Temecula Valley Rose Society

President's Message

by Virginia Boos

Due to health and aging challenges, I made the decision to resign my Board membership and the Presidency of TVRS. This was not an easy decision on my part, as I have always loved TVRS and the many friends I have made through the years.

I trust that our very strong membership will continue to support the activities that are planned, as well as changes to the officers that are needed.

Co-President's Message

by Linda Freeman & Brenda Jahanbani

Welcome to May 2020. Virginia Boos, our longtime President and a co‑founder of the TVRS, has decided to take personal time and step aside for the balance of 2020. The Board has (sadly) accepted her resignation from her President's position and from the Society's Board of Directors. Linda Freeman, 1st VP Programs, and Brenda Jahanbani, 2nd VP Membership, will be acting as Co‑President through August, 2020, when the Nominating Committee will start recruiting 2021 Officers, Directors and Committee chairs.

Linda (left) — I am looking forward to getting back to our regular Society meetings and, most of all, socializing with all the friends I have made through the Society since I joined in June, 2016. Our Society has such active and dedicated members, and everyone's energy and enthusiasm for our Society during these stay‑at‑home restrictions is very rewarding, and I have loved doing the Rosey Sharings.

Everyone's pictures have been a peek into gorgeous gardens and keeping in touch with Rose Haven. I live in Hemet and am getting about three weeks to a gallon of gas these days by staying put, so those who are sharing pictures are very much appreciated. Hopefully, we can start our Library programs in the near future, depending on community socializing protocols.

Brenda (right) — The COVID-19 pandemic and stay‑at‑home orders have had a major impact on all our lives. On the positive side this has given us more time to focus on our own garden and home. Many of you have shared beautiful photos of your garden and we love to see these.

We are fortunate to have a group of dedicated volunteers who have continued to work tirelessly in our garden at Rose Haven to keep it looking beautiful. There is still much to be done in the garden.

Rose Society members are invited to volunteer in our garden. Volunteers at Rose Haven wear face masks and practice safe social distancing. Please let us know if you are interested volunteering.

We are looking forward to the day when we can resume our monthly meetings and get together again. Stay in touch for more information about this in the coming weeks.

We would like to thank Virginia Boos for her strong leadership as President. She brought much positive energy to our club and implemented programs to move our club forward and help make Rose Haven sustainable in the future.

Monthly Program

Birthdays and New Members

Rose Haven Flora

by Bonnie Bell

The First Bloom of roses has arrived at the garden. Hopefully soon the garden can be opened to visitors after the COVID-19 restrictions are lifted so all can enjoy.

One of the original roses from the first plantings at the garden is the Floribunda "Class Act", a vigorous bloomer which produces massive white flowers, is very fragrant, and is quite resistant to all diseases.

It is a winner of the All‑American Rose Selection award and has an ARS rating of 7.8. A group of "Class Act" bushes can be found directly in front of the tool shed and at various places around the garden. It grows superbly in the Temecula Valley area.

The Loneliest Gardeners

by Lisa Blackburn, The Huntington Botanical Gardens

"Almost every garden has some common requirements: healthy soil, sunlight, irrigation, regular maintenance. But there are those who will tell you that a rose garden needs something more: people. No rose gardener wants to spend springtime alone, unable to experience the glories of that first spectacular bloom with friends, family, or even enthusiastic strangers. This spring, however, with The Huntington closed because of the COVID-19 health crisis, the three men who care for the Rose Garden have suddenly found themselves very, very lonely – spending their days in a paradise they're unable to share."

Read more about the loneliest gardeners.

© The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens

What Do Roses Need? Irrigation!

by Diane Gonzalez

Rose Haven Heritage Garden will celebrate its 30th year of growing in 2021. With this celebration in mind, the Rose Haven Committee is undertaking a number of refurbishment projects.

In reviewing and prioritizing garden projects to be completed for our Celebration, the RH Committee has established the irrigation system as a top priority. We are developing an irrigation strategy designed to provide information as to the current state of the system, necessary upgrades and repairs as well as funding for the project. Since the garden was first planted in 1991, we have used drip irrigation for all of the watering needs of the garden.

The first phase of the project (triage phase) has begun and consists of identifying all major components and locations as well as lines and inspecting for damage and making immediate repairs.

The next phase of the project is the replacement of major components as needed to insure the structural integrity of the system. We need to replace 11 valves ($58 each) and 11 pressure regulators ($28 each) for a total of $946.

The third phase of the project is the development of a comprehensive maintenance plan. This is a very large undertaking but one that is extremely important to the vitality of the garden. Without the proper watering system, especially in Southern California, the beauty of the garden will suffer and many plants could perish in our extreme summer months.

This is also a very costly undertaking and as a non‑profit organization we rely solely on the generosity of rose garden members, the community and local businesses. All donations to this project of any amount would be greatly appreciated and may be tax deductible.

The TVRS is a 501(c)(3) non‑profit organi­zation. Tax deducti­bility depends on your individual filing status. Tax contri­bution receipts provided on request. Our Federal tax id is 33-0428167.

If you would like to contribute to the refurbishment of our irrigation system, please send a check to Temecula Valley Rose Society, P.O. Box 890367, Temecula CA 92589-0367. On the memo line write "Donation for Irrigation System".

Growing Lettuce

Contributed by Linda Freeman

It's been several years since I've done this but it seems like a great time to bring it back. I lay a couple layers of paper bag or even a layer of thin cardboard with holes on the bottom of a planting tray, fill it with quality potting mix, sprinkle with lettuce seeds, sprinkle with potting mix and keep them moist. One of the keys is to not over water so you do not flood the trays.

It's very easy to overseed with lettuce so here's what I do. In a couple of weeks I transplant some of the most crowded plants into other containers, the garden, etc.

A couple weeks later you can trim the most crowded areas and begin eating. A couple weeks after that you should have very nice lettuce to eat. Along with microgreens lettuce is one of the quickest seed to plate crops.

I personally grow lettuce all winter in a bag of soil, and this method repurposes planting trays and uses less soil. Lettuce is very shallow rooted so this method works well for lettuce. It is a bit late to grow lettuce in our area now unless your plants only get morning sun, as they will not survive in the afternoon sun. I know we all have empty planting trays around so maybe we can be inspired to use them for other purposes. I know I will be shifting my winter lettuce crop to this method from the below bag method.

Left to right: Grow tray, Supplies needed, Lettuce seeds, Ready to eat!

Article and photos from the UC Master Gardener Program, Sonoma County.
Copyright © 2020 The Regents of the University of California. All Rights Reserved.

Growing a Great Crop of Weeds

by Rebecca Weersing

Some rain + some sunshine + some soil + some warm weather = some very healthy weeds! Remember, weeds are a sure sign springtime has arrived in the garden.

Kathy Trudeau and husband Byron Webb have been working diligently to displace the weeds and uncover plants in the Tree of Life. Kathy said they were pleased to see healthy tomato, potato, kale, and strawberries growing, as well as a few plants they could not identify (weeds?).

Although we will not be offering any Families in the Garden programs before September, the garden still requires tending. We will probably be planting pumpkins for our October Harvest program, and heirloom tomatoes will be planted for a possible fundraising event in late August. Volunteers are needed whether for our crop of weeds or our crop of edibles.

Remember, when at the garden, please maintain social distancing and cover your nose and mouth.

Rose Care FUN­da­men­tals

by Frank Brines, Master Consulting Rosarian

There was signs of climate change again this year. The area had above average rain fall and fluctuations in temps which was good and bad. It is more difficult to predict what to do and when as I have in past years. The timing and development of growth is dependent on weather, especially a more constant predictable weather pattern.

This year temperatures and rain fluctuated more than I remember it in the past decade. Flower production is impacted greatly by inconsistent temperatures, sun and water. The increased rain stymied growth and caused some rust, mildew and Botrytis fungi to appear quickly. I was able to get several applications of chemicals for fungi before the weeks of rain. Still some rose leaves were affected with rust and lots of Botrytis.

Abundant sunshine and water produces larger blooms. In my garden, applying fertilizer every two weeks prior to all the rain resulted in more growth and buds. If you didn't apply fertilizer during all that rain, be sure to do so soon, along with plenty of water to maintain this production curve. Be vigilant for changes, diseases and pests in your garden now. Be prepared to act on these immediately.

Blooms mature quickly in warm weather, so as blossoms fade, lightly prune back to the first outward facing five-leaflet leaf. Don't shorten the cane too much. If you remove just blossom and peduncle, you may get two weaker shoots with less bloom quality. This light pruning sets the stage for the next bloom cycle in about seven weeks.

For best production, try to shape the bush to outward facing buds. If you can, keep canes that are larger than the diameter of a wooden pencil. Doing all this now, your next blooms will appear around mid-June before the summer heat. Knowing this can help you prepare for hot summer in Temecula Valley. Make sure to put all vegetation into your green waste barrel.

Roses want a constant supply of nutrients, including micronutrients (copper, iron, manganese, magnesium, etc.). Remember that you are also feeding the soil microbiology, which is complex and multi-tiered, abundant in beneficial microbes which create a sustainable soil diversity acting like an "immune system."

Phosphate (N) and Potassium (K) help develop strong root systems, better blooms, and help prevent stress during adverse conditions. In fact, plants grown with organic fertilizers are themselves more resistant to pests and diseases. A soil test kit for analyzing the soil needs could save you lots of money, energy and guesswork for a fulfilling garden.

Organic amendments such as manure, compost or mulch stay where you put them, break down slowly, don't contribute to ground water pollution (as long as you prevent run off into drains), improve the soil food web, so that in the long run you end up using less product while providing "food" for all the creatures like earth worms who act like rototillers mixing them into the soil to lower depths. The best thing you can do for your garden is to add a generous layer of mulch that doesn't have wood chips.

Keep an eye for worsening conditions such as water stress, insect pests, and fungal diseases. Do not use a formula that treats everything. Use only a product especially for the specific problem, and treat in proportion to severity, as well as your level of acceptance. If control is lost it may be necessary to strip off all the diseased leaves and prune back and basically start over.

Some organic formulas using neem oil, insecticidal soaps, baking soda, etc. Read entire labels and use according to directions, including safety equipment to avoid exposure to contaminates. Keep your skin covered when applying chemical treatments. Use approved goggles for eye protection, respirator mask, long sleeve shirt, water/chemical resistant boots and gloves. When the treatment is completed, immediately remove clothing and wash. Take a good shower to remove any possible contamination.

Gardens are showing increased prevalence of the fungal disease "Black Spot." It appears as dark green to black spots on leaves, which often turn yellow and fall off. The infected leaves (even those that fall) produce spores that can infect other leaves. There are many fungicides available, but control can be difficult. Sometimes you just have to remove and dispose of any infected leaves.

Another new pest is the Chili Thrip. It's much smaller than the Western Thrip we're accustomed to and more devastating as it eats ALL varieties of vegetation. Control is quite difficult and new treatments are being studied. Products containing Spinosad bacteria seem to help control soft-bodied larvae, but be aware that even such "natural" products can kill other (beneficial) insect species.

It is never too late to apply a thick layer of mulch! Use composted mulch, not wood products. (Pine needles are good too!) Apply to a depth of 3 to 4 inches. Mulch keeps the entire bed uniformly supplied with water. Avoid mulch containing wood chips of any sort: Their breakdown robs the soil of Nitrogen, and a mold can grow that is impenetrable to water, fertilizers, and oxygen.

I've grown many varieties of roses in my gardens. Most will grow well in the Temecula Valley. 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, Tropical Lightening, Hey Jack, Neptune, and Violet's Pride.

Heads up for high summer: Don't expect great roses during July-September when temperatures are high! Just keep plants well hydrated, and remove just spent petals, leaving the "hips" (don't prune). The plants will enter a short dormancy and build strength for fall.