Garden Faces August 2013

Garden Faces August 2013

Birmingham Rose Society An American Rose Society Affiliate

President’s Message Virna and I enjoyed seeing everyone Saturday, July 27, at our home “Rose Hill”. We were fortunate that the weather cooperated and hope that everyone enjoyed the shrimp/crawfish boil. I am sorry that the roses were a little past peak as the mid-summer blooms are never spectacular. However, the rain lilies did put on quite a show!!! I am also happy to announce that our “mini” plant sale generated $35 for the rose society and I will pass this onto our treasurer, Hyacinth Prince, at our next meeting.

I would like to encourage everyone who is not a member of the American Rose Society to join if at all possible. Annual dues are $49 and the major benefit is that you receive the American Rose which is the magazine of the American Rose Society. The magazine comes out every other month and is full of helpful information for anyone who grows roses, as well as providing magnificent photography of existing rose gardens. I would also encourage everyone to fill out this year‟s Roses In Review rating evaluation sheet and to return it to our district coordinator by September 26, 2013. Send it to Louise Stafford, 1280 Holly Tree Lane, Snellville, Georgia, 30078-5995. You can also fill out the report on-line by going to the American Rose Society webpage, www.ARS.org. Click on Roses In Review and scroll down the page, click on and read “instructions”.

The rains have been bountiful this summer and our roses should be in good shape as we head into the fall blooming period. Our next meeting will be at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens, Monday evening, August 26, for an ice cream social and plant sale, so please bring any potted plants/roses that could be offered for sale to raise money for the society and I will hopefully have a good supply of rain lily bulbs for distribution as well.

Harold Settle, President Birmingham Rose Society

Find us online: http://www.BirmnighamRose.org

On Facebook & Twitter @BhamRoseSociety Corporate Member HannasGardenShop.com

Consulting Rosarian Report

by David Clemons Excerpted from : www.DeepSouthDistrict.org

The long, hot summer months always tempt us to give in to the heat and spend less time in the rose garden. However, to paraphrase an old rose saying, we must not forget that "God grows roses in the spring. It is up to us to grow them the rest of the year." The effort and care that you give to your roses at this time will be critical for future bloom cycles in the summer and into the fall months.

Your top priority will definitely be to water your roses on a regular basis. Natural rainfall will come in sporadic episodes that will never be sufficient for optimum growth. A deep watering several times a week will give your roses this most important requirement.

Over watering will not become an issue as long as you have proper drainage. Many have found that wetting down the foliage during the hottest part of the day can be beneficial as long as it has time to dry off by dayâ€&#x;s end. This practice should not lead to fungal problems if you are following your weekly spray program. Spraying water beneath the foliage will even dislodge spider mites that could become a real problem during the summer.

Growing roses in raised beds has become almost a necessity in north Alabama in an attempt to overcome the extreme clay soil conditions. The combination of amended soil and raised beds allows for more frequent watering and gives us the needed drainage that clay soil will not allow. My wife Tammy and I grow all types of roses in our Grant, Alabama garden, but seem to focus more on exhibition hybrid teas and miniatures. Raised beds have proven to be the best way to grow these roses in our area. Our success as exhibitors in horticulture and arrangements is greatly due to growing roses in this manner.

The weather, always unpredictable in the spring, will start to settle down to a steady succession of days filled with heat and humidity.

The once blooming Old Garden roses are a distant memory and the hybrid tea blooms start to resemble miniatures. Conditions are starting to become just right for outbreaks of spider mites and blackspot. Yet summer is never here until I see that first Japanese beetle. Only then do I realize that God has officially turned things over to me. I can run and hide or make a stand. I never think long before my love for roses motivates me into action.

While many focus on the blooms throughout the year, I generally focus on blooms during the show seasons of the spring and fall while focusing more on the foliage and stature of the rose bush during the summer. Make sure that you continue to give your roses plenty of organics during the summer. Your soil structure will only continue to improve as those hungry microbes break down the products that make your roses grow.

I have found that it imperative to maintain as much foliage as possible during the summer prior to pruning for the fall shows. The amount of foliage remaining on the plant after pruning for a show will relate directly to the length of stem and quality of blooms obtained. It is for this reason that I put all my energy and effort into a quality spray program.

Fungal diseases such as blackspot and powdery mildew are a constant threat in north Alabama rose gardens. Prevention is always better than the cure. Make sure you follow the spray program that works for you. If it is not working then you may need to change spray material or it's frequency. I have chosen to use FUNGINEX/MANZATE one week followed by BANNER MAXX the next.

This seems to give me the protection I need against fungal diseases. If I start to see a problem I go to a three-day schedule of FUNGINEX/MANZATE until it is under control.

Summer might not be the best time for growing roses, but you can continue to enjoy blooms even under the most extreme conditions if you provide them with the care they need. Your reward will come this fall with some of the best roses your area has ever seen.

May the rose continue to reign supreme in your garden!

Roses in Review This Roses in Review (RIR) marks the 88th time that the members of the American Rose Society have evaluated new rose introductions. The ultimate value of this procedure is realized only when we have a broad base of participation. We need your contribution, whether you grow only one plant of one variety on the list or many of them. We need input from "garden" rosarians as well as exhibitors, and from new rosarians as well as seasoned veterans. We also welcome reports from those who are not yet ARS members, so please pass along this website address to your rosegrowing friends. The complete results of this survey will be included in the January/February, 2014, issue of American Rose, and will help determine the ratings in the ARS Handbook for Selecting Roses. For these results to be meaningful, we need everyone to participate So, please take a few minutes of your time to evaluate your new roses. Only evaluate roses you grow from the cultivar list. Click: http://www.stsrv.com/rir/aboutrir.html to get started Reviews must be submitted by September 26, 2013.

August Meeting Monday August 26, 2013 6:30 pm Hodges Room, Birmingham Botanical Gardens Ice Cream Social – Bring your favorite Ice Cream and toppings Plant Sale: Bring your rooted plants and roses for sale at the meeting.

All proceeds will go to the Rose Society

While the advice and information in this newsletter is believed to be true and accurate at the time of publication, neither the authors nor the editor accept any legal responsibility for any errors or omissions that may have been made. The Birmingham Rose Society makes no warranty, expressed or implied with respect to the material contained herein.

Meeting Minutes Rose Society Meeting Minutes

George Ann Hamilton – Recording Secretary

July 27, 2013 - 4:00 P.M. Harold Settle, President, called the meeting to order. We had twenty-three members, and four visitors, Clyde and Judy Kellum (nephew of Gloria Purnell), and Steve Manhart and Lila Casey (friends of Harold and Virna Settle), attending the meeting. The host garden belongs to Harold and Virna Settle. Everyone thanked Harold and Virna Settle for providing dinner for the meeting.

After a tour of the gardens, Harold gave the history of how his home, Rosehill, got its name. The first Rosehill was built in Lexington, Kentucky in the 1800's. He has been in the home since 1994. The garden has 300 roses and uses sixteen gallons of spray each week to keep them disease and insect free. Virna does the pruning and weeding while Harold takes care of the other rose care chores. There were lots of questions about all the other trees and flowers besides the rose care in their very large garden. Everyone had a wonderful and informative garden visit.

The minutes and treasurer's report from the June meeting were approved as printed in the July 2013 Garden Faces.

Jane Hinds made a suggestion that we hold a silent auction at our August meeting. The August meeting will be held on Monday August 26th at 6:30 P.M. at the Botanical Gardens. It’s our annual Ice Cream Social. Members are asked to bring ice cream and their favorite toppings.

The meeting was adjourned at 7:00 P.M.

Treasurer’s Report July 2013

District Events Not To Be Missed!

Fall 2013 Deep South District Convention and Rose Show October 25 - 27 hosted by the Greater Palm Beach Rose Society.

See enclosed registration form for details BRS by the numbers – August 2013 63 BRS Members 347 Fans on Facebook 120 followers on Twitter 2,999 visitors to website since Jan „13

______________________ Mid Winter Meeting

Mid-Winter Meeting will be held in January 17-19, 2014 in Gainesville, Florida More to come!

How can we reach more?

Fall Plant Sale & Fundraiser Monday August 26, 2013 6:30 p.m.

If you have rooted cuttings, iris, daylilies and other perennials pot em up, bag em up and bring them to the August meeting. All items will be sold at low prices and the proceeds will go to the Birmingham Rose Society.

Garden Faces Deadlines: Submission Deadline: 10th of each month Publication Date : 15th of each month Editor: Chris VanCleave Phone: 205-585-9687 E-mail: Editor@BirminghamRose.org

Birmingham Rose Society American Rose Society Affiliate The ARS is a 501(c)(3) charity - incorporated in Louisiana and its tax exemption non-profit educational status includes this local chapter.

Your donations are tax deductible.

Birmingham Rose Society 219 Chadwick Lane Helena, AL 35080

Grow Roses. Show Roses. Share Roses.