Garden Faces January 2016

Garden Faces January 2016

Birmingham Rose Society An American Rose Society Affiliate

President’s Message

I am so grateful for the American Rose Society Magazine. I have copies from the 1990's that some of the members have given away. Over the years the magazine has transformed itself into a polished work of art. There are first rate articles from around the world on issues of rose growing and disease prevention. Also, there is information concerning expanding rose society membership, having fun with roses, and the people who grow and share them. The photography is terrific. In the Jan/Feb edition there is a long list of rose suppliers for all of you who need to expand your gardens.

In January 2017 our own BRS will host the Mid-Winter Deep South District Conference on Jan 20th (Friday)-Jan 22nd (Sunday). Please save the dates. Our conference will have all the meetings in the Birmingham Botanical Gardens. Our theme is: GROW Roses, SHOW Roses, SHARE Roses.

Many of you have attended these rose conventions over the years and all the members would appreciate your input and support.

January is the month to pay dues for the society, $20 for a single and $30 for a couple. Paul Saeger, our Treasurer, will gladly accept your dues at the January Meeting.

Happy New Year, Sharon Bamberg, President

Consulting Rosarian Report

Gloria Purnell - Consulting Rosarian January always brings to mind a clean slate, a new beginning, and hopes for a better year. When I realized I had the January CR report, my mind went to my favorite rose book, A Year in Roses by Stephen Scanniello. This book is relatively small, very informative, and “nary a rose picture” in it.

Scanniello is a rosarian and horticulturist who brought the famous Cranford Rose Garden in Brooklyn, New York from disaster to dramatic! To make a long story short, I will summarize his theories, “There is something one can do in the garden all year long.” He wrote his book as a monthby-month schedule of major chores to do in the rose garden. I will condense these and leave a lot to your imagination as you picture your own Alabama garden.

January – Evaluate your garden, scan catalogs and order new roses as needed.

February – Maintain pruners, clippers, sprayers, and all garden tools (order new battery for sprayer if necessary). All of this is easier said than done!

March – Prune, Prune, Prune.

April – Receive and plant roses ordered in January. Establish spray schedule, fertilize for the first time and apply Epsom salts.

May – Enjoy those first blooms. Get ready for the Rose Show. (Birmingham May 7, 2016) June, July – Visit member gardens. Continue spray and fertilize programs. Also watch for worrisome pests, such as aphids, Japanese beetles, leaf borers and spider mites.

August – This is the month when Scanniello said “rosarians want to lock their garden gates and throw away the key.” However, we have to keep deadheading, watering, spraying, and hopefully cut the occasional bouquet for our shut-in neighbors. Since August is the hardest month for roses in Alabama, it is also a good time to decide if a rose is worth keeping. If it survives the August heat and humidity, it probably is a good choice to keep.

Another thing to do in August is do a light prune based on when you need good blooms for a fall show.

September – Fertilize for the last time. Continue to deadhead if you want blooms for a fall event. Watch for powdery mildew since cool evenings, sunny days and high humidity are conditions for it to take over a plant.

October – Fall in-house rose show. Let the plant begin to go dormant. Perfect time to enjoy the vibrant, big blooms of fall.

November – Time to move rose bushes (unless imminent frost is at hand). Transplanting can sometime give an old plant new life by restoring its vigor.

December – Be sure mulch is in place for the cold weather. Get ready for Santa Claus! Merry Christmas.

Happy Gardening, Gloria Purnell

Mark Your Calendars! Upcoming Rose Events 2016 Jan 15-16 Jan 25 Feb 27 Feb 29 Mar 28 April 14-17 May 7-8

Deep South District Mid-Winter Meeting, Gainesville, FL (Details coming soon) BRS Monthly Meeting 6:30 PM – “New Roses for 2016” – Hodges Room, Birmingham Botanical Gardens Pruning Event 8am – 12 Noon – Dunn Formal Rose Garden – Birmingham Botanical Gardens BRS Monthly Meeting – Pruning 101 –Hodges Room, Birmingham Botanical Gardens BRS Monthly Meeting – Hodges Room, Birmingham Botanical Gardens Spring Plant Sale – Location to be determined Birmingham Rose Show

“Hot Princess”

Send photos of our events to: Editor@BirminghamRose.org

Meeting Minutes Rose Society Meeting Minutes

George Ann Hamilton – Recording Secretary Minutes of the Regular Meeting of the Birmingham Rose Society December 7, 2015 - 6:30 P.M. Sharon Bamberg President called the meeting to order. We had twenty-five members in attendance. This meeting was our Annual Holiday Dinner. Everyone was thanked for bringing vegetables, salads, desserts and drinks. Sharon was in charge of procuring the turkey and ham. Jennifer Phillips was in charge of drinks, rolls and nicer plates for our dinner. Jennifer also provided the centerpieces for our tables. Gloria Purnell provided our table clothes. The food was wonderful and the tables were beautiful.

Chris VanCleave presented our program for the evening. He prepared a slide show entitled “Our Year in Review”. The show began with the January meeting in Savannah, Georgia and ended with our “In House Rose Show”. Our society has wonderful meetings and great members. It was good to see our year in review.

We were reminded of the Deep South District Mid-Winter Meeting being held in Gainesville, Florida January 15-17, 2016 and that we have committed to host the 2017 Mid-Winter meeting here in Birmingham.

Sharon Bamberg presented the Bronze Medal to George Ann Hamilton, Recording Secretary. The Bronze Medal is awarded to a member who has contributed their time and effort to our Rose Society.

Starting in January we will have an Executive Meeting before the regular Rose Society Meeting to begin planning for the Rose Show May 7, 2016 Our next meeting will be held Monday January 25, 2016 at the Botanical Gardens at 6:30 P.M.

Respectfully submitted, George Ann Hamilton, Recording Secretary

Treasurer’s Report for December 2015

2016 Rose Society Dues Are Due! 2015 Bronze Honor Medal Recipient George Ann Hamilton

The Birmingham Rose Society congratulates George Ann Hamilton, winner of the 2015 Bronze Honor Medal of the American Rose Society. This is the highest honor that can be awarded from a local rose society to one of its members.

Well done George Ann!

January Meeting 1/25/16 – 6:30 pm “New Roses for 2016” Executive Committee Meeting - 5:30 pm

$20/Single $30/Family Mail to: Birmingham Rose Society 1012 Southlake Cove Birmingham 35244 Or, Pay at the January meeting.

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 219 Chadwick Lane Helena, AL 35080

Grow Roses. Show Roses. Share Roses.

Birmingham Rose Society American Rose Society Affiliate 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.