Program

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 ARS Pacific Southwest District website here.

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!