Temecula Valley Rose Society Newsletter for March, 2022


March 2022



President's Message, by Virginia Boos

TVRS President

My 95th birthday is coming up next month and I'm still going strong. My thoughts – It's important to stay active, even though some days I don't feel like I want to do that. Staying healthy, listening to my body clues, visiting my primary doctor often and following his advice, taking my medications faithfully, are all indications that I am taking care of myself. My advice: don't give up the battle! We have a new member who can teach Tai Chi, noted to relieve stress, as well as strengthening and stretching tired muscles; more on that to follow soon.

I've had over 30 years as a member of TVRS. So much has happened since our beginning. We now own a special rose garden, a beautiful well-planned place with many memories for me. Individuals have come and gone, but are not forgotten. They willingly contributed their efforts with enthusiasm. On my Peace Pole my message says "Friendships and Memories since 1990".


March 2022 Program

Date: Thursday, March 17, 2022
Time: 10:00 a.m.
Place: Temecula Library, Community Room, 30600 Pauba Rd., Temecula
Topic: Peace & Friendship Gardens
Presenter: Kathy Trudeau
Location: 

Temecula Library, Community Room, 30600 Pauba Road. Our member Kathy Trudeau will be updating us on the Peace and Friendship Garden that is evolving at Rose Haven. Kathy will give us some history about this worldwide project that has over 250,000 Peace poles installed around the world.

Our Society was lucky to adopt over 20 roses from Bob Martin's garden from his widow Dona Martin. With a group of intrepid society members, those roses were transferred from Bob's home in Escondido to Rose Haven which will now be part of the Peace and Friendship garden.

Bring your friends and neighbors to hear about this worldwide project and other Rose Haven activities.


March Rose Haven Flora, by Bonnie Bell

Bonnie Bell

Our featured rose this month is the shrub rose "Mutabilis", also known as the Butterfly Rose. It was introduced prior to 1894 and is one of the most famous old garden roses. The brilliant colorations of copper, honey yellow, orange and vivid pink are a sensation to see when in full bloom.

Mutabilis is a repeat blooming China single rose with five petals, 3 inch blossoms, and grows to six feet tall in our area. The ARS rating is 8.9. At the garden, ours were neglected for several years but now Monique has been working diligently to resurrect them to their full glory. Thank you, Monique. You will find Mutabilis planted along the back fence between the gazebo and peace pole area.
Photo credit is by Waterwise Botanicals.


Upcoming 2022 Plant sale and educational opportunities

Marin Rose Society – March 8, 2022 – Flowers in Film – 7:30-8:30pm (online) We'll celebrate flowers in film, look at the way they have been used in many movies and characters. https://www.marinrose.org/event/flowers-in-film-the-sequel/

UCR Botanic Gardens Plant Sale April 2 and 3, 2022 (online-pickup later in April). Members shop early on April 2. UCR frequently has a nice selection of miniature roses in their sale inventory. For more information https://gardens.ucr.edu/events/plant-sales

San Diego Master Gardener Spring Seminar March 16-22, 2022. Buy a seminar package and view seminars online during the week at your convenience. https://www.mastergardenersd.org/seminar/

Pacific Rose Society in Conjunction with Our Annual Rose Show. Will Host The 67th Annual ARS Pacific Southwest District Convention. April 22-23-24, 2022 at the L.A. County Arboretum. The Pacific Rose Society hosts one of the largest rose shows each spring. Rose Exhibitors from all over Southern California bring their beautiful roses for display – information. http://www.pacificrosesociety.org/PacificRS-PSWD-2022-Convention-RoseShow.html

The San Diego Rose Society's 94th Annual Rose Show & California Coastal Rose Society Auction Sat, Apr 30 and May 1, 2022 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM. Rose show venue, The Ronald Reagan Community Center in El Cajon. The auction will feature many of Bob Martin's roses, thanks to Dona and his family's generosity. Also new to the show schedule are two challenge classes, one named for Dick Streeper and one for Bob Martin. The Novice Class has been renamed as the 'John Lester Memorial Class' to honor John since his passing last year. https://www.sandiegorosesociety.com/events

Riverside County Master Gardener Plant Sale May 7 and 14, 2022. More information and updates at https://www.facebook.com/ucmgriversidecounty/


 


Rose Care FUNda­men­tals, by Frank Brines

Master Consulting Rosarian

Frank Brines

Boy, has it been crazy weather? Depending on your location—or more specifically, that of your garden—you may have experienced frost damage to your roses and tender young plants recently. Keep an eye on your roses: If you see that frost has actually killed new growth that came out after pruning, you may need to re-prune, making your cuts just above the next outward-facing bud down the cane.

The thing is, even gardens in the same general vicinity may have different effects due to their prevailing micro-climates. The next few days of March will be slightly above normal with predicted temperatures in mid 80s. Overall temperature predicted for March is near average. Roses enjoy this weather which encourages roses to jump into life. A regular schedule for irrigating should already have begun. Roses do love food and water for the best blooms. Rule of thumb when new growth is 2-3 inches long it is time to begin a fertilizing program.

Take time now to inspect and make any necessary repairs to your irrigation system. Drip systems are the most efficient and they avoid problems created by above-ground sprayers and sprinklers, which waste water and can foster molds (e.g., mildew and rust). If possible, avoid any over-spray or misting applied elsewhere in your garden that may hit your roses; but if you use overhead watering systems, avoid doing so when there is any wind to avoid moisture evaporating or collecting on leaves which could result is sun burn or add to conditions favorable for fugal diseases. For best results and efficiency, be sure to schedule irrigation so it is complete before the day gets hot (preferably by mid-morning, that is, 8am to 9am). Avoiding afternoon or evening watering prevents excess ground moisture into night time. Too wet soil can lead to unhappy roots and/or fungal diseases.

If your roses experienced fungal diseases last year and you haven't yet done so, you might think of applying a lime sulfur dormant spray soon. You can mix Horticultural Oil with the dormant spray for better adherence. Read the label to make sure you can mix different sprays. As a note of future caution, be prepared for chilli thrips as temp warms up.

Steps to take when ready to spray: First, make sure the garden is free of left-over debris and to dispose it in the green garden waste bin—do NOT compost rose debris in your yard. Backyard composting doesn't get hot enough kill any pathogens. Second, remove all old leaves that may be left on the bush. This cleanliness will help keep down disease. Third, read the spray label completely to ensure the proper strength of the mixture for "growing season instructions" as the new growth has begun. Fourth, saturate all canes and the soil surface of the entire bed. Fifth, maintain a minimum of 2" to 4" of organic composted mulch over the entire garden surface to insulate the upper 8" to 12" of the soil zone where most rose roots feed, and to reduce evaporation and conserve water, while still providing sufficient moisture. This will also supply nutrients to build the soil for your roses over the season.

You can begin fertilizing when new growth is 2" to 3" long. I suggest an initial feeding each year be higher in nitrogen (N) to encourage new stem and leaf growth. In about two weeks, apply fertilizer that is higher in phosphate (P) and potassium (K) to give roots a boost at start of season. New information suggests that continued use of fertilizer higher in P and K will foster greater root development and lead to better growth, disease resistance and healthier plants. Look for fertilizers rated as 8-10-8 that include micro elements for greater results.

I highly recommend organic type fertilizers vs. inorganic or "chemical" ones. Organics foster better soil development, a richer, livelier, more viable community of soil organisms that break the elements into easily absorbed form and release them slowly. They will "build" soil structure into a healthy component and when used regularly will develop a soil rich in reserve energy, allowing you to use less product with the same results.

If you have completed your pruning it is likely all your pruners need sharpened. Sharp pruners make for clean cuts and the prevention of diseases or otherwise damaged weak canes. The best files to use are thin flat types with diamond grit material. This type allows easier sharpening for the tight spaces between the cutting blade and bar. Attempt to follow the current/original bevel/angle of the sharp blade. Felco states that the angle for their pruners is 23 degrees. Keeping pruners clean can be done using 70% isopropyl alcohol,WD40 soak, or Lysol sheets. If heavy plant "juice" is a problem a small brass bristle brush will help remove it. Lubricate the mechanism with a light oil like 3-in-0ne.

There are rose shows scheduled for April 23 (at the Los Angeles Arboretum) and April 30 (San Diego Rose Society held in El Cajon).