Temecula Valley Rose Society Newsletter for May, 2022

President's Message, by Virginia Boos

Would you enjoy seeing photos of gorgeous roses from all around the world? All it takes is joining Rose Gardening World on Facebook. The 32 thousand members, who are enthusiastic rose growers, post their pictures, make comments about them, ask questions about rose care in their area and just generally love to share the beauty. Growers in Australia and Japan send pictures of what is blooming there, while we are in midwinter doldrums.

Many of the ones you will see are not available in the U.S. I admired 'Bikini', an intense yellow, so colorful, but unknown to me. Can they be ordered and shipped? Would they thrive in different climates? Type of rootstock or own root? Might be fun to investigate.

May Special Events

by Rebecca Weersing

Wednesday, May 11 from 9 a.m.: We will be cutting roses at Rose Haven to create centerpieces for the State of the City event on Thursday, May 12. For more information, email NancyKaplanFitness@gmail.com. Plan on a fun day in the garden among spring blooms with rosy friends. Bring gloves, pruners, a hat and water.

Saturday, May 21 from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. we will be volunteering in shifts (2 to 3 hours) at the first annual Temecula CulturFest. We will have Rose Society materials to distribute and will have an opportunity to talk to the community about one of our favorite topics – roses! Set-up is from 9:30 to 10 a.m.; takedown is 4 to 4:30 p.m. For more information, email NancyKaplanFitness@gmail.com.

Little Rose Show

Enjoyed our Little Rose Show at the April meeting, after a long hiatus. It was well received. Our judge, Frank Brines, commented on the entries, pointing out positive features as well as negative ones. Results as follows:

Rose of the Day - 'Rainbow Sunblaze' by Linda Freeman.

First: 'Jeanne Lajoie' by Phyllis Bettelheim; 'Fabulous!' by Virginia Boos; 'Smokin' Hot' by Virginia Boos; 'Iceberg' by Virginia Boos.

Second; 'St. Patrick' by Kathy Trudeau; 'Dr. Huey' by Linda Freeman; 'Celestial Night' by Linda Freeman; 'Little Darling' by Virginia Boos; 'Cupcake' by Virginia Boos; 'Minnie Pearl' by Virginia Boos.

Third: 'Pink Peace' by Kathy Trudeau.

Hoping that more of you will enter. I know it's difficult to transport them, but so worth the trouble when we can see a table full of colorful blossoms. We always love to see what others are growing.

May 2022 Program

Date: Thursday, May 19, 2022
Time: 10:00 a.m.
Place: Temecula Library, Community Room, 30600 Pauba Rd., Temecula
Topic: Floral Arranging — Make and take-home floral arrangements.
Presenter: Sema Panther, TVRS member.

Sema will be demonstrating floral arranging of your favorite blooms for your favorite coffee/tea cup. She will have a presentation and then members will make their own arrangements to take home. Bring your favorite cup and start looking for your favorite garden blooms to bring to the meeting. A supply list will be emailed a few days before the meeting. These coffee/tea cup arrangements make great gifts.

Refreshments and socializing start at 10am and our program will start at 10:30 a.m. Bring your friends and neighbors for a fun hands-on program.

Peace and Friendship Garden – What's Next?

by Kathy Trudeau

The Peace (white) and Friendship (yellow) roses are planted and mulched. It looks spectacular! In addition to our bed of beautiful Peace roses, the Friendship bed of yellow roses features Golden Celebration by David Austin at Golden Celebration roses , Ch-Ching roses, and Sunsprite roses.

FUNdraiser update: Thank you to all our generous donors
• Peace Pole Sponsor level - $500 We have 17 donors and space for 9 additional Peace Pole plates.
• Peace Planters level - $200 We have 7 donors and 17 spaces remaining.
• Friends of the Garden level - $100 We have 7 donors and 17 spaces remaining.

What's Next from now through September?
• A double-sided enclosed display case will be mounted on the south wall of the white Boy Scout Eagle Scout Project upperr shed. Engraved brass, silver and copper plates recognizing all our donors by level will be featured on one side of the case.
• A pergola shade structure is being installed at the seating area.
• Our Boy Scout Eagle Project 'Little Free Library' will be located next to the seating area. Books on gardening, mediation, friendship and peace will be available for all ages to borrow.
• Six Peace Poles displaying the international message of peace in 43 languages, "May Peace Prevail on Earth", will be 'planted' in late August or early September.
• A dedication ceremony for the community will be on September 21, 2022, the UN International Day of Peace. Now is the time to Help Us Grow Our Garden.

Peace Beds

Peace Roses

Reservations, Permits & Donations

by Nancy & Roger Fitness

Since we began the implementation of the Rose Haven Committee Master Plan for improvements to the garden almost two years ago a lot has happened. First the new pond with waterfall and new aquatic plants. Next the Labyrinth and the simultaneous upgrade to the Pavilion with concrete floor and a border planting of sweet laurel. We have seen the planting of the Peace and Friendship Garden. Very soon will be the installation of the new gazebo.

These changes do not go unnoticed by visitors to the garden. They comment to volunteers how beautiful the garden looks, and how much they love these new features. This has also presented new possibilities for holding special events and created a sought-after location for photographers.

Committee members have implemented Reservation Guidelines, a Wedding Ceremony policy, and Professional Photography policy. These guidelines and policies are posted at the garden and are also easily accessed on our website. These reservations and permits allow us to collect money for the use of the garden and its facilities, that in turn helps to fund the garden maintenance and improvements. Applications can be completed on the website, approved by a committee member, and the funds paid through our PayPal account making it very user friendly.

We recently completed a new path from the entrance to the Pavilion that takes visitors directly to our donation box. With spring has come a beautiful first bloom. Visitors to the garden are showing their appreciation with generous donations.

Even with these new sources of revenue, we want to remind our members that all donations are extremely important to the viability of maintaining the garden. Please think of your donation as a gift to the community. Rose Society volunteers bring the garden to life for families and all who visit offering education and events promoting heathy living, quiet enjoyment, and active learning. Donations can easily be made on our website.

And don't forget to use Amazon Smiles designating Temecula Valley Rose Society, and to purchase Stater Brothers grocery gift cards. All of these add to our revenue stream.

Member Garden Tours

by Linda Freeman

Our member garden tours continue with:

May Olson's garden will be open Saturday, April 30 from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Her address is 40270 Via Francisco, Murrieta 92562, phone is 951-696-503.
May lives in the Colony community and entrance to the community is from Jackson St.
At the gate you must tell them that you are visiting May Olson and the code word is TVRS (Temecula Valley Rose Society)

Don Nordike's garden will be open Saturday, April 30 from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
His address is 28767 Glen Oaks Drive, Sun City, Menifee 92586. The phone is 951-246-4626.
Don's home is accessed off the 215 using the McCall Blvd exit.
Don and May are long time society members and have hundreds of roses to see between both of their gardens and have many roses that are not easy to see anywhere else.

Frank Brines has sent us information about the San Diego Rose Society Show Saturday, April 30 and Sunday May 1 in El Cajon, California and entries are welcome!

San Diego Rose Society 94th Annual Rose Show and Plant Auction, Saturday, April 30
The annual San Diego Rose Society Rose show opens this Saturday, April 30 at 1:00 p.m. or upon completion of judging. The rose show closes at 5:00 p.m. Exhibitors can begin setup after 6:00 a.m. Placement time is from 7:00 to 9:45 a.m. Sunday, May 1.

The rose show is open from 10:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Silent Auction begins at 10:00 a.m. Live Auction 2:00 p.m.
DIRECTIONS: Ronald Reagan Community Center, 195 East Douglas Avenue, El Cajon, California 92020.
All amateurs are invited to exhibit their roses.

There have been several San Diego rose shows at this location.
Directions to the show are as follows: From I-805 or I-15, go east on I-8 for about 10 miles and take exit 17-C toward Magnolia Avenue and turn right onto Magnolia. Go about 6 blocks and turn left onto East Douglas Avenue. It is about 1/2 block on the right.

There are hundreds and hundreds of roses to view and learn about this weekend – have a rosey weekend!
Linda Freeman
Temeucla Valley Rose Society, Programs
951-204-6141

May Rose Haven Flora, by Bonnie Bell

Neil Diamond

Our special rose this month is the fabulous and very colorful "Neil Diamond" hybrid tea rose. Its bright deep pink color is adorned with white speckles and stripes making it a knockout in the garden and very eye-catching in arrangements. The long pointed buds open to full blooms with 40-50 petals, long stems, and a delightful scent. It has received an ARS Members Choice Award for fragrance.

Neil Diamond was hybridized by Tom Carruth for Weeks Roses in 2013. With parentage of Rock & Roll and Della Reese it's easy to imagine how vivid this rose is. Its height is four to five feet and width about four feet. In our area it is free of blackspot, rust, and powdery mildew.

You will find Neil Diamond in the original garden about 10 feet from the tool shed.

Show Your Vase

April was a great month for our members to exhibit their roses!

Kathy Trudeau won Second Place at the Temecula Valley Garden Club flower show with her Veterans Honor rose!

Veterans Honor

Linda Freeman won Rose of the Day at the TVRS April Little Rose Show with miniature rose Rainbow Sunblaze. Frank Brines judged the Little Rose Show.

Rainbow Sunblaze

Frank Brines won Bronze for arrangement and Queen in miniflora single bloom with Strawberry Kisses and Best of Three mini-sprays in one vase and Floribunda Court for Sprays with Escondido Sunset at the American Rose Society Pacific Southwest Region April annual conference and show in Pasadena.

Strawberry Kisses

Rose Care FUNda­men­tals, text and photos by Frank Brines

ARS Master Rosarian

There were signs of climate change again this year. It seems as though confusion is the new weather normal. Temperatures and rainfall patterns differed greatly. Rose growth and development are dependent on weather, and flower production is particularly impacted by inconsistent temperatures, sun and water. All of this has made it more difficult for me to predict what to do and when to do it!

The longer time frame for rain and more misty cool nights caused some rust, mildew and Botritis fungi to appear quickly. Blooms were affected by Botritis which "rots" the petals preventing them from opening successfully. A few warmer days would encourage growth and produce buds, then a few days of 70 – 80 degree temperatures caused a burst of growth toward blooming. At least one application of fungicide spray helped to reduce the outbreak.

I completed pruning earlier than ever this year and my blooms were not that much earlier than previous years but peaked before the scheduled rose shows. The first roses bloomed about eight weeks after pruning. Typically, the first flush of blooms is expected after eight to ten weeks, usually on the longer side. Those rose bushes are now in second blooming. In this area, the first annual rose shows are usually about now, and I know that other local exhibitors' roses are in all different stages of bloom, many past exhibit stage.

Abundant sunshine and water produce larger blooms, so your roses are probably really growing. If you didn't apply fertilizer earlier, be sure to do so soon (more about this a little later), along with plenty of water to maintain this production curve. Know the soil composition in your garden so you know how much water to apply to maintain good soil moisture without drowning the roots or wasting water, given that we're hearing that the Southwest is in the driest climate cycle in 1200 years!

Be vigilant for changes, diseases and pests in your garden now, and be prepared to act on these immediately. The Hoplia beetle appeared in April with the few hot days. I usually see this beetle in May. I think we can now expect it in April so mark that on your calendars for the coming years. It can do serious damage in short time to rose blooms. It can first be seen on light colored blooms. The Hoplia is easy to remove when found by dragging it out from between the petals with a screwdriver or Q-tip and plopping it into a cup of sudsy water. (Note: To learn to identify Hoplia beetles, just do a search on the Internet. Bottom line however: If you find little holes in light colored petals, and you find beetles nestled between the petals, you've probably got Hoplia – dig 'em out!)

Hoplia Beetle

Another early visitor is the spider mite. Damage can well be done before you recognize it. If you suspect they are present and on your roses an inspection of the underside of the leaf may assure you. They are very tiny and hard to see but when you run a finger lightly over the underside of leaf it will feel gritty. The use of a sheet of paper can be used also. Use the paper to shake the leaf or scratch then onto the sheet of paper. If you miss the first phase you will see an unusual mottling of the leaves as seen from the top of the leaf.

Spider Mites

Blooms mature quickly in warm weather, so as they fade, lightly prune back to the first outward facing five-leaflet leaf. Don't shorten the cane too much. If you remove just the blossom and peduncle (this little length of stem that ends at the blossom), you may get two weaker shoots with less bloom quality. This light pruning sets the stage for the next bloom cycle in about 7 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 use 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 affected leaves.

Another pest is the Chilli 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. Some gardeners are reporting Chilli Thrips in their gardens already. I have seen some evidence of thrips too.

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.