NRL July 2014

NASHVILLE ROSE LEAF

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

July 1st NRS Meeting at Cheekwood 6:30 PM Refreshments 7:00 PM Ron Daniels - Building Great Rose Beds JUly 2014 Volume 47, Issue 6

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

‘Crescendo’

‘Peggy Martin’

Competition

By Gene Meyer CR Four years ago I planted a Peggy Martin at the base of the light pole in my front yard. In two years she was at the top of the pole. In three years she was trailing back down in big arches. I was told that she was a repeat bloomer, but alas she only has one show to give in the spring. After Peggy Martin had finished her show this spring, I had planned to replace her with another fair lass by the name Clair Matin. However Peggy Martin’s show this spring was quite spectacular. I saw a lady driving up our street who came to a complete stop in the middle of the street to admire Peggy’s beauty. Another homeowner told me she had changed her driving habits just to drive by Peggy Martin each day. So at my wife’s urging I’ve de(Cont’d on page 2)

‘Gemini’

Bowling Green Rose Show

Nashville Rose Show

Several NRS members made the short trip to Bowling Green worthwhile. Gene Meyer won his first Queen of Show with a beautiful bloom of ‘Crescendo’ that was also good enough to win Best of Show.

The Quantity of blooms shown at the 2014 NRS rose show was down significantly, however we still managed a respectful showing for the public visiting Cheekwood.

Larry Baird won many awards including miniflora Queen with ‘Conundrum’. Connie Baird won Oriental Free Style Award and Silver Certificate with her arrangement Misty River using ‘Heaven on Earth’ roses. Sam Jones won judges arrangement and Nancy Jones had most fragrant rose with ‘Pope John Paul II’.

by Larry & Connie Baird

Thanks to Jack and Betsy Wedikind the live garden was a wonderful added attraction to the show and created quite a bit of discussion. Congratulations to the Wedekind’s are also in order as Jack and Betsy won their first Queen of Show with a beautiful specimen of ‘Gemini’.

Marty Reich won numerous awards in the large rose classes that resulted in winning the Sweepstakes Award Long time NRS members from for Large Roses. The most fragrant Bowling Green, Ann and Bob Ja- rose award went to Keith and Martha cobs, won several awards such as Garman with ‘Chysler Imperial’ best polyantha spray with ‘The Fairy’. Mary Ann Hext won ar- We are especially grateful to David rangement Artist Award for her and Tammy Clemmons for coming Driftwood on the River using ‘Lou- from Huntsville, Alabama with a ise Estes’.

(Cont’d on page 4)

Editor’s Desk As the emergence of Rose Rosette Disease continues to plague the rose world, it’s difficult to keep up with all the research, theories and recommendations for preventing its spread. But roses are not the sole victims of this cruel disease.

Thanks to its repeated presence in our garden, Jim and I have found ourselves walking that marital discourse tightrope on several occasions, particularly since one of us believes in an immediate death sentence for infected roses while the other believes in leniency.

You might be surprised to know that it is Jim (normally the more reasonable half of our pair) who has proclaimed a “zero tolerance policy” in our rose garden by imposing an immediate death sentence on any rose that exhibits even the slightest hint of Rose Rosette disease.

Meanwhile, my pleadings for stays of execution are snuffed out faster than the infected roses. Before I can even utter the words “new growth” Jim is wielding chains saws, axes and garbage bags as he begins to implement every drastic removal measure short of suiting up in hazmat gear (which, for all I know, is on order as I write this).

Our Rose Rosette discourse began to escalate as it became increasingly apparent that the disease seemed to be selectively infecting the roses I liked the most. As one favorite rose bush of mine after another was being rudely uprooted and destroyed by my husband, I thought I began to notice a certain enthusiasm on his part, a bloodlust, if you will. After seven of my beloved favorites were bagged and kicked to the curb, I was just about to accuse Jim of some sort of Rose Rosette Conspiracy when I noticed what looked to be distorted leaves on one of Jim’s favorite roses… how is this for irony?.... Golden Celebration…. something Jim would NOT be having when he got home that night. Of course, I saw little reason to wait until he got home to break the news so I snapped a quick picture of the diseased rose and sent it to him at work with a sympathy text. NOW who was suffering from Rose Rosette Regret?

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When Jim arrived home, he inspected the rose with a sickened expression that I well knew and I was not offering the slightest bit of sympathy.. why? a) No mercy had been extended to me under several similar circumstances and (b) okay, I oftentimes struggle with pettiness and its sidekick vindictiveness. A little payback bloodlust was finally headed Jim’s way and I have to admit I was enjoying my brief moment of Rose Rosette Revenge. I left Jim so he could be alone with his rose hoping his terminator attitude would be subdued after having been forced to “shoot his own dog”.

I even extended a little Rose Rosette Respect by giving him plenty of time and space to deal with his loss. Hours later I walked out to the garden and, while Jim was nowhere in sight, Golden Celebration was still front and center. I took a closer look and couldn’t believe my eyes. The Rose Rosette canes had been snipped and clipped!!! (Something I had done behind Jim’s back a dozen or more times by now.) Judge Jimmy had pardoned his favorite rose after lining all my favorites up on death row. This was a clear case of Rose Rosette Discrimination and I was fast approaching my own case of Rose Rosette Rage!

Days later, I was on a walk around our neighborhood when I noticed a home with half a dozen knock-out roses that were severely infected with Rose Rosette Disease. I found myself in a Rose Rosette Conundrum because I didn’t know this family. Miss Manners doesn’t exactly address Rose Rosette Etiquette but I’m not certain I would be met with enthusiasm if I knocked on a stranger’s door and said “Hi, I’m Starla Harding, I am an avid rose grower who lives down the street and, oh by the way, you need to dig up every one of your knock-out roses immediately because I said so.” So I went home with a bad case of Rose Rosette Cowardice. If this family had been anything like our amazing neighbors, Chris and Jackie Turner, this wouldn’t have been an issue.

The Turners owned the only knock-out rose I have ever admired (sorry, folks, not a fan of the knock-out, but that’s a whole other column). Jackie bought it on a clearance rack for $1.00 and although the blooms were always that of knock-

nashville rose leaf, july 2014

(Cont’d on page 8)

Competition (Cont’d from page 1) cided on a bloom off. I pruned Peggy to one third of her former size and planted Clair Matin on the other side of the pole. I figure in two years we will have a winner or maybe declare a draw and let them coexist.

I shovel pruned a couple of miniatures in my front yard in early June. Both roses survived my Rogue Rosette disaster but they didn’t look healthy. They bloomed at about half power this spring and then the foliage looked sparse. I think my old enemy Rogue Rosette was hiding in both roses. Peggy Martin and Playgirl are the only two roses that haven’t succumbed to that dastardly devil. I’ve seen Rogue Rosette hiding elsewhere in my neighborhood. Knock Outs that I know are infected are not showing witches broom or gnarly blooms and twisty new growth. The bushes appear healthy but I know he’s hiding for now.

I’ll be starting my Rogue walks in the neighborhood now that our Rose Show is over.

Speaking of the Rose Show, the arrangements were top drawer all the way. I really admire the imagination and artistry that Rosarians put into them. There were plenty of miniatures and minifloras. If you had a Hybrid Tea you had an excellent chance of winning, as that was the weakest category. Only eight roses competed. Marty Reich has recently bought a fridge for her roses and thus had plenty of roses and won lots of awards. Congrats Marty! I want to hear the whole story at our next meeting!

If you’re driving down I-65 South going past Brentwood, get off at Concord Road and head East less than a mile and turn right on Knox Valley Drive. Immediately on your right is the Brentwood Library. Check out their new EarthKind and OGR rose garden. Since being planted during the first week in April most of the roses have quadrupled in size. Something is always in bloom. If you want to see what a no spray rose garden looks like, this is it. All the roses are labeled too.

Translaminar Pesticides: Factors That May Impact Effectiveness

by Dr. Raymond A. Cloyd (Email: rcloyd@ksu.edu) There are a number of different pesticide types, in this case, insecticides and miticides, used to suppress insect and mite pest populations on roses including contact, stomach poison, systemic, and translaminar. Translaminar pesticides are used against an assortment of pests including spider mites and thrips because the active ingredient is distributed into plant tissues where these pests feed. The translaminar pesticides commercially available for use on roses include etoxazole (TetraSan), spinosad (Conserve), thiamethoxam (Flagship), abamectin (Avid), imidacloprid (Merit), acephate (Orthene), and spirotetramat (Forbid). Translaminar or “local systemic� activity refers to absorption by one-side of the leaf surface so that the active ingredient is available to insect and mite pests feeding on the other or untreated leaf surface. The active ingredient penetrates leaf tissues and forms a reservoir of active ingredient within the leaf that can persist for up to 14 days, depending on the specific translaminar pesticide.

A variety of factors may influence the activity of translaminar pesticides including leaf structure (surface), leaf age, and development stage of plant growth. Translaminar pesticides may enter the plant leaf after application with penetration occurring primarily through the leaf cuticle. The mechanism involved in penetration and movement into leaves via the leaf cuticle is by diffusion, which is the movement of compounds from a region of higher concentration to one with a lower concentration. The distance in which translaminar pesticides may diffuse across the leaf may be affected by the leaf cuticle.

The leaf cuticle functions as an effective barrier thus inhibiting absorption, penetration, and transport of foliar applied pesticides into the leaf. The permeability of the leaf cuticle is an important factor that may influence penetration and movement through leaf tissues and may vary depending on the presence of cuticular waxes on

the leaf surface. As such, this may indirectly impact suppression of pests with translaminar pesticides.

Leaf cuticle thickness may impede penetration by inhibiting the diffusion process and ability of translaminar pesticides to enter the leaf and move into areas where pests are feeding.

However, cuticle thickness may differ between the leaf top and bottom. Also, environmental conditions (temperature, sunlight, and relative humidity) under which roses are exposed to may affect cuticle thickness or leaf rigidity. In fact, both ambient and leaf temperature may effect penetration through the leaf cuticle and thus impact efficacy. For example, studies have shown that cool environmental conditions lead to reduced efficacy of translaminar pesticides compared to warmer temperatures. The proposed mechanism responsible for this difference is that higher temperatures may change or alter cuticular waxes (longchain alcohols, fatty acids, and hydrocarbons) thus increasing permeability and transport across the leaf cuticle.

Plant growth rate or age may impact the effectiveness of translaminar pesticides as applications to plants producing vigorous leaf growth may result in greater pest mortality compared to plants not actively growing (e.g., flowering), which may be affiliated with increased leaf rigidity and/ or a thicker cuticle (older or senescing leaves). Furthermore, the cuticle of new or young leaves is thinner and thus more permeable than mature or older (thicker) leaf cuticles. However, in some cases, thicker cuticles are more permeable than thinner cuticles, which could affect translaminar movement, resulting in decreased efficacy against the target pest.

The uptake of compounds may occur more efficiently through the lower (abaxial) leaf surface than the upper (adaxial) leaf surface whereas in other cases it is the opposite, depending on degree of exposure to environmental

conditions. In addition, absorption through the leaves may be influenced by the wax content on leaf surfaces and presence of stomates on the underside of leaves.

The activity of translaminar pesticides may be affected by surfactants that enhance penetration through the cuticle and into leaf tissues by reducing surface tension of spray droplets on the leaf cuticle thus increasing the total surface area covered. However, this depends on the type of surfactant and concentration applied. Horticultural and mineral oils have been reported to enhance the activity of certain translaminar pesticides (e.g., abamectin or Avid) by improving penetration through the cuticle layer and permitting compounds to remain in solution longer, which reduces evaporation from leaf surfaces and allows more time for the pesticide to penetrate the leaf cuticle.

The physical properties of pesticides impact their ability to possess translaminar properties. For example, the primary reason why pyrethroid-based insecticides (e.g., bifenthrin, cyfluthrin, lambda-cyhalothrin, fluvalinate, and fenpropathrin) have minimal translaminar activity is due to their high lipid solubility in leaf waxes.

Their lipid solubility is much greater than their water solubility so that they only remain in the cuticle and don’t move outward into the vascular tissues.

In conclusion, this article was developed to help rosarians understand the factors that may influence the activity of translaminar pesticides including timing of application and coverage.

In addition, activity may be affected by the leaf cuticle, which is associated with thickness and waxiness of rose leaves. Therefore, this information should be helpful in maximizing the effectiveness of translaminar pesticides.

nashville rose leaf, july 2014

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(Cont’d from page 1) cooler full of great Mini and Miniflora blooms that added a lot to the show.

They won the miniature Queen, King and Princess with ‘Memphis King’, ‘Best of ’04’ and ‘Nancy Jean’. David and Tammy made a clean sweep of the miniflora court with ‘Whirlaway’, ‘Foolish Pleasure’ and ‘Unbridled’ as Queen, King and Princess.

While the show was small we still had enough roses to impress the visitors to Cheekwood who visited. Special thanks to everyone who showed up to help with setting up and taking down the show.

We won’t try to name everyone, you know how that works, but we could not have a show without Marty Reich and her computer, Gary Spencer and Ken Woods and their trucks, Cindy Worch and Connie Baird and their shopping.

Charles and Ann Lot with muffins and coffee for early morning.

In the miniature rose arrangements Sara Jo Gill once again received the Mini-Artist Award and Mini-Gold Medal with a modern arrangement using ‘Kristin’. Jim Harding won Mini Royalty Award and Mini-Silver Medal with a traditional line arrangement using blooms of ‘Whirlaway’ and gooseneck. Connie Baird received the MiniBronze Medal for the best Oriental arrangement using ‘Tiffany Lynn’ We are fortunate to have such artistic talent in our group. The judges had a difficult time making decisions, and more than once their votes were tied when making the final awards. Adding to the fun, one of our judges came up with a creative design using beer bottles and a mashed cola can. She didn’t mind leaving her container!

Container grown roses - A new idea for a rose show class courtesy of Jack Wedekind

Thanks so much for answering the call for help, and creating a beautiful rose exhibit.

Rose shows just don’t happen without the hard of volunteers like Lori Emery, Marty Reich & Gary Spencer

The complete results of the show are listed on the Tenarky website. You will see a lot of David and Tammy Clemmons on the list of winners so we offer congratulations and a big “thank you” for donating back to NRS almost all the keepsake trophies and especially for bringing their many roses and adding so much to the NRS rose show.

In the arrangement part of the rose show we would like to give a special acknowledgement to Sara Jo Gill, Lanni Webb, Jim Harding, and Teresa Menefee. Without these 4 very talented designers we would not have had an arrangement show. Due to scheduling problems, and weather, we were short a few arrangers. There were about 26 arrangements, which is about half our standard fare, but they were all fabulous. Teresa Menefee, a new member, entered a stunning design in novice and won her first ARS blue ribbon.

In the large rose arrangements Sara Jo Gill received the Artist Award and Gold Medal with her modern arrangement 4

nashville rose leaf, july 2014

Princess Award ‘Crescendo’

by Lanni Webb

Novice Award ‘Moonstone’, ‘Louise Estes’, and ‘Hot Princess’ by Theresa Menefee

Photos Courtesy of Ken Wood & Betsy Wedekind

Nashville Rose Show

using one stunning ‘Signature’ rose.

Connie Baird won the Oriental Ward and Silver Medal using blooms of ‘Louise Estes’. Lanni Webb won the Princess Award using ‘Crescendo’.

Lois Sloan & Charles Lott - ready to add up the judges scores that will determine the top roses that will find their way to the court

Best of Show ‘Tammy Clemons’ David & Tammy Clemons

Rose shows could not happen without the judges who travel long distances Thank you!

‘Crescendo’ Challenge - Jack & Betsy Wedekind

Mini Artist Award,Mini Gold Medal ‘Kristin’ by Sara Jo Gill

Blue Ribbon roses lined up and waiting for the judges to rank. nashville rose leaf, july 2014

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July Rose Care

by Jim Harding July is typically when Mother Nature turns on the heat in middle Tennessee.

However, unlike the past two years the Heat, as in the Miami Heat, have run out of luck - losing the NBA championship to the Spurs. So far this year the heat hasn’t been so bad, but unlike LeBron James who just opted out of the Heat in Miami, we still have July and August ahead of us in middle Tennessee. So what should good rosarians being doing in July?

WATER - The number one way to help your roses beat the heat is to water, water, water. June has already awesome with over 4.5 inches so far with still a week to go. Average rainfall in Nashville for June is 4.14 inches. July may not be as kind so a few key points about watering: 1. Watering regularly helps reduce heat stress on your roses.

2. Water deep with a thorough soaking.

Large rose bushes will need six gallons a week. Three gallons per rose twice a week will get the nutrients down to the roots. One gallon six days a week will not soak deep enough and the feeder roots will grow to surface resulting in either a weak, or even worse a dead rose.

3. Watering in the early morning is best. The evening is okay too, just allow enough time for the leaves to dry out before night fall to help keep blackspot under control.

4. If watering by hand take a five gallon bucket and your water nozzle of choice and count off how long it takes to fill up the bucket a little over half way. That is how long you want to water each bush twice a week.

5. Mulch absorbs water so water deep to make sure the soil below the mulch gets enough water.

6. Water the whole rose bed. Spot watering will seek its level and then spread to the dry soil, thus robbing the rose of water. Watering beyond the drip line 6

also encourages roots to spread out and makes for a healthier bush. This is very true for roses on Fortuniana root stock that spreads out naturally.

7. When the rose leaves droop and hang limp a quick shower will bring the plant’s temperature down swiftly.

8. Water your roses well before and after any kind of fertilizer is applied.

9. Two to four inches of mulch will help keep the root system cool as well as retain moisture.

10. If in doubt, dig down in the soil and check how deep the water has penetrated. Roses need a minimum watering depth of one foot to reach the root zone.

NUTRIENTS - Not only is water needed to keep plants adequately hydrated but water moves nutrients down through the soil to reach the roots. There are lots of ways to fertilize roses, granular, liquid, and foliar. A 1/2 cup of a balanced granular fertilizer with trace elements like a 13-13-13 formulation can be applied three times a year on large roses. Use half these amounts for miniature roses and double for large climbers. Granular fertilizers are man made chemical fertilizers so when spreading this type of fertilizer start six inches from the trunk of the rose and extend to at least eighteen inches from the trunk.

The reason is that any chemicals that come into contact with the bud union that are not fully dissolved can damage the rose from the salts in the fertilizer.

Liquid fertilizers like Mills Easy Feed and Miracle Gro are some of the easiest to use and go to work instantly, but have to be applied more frequently than slow release granular fertilizers.

Organic or natural fertilizers are also a great way to feed your roses and improve the soil as well. As simple application of alfalfa pellets from your local Co-op is an inexpensive option. Various forms of well composted manures and worm castings are good choices too.

nashville rose leaf, july 2014

Products like Mill Magic Rose Mix, contains a host of natural based nutrients your roses will love. All of these organic options attract earthworms which aerate and further improve the soil. There will also be an increase in beneficial soil bacteria that will aid in a slow, steady breakdown of the organics. The result will be a steady supply of macro and micronutrients for your roses, and an improved soil from the earthworms.

Foliar feeding is not exactly a secret anymore, but can yield excellent results.

Like most plants roses are capable of absorbing certain nutrients through their leaves. Products like Monty’s Joy Juice, Nature’s Nog, a combination of seaweed extract and humates, or fish emulsion are all good choices. To make it even easier all of these options can be mixed in with a regular fungicide spray program. The benefit of foliar feeding your roses is it instantly gets the plant food right where it’s needed and wanted, in the stems, leaves and buds. The results produce stronger, thicker stems along with denser foliage, and most importantly, rose blooms that are larger, more numerous and of a better color. Start at the top of the rose bush and mist the entire plant to the point it is dripping off the leaves. Foliar feed in the cool hours of the early morning or late evening when the plant’s pores are open and receptive to liquid food, (make sure to allow enough time for the leaves to dry before night fall). Foliar feeding does not feed the rose bush’s roots, so you will still need to apply one of the above fertilizers to the soil during growing season to feed the rose bush from the roots up.

When using any of the above fertilizers follow the manufacturer’s instructions and if you have questions ask an NRS consulting rosarian, (see list on page 7).

Summer time can also mean vacation time, but it is definitely no time to be lax in your spray regimen. Stay true to your spray schedule with regular applications of fungicides. Alternate with preventa(Cont’d on page 8)

ARS Consulting Rosarians

A Rose Lover’s Calendar

NRS, Tenarky, & ARS Coming Events

South Nashville Marty Reich* (615) 833-0791 marty615@bellsouth.net

JULY 1

NRS Meeting at Cheekwood 6:30 PM Refreshments 7:15 PM Main Program - Ron Daniels on building rose beds

West Nashville Tom Beath (615) 481.3589 beathandcompany@gmail.com

AUGUST 5

NRS Meeting at Cheekwood 6:30 PM Ice Cream Social - bring your best homemade treat to share 7:15 PM Main Program - Jack Wedekind Growing Roses in Pots

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Arrangement Class by Connie Baird, Huntsville, AL Hosted by Huntsville Twickenham Rose Society For details contact Connie at connieb@neelycoble.com

Gene Meyer (615)373-0303 eugenejmeyer@yahoo.com

5 NRS Meeting at Cheekwood

6:30 PM Beginners Program: Jack Wedekind Growing Roses in Pots

7:15 PM Main Program

millieg713@yahoo.com

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

Franklin Area Anne Owen* (615) 794-0138 annieo1203@comcast.net Logan* & Joan Shillinglaw (615) 790-7346 loganshillinglaw@comcast.net Robbie*&Marsha Tucker

Nashville Rose Leaf is printed by: The Print Authority, Brentwood, Tennessee

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: MILLIE DOLINGER 59 Vaughn’s Gap Rd. Nashville, TN 37205 (615)352-3927

Sam* & Nancy Jones (615) 646-4138 gsamj@bellsouth.net Brentwood Area Cecil* Ward (615)373-2245

SEPTEMBER

Contributions

Keith Garman (615) 352-6219 rkeithgarman@comcast.net

(615) 595-9187 rosekg@aol.com Hendersonville Area Ron Daniels (615) 330-7083 rosetherapy23@gmail.com

Nashville Rose Society 2011 Officers Vice-Pres Gene Meyer........(615) 373-0303

Charles Lott (615) 824-5614 crlott@bellsouth.net

Treasurer Gary Spencer......(615) 662-3819

Jack Wedekind (615) 824-8696

President

Rec. S’ty Hayes Gibson .......(615) 794-1708

Murfreesboro Area Dillard & Diane Lester(615) 896-0203 dillard37127@gmail.com

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.

Columbia Area Lyle Worsham* (931) 388-4547 Lebanon-Watertown Area Jeff Harvey (615) 268-7089 jeff@dirtdawgnursery.com Jennifer Harvey (615) 268-7032 jeff@dirtdawgnursery.com Denise Thorne (615) 237-9757 denise@tec63.com Duck River-Centerville Area Larry* & Connie Baird(931) 729-5259 duckriverose@yahoo.com Manchester Area Cindy Worch (615)584-1377 cindykworch@gmail.com

nashville rose leaf, july 2014

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NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION U.S. POSTAGE PAID BRENTWOOD, TN PERMIT NO. 162

5020 Dovecote Drive Nashville, TN 37220-1614 Address Service Requested

www.nashvillerosesociety.com

Highlights from the NRS Picnic

Thank you Mona!

A big thank you to Mona Mishu for opening her garden and hosting the annual NRS Picnic. Pictured with Mona (center) is Gary Spencer (left) and Sam Jones (right)

Picnic Time!

It was a beautiful evening for a picnic as NRS members gathered for good food good fun - and great fellowship.

(Cont’d from page 2)

(Cont’d from page 7)

outs, it’s growth habit was much like a hybrid tea. It was truly stunning. Unfortunately, the rose developed Rose Rosette Disease seemingly overnight.

Thankfully, Jackie was aware of Rose Rosette Disease and its potential impact (I may have mentioned it a time or twenty). She sent Jim a picture of the rose fearing the worst and Jim responded with a grim prognosis but advised her to wait until he could see it in person.

tive fungicides and if your roses have a blackspot breakout add Mancozeb that kills blackspot on contact. Using Mancozeb every three days for three successive applications will typically get the blackspot under control and the resume your regular spray schedule.

When he arrived home from work that night, we slipped over to their yard and examined the rose. Sure enough, there was that Ramblin’ Rose Rosette again. Jim immediately advised our dear neighbors to pull the plug on this rose and as I began to suggest potential snip and clip alternatives he shamed me mercilessly. What a Rose Rosette Hypocrite! Jackie sent me a text just an hour later and advised me that Chris had removed the rose because they didn’t want to take even the slightest chance of harming our roses.

(Gene Meyer, is that you turning green with envy?).

As of this writing, Golden Celebration has weathered over half the season without exhibiting even the slightest relapse of Rose Rosette. Neither has another rose in our garden….a rose that shall remain nameless for its own safety. Oh yes I did… snipped and clipped that horrible rose leprosy right off of it….over two years ago in a desperate act of Rose Rosette Resourcefulness. No matter how much Rose Rosette Reconnaissance Jim attempts, I shall never reveal its whereabouts.

The two primary pests this time of year are Japanese beetles and spider mites.

Knocking the beetles off into a jar of soapy water is environmentally friendly, but the fun of watching them drown tends to wear off long before the beetles are gone. Chemicals such as Sevin will kill them on contact, but can create a void of beneficial insects that allows the spider mite populations to explode.

Speaking of spider mites, if you see a bronzing, speckling, of the leaves check the underside for mites. They are hard to see with the naked eye. A simple way to check is shake the leaves over a piece of white paper. If you see what looks like pepper then you have spider mites. Insecticides will not work. Only miticides kill mites. If left unchecked the spider mites will completely defoliate a rose.

Summer pruning. I remember our beloved NRS member, Glenda Whitaker recommended letting the rose tell you where to prune by simply deadheading, (removing the spent bloom), and then watching and waiting to see where the new growth appears on the cane before pruning. This a good summer practice because the rose keeps as many leaves as possible during the heat and you don’t have to worry about over pruning and stressing your roses. Last but not least during the hot summer months don’t forget to take care of yourself with a wide brim hat, liquid refreshments, and some sunscreen.