NRL March 2014

NASHVILLE ROSE LEAF

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

March 4th NRS Vendor Night at Cheekwood 6:30 PM Beginners Program: Pruning Demo & 7:15 PM Vendor Program march 2014 Volume 47, Issue 2

NRS News Vendor Night

Tuesday, March 4th is our annual Vendor Night. In addition to picking up your order there will be a short program at 7:15 where we get to hear a little from each of our Vendors who so generously share their time and knowledge and answer your rose questions.

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

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Beaty’s Fertilizer

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Compost Farm

•

Dickens Turf and Landscape

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Remarkable Roses

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Southern Nurseries w/ Ron Daniels

•

Nature’s Choice Compost

Many vendors bring extra product for sale at the meeting so you may still find some things you need if you did not place an order this year. We hope to see you there.

Pruning Demonstration Marty Reich reached out to Mona Mishu about hosting the pruning demonstration and Mona said we were all welcome to come to her place on Saturday, March 15th from 10 AM until 12 Noon. Mona’s address is 6224 Bridlewood Lane, Brentwood, TN 37027. Even though this is the third weekend in March, the 8th seemed a little early with our colder

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

than normal winter.

Nothing seems to intimidate new rosarians like pruning, but don’t worry. Just make plans to come to Mona Mishu’s house (home to hundreds of roses!) and you will get hands-on experience from NRS Consulting Rosarians. The other great part about NRS pruning demos, is getting one on one time with NRS consulting rosarians who are always happy to answer any and all questions that spring time rose care always seems to generate. If you can’t make it Mona’s house on the 15th, the beginners workshop at 6:30 PM next Tuesday, March 4th, at Cheekwood will also cover pruning techniques.

When Starla and I first joined the Nashville Rose Society we remember listening to consulting rosarian Lyle Worsham’s advise on pruning: “cut ‘em back ‘til you think you killed ‘em… and then cut ‘em back some more”. After a winter full of single digit temperatures I have a feeling we will be putting Lyle’s advice to the test!

have fared. The more mature well established roses seem to be making it through the frigid winter okay - at least so far. However, some of our newest roses that were planted last year have quite a bit of die-back. We are keeping our fingers crossed that there is something still alive below the pile of winterizing mulch.

After this weekend’s inspection we are thinking about how we might replace any roses that didn’t make it.

The NRS Fortuniana sale is always a good choice. Contact Charles Lott quickly as he is finalizing the NRS rose order - crlott@bellsouth.net. All Fortuniana roses will be delivered at the April NRS rose meeting. Locally, there are not a lot of good choices to find anything other than Knockouts.

Comparing notes among other rosarians at the February rose meeting it seems like S&W Greenhouse in White House, TN is about the only place left that offers a wide selection of hybrid teas, floribundas, grandifloras, climbers, etc. One nice surprise is Jeff Smith, owner of S&W, has added a nice selection of David Austin roses this year.

The main thing to keep in mind is NRS Spring Rose Show to keep pruning until you see clear white pith and prune away any After many years of being absent, canes smaller than the diameter of the Nashville Rose Society will once again host a spring rose show! May a pencil.

17-18 are the dates. Cheek Botanical Winter Weather Garden and Museum of Art is the location. Contact Sam and Nancy Jones This past weekend we were finally – Co-Chairs at gsamj@bellsouth.net; blessed with back to back beauti- or nancypj@bellsouth.net ful days so taking advantage of the good weather, we ventured into With the upcoming spring rose show, the garden to see how our roses (Cont’d on back page)

Editor’s Desk My husband, Jim, and I each seem to hold a different view as to what may or may not be construed as proper garden attire. I believe the wise gardener should choose comfortable clothing that is old or nearly worn out. Jim, on the other hand, believes it is best to remain in whatever clothing he happens to be wearing whenever the gardening mood strikes him. He has often scoffed at my suggestion that he wear what I have designated as “gardening” socks, pants, shorts or shoes.

Because the resolution to this ongoing conflict has yet to present itself, Jim has been content to wear whatever he pleases while gardening as I, in turn, continue to scold him for ruining non-gardening clothing. (Such as a suit jacket whose holes prove that climbing roses show little concern for how expensive an article of clothing may have been).

Our most contentious “debates” involve a certain red Titans baseball cap that Jim has owned for the fourteen years I have known him. At first, I was a fan of the cap, if not the team, because it seemed to compliment his handsome, boyish appearance. However, that was long ago and my fondness for the cap has soured (as has the cap itself) with time. In fact, I would challenge anyone who did not already know the cap to be red in color to prove to anyone that it is not, indeed, brown. It was this tattered condition, together with Jim’s insistence on wearing it as if it were a vital organ, which finally led me to deem it his “garden” hat.

Consequently, Jim took this to mean: “garden hat”, “nap hat”, “dinner hat”, “grocery store hat” and “anything to embarrass my wife hat.”

It became so dirty I quickly advanced from insisting he only wear the hat in the garden to insisting he NEVER wear it at all. The war of the red cap was on.

One day, while boating on Kentucky Lake with some friends, I thought God had finally intervened when a strong wind snatched the cap from 2

Jim’s head and carried it far enough away that it was certain to sink before retrieval.

Jim was horrified while I secretly promised extra tithing that Sunday. Both of our reactions quickly reversed themselves, however, as we learned that years of sweat and filth on the cap rendered it a virtual floatation device. The only thing he wore better than a drenched cap that day was his victorious grin.

This was also the day I began to believe the cap was immortal.

arguments have we survived over this hat and how many times have I kissed you despite the fact that you were wearing the nasty thing? Listen up, buddy! My job is to complain about this hat while your job is to wear it just to spite me. Do you understand? Now take it off this trash heap, put it somewhere safe and don’t you ever put me in a position like this again!” And with that, Jim scurried away with the hat and it’s partner in crime, his boyish grin.

That never stopped me from trying, mind you. Oftentimes when I was not hiding the cap from his view, I was threatening ominous harm to befall him, lest he remove it, particularly before venturing out in public.

This hat was so filthy, that not only did Jim appear entirely grimy whenever he sported it, so did anyone standing nearby. Care to guess who that might typically be? My hatred for this hat, as well as my determination to rid the world of it, became obsessive….almost as obsessive as Jim’s determination to preserve it.

Come to your own conclusions about my reversal. I deserve it. Call me a softy, call me contrary, and, yes, by all means, call me crazy. But, DO NOT call me fickle. For I stand by my continued hatred of this hat and I am committed, now and forever, to absolutely love hating it. We rose lovers are a curious lot, aren’t we?

We think of ourselves as perpetual hole diggers when what we truly dig the deepest for are treasured memories.

Then, very recently, and almost out of the blue, Jim placed the wretched cap on top of a pile of old clothing I had designated for the trash. “That’s the trash pile”, I snapped. “I know” he replied as he put his hands on my shoulders.

With the same expression he once spoke the words “I do”…. he sweetly shrugged “it’s time”. My first reaction was that of shock. Then I felt immense relief. I was happy, I was thrilled...overjoyed even! I was…. I was….. what? you ask? I WAS LIVID!!!!

How DARE he force my hand like this, provoking me to tears over this burdensome hat!!! “Jim Harding”, I began, “how can you just throw this away? You planted almost every rose bush we own wearing this stupid thing. You wore this hat while placing each stone in every wall of our garden. This hat represents every grain of dirt, mulch, fertilizer and sand you ever lifted with a shovel on our tiny piece of land. It’s been rained on, left in the mud, caught in the sprinkler and, I believe, even run over by the lawn mower. How many

nashville rose leaf, march 2014

-Starla & Jim Harding

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 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 1-800-637-6534.

Observations on Rose Rosette Disease

By Mark Windham, Alan Windham and Frank Hale

EPP Info Note 396 Rose rosette is a viral disease of commonly cultivated roses. It is caused

by Rose Rosette Virus (RRV) which is transmitted by the eriophyid mite Phyllocoptes fructiphilus. Rose rosette was first observed in 1940 in Manitoba, Canada. In the late 70’s and early 80’s, it was reported to be widespread in rural and urban rose plantings in Kansas, Oklahoma, Missouri and Arkansas. The disease has become widespread in regions of north-central, south-central and southeast U.S. In recent years, rose rosette has been identified on cultivated roses in the mid-west and portions of the northeast U.S. Rose rosette is also found in a few western states.

Recently, rose rosette was found in Florida. The incidence of rose rosette has grown exponentially in cultivated roses in the Mid-South U.S. due to increased use of mass plantings of shrub roses in residential and commercial landscapes.

The host range of rose rosette is extensive in the genus Rosa. Multiflora rose (Rosa multiflora) is particularly susceptible to the disease.

Rose rosette virus has been used as a biocontrol agent for multiflora rose infestations with some pasturelands being reclaimed in 5-6 years after introduction of infected plants. In many other locations, use of rose rosette as a biological control agent for multiflora rose has failed because of the prolific number of seed that multiflora rose plants can produce annually as many as 500,000 seed per plant and the length of time seed may remain dormant on soil more than a decade. All cultivated roses (shrub type, hybrid tea, floribunda, grandiflora and miniature roses) are thought to be susceptible to the disease. Other roses reported to be susceptible are: Rosa woodsii, R. bracteata, and R. eglanteria.

There have been a number of articles written on rose rosette and many have described the variable symptoms associated with the disease. However, few articles have offered management strategies for combating the disease other than rogueing symptomatic plants. In the few cases where control recommendations have been made (such as the use of miticides), the recommendations were based on research observations made for other diseases of roses or on diseases and/or eriophyid mites on other crops. Published research that has investigated methods for managing rose rosette in different aspects of rose culture (production nurseries, retail centers, landscape beds, etc.) is limited.

Symptoms of RRV Infected Plants.

Rose rosette symptoms are complex and variable as plants of the same cultivar may have different symptoms at the same or different location(s).

Whether this is due to variable genetics within the virus population, environmental influences including the time of season when a plant becomes infected or plant age at time of infection is unknown. Because of the variation in symptoms, RRV can be difficult to diagnosis in the field and may be confused with herbicide damage.

In mass plantings of a single cultivar of rose, rose rosette may be difficult to detect. Often reddening of a rose stem due to rose rosette is difficult to detect among healthy, red young foliage of other plants within the rose bed (Fig.1. A, B).

Fig.1. A) Rose plant symptomatic with rose rosette (arrow) nestled within a bed of asymptomatic and presumably healthy plants.

1.B

Fig. 1.B) An infected, symptomatic cane may not be apparent initially.

In spring and fall, many healthy roses have reddened foliage. When roses are infected with RRV, the foliage may be red throughout the summer (Fig. 2. A). Diseased roses may also have strapped (unusually long, thin) leaves.

However, in some plants, little red pigmentation is obvious (Fig. 2. B).

Increased thorniness and flattening of stems (fasciation) is often observed (Fig. 2. C), but may be absent in symptomatic tissues (Fig. 2. B). Shoots may become a large mass of distorted shoots (witch’s broom) (Fig. 2. D).

2.A

1.A

Fig. 2.A) Reddening of a stem infected with rose rosette; note the thin, elongated leaves and the unusually thickened cane (stem) with increased number of thorns (pickers).

(Cont’d on page 4) nashville rose leaf, march 2014

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Observations on Rose Rosette Disease (Cont’d from page 3) a bushel basket) that the plant cannot support them and the plant may fall over.

2.B

Infected rose plants may exhibit unusually large masses of distorted flower buds (Fig. 3. A) and in most cases these buds do not open (Fig. 3.

A). Plants with rose rosette are easy to recognize in winter months due the witch’s brooms not being masked by healthy foliage around them (Fig. 3.

B). Symptomatic foliage is often more susceptible to winter kill/desiccation.

Fig. 2.B) In some infected canes, foliage stays mostly green and may or may not display increased thorniness.

3.A

Rose bushes will decline and begin to die from rose rosette (Fig. 4.). The disease is usually fatal in 3-4 years. Cane mortality is usually observed in spring when symptomatic canes fail to push out new foliage since canes with rose rosette symptoms appear to be more susceptible to winter-kill/desiccation.

Low starch reserves in symptomatic canes may be responsible for decreased spring growth and ultimately death of plants. Infected roses may have diminished root systems which may be a result of decreased carbohydrate storage. Large commercial plantings or private rose gardens can be decimated by rose rosette if the disease is left unchecked.

2.C 4.A

Fig. 2.C) Increased thorniness is common in many plants symptomatic for rose rosette and may be accompanied with flattened stems (fasciation).

Fig.3.A) Large clusters of distorted flower buds on a rose infected with rose rosette will normally not open.

3.B

4.B

2.D

Fig. 2.D) Masses of shoot proliferation (witch’s brooms) are often associated with plants that have been symptomatic for more than one year. These witch’s brooms may become so large (larger than 4

Fig.4. A) Death of these rose bushes began three years after first symptoms were apparent.

Fig. 3.B) Witch’s broom symptoms of rose rosette become very obvious in winter when other foliage has dropped.

These witch’s brooms may become desiccated and die during the winter.

nashville rose leaf, march 2014

Fig. 4.B) If left unchecked, rose rosette will destroy entire beds of roses. Spread may appear slow at first due to long latent periods in newly infected plants. It is common for incidence of symptomatic roses to remain low in a large bed of newly planted roses for 1-2 years and in the

Observations on Rose Rosette Disease (Cont’d from page 4) next year, have nearly all plants become symptomatic rapidly.

Spread of Rose Rosette.

As mentioned earlier, RRV is vectored by an eriophyid mite. Although these mites do not fly, they may ‘balloon’ in air currents, as do dust particles, and thus can be spread surprisingly long distances. However, the closer a rose is planted to a rose infected with RRV, the more likely it is to become infected. In observations in Tennessee, rose beds located near a source of RRV have a pronounced edge effect (the roses nearest the source are more likely to become infected with the disease than roses located on the opposite side of the bed). Distribution of initially infected plants in a large rose bed will appear random if the plants were infected prior to planting or if there is a great distance between the rose planting and the inoculum source of RRV.

Management of Rose Rosette.

Roses should be inspected for symptoms of RRV before being purchased.

Even if the plants you select for purchase are free of rose rosette symptoms, you should inspect all roses at the nursery. If some are symptomatic, it would be best to buy elsewhere where all roses appear to be healthy. If you observe rose rosette symptoms on a few roses at a nursery, there are likely to be more infected, but asymptomatic (latent infections) roses at that location. Once roses are transplanted, plants should be inspected regularly for symptoms of rose rosette. Symptomatic plants should be rogued as soon as possible since infected plants may harbor large populations of eriophyid mites that may spread RRV to other roses. Rogued plants should be bagged at the site of removal and not dragged through the garden or left piled near the garden. At the Beall Family Rose Garden (200 bush garden located within the University of Tennessee Gardens), plants are inspected several times a week for symptoms of

rose rosette. Roses are rogued at first observation of symptoms. Over a five year period, the garden has annually lost 2-4% of its roses to rose rosette.

However, no rose adjacent to a rose that was rogued has developed symptoms of rose rosette. Since the garden’s plan calls for replacement of 5% of its roses annually to keep the garden upto-date and ‘fresh’, losses of roses due to RRV have not been noticeable by garden patrons. The key to success for a management plan based on rogueing is early detection of symptomatic plants and immediate rogueing of diseased roses.

Several publications have suggested using miticides to reduce incidence of RRV in rose gardens. While this may seem logical, there are no research data available to support the use of miticides to reduce the impact of RRV in a planting of roses and such efforts may be a waste of money. The University of Tennessee, with support from the Research Trust of the American Rose Society and Bayer CropScience LP, are investigating the efficacy of miticides for reducing the impact of RRV on rose gardens. To date, preliminary studies have not demonstrated that miticides are effective.

if pruning is effective or a waste of time for elimination of RRV from an infected plant. Pruning infected roses before pruning healthy plants with the same shears has been suggested as a method of transmission of RRV. Several researchers have investigated pruning as a method of transmitting RRV to other roses and concluded that pruning was not an efficient means of transmitting the virus to healthy roses. All studies had limited time (several months) for rose rosette symptoms to develop on pruned plants. This may not have been sufficient time for latent infections to become symptomatic. It is prudent to use caution when pruning roses suspected of being infected with rose rosette and disinfest shears before using them on healthy plants until studies with longer observation times have been completed.

Since eriophyid mites ‘balloon’ in the air instead of being active flyers, a barrier placed between a rose planting and a possible source of eriophyid mites and RRV may reduce incidence of rose rosette in a rose garden. Experiments at the University of Tennessee, supported by the Research Trust of the American Rose Society, have demonstrated that a barrier of Miscanthus sinensis will reduce incidence of rose rosette in plantings of roses (Fig. 5) when compared with incidence of rose rosette in rose plantings without barriers.

Several internet articles and websites have suggested that pruning of infected canes at observation of initial symptoms will eliminate RRV from an infected plant. Apparent success may not be due to the elimination of the virus from the plant, but due to a long latent period which allows the rose to appear virus free for a considerable amount of time. Time of year of pruning infected canes may also impact the effectiveness of this strategy. The University of Tennessee, with support from the Research Trust of the American Rose Society, is investigating the effectiveness of pruning infectFig.5. Research using rose plots with a ed canes (either when first observed barrier of Miscanthus sinensis between a or 4-6 wk after observation of symp- reservoir of RRV infected roses that hartoms) to determine if pruning is an bor large populations of eriophyid mites effective strategy. Unfortunately, due and RRV have demonstrated that barriers to the long latent period of RRV, we (Cont’d on page 6) are still collecting data to determine nashville rose leaf, march 2013 5

5.

Rose Rosette Disease (Cont’d from page 5) are useful in reducing incidence of RRV in rose plantings. These rose plots are located at University of Tennessee’s Plateau Research and Education Center near Crossville, TN. The rose plot is the foreground is not protected by a grass barrier whereas the rose plot in the background is protected by barrier of Miscanthus sinensis. Note the plant in the unprotected plot with a witch’s broom associated with infection by RRV (arrow).

Resistance to RRV. Although all known cultivars of roses used commercially are considered to be susceptible to rose rosette, some species of roses have been reported to be resistant to RRV or transmission of RRV by eriophyid mites. Roses reported to be resistant to RRV are: R. setigera, R. aricularis, R. arkansana, R. blanda, R. palustris, R. carolina, and R. spinosissima. The interspecific hybrid, ‘Stanwell Perpetual’ (R. spinosissima and R. x damascena) is susceptible to RRV (Bruce Monroe, personal communication). Therefore progeny of crosses made with resistant roses may not be resistant.

A misconception exists that Knock Out® roses are more susceptible to RRV than other types of roses. There are no data to support this premise.

The supposed enhanced susceptibility of Knock Out® roses to RRV is due to the commonality of Knock Out® roses in mass plantings that are not frequently checked for symptoms of rose rosette and diseased plants are therefore not immediately rogued. Knock Out® roses are not known to be more susceptible to eriophyid mite infestations or RRV infections than any other cultivar of rose.

However, unpruned Knock Out® roses may become very tall and may intercept more ‘ballooning’ eriophyid mites than roses that are shorter in stature. This phenomenon may explain why RRV is seldom reported in miniature roses although miniature roses are considered to be as susceptible to RRV as any other type of roses grown in the garden.

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The Future of Roses as Impacted

by RRV. There is little doubt that more roses will succumb to this disease before effective management plans can be developed at the wholesale, retail, and landscape level and that asymptomatic, infected roses are moving undetected in the nursery trade. Rose rosette will continue to spread into new areas providing the climates in those areas are conducive for supporting populations of eriophyid mites. However, research is underway to develop management plans to reduce the impact of this disease and there are reasons to be optimistic that successful management plans will be developed. The University of Tennessee is also working to develop an inexpensive, rapid detection tool for RRV which could reduce incidence of asymptomatic plants in the nursery trade. A portion of this research has been supported by the Research Trust of the American Rose Society, but funding for this endeavor is critically low. Rose companies and several universities are working to develop RRV resistant roses. Unfortunately, research takes time and is costly, but most efforts are likely to be successful at reducing the impact of RRV on rose culture sometime in the future. In our opinion, rose rosette will prove to be controllable as are other diseases in the garden such as black spot, downy mildew, rose mosaic, etc. However, these efforts will take time, require increased levels of research funding and a lot of hard work.

About the authors: Mark and Alan Windham are professors of ornamental pathology. Between the two of them, they have nearly 60 years of ornamental pathology experience and yes, they are brothers. Both brothers have been growing roses in their yards for more than 20 years. Mark is a past president of the Holston Rose Society in Knoxville, TN. Frank Hale is a professor of horticultural crop entomology. He has been working in the area of ornamental entomology for 25 years and has grown roses for 15 years. All three authors are in the Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology at the University of Tennessee. Email addresses for Mark, Alan and Frank are: mwindham@utk.edu, awindham@utk.edu, fahale@utk.edu,

nashville rose leaf, march 2014

Smaller Than a Pencil

by Baxter Williams ...to the tune of “If you’re happy, and you know it, clap your hands” If it’s smaller than a pencil, cut it off.

It makes no difference whether hard or soft.

If the stems are sized like straws, They all must have their flaws.

They’re just too flippin’ small, cut ‘em off.

If your leaves are turning yellow, fix ‘em now.

They’ll be dropping, and cause sadness to your brow.

No matter what the cause, Blackspot, mites, or drought; Don’t let ‘em hit the ground; fix ‘em now.

To kill the rose bush eaters, you must spray.

Don’t let them, on your winning bushes, play.

Use Avid for the mites,| Thrips and bad guys in your sight, But ladybugs, lacewings and mantids are okay.

The blackspot, mildew and rust are all fungus.

(My blackspots are really just humongous!).

Some Mancozeb2 will kill it, And some Funginex2, prevent it; We don’t need maladies like these in among us.

Our Houston Rose Society is the best, The biggest from the east unto the west.

Our Rose-Ette has won the Gold ‘Cause the principles unfold, Its advice on growing travels ‘round the World.

The growing of our roses will be fun.

Especially when the garden work is done.

Whether in the sun or gloom, Flowers brighten every room.

I love God’s rose creations everyone.

Notes: 1.Avid - A potent insecticide 2.Mancozeb - Fungicide 3.Our Rose-Ette - the local Houston Rose Society newsletter Reprinted from ARS & You, Feb. 2014

A Rose Lover’s Calendar

Welcome New Member

NRS, Tenarky, & ARS Coming Events

Lynn Vincent

MARCH 4

5613 Green Apple Lane

NRS Meeting at Cheekwood

Vendor Night

6:30 PM Beginners Workshop: Pruning Demo 7:30 PM - Vendor Pro gram 15 Hands on Pruning Demonstration at Mona Mishu’s 10 AM until 12

Noon 6224 Bridlewood Lane, Brentwood, TN 37027

lynn_vincent@yahoo.com

APRIL

For membership in the

2

NRS Meeting at Cheekwood - Pickup Fortuniana Roses!!!

6:30 PM Beginners Workshop: Best Rose Practices Using Chemicals 7:15 PM - Main Program

MAY

NRS Meeting at Cheekwood 6:30 PM Beginners Workshop: Growing Roses w/o Chemicals

7:15 PM - Main Program 17-18 NRS Spring Rose Show at Cheekwood 31 Bowling Green Rose Society Rose Show Contact: mhext@outlook.com or visit www.bowlinggreenrosesociety.org

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

you can go to

ARS Consulting Rosarians South Nashville Leann Barron Marty Reich*

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

American Rose Society www.ars.org

7

Contributions

Brentwood, TN 37027

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

West Nashville Tom Beath (615) 481.3589 Keith Garman (615) 352-6219 Sam* & Nancy Jones (615) 646-4138

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

Brentwood Area Cecil* Ward Gene Meyer

(615)373-2245 (615) 373-0303

Cor. S’ty Millie Dolinger.....(901) 628-7137

Franklin Area Anne Owen* (615) 794-0138 Logan* & Joan Shillinglaw(615) 790-7346 Robbie*&Marsha Tucker(615) 595-9187

Nashville Rose Society Membership

Hendersonville Area Ron Daniels (615) 330-7083 Jack Wedekind (615) 824-8696

Treasurer Gary Spencer......(615) 662-3819 Rec. S’ty Hayes Gibson .......(615) 794-1708

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.

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, march 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

NRS News

(Cont’d from page 1)

pruning our roses becomes even more important, so they will be ready for the show. Another good reason to attend the pruning demo at Mona Mishu’s on March 15th.

WANTED: NRS President No, mugshots of the NRS President are not on the bulletin board at your local post office, but they might as well be on the back of a milk carton because ours is missing. In other words, we are still in need of a leader. It’s not that hard so as you read this think about what the Nashville Rose Society means to you and serving as the 2014 NRS President is a great way to give back. One way to look at 2014 is there are only nine months left so your term is already twenty five percent complete! Any excuse about not being qualified is simply unacceptable because the only qualification is a willingness to serve. You will be surrounded by a great support team that makes the task a lot easier than you think so pick up the phone right now and let us know we can count on you!

Rose Rosette Disease Tennessee rosarians are very fortunate to have people like Dr. Mark and Alan Windham with the University of Tennessee Agricultural Extension office who are working hard to understand the scourge that is known as rose rosette disease. Inside the newsletter is the most recent paper released in January of 2014 from UT. While it fills up a full four pages it is worth dedicating the space because these guys are really at the forefront of the research. After searching the internet for information, I became surprised and even a bit alarmed at the amount of misinformation that is being posted; some of it by what are perceived as respected sources.

One of the best things about Dr. Windham’s paper is that it dispels some of the myths associated with rose rosette and also give rosarians cause for hope! So, please take time to read the entire article and send Dr. Windham an email thanking him for being gracious enough to share their research which is literally hot off the press.

Perennial Plant Sale April 5: 2014 Perennial Plant Sale, Tennessee State Fairgrounds, Nashville. Doors open at 9:00 a.m. Free admission. Parking fee $5. Over 450 varieties of plants for gardens big and small. Plus expert advice on choosing and growing the perfect plant from PPS gardeners.

For more details and a full plant list visit www.ppsmt. org. Questions? Call 615-804-9050 or contact: Mariwyn Evans, 312-259-6350 or mariwynevans@att.net

Pruning Advice From Ryan Tilley’s The Georgia Rose ( www.rosegardensbyryan.com ) When it is time to prune this spring don’t worry if you have to prune many large canes much lower than usual.

Don’t be suckered into leaving a weak or spindly cane just because you had to severely cut back all of the larger canes. This will do the rose no good at all and will hinder the production of new large canes. Prune out ALL weak canes.

There is another thing that can happen to a rose after a damaging freeze. If it is only partially damaged, it may begin growing and blooming like usual by using up it’s own stored up energy. But once hot weather begins to settle in and starts putting more stress on the rose, you may start to see browning or even black canes that weren’t there in March and April. This delayed dieback occurs when the rose is stressed and needs to replenish nutrients and water from the roots. If the cambium layer or bud union is severely damaged, then these nutrients and water cannot be transported to where they are needed and dieback occurs.

After a particularly bad late November freeze that followed a long warm spell, I thought my roses had survived quite well when I did the main pruning the following March. By July though, delayed dieback was in full swing and many roses had to be shovel-pruned.