Temecula Valley Rose Society

Co-President's Message

On Wednesday, May 3rd we will be meeting under the pepper trees at Rose Haven to plant up succulents for our May 13th First Bloom Celebration and Plant Sale. Bring your gloves, extra pots and plants you want to donate. We will meet from 9 to 11 a.m. for a fun project and friendly get together. Any questions? Give me a call at 951-595-7046.

First Bloom Celebration and Plant Sale

Saturday, May 13 we will invite the community to visit Rose Haven. With all of the rain this past few months, the garden has been putting on a spectacular bloom for the past weeks and should still be in full bloom for the next several weeks. Please join us between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. There will be a plant sale too. We will be having a ceremony honoring Karen Ortega and her vision of a rose garden in Temecula.

In Memoriam: Bernice Wendt

Stepping Back With Regret

Kathy helped with our Rose Shows and began to attend our meetings. Then she joined us as a member. She served as a co-president with Frank Brines during the early 2000s. Over the years Kathy has been a mainstay in the kitchen, wanting us to be certain to include healthy food choices always.

Thanks to Kathy, programs on birds, hummingbirds, bees, worms, and composting have been part of both youth gardening events and our member meetings. Kathy has been a faithful member of the Rose Haven Committee, the Families in the Garden Committee and the Tree of Life Committee. She and Carol Hudson arranged for the planting and maintenance of the Leon & Norma Vogel Iris Bed. She has informed us all about permaculture and arranged day trips to see permaculture gardens.

At this moment in time Kathy apologies that due to health issues and a pending move to Banning she must step back from her Rose Society activities. Kathy, take care of yourself. When you have recuperated and settled into your new home, we hope that you will visit us for some of our meetings and special events. Please know that you are a valued member of our Society.

Roses Past And Present — XVI

There are two opinions about when the era of Old Garden Roses (OGR) came to an end. First, the more accepted version is that the end came in the year 1867. In that year a French rose breeder by the name of Jean-Baptiste Guillot bred a China Tea rose, Mme Bravy, with a Hybrid Perpetual, Mme Victor Verdier. The result was the first ever "Hybrid Tea" rose. To honor his nation Guillot named this rose "La France". This rose exhibited the strengths of the China Teas in color, fragrance and strong habit. Coupled with this were the traits of the Hybrid Perpetual, blooms that repeat during the growing season.

This new Hybrid Tea variety soon captured the attention of rosarians all over the world, and it seems that everyone wanted to breed these new roses. In fact, they became so popular that the OGRs soon fell out of favor as everyone wanted to breed, grow and purchase Hybrid Teas.

This leads to opinion number two as to when OGRs lost out to Modern Roses, as the new generation was called. By 1900–1901, OGRs fell behind Modern roses in popularity and would have disappeared had it not been for a few stalwart souls who stepped in and restored OGRs to their proper place in rose history. Chief among these rosarians was a gentleman by the name of Graham Thomas who felt that ALL of the roses from the past should be retained as well as restored to their proper place in our gardens. Along with others, Mr. Thomas was successful in insuring that today we can still enjoy Wild Roses, Old Garden Roses and Modern Roses.

(A sidelight: In our Hall of Fame area we have a Shrub Rose named "Graham Thomas" in honor of the man who "saved" these old roses. This rose is a medium to light cream colored, very vigorous height, with about 35 petals, making it ideal for our zone. One of my favorites.)

Next month we will leave the old roses behind and try to delve into the quagmire of Modern Roses.

News from the Arrangement Front

Frank entered the arrangement shown here. He used the only blossoms he has this month in any number, Whisper, from a plant that was on our tiny suburban lot when we moved in last September. The arrangement type is a "line mass." (A detailed discussion of arrangement types can be found here.)

Frank won the "Royalty Award" which the ARS defines as going to "the best standard arrangement in a class or classes for Traditional design."

Families in the Garden

Due to a lack of attendance last month's activities were cancelled. Our next program will be held on the 13th of May. Children will construct Mussie Tussie bouquets for mothers in honor of Mother's Day. In addition, the Rose Society's annual plant sale will be held same day at the garden right after our 'Families in the Garden' event.

Little Rose Show

Our "deconstructed rose show" continues at our member meeting in May, so bring your roses. You can see the details in the article in this issue. This is not part of our Little Rose Show which will resume in June along with our photographic exhibits.

Grocery Cards Benefit TVRS

Member Meeting Program

Our May member meeting will feature the rose exhibition portion of our "deconstructed rose show". Below are the rules for entering. Members will vote for their favorites in each class as they did in the March arrangements show. Frank Brines, ARS judge, will be on hand to select a "best in show."

NOTE: All roses must be correctly named and entered in the appropriate section. Otherwise they will be placed in Class 6. You may have roses you want to bring just to exhibit. This is the class for those. Members may enter 6 roses, distributed in classes of their choice. If a member exceeds this number, extras will be placed in Class 6. The Little Rose Show will begin in June. Exhibit all roses in your own containers.

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

The Future of Luncheons, OH MY!

We have been fortunate over the years to have many dedicated and talented people arranging, organizing, and serving our luncheons. Members have been generous in preparing and sharing their special dishes. There are those very considerate people who handle the cleanup in the kitchen after we are all sated and headed out the door.

Our membership is changing. Due to circumstances beyond anyone's control, we have people whose health is not what it once was, people who now have other commitments on our meeting days, people who are traveling during some months, and people who are moving from the area. These circumstances necessitate us as a Society to rethink how we will conduct our meetings, especially concerning our luncheons. In May we will take a survey that will allow us each to have input into our path forward.

Please bring a dessert either for May or June. The Board of Directors will arrange for the main dishes and beverages for the May and June meetings. We will all need to help with putting out the foods and cleaning up afterwards. In June, after our May survey, we will be able to lay out a path forward for meeting refreshments. Thank you for your understanding, assistance and input in determining our path.

May Birthdays & Renewing Members

Birthdays   Carol Hudson, Jerri Palmer, and Linda Black

Renewing Members   Welcome back Linda Freeman and Suzanne Howell

Rose Haven Garden

The garden is at its springtime height of beauty right now. You really should plan a visit soon. Bring your family and friends – have a picnic and walk around or just enjoy the tranquility.

Our next garden committee meeting is Wednesday, May 24th at 9:30. The meeting location is at the garden, 30592 Jedediah Smith Road, Temecula. We will discuss progress on the Education Shelter and other projects to improve the garden. Members interested are always welcome to attend the meeting.

Mormon Helping Hands Crew Rose Haven garden is at 30592 Jedediah Smith Rd. in Temecula.

Look Ma! No Weeds! Fresh mulch too!

Tree of Life in May

Apple Tree Update: In April we planted the 10 replacement benchgraft (infant) apple trees. Within a month all of the trees sprouted and produced a beautiful flower. These young trees seem to be happy in their new location. Tony and Frances Merritt and Ben and Brenda Jahanbani agreed to take home one of these young apple trees and plant it in their gardens. They will update us with their results compared to growing these trees in the Tree Of Life.

Please stop by the garden and see what we have growing. I am there most Saturday mornings, but you can stop by anytime. Please close the gate when you come in and leave so the rabbits don't come in and harvest.

Baby Apple tree

Planting Tomatoes

Rose Care FUNdamentals

I will give some things that you can do to get that next cycle of good blooms before it gets too hot. A minor pruning to remove old blooms will reset the cycle of blooming. Most likely not all are at the same development, so just prune back as blooms fade—don't leave them in your garden or put them in you compost pile—make sure to put them into your green waste barrel. Continue shaping the bush for best production by pruning the cane to an outward facing bud. Each leaf axis has a bud. Knowing this makes it easy to discern an outward facing bud. Attempt to keep canes that are no smaller than the diameter of a wooden pencil.

Continue fertilizing—hopefully you are ready for the fourth application—organic, I trust. As I always say, organics are much better for your soil, your garden and the environment. The soil microbiology is multi-tiered, teeming with beneficial microbes which create a sustainable soil "immune system." We've just leaned that a higher percentage of Potassium (the P of NPK rating) helps the plant to develop stronger roots and not suffer stress during adverse conditions In fact, plants grown with organic fertilizers are themselves more resistant to pests and diseases.

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.

The bounty of good in the form of rain that we received earlier, presents an opposite hindrance of powdery mildew in most gardens. While not too obvious, keep an eye for worsening condition. Treating is dependent on your level of acceptance. There are some organic formulas using neem oil, insecticidal soaps, baking soda, etc. Do not use a formula that treats everything. Use only a product specifically for the problem. Read the labels and use accordingly and use safety equipment to avoid exposure to contaminates if you choose chemical. One must cover up bare body parts when applying chemical treatments for disease or pests. Use approved goggles for eye protection, respirator mask, long sleeve shirt, water/chemical resistant boots and gloves. Remove clothing used immediately when treatment is completed and wash. Take a good shower to remove any possible contamination to your being.

Gardens are showing increased prevalence of Black Spot and a new pest called Chilli Thrip, much smaller than the Western Thrip currently in our gardens and more devastating as they eat all vegetation. Control is quite difficult and treatments are being studied. There are a few products being used which are still in research.

I would like to just add some information for future if you add to your garden with plants grafted to root stock other than Dr Huey which is the most used for locally grown commercial roses. Roses grafted onto Dr Huey are generally deep rooted, that is, the roots are more locally distributed in area approximately 2'x2'x2'. Some roses are now being grown in our area that are grafted onto Fortuniana root stock, and these rose have a different root habit: Their root systems are shallower but also broader, so watering is best done covering the entire bedding area verses the local zone for Dr Huey grafted roses. Roses on Fortuniana root stock tend to grow taller and more effusively.

The best way to keep an entire bed uniformly supplied with water is to apply a generous layer of mulch. It's the single most beneficial act you can provide for your plants. I recommend against using mulch containing wood chips of any sort. There are several reason not to: Additional Nitrogen must be supplied to replace the nitrogen needed to break down the wood fibers, a mold or fungi can result which can prevent fertilizers, water and oxygen from entering the root zone. Instead, I recommend composted mulch as it is well broken down and filled with nutrients ready to be integrated into the soil by worms.

Also, a soil test kit for analyzing the soil needs could save one lots of money, energy and guess work for a fulfilling garden.

Maintaining a clean garden will or can prevent many diseases, remove blooms before they drop petals onto the ground or remove soon if they do fall. Drip irrigation is the best method to provide water to each plant (use an emitter on two sides of each bush). If you buy and plant roses grafted on Fortuniana root stock use drip line with emitters every 18" and throughout the bed, use multiple lines throughout the bed. Use of organic fertilizer will eventually save you money as in time less is needed as it will improve the soil components instead of reducing the elements, especially if you also add 3 to 4 inches composted mulch every 2 to 3 years.

I have grown many varieties of roses in my gardens. Most will grow well in the Temecula Valley. However, don't expect to have great roses during July–September when temperatures are high 90s. Just keep the plants well hydrated as possible, let them enter a short period of dormancy or slowed growth not to produce blooms which will likely be of poor quality and stress the plant as well.

Some varieties I recommend; Mr Lincoln. Outta the Blue, Easy Does It, Touch of Class, Double Delight, Joey, Gold Medal, Graham Thomas, Fragrant Cloud, Fragrant Plum, Sunsprite, Playboy, Sally Holmes, Ballerina and Tropical Lightning.

I am ARS Certified Rose Consultant. If you would like personal answers to questions you can write me at roseguy2000@aol.com.

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!