NRL February 2014

NASHVILLE ROSE LEAF

Official Publication of The Nashville Rose Society Serving Rose Enthusiasts Throughout Middle Tennessee

February 4th NRS Meeting at Cheekwood 6:30 PM Beginner’s Workshop: Picking the Right Rose & 7:15 PM New Roses for 2014 February 21-23, Tenarky Winter Workshop february 2014 Volume 47, Issue 1

2014 Rose Review

By Jeff Garrett Editor’s Notes: Over the past several years, readers of the Nashville Rose Leaf have enjoyed and benefitted from the annual rose reviews of Jeff Garrett from Chattanooga, TN. What makes Jeff’s reviews so great is that a.) he know roses, b.) he lives in a climate zone very similar to ours in middle Tennessee, so put stock in what he says over other rose reviews and related propaganda from folks that aren’t from around here. Thank you Jeff for continuing to share!

Keeping with the thought of people from around here, Gene Meyer will lead off the Beginner’s workshops with a subject we all want to know about: “How to pick the right rose” Be there at 6:30 PM in the Potter Room at Cheekwood to listen and learn.

Armed with knowledge of how to pick the right rose, the main program starting at 7:15 PM in the (Cont’d on page 5)

Affiliated with the American Rose Society - www.ars.org

Attend the 2013 TENARKY Winter Workshop February 21-23, in Franklin, TN All Rose Society members and friends are invited to soak up vital rose information and enjoy rosy contacts and friendships at the 2014 TENARKY Winter Workshop weekend, February 21-23, at the Marriott Hotel-Cool Springs in Franklin, Tennessee.

The “Sleeping Beauty” Rose J. Scott Rankin MD, and Anne Owen, Master Rosarian “But round about the castle there began to grow a hedge of thorns, which every year became higher, and at last grew close up round the castle and all over it, so that there was nothing of it to be seen, not even the flag upon the roof. But the story of the beautiful sleeping “Briar-rose,” for so the princess was named, went about the country, so that from time to time kings’ sons came and tried to get through the thorny hedge into the castle.”

Featured presenters include ARSVice-President Pat Shanley and horticultural specialists, including Paul “But they found it impossible, for the Zimmerman, Matt Pilcher, Carol thorns held fast together, as if they Shockley, and Richard Anthony. had hands, and the youths were caught in them, could not get loose Weekend exciting events, begin- again, and died a miserable death.” ning Friday evening through Sunday noon, include an informative, “After long, long years a King’s son welcoming, “Dressing Up Your came again to that country, and heard an old man talking about the thorn(Cont’d on page 2) hedge, and that a castle was said to (Cont’d on page 3)

‘Bulls Eye’ Figure 1: The Hotel of Dornröschenschloss Sababurg viewed from the Tierpark

Editor’s Desk The first time I recall being beckoned to smell a rose also happens to have coincided with another childhood rite of passage, the loss of my first front tooth. At breakfast that morning, the subject of my dangling tooth dominated the conversation and many of those present could not understand my lack of enthusiasm for my first visit from the tooth fairy.

Unfortunately, even as far back as those days, I had given the matter way too much reflection and had come to view this so-called fairy as “suspect”.

As I understood it, some winged creature with a wand would be flying into my (windowless) room in order to exchange a shiny half-dollar for an old tooth. This seemed eerily similar to another story I had recently fallen for about the “nice” doctor who traded lollipops for a “quick little pinch” in the arm. As was the case with the doctor, I sensed that critical details were being omitted and was, therefore, not at all sure I wanted to be alone in my room with a tooth-seeking, wand-waving, winged woman.

My grandmother began to sense my apprehension, which was more than I could say for my father who could not stop amusing himself by snapping and jerking an invisible pair of pliers in my face. After scolding my dad (for MY amusement) Grandma invited me on her quest for some fresh air. She was not at all a slight woman which explains why holding her hand instilled an instant feeling of safety. I also felt a little more at ease remembering that Grandma was spot on with a flyswatter, which was good to know should there be any tooth fairy shenanigans.

In fact, she was capable of holding her own against a legion of fairies where her grandchildren were concerned.

We began to walk around her yard and as she spoke of this or that, the subject of teeth, or lack thereof, was completely forgotten. It was on this brief excursion that she invited me to smell a pink rose from what I would now guess to be a large climber growing up the side of an old shed. She explained to me 2

that whenever she felt out of sorts, her favorite relief was spending time here in “her place”.

Later that day, my tooth released its final thread and I couldn’t believe how very fine I felt about it.... at least until I got a good look at myself in the mirror. I had not even begun to adjust to the horror of my new look before the snaggletooth teasing began as did the persistent familial pleading for me to “smile big”. My verbal protests were largely misinterpreted, probably because I held my finger over the new black gap while trying to speak. Once again, a perceptive grandmother read my cues right before the tears formed.

Winking at me, she whispered for me to meet her at “OUR” place.

When I arrived at the rose bush, there she was, kneeling down holding out those big arms that I ran to cry into. She chuckled a bit as I sobbed over my new certainty that I looked “ugly”. With me still in her arms, she leaned over and picked one of the roses. “Look here” she said, holding the rose in front of my face, she peeled off a petal. “Do you think this rose is ugly now just because it’s missing a petal?” “No,” I sniffled.

“Then don’t make more of this than it is, little Miss Priss”, she laughed.

“You’re still a pretty little rose, you’re just missing a petal” and with that she began to tickle my nose with the rose.

Its scent was as sweet as the moment and the memory of it now.

I do wish that I then had the presence of mind to tell her that the lines and gray hairs time had left her with would never change the beauty I noticed, even as a child, every time I gazed into her big blue eyes. I have often wondered what she would make of my adult fascination with roses were she alive today.

Sadly, she would be long gone before I ever even learned that her middle name was Rose. Her memory represents the fragrance of my first rose and though many roses have come and gone since then, she remains to this day, the sweetest “Rose” I ever encountered.

nashville rose leaf, February 2013

- Starla & Jim Harding

TENARKY (Cont’d from page 1) Garden” talk by popular peaker, Matt Pilcher. Saturday is full of rose seminars and lectures, from exhibition roses to everyday roses. Pat Shanley,Clayton Beaty and Nancy Jones will share tales from their ARS trip to China. Latest and Time-Honored Selections bareroot roses from Weeks and Certified Roses will be off ered for sale, benefi tting the TENARKY District.

Saturday’s featured speaker is rose guru Paul Zimmerman who will share the latest news from the Biltmore Rose Trials.

Sunday morning is the Consulting Rosarian School which is not limited to CR’s only but is open to anyone who wants to learn more about growing great roses from the best rosarians in our region.

For more information, please contact us: Sam and Nancy Jones, phone: 615646- 4138; Email: gsamj@bellsouth.net or visit www.tenarky.org for details. We are looking forward to seeing all of you in February!

The Nashville Rose Society would like to once again extend a heart felt thank you to the Houghland Foundation for their generous contribution given this year in honor of Bessie Ward.

The “Sleeping Beauty” Rose (Cont’d from page 1) stand behind it in which a wonderfully beautiful princess, named Briar-rose, had been asleep for a hundred years; and that the King and Queen and the whole court were asleep likewise. He had heard, too, from his grandfather, that many kings’ sons had already come, and had tried to get through the thorny hedge, but they had remained sticking fast in it, and had died a pitiful death. Then the youth said, “I am not afraid, I will go and see the beautiful Briar-rose. The good old man might dissuade him as he would, he did not listen to his words.”

“But by this time the hundred years had just passed, and the day had come when Briar-rose was to awake again.

When the King’s son came near to the thorn-hedge, it was nothing but large and beautiful flowers, which parted from each other of their own accord, and let him pass unhurt, then they closed again behind him like a hedge.

“Then he went on still farther, and all was so quiet that a breath could be heard, and at last he came to the tower, and opened the door into the little room where Briar-rose was sleeping.

There she lay, so beautiful that he could not turn his eyes away; and he stooped down and gave her a kiss. But as soon as he kissed her, Briar-rose opened her eyes and awoke, and looked at him quite sweetly.”

Excepts from: Grimm, Jacob and Wilhelm. Household Tales. Margaret Hunt, translator. London: George Bell, 1884.

The tale of Sleeping Beauty is now embedded deeply in Western culture, but the story had its origins in ancient Norse sagas. In 1697, Charles Perrault published a modification of the Norse version in the French literature as Histoires ou contes du temps passé. None of these older accounts, however, contained any reference to roses, and it seems the introduction of the “hedge of thorns” was completely an innovation of the Brothers Grimm. Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm were German academics, linguists, lexicographers, and authors who collected, modified, and published

German and Scandinavian folklore in the mid-nineteenth century. Their tales were translated into more than 100 languages and have been adapted by filmmakers in movies such as Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and Sleeping Beauty. The popularity of the Grimms’ collected folk tales have endured well beyond their lifetimes.

The brothers spent most of their lives in the central German region of Hesse, growing up in the town of Hanau, east of Frankfurt, and attending the University of Marburg. South of Marburg and North of Kassel - in the Rheinhardswald Forrest - is the royal hunting castle of Sababurg (Figure 1 - front cover).

Local lore relates that the Brothers Grimm saw the castle in the mid-1800’s - in a state of ruin and overgrown by wild rose hedges - and that this observation stimulated their incorporation of the rose vignette into the tale. Sababurg today is a country Castle Hotel north of Kassel Germany (Dornröschenschloss Sababurg; http://www.sababurg.de), with excellent accommodations and a good restaurant. It is a perfect stop for a car trip across Europe, and is a featured Hotel of the “Fairy Tale Road” (http:// www.frommers.com/destinations/germany/691228). Adjacent to the Hotel are the ancient royal hunting grounds surrounded by high stone walls, which have been converted into an exotic wildlife preserve (Tierpark Sababurg; http://www.tierpark-sababurg.de). The Reinhardswald forest also is available for hiking and enjoyment of the natural environment (http://en.wikipedia. org/wiki/Reinhardswald). While a hybrid tea rose is sold at the Hotel with the name of “Sleeping Beauty”, hybrid teas, of course, were not available in the 1800’s, nor do they create “hedges of thorns”.

In exploring around the Hotel, the grounds are covered by wild bushes of Rosa Rugosa Rubra species (http://www.ars.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/The-Rugged-Rugosa. pdf) (Figure 2). In fact, the owners relate that it takes quite an effort to

Figure 2: A Hedge of Rosa Rugosa Rubra at Sababurg keep the wild Rugosa bushes under control. Since Rosa Rugosa Rubra was imported from Japan into Northern Europe in the late 1700’s, it is reasonable to propose that this was possibly the rose encountered by the Brothers Grimm at Sababurg in the mid-1800’s.

Certainly, the wild growth habit, the profusion of thorns, and the tendency to form large hedges would be consistent with the Grimm narrative. Several bushes of the wild Sababurg rose have been propagated in Middle Tennessee, and the plants have thrived in the local environment.

Rosa Rugosa Rubra is a highly disease-resistant rose that forms large, deeply green, and dense bushes, with lavender free-form semi-double flowers that bloom all summer (Figure 2) (http://www.ars.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/The-Rugged-Rugosa. pdf). They are ideal for naturalizing into mixed borders, and require little care, although they can be invasive, spreading by underground runners. The Sababurg variety generally has 7 petals, and beautiful large bright red hips (Figure 3). Plants from this true “Sleeping Beauty” rose potentially are available upon request through the Nashville Rose Society from further propagation by seeds or cuttings.

Figure 3: Flower and Hips from the Wild Sababurg Rose

nashville rose leaf, February 2014

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The Natives Are Restless

NRS News Vendor Night

Well, it is that time of year again. Our first big event to kick off the New Year and get us all excited about the upcoming growing season. Vendor Night is a chance for our members to purchase some of the rose growing products that they will need for the year, and to help the society raise a little money.

Here is a list of the Vendors that will be participating.

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Beaty’s Fertilizer

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Nature’s Choice Compost

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Dickens Turf and Landscape

•

Remarkable Roses

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Compost Farm

•

Southern Nurseries

If you are a new member and are wondering what “Vendor Night” night is all about it is pretty simple. It is the best way to gather just ab out everything you will need for a year’s worth of growing and tending to your roses in one night and in one place.

Pretty awesome! Plus, the vendors are chocked full of knowledge that is shared for free!

In your newsletter you should have all of the preorder sheets from our vendors to see what they are offering this year. These need to be filled out and returned to Gary Spencer by February 22. If you did not get these pre-order sheets, just contact Gary Spencer at gspencer1@bellsouth.net or Marty Reich to pick up the sheets that you need.

Unlike in years past, we are going to have a brief program with a few words from each of our valued Vendors.

Join us on Tuesday night March 4th at 6:30 pm for refreshments and a chance to listen and learn some good gardening tips from our Vendors.

Let’s get together and talk Roses.

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By: Scott Worch Much has been said about only using native plants for home ornamental gardens. With reasons that seem just so logical why doesn’t everyone do this, touting that if it grows locally then how can this fail. It is tailor made for your climate, natural watering needs and surly all the local nurseries carry them. I invite you to take a little time and think with me (scary right?) on what native means, our duties as stewards for roses, evasive species and making educated plant decisions.

Living in southern middle Tennessee I have the great joy of seeing the Eastern Highland Rims beauty daily. With just that little bit of information you can deduce several clues why native isn’t always native. There are 30 wildflowers that are only found in Coffee County. If I choose a few city’s to use as an example you can quickly see my point about natives.

Nashville; I live 1000’ higher in elevation, receive on average 10” more rain but not during the drier months when I would like it. On average we are the same temperature except Nashville has the urban heat sink where my temperature drops quickly.

Murfreesboro; minus 1100’ from me.

Almost equal on rain but they get a lot more of the summer showers. If you can dig 6” without hitting rock its incredible so their rain drains off due to lack of soil depth. On a daily basis we are 4 degrees cooler.

Franklin and Brentwood; I think these gardeners import their weather, soil and blooms because no one else’s looks like theirs.

We need to remember as stewards that here in the Southeast. “Rosa Virginiana” is our native rose. I personally love this rose. What a fighter, it takes every abuse possible from Bush hogs, Japanese beetles, Round-up and still gives us beauty every Spring. All our other roses are imports and hy-

nashville rose leaf, February 2013

brids from other lands. So we cant say “just plant natives”.

We all know the horrors of Kudzu but I am not calling that a plant for ornamental gardens as would anyone else.

Elijah Blue Fescue “Festuca glauca” grows fantastic here in Tennessee enough so it will seed every year and spread all over your flowerbed. Echinacea, Rudbeckia both spread every year and can easily take over a bed.

Notice how I didn’t list Privet but why would I we don’t plant that in our rose and flower beds.

Notice I stayed very local and very simple on all of this because the Native Only Followers have done with their studies an examples. An invasive there may not be here. To tie this all in one little neat package is this, if its not on a banned list or illegal what does it hurt. If I had a bed full of Echinacea I would jump for joy. Check with http://www.tneppc.org/invasive_plants and learn why its on the list before planting. As with our roses do the research and if you do not mind pulling a few Elijah Blue each spring enjoy your piece of heaven.

Fortuniana Rose Sale Update When temperatures go below zero (as in January) some roses do not survive, therefore, I suspect an increased demand for rose plants this spring. So if you want to order fortuniana roses in the Nashville Rose Society sale this year, better get your orders in before supplies of your favorite roses are sold out. Order forms can be downloaded at the NRS website, www.nashvillerosesociety.com, or request by email at crlott@bellsouth.net. If you have questions contact Charles Lott at (615) 207-7266.

2014 Roses In Review By: Jeff Garrett (Cont’d from page 1) Botanical Hall at Cheekwood, will feature a review of new rose introductions for 2014 presented by Jim Harding, not that he knows anything about roses but he will have lots of pretty pictures of the newest varieties.

Now, here’s Jeff…

As we are about to begin another rose season, we make a point of taking time to evaluate the roses in our garden. We particularly enjoy evaluating our newer roses. We define new rose as varieties that we have been growing for three years or less. Following are some of our observations.

Always and Forever – is a medium red hybrid tea from introduced by J&P Roses. Last year we moved our plant from a container to the garden, as we generally like it. However, the bush is not growing as well as it did in a container. We’ll watch it for another year.

While the blooms are not huge and sometimes the form is a little flat, this variety can still be pretty nice for the garden.

Apricot Candy – is an apricot blend hybrid tea. Hybridized by Meilland, this variety has rather large blooms with good fragrance. Our first year plant in a container is growing and blooming well. May not be an exhibition variety, but still a nice rose.

Beverly – is a pink blend hybrid tea from Kordes that we are very excited about! We did not spray this variety for disease and are happy to report that it performed very well. Even though we had a very wet summer, we had very little black spot. Our first year plant gave us lots of very pretty blooms that also had some fragrance. We have this rose in a container where it grew with lots of vigor. We are planning to add this variety to the Veterans Park garden. It is the most disease free hybrid tea we have seen to date.

Big Momma – was introduced last

year by Meilland International. This deep pink hybrid tea has very large blooms. Our first year plant on its own roots grew fairly well but did not bloom abundantly. Hoping that it will improve somewhat with age.

Brother Jack – is a pale pink hybrid tea from Fred Wright. We have had this variety for three years and it continues to be very inconsistent for us. At times it can be really good and we get some really nice exhibition form blooms. At other times, the blooms are just confused and downright ugly. While the plant blooms well, it is generally not vigorous with short stems. For now we will continue to grow Brother Jack for the good blooms that we do get, however, if it does not improve we will eventually discard it.

Bull’s Eye – is a white shrub hybridized by Peer James of the United Kingdom. The blooms have 9 – 16 petals and are rather small. What makes this variety so unusual is the near white blooms with a distinctive cranberry center of the bloom. Our first year plant was rather compact, but did bloom well.

Cajun Signature - is a hybrid tea sport of Signature found by Larry Meyer. After three years of struggling with this rose, we will probably discard. The blooms are generally small and plant is not growing or blooming well. Cinnamon Dolce - is medium red hybrid tea from Meilland International. The medium red blooms are speckled with darker red and can have good form.

While the blooms are very fragrant, they are usually too small. After two years, this plant continues to struggle to get established and do well for us. Will probably keep for one more year.

and compliments the blooms well.

Crescendo - is a pink blend hybrid tea from Keith Zary. We put this variety on some multiflora rootstock and will the stems were still not a long as we would like, they were nice and strong. Our 3rd year plant on Dr. Huey rootstock continues to lack vigor and is slow to grow.

Crescendo does have very nice blooms with good color and form. It reminds us a little of Gemini, so we will continue to grow it.

Dark Night – is a very dark velvety red hybrid tea from Meilland International. This variety is an eye catcher.

The blooms generally have good form, but could use a little more size. Our first year plant on its own roots performed fairly well, but could have grown and bloomed a little better. Hoping that with time the vigor will improve as we really like the blooms.

Diane’s Delight - is a nice red blend hybrid tea from Eddie Edwards. Our 3rd year plant on fortuniana rootstock is growing and blooming well. Last year we grew another one on multiflora rootstock. Seems to do well on both rootstocks. The blooms we get from our plants have good size and form, but are more deep pink than red.

Donna’s Grace – is a white hybrid tea from Fred Wright. Our first year plant was a little slow to get started, but we did eventually get some pretty nice blooms. We are hoping that a another season will get this plant growing and blooming better.

Firefighter - is a very fragrant dark red hybrid tea. This variety was introduced in 1999 and has just about disappeared from the market. What a shame as this rose has a lot to offer and should be more widely grown. While the dark red blooms generally lack exhibition form, they could do well in the fully open classes. The fragrant blooms are borne on long steams that are great for cutting.

Coretta Scott King – is a new red blend grandiflora from hybridizer Christian Bedard. Our first year plant was a pleasant surprise as it produced lots of pretty creamy white blushed with orange-red blooms. The plant performs pretty much like a grandiflora should with upright growth and lots of sprays.

The foliage is a nice deep green color (Cont’d on page 6) nashville rose leaf, February 2014 5

2014 Roses In Review By: Jeff Garrett (Cont’d from page 5) Francis Meilland - is a light pink hybrid tea from Meilland International.

The soft shell pink colored blooms have pretty good form and are fragrant. Our first year plant grew tall with nice medium green foliage. This is another variety that we did not spray for disease and it had very little black spot. We also have this rose growing in Veterans Park and they are showing the same excellent disease resistance. The only problem so far is that the rose does not bloom enough. Hopefully it will have more blooms with age.

probably move it to a spray area in our garden for the 2nd year and see how it does.

Hey Jack – is a yellow blend hybrid tea from Fred Wright. The blooms have color combination similar to Golf Medal only the color is deeper and richer.

The form on our first year plant was a little flat. However, the plant generally grew and bloomed well. Will probably add more just for the nice bloom color.

for the garden so far.

Mother of Pearl – is a light pink grandiflora introduced in the US by Meilland-Star Roses. Bred by Alain Meilland, we grew this variety in our no spray area and it performed admirably with very little black spot. The medium height bush produced lots of nice blooms, usually one per stem.

Looking forward to another season with this variety.

is dedicated to bringing you the best in all types of new roses!

Good As Gold – is a deep rich yellow blend from Tom Carruth. The blooms are very nice though they generally lack a high center. Our first year plant grew well and produced lots of blooms.

So far, this appears to be a nice variety for the garden.

See what’s NEW for 2013

Grande Amore – is a medium red Legends - is a medium red hybrid hybrid tea from Kordes. Our first year tea from Tom Carruth. Our 2nd year plant was very weak to start with, but plant continues to lack vigor and is Sparkle over & Shine™ did improve significantly the very small. While it generally lacks excourse of the growing season. Floribunda Also hibition form, the blooms are very nice known as My Valentine, the blooms when fully open. May try this variety have good form and the foliage is a nice on multiflora rootstock to see if we can dark green. The majority of the blooms get plant vigor to improve.

4 Call Toll Free 800-992-4409 we got were a little small, but that may have been due to the weak plant we Luscious – is a pink blend hybrid tea started with. We will watch this rose from Astor Perry. Our first year plant for at least another season. did not do well for us. The blooms lacked form and size, but did have nice Grande Dame - is a very fragrant fragrance. We are hoping for better deep pink hybrid tea from Tom Car- things for this rose over time. ruth. The blooms have old garden form and are very nice in a vase. After Magnifica (Senior Moment) - is a 3 years in our garden, it is obvious that deep pink hybrid tea from the late great this variety just does not like our sum- hybridizer Frank Benardella. Our 2nd mer heat. We will still grow this rose year plant on fortuniana rootstock and for the wonderful strong fragrance. our first year plant on multiflora rootMakes a good container variety placed stock are both growing and blooming where visitors can really smell it. well. The nicely formed blooms have a vibrant pink color and good size. Nice Happy Go Lucky – is a new medium rose. yellow grandiflora from Christian Bedard. This variety is advertised to just Mills Magic – is classified as a mesmile at disease. Therefore, we put it in dium pink hybrid tea from Whit Wells. our non spray area. Well guess what? Our own root plant is more of a pink It did indeed get black spot. The plant and white blend. The blooms do not did grow well and produced lots of have exhibition form, but do have lots blooms with nice rich color. We will of petals. Seems to be a fairly nice plant 6

(Cont’d on page 8)

Ketchup & Mustard - is a red blend floribunda from Christain Bedard. The bloom color makes itLove obvious where Song™ this rose got its name. The medium red Floribunda blooms have a very nice yellow reverse which makes them really stand out in the garden. Our 2nd year plant did not perform as well as it did the first year.

However, we are trying some on multiflora rootstock this coming season.

nashville rose leaf, February 2014

Oh My!™ Floribunda

‘Red Intuition’

‘Sister Ruby’

Highlights from the 2013 NRS Christmas Party

Keith Garman, NRS President, Tom Beath, and Gene Meyer Marty Reich and Margaret Devine Delicous treats like this beautiful display created by Lori Emery filled the tables.

Cecil Ward & Bob Bowen

Hayes Gibson, Marty Reich, Francine Daniels, and Millie Dolinger

Nancy Jones, Angela Leach, Ginny Russell & Lynda Correll

Photos courtesy of Ken Wood

Ron Daniels, Margaret Devine, Gary & Lycrecia Spencer

Ginny Russell

Tom Beath, Gene Leach and Ken Correll

Linda Bowen and Ann Bowen

Connie & Larry Baird with Starla & Jim Harding

nashville rose leaf, February 2014

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2014 Roses In Review By: Jeff Garrett (Cont’d from page 6) Music Box - is a yellow blend shrub hybridized by Ping Lim. Our 2nd year plant continues to be very compact in growth with blooms that are just too small for a shrub. Does appear to have good disease resistance.

My Girl - is another shrub from Ping Lim. The plant has nice medium to deep pink blooms. We do not spray this variety for disease and the plant seems to be just as disease resistant as the famous Knock Out. However the blooms do have more petals and the plant will not get nearly as tall. This rose is a good garden variety and a great container variety.

Oh My! - is a dark red floribunda from Christian Bedard. Our 2nd year plant is producing lots of nice deep red blooms on a somewhat compact plant.

This variety does remind us of the old favorite Europeana, but is more resistant to black spot. The blooms hold their color even in the sun and heat.

This looks to be a good garden variety and will do well in a container.

Peppermint Pop - is a nice pink and white shrub from the renowned hybridizer, Bill Radler. We have found this shrub to be just as disease resistant as Knock Out. The medium height plants produce tons of nice pink with white reverse blooms that have a little fragrance as well. This variety should be just as popular as the other Knock Out varieties, but people don’t recognize it for what it is. Good in ground or container.

Pink Traviata - is a deep pink hybrid tea from Meilland International. The blooms have old garden rose form and a slight fragrance. Our 2nd year plant continues to show excellent resistance to black spot. So far, the plant has not grown vigorously for us.

Randy Scott - is a pure white hybrid tea from hybridizer John Smith. The plant has nice clean white blooms with good size and form. We finally got 8

some plants on multiflora rootstock and they have been fabulous. This is by far the best pure white rose ever. The blooms are clean and have excellent form and size. This is a must have for us and we can’t say enough good about it. Find it and get it!

Red Intuition - is a hybrid tea discovered by Guy Delbard in France. The eye-catching blooms are striped with light and dark shades of red. You can usually find some some stems of this rose at your WalMart store. We have grown this variety for three years on both fortuniana and multiflora rootstock. It seems to perform equally well on both. We get lots of nice blooms, even in the heat of summer. While this variety may not be the best for exhibition due to its unusual coloration, it is a good variety for the garden.

Resa G – is a new red blend hybrid tea from Tommy Herbert. Our first year bush was very small and weak when we got it and it took most of the summer to get going. The blooms that we saw did have promise so we are looking forward to another season with this variety.

Secret Lady - is a pink blend hybrid tea from Fred Wright. Our 2nd year plant has improved with age. We are getting some nice blooms and the plant is growing better. Hope it continues to improve, as the blooms are very pretty.

Sister Jane - is a pink blend hybrid tea from Fred Wright. After three years this rose continues to be somewhat of a mystery. At times the vibrant pink blushed with a hint of yellow blooms are nice and at other times they are not so nice. The plant is medium height at best and is somewhat slow to repeat.

Not sure what to do with this rose.

Sister Ruby - is a pink blend hybrid tea hybridized by Fred Wright. Our 2nd year plant continued to improve and is now growing well and producing some beautiful blooms. Plan to add more of this variety, perhaps on multiflora rootstock.

nashville rose leaf, February 2014

Sparkle & Shine- is a nice dark yellow floribunda from Christian Bedard.

Our 2nd year bush continues to produce nice medium yellow blooms with good substance. The plant vigor is also improving with age.

Sugar Moon - is a white hybrid tea from Christian Bedard and Weeks Roses. This variety is somewhat prone to black spot, as are most of the ‘moon’ varieties. Our 3rd year plant is producing some nice exhibition form blooms, which make it well worth having in the garden.

Summer Sun – is a nice orange-pink floribunda from Kordes. Our first year plant grew and bloomed well. The blooms have a nice orange color with a light yellow reverse which makes them stand out in the garden. We will keep watching, as this variety appears to be a keeper.

T.H. Coop - is a very nice red blend hybrid tea from Eddie Edwards. We feel this variety is becoming one of the best in our garden. The blooms are shades of light to dark red. The plant is vigorous and produces lots of nice exhibition form blooms. Good for cutting and garden, so get it.

Thrive! - is a medium red shrub from Jim Sproul. The fire engine red blooms have 7-8 petals and hold their color well. This variety is advertised to have great disease resistance, similar to Knock Out. However, we have not found that to be the case. If you spray it preventatively, it will not get black spot, however it must be sprayed to be disease free. Compact plant looks to be a good container variety.

Zaide – is a medium pink shrub from Kordes. Our first year plant really took off and threw lots of long stems. Probably is, we didn’t see many blooms. It doesn’t matter how vigorous a plant is if it doesn’t produce blooms. Will see what a 2nd season brings.

Consultar is Crazy

By Gene Meyer, Consulting Rosarian Greetings and Happy New Year to you from Consultar the Rosarian. What a difference a year makes. I might as well come out and say it, Cecil Ward was right and I was wrong. When I said I didn’t winterize my roses, I lied. When I saw the temperature was going to be single digits for more than 24 hours, I promptly went out and got eight bags of mulch and poured a heap on top of all my hybrid teas.

Spring mulching now done! I still figure I’m way ahead by not winterizing for several years but now I will preface my “don’t winterize” comment with “however if it gets really cold” it is better to be pragmatic.

While we are on winterizing, Lime Sulfur concentrate for spraying your dormant garden is no longer available. Who knew? I didn’t. The government is worried we might stick our nose in the bottle and take several big whiffs and then who knows what would happen. For a replacement I bought Tomato and Vegetable 3 in 1 at the co-op in Franklin. They had a Tree and Ornamental 3 in 1 also, same stuff. It has sulfur and Pyrethrins so it is an insecticide, fungi-

cide and a miticide. More expensive and probably won’t do the job as well as Lime Sulfur.

I am so excited this year. As you know I live on a 1/3 acre with too much house and a big driveway. Still I cram in 75 or so roses on what is left. I have discovered a way to expand my garden by over half! This is where I know my wife thinks I’m crazy but I have to give her props for not saying it. I have been thinking about how to grow and enjoy more roses for quite some time now. I toyed in my mind about talking to the Brentwood Country Club about planting roses around the golf course. You know, create a Masters Augusta course only instead of azaleas do it with roses. Deep down I knew they wouldn’t go for it so I kept quiet.

As you know, last year I had to tell the Brentwood Public Library that all their roses were Knocked Out with Rogue Rosette. I had to go back three times but I finally convinced them to let me put in an Earth-Kind and OGR rose garden to replace the Knockouts.

This is going to be a “no spray” gar-

den. Over the next two years I plan on offering rose growing seminars at the library. Who knows, maybe we’ll get a new member or two from this. They agreed to let me put up a couple of small signs with Nashville Rose Society and our web address on it. I’ve had good success with OGR’s and Earth-Kind roses in my yard but I have always wanted to see how a full scale garden would do with limited care in middle Tennessee. I’ll have the answer in a couple of years.

Roses blooming in January? Yes it is possible as anyone who has a greenhouse will tell you. I don’t have a greenhouse but that didn’t stop me. The roses I rooted after the rose show in October are putting on buds and blooming now. Utilizing a small cart I wheel them outside on 45 degree days and wheel them in at night.

I think it is worth all the trouble to have blooms in January and I’m saving money on the Brentwood Library garden with the OGR’s I have rooted.

As Forrest Gump said “Crazy is as crazy does” or something to that effect.

SPECIAL AUCTION! NRS member, Jerry Breast has generously donated a beautiful set of rose china for auction to benefit the Nashville Rose Society. The auction will take place at the April meeting. We are working out the details so anyone can bid, whether you attend the April meeting or not so stay tuned for auction details!

The china is Rose Chintz, made in England by Johnson and Brothers. We have 8 place settings, plus a platter and a serving bowl. The place settings have 8 dinner plates, 8 salad/ desert plates, 8 soup bowls, 8 saucers and 7 cups.

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February Rose Care By: Jim Harding February can either be a period of retrospect of would’ve, could’ve, should’ve thinking about what you did not do in November and December; or if you did your end of year garden chores, it can be time spent reclining back in the warm and comfy easy chair.

Spraying There is still time in February to consider a dormant spray to discourage bugs and diseases for the coming rose season. If your roses struggled with blackspot this past year, lime sulfur is a good way to help clean up lingering fungal spores, along with a horticultural oil that will smother pests and their eggs. While these chemicals can be purchased separately and mixed together they are also available pre-mixed in a single container.

This has been a mild winter so far but if you spray lime sulfur, make sure to do so when overnight temperatures will remain above freezing overnight, and be sure to read the label and apply in accordance with manufacturer’s recommendations. If you have questions, call an NRS consulting rosarian - see list on page 11.

Cleaning & Planning If you haven’t done so already, take inventory of what supplies need to be replaced and make note for easy ordering of supplies for the annual Nashville Rose Society’s Vendor night. The order forms are included in this issue and are also available online at the NRS website www.nashvillerosesociety.com If you have questions about vendor night contact Gary Spencer at

gspencer1@bellsouth.net

A tip I picked up at one of the NRS beginner’s workshops is to write on each bottle of fungicide, pesticide, miticide, etc. the year it was purchased. Everything has a shelf life, and it is only a matter of time before you have more stuff than you can keep track of, so writing the year purchased with a big 10

black Sharpie works well. This simple step will save you time, money and headaches trying to remember how old that almost empty bottle of Banner Maxx is.

One more Sharpie tip. While you are writing the year on the bottle, go ahead and write the mixing ratio too; i.e. 1 tblsp/gal. This will save you the hassle of re-reading the label.

Soil Last fall was the best time to build a new rose bed because 1. it was a lot warmer outside, and 2. the new soil mix has a time to cure before the new roses go in this spring. However, if you still want to build a new rose bed it is not too late, especially if you use a premixed soil from a company like Southern Nurseries. These kinds of companies can custom mix soil with your choice of composts, sand, and processed topsoil.

NRS member and master rosarian Ron Daniels recommends Nutrisoil for rose beds from Southern Nurseries. They sell their soil by the cubic yard and offer a discount to NRS members.

Just like the old real estate addage of ‘location, location, location,’ the same goes for roses. Select a location that receives at least six hours of full sun per day, has good air circulation, good drainage, and does not compete with tree roots. pH Amending your soil to make corrections to the pH is another task that is best done at the end of the growing season. Why? Because it takes time for any corrections you make to take effect.

With that said, if you have not tested the pH of your soil, there is really no wrong time to do so. While most Tennessee soils tend be acidic don’t make any assumptions and add lime before you have your soil tested.

Send your soil samples to the University of Tennessee Soil, Plant and

nashville rose leaf, February 2014

Pest Center is located at the Ellington Agricultural Center in Nashville. It is equipped for routine soil analysis to make lime and fertilizer recommendations and offers its services to all Tennesseans for a nominal fee (615) 8325850. Soil samples need to come from the root zone of the plant, which means getting down past the mulch into the root zone where the soil chemistry is important.

If the pH is lower than 6.0, you should add a slow-acting lime. If the test showed the pH higher than 7.0, then you should add sulfur. A pH of 6.5 is ideal for roses to be able to maximize the available nutrients. The question is, how much lime is the right amount?

To raise the pH from 5.5 to 6.5 a typical application rate is 2 to 3 pounds per 100 square feet of garden area. Do not use more than 5 pounds per 100 square feet at any one time. If you are not sure how big your rose bed is, use 1 cup of lime per bush and ½ cup per miniature. Remember that raking the lime into the top couple inches of soil will yield better results than sprinkling it over the soil’s surface. ,

ARS Membership

Every rosarian should be a member of the American Rose Society. The benefits far outweigh any costs. A full membership is only $49 a year. A four month trial membership is $10 (or $5 for current NRS members and free for new NRS members). And last but not least the ARS also offers a free e-membership.

So no matter what your budget, there is no excuse for not getting plugged into the ARS. To sign up you may complete the online form at www.ars.org or call toll free at 1-800637-6534.

A Rose Lover’s Calendar

Welcome Back New &

NRS, Tenarky, & ARS Coming Events

Returning Members!

FEBRUARY 4

NRS Meeting at Cheekwood 6:30 Beginner’s Workshop - How to Pick the Right Rose - Gene Meyer 7:00 PM Refreshments 7:15 PM - 2014 New Rose Introductions - Jim Harding

Gina Teague 5104 Russell Rd. Franklin, TN 37064 ginateag@bellsouth.net

21-23 Tenarky Winter Workshop - Marriott Hotel Cool Springs, in Franklin, TN. For information contact Sam or Nancy Jones

gsamj@bellsouth.net nancypj@bellsouth.net

MARCH

Feb 27-March 2 Nashville Lawn & Garden Show, TN State Fairgrounds

NRS Meeting at Cheekwood - Vendor Night order forms inside the 4

newsletter or Contact Gary Spencer at gspencer1@bellsouth.net

6:30 PM Refreshments 7:00 PM - Vendor Program/Pruning Demo 15

Pruning Party 10AM -12 Noon Mona Mishu’s at 6224 Bridlewood Lane in River Oaks, Brentwood, TN. Any questions, call Marty Reich at (615) 833-0791

Details & other event news available at www.nashvillerosesociety.com Nashville Rose Leaf is printed by: The Print Authority, Brentwood, Tennessee

Contributions

Nashville Rose Society is a 501c-3 organization and all contributions to the society are tax-deductible. Contributions may be made as memorials or to honor some person, group or occasion. Checks for contributions should be made payable to Nashville Rose Society and mailed to: CINDY WORCH 137 Urban Farms Rd. Manchester, TN 37355 ((931) 723-2142

rosegardener@hughes.net

Nashville Rose Leaf

The Nashville Rose Leaf is published eleven times annually by the Nashville Rose Society, Nashville, TN Editors: Jim & Starla Harding, Sam Jones & Leann Barron Editorial Advisory Committee: Marty Reich

Ron Jensen 144 Rolling Hills Dr. Hendersonville, TN 37075 ron@rpjensen.com

Nashville Rose Society 2011 Officers President Tom Beath.........(615) 481.3589 Vice-Pres Gene Meyer........(615) 373-0303 Treasurer Gary Spencer......(615) 662-3819 Rec. S’ty Hayes Gibson .......(615) 794-1708 Cor. S’ty Millie Dolinger.....(901) 628-7137

Nashville Rose Society Membership

We are a non-profit organization serving the middle Tennessee area to educate persons on growing and exhibiting roses. Membership is open to everyone who supports the objectives of the organization. Annual dues of $20.00 per household include a subscription to The Nashville Rose Leaf, the official newsletter of the society. To join, send a check payable to Nashville Rose Society to: Marty Reich, 5020 Dovecote Dr., Nashville, TN 37220-1614 Phone: (615) 833-0791; E-mail: marty615@bellsouth.net

Disclaimer: 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(s) accept any legal responsibility for any errors or omissions that may have been made.

The Nashville Rose Society makes no warranty, expressed or implied with respect to the material contained herein.

Faye Ralston 119 Brandi Way Winchester, TN 37398 fsr119@gmail.com ARS Consulting Rosarians South Nashville Leann Barron Marty Reich*

(615) 269-0240 (615) 833-0791

West Nashville Tom Beath (615) 481.3589 Keith Garman (615) 352-6219 Sam* & Nancy Jones (615) 646-4138 Brentwood Area Cecil* & Bessie Ward (615)373-2245 Jerry & Marise Keathley(615)377-3034 Franklin Area Anne Owen* (615) 794-0138 Logan* & Joan Shillinglaw(615) 790-7346 Robbie*&Marsha Tucker(615) 595-9187 Hendersonville Area Ron Daniels (615) 330-7083 Charles Lott (615) 824-5614 Jack Wedekind (615) 824-8696 Murfreesboro Area Dillard & Diane Lester(615) 896-0203 Columbia Area Lyle Worsham*

(931) 388-4547

Lebanon-Watertown Area Jeff Harvey (615) 268-7089 Jennifer Harvey (615) 268-7032 Denise Thorne (615) 237-9757 Duck River-Centerville Area Larry* & Connie Baird(931) 729-5259 Manchester Area Cindy Worch

(931) 723-2142

*Indicates ARS Master Rosarian

nashville rose leaf, February 2013

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5020 Dovecote Drive Nashville, TN 37220-1614

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2014 Rose Review

By Jeff Garrett ‘Corretta Scott King’

‘Mother of Pearl’

‘Fire Fighter’ ‘Randy Scott’ ‘Crescendo’

‘Dark Night’

‘Beverly’

‘Apricot Candy’

‘Good as Gold’