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President's Message
by Virginia Boos
Our Board of Directors and our committee members are all volunteers, There are so many tasks to be planned and completed that we need all the hands we can get to participate. This idea would release some of the pressure on a few folks who do a lot. Can you share your skills and energy? Let me know which committee appeals to you.
The Chinese custom of naming their new year came to mind, making 2020 the Year of the Volunteer. We can have a successful one with your help.
Rose Haven Happenings
by Rebecca Weersing
Saturday, March 7, 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. The end of February marks the end of pruning for us. Now is the time to fertilize. Let's hope Mother Nature provides us more rain between now and March 7, then rains again shortly thereafter. With the rain will come the weeds. Anytime you have the urge to whack-a-weed head to the garden. Your efforts will be appreciated.
Saturday, March 21, 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. The Families in the Garden program this month will be all about bugs and worms. We set-up starting at 9 a.m. with the actual program starting at 9:30 a.m. Join us!
Little Rose Show
by Virginia Boos
Have you noticed the table which is set up at our meetings, filled with rose blooms on display? This might need an explanation for you. This "little rose show" is an effort for members to display their own roses, so that other members can see what is growing around Temecula. It's titled "little" as it isn't a formal rose show, only some practical experience.
Roses are judged by American Rose Society rules and given awards, based on a point system. If there is some problem with the blossom, a note with explanation may be written on the entry tag. Rose of the Day is chosen from all the First Place entries. Final results bring awards at our December holiday party.
This is a fun process and we love to enjoy the fragrance and beauty of what is growing in your garden. There are six shows a year, at our April, May, June, September, October and November meetings Entries are limited to six per person. If you have questions, assistance is available at the preparation table.
Rose Haven Committee to Meet
by Rebecca Weersing
The Rose Haven Committee will meet on Wednesday, March 25 at 10 a.m. in the Pavilion at Rose Haven. There is always room for one more Gardening Friend – join us!
Our Past Gardening Selves planted daffodils in many spots around the garden. Stop by the garden for a stroll and see how many daffodil clumps you can find. When you sign in at our March 19 Member Meeting put how many clumps you found! There will be a special drawing for those participating.
Grocery Cards Benefit Rose Society
Dear Members: I trust that you have made a determined effort to use Stater Bros. Scrip/Gift Cards for your everyday normal purchases. Even in these financially difficult times we all must eat. Purchasing a $100 Scrip Card will let you spend $100 for groceries at Stater Bros. There is no extra expense or donation coming out of your pocket and the Rose Society will get a $6.00 donation for the upkeep of the Garden. Your support is greatly appreciated. Email Ann Coakes to order Scrip Cards, or phone (951) 693‑5635.
Topic: Using CALSCAPE to Learn about California Native Roses
Speaker: Becky Levers
Becky is a Riverside County Master Gardener and California Native Plant Society member, and her specialty is Earth and Environmental Science. "Our mission is to offer free, research-based horticultural information to home gardeners," said Levers. Her goal is to educate the public about the 6,000 to 7,000 plants that are native to California. "Our state is one of the most diverse areas on Earth – we have a Mediterranean climate and 10 distinct biological regions, including mountains, deserts, valleys, foothills, and coastlines, as well as the highest growth, the lowest, the biggest, and the oldest."
Jim Moss, Temecula Valley Rose Society member, will also cover some rose history and roses of Idaho after Becky's presentation.
This is a "green event" so please bring your own beverages and serving utensils for your potluck dish.
Please TEXT Ava Russo at 760‑668‑7854 with your potluck dish or email Linda Lee – thank you in advance for all the delicious dishes we get at our lunches!
A light buffet luncheon will be served around 11:30. Guests are welcome.
Birthdays and New Members
Birthdays
New Members
Susan Howell, Mar.15; Agnes Felipe, Mar. 22; Michael Momeni, Mar. 22
♦ There are no new members this month.
Rose Haven Garden
by Bonnie Bell
While the roses are resting right now let us take a look at another interesting area in the garden. In the Dry Stream Area there is a proliferation of gorgeous blue blossoms on the Tuscan Rosemary shrubs (pictured). This variety grows about four feet tall and wide and is a standout in February and March while many plants are dormant. Just behind the Rosemary are two dormant Desert Willow trees which will have sparkling pink blossoms come summer.
In this same area there is French Lavender, Cleveland Sage, a Western Redbud which has vivid pink flowers, and two Matilija Poppy shrubs which are about eight feet tall with huge white flowers.
The Dry Stream Area is found on the north side of the garden just beyond the Southwest Area. Please come out and enjoy the sight.
See the Rose Haven Garden web page here. Click
here to see the Google map to Rose Haven Garden.
The Effects of Rose Pruning
by Rebecca Weersing
The Temecula Valley Rose Society donated these roses to Red Hawk Elementary between 10 and 15 years ago. Through the years the bushes have had erratic care but have produced faithfully during those years. The students, volunteers and school staff have enjoyed them.
This month Nancy Fitness and I spent a couple of hours providing a hard prune. By May they should be in full bloom! Watch for an update.
Red Hawk Elementary has a very active once‑a‑month after-school garden club of nearly 100 students, kindergarten through fifth grade. Parents and volunteers assist with planting, weeding, garden crafts, and garden storytime. There are 12 raised beds for vegetables, various fruit trees, miscellaneous annual/perennial plants as well as roses.
The students bounce into the garden with excitement, pitch into their tasks, and are extremely happy when they leave an hour later.
If you would like to help at either Red Hawk ES or La Vorgna gardens, send an email to Rebecca Weersing.
Heavy Pruning
Two to Three Months After Pruning
Temecula Valley Garden Club
Click here for their upcoming monthly meeting news.
Their Facebook page is here.
Rose Care FUNdamentals
by Frank Brines, Master Consulting Rosarian
Location, Location, Location! Depending on your location–or more specifically, that of your garden–you may have experienced frost damage to your roses and tender young plants recently. Even gardens in the same general vicinity may have different effects due to their prevailing micro-climates. Lately the temperatures have risen in the Temecula Valley which encourages roses to jump into life. They enjoy this weather. All areas of Southern California have had above average rainfall. It is comforting that all of this rain will flush excess salts that may have built up from irrigating and fertilizing. A regular schedule for irrigating should already have begun. Roses do love food and water for the best blooms.
If you have space available and haven't yet purchased new roses, you can still do so and might find some great offers. Over the past several years, there has been a drop in the number of new varieties introduced into the market and commercial rose production has dropped, so there is less of a selection at fewer outlets. Some nurseries are still shipping to this area. Plants already in pots are the best to buy as they will be far easier to transplant and will establish themselves quicker. Look for those with 3 to 5 major canes.
Take time now to inspect and make any necessary repairs to your irrigation system. Drip systems are the most efficient and they avoid problems created by above-ground sprayers and sprinklers, which waste water and can foster molds (e.g., mildew and rust). If possible, avoid any over‑spray or misting applied elsewhere in your garden that may hit your roses; but if you do use overhead watering systems, avoid doing so when there is any wind to avoid moisture evaporating or collecting on leaves which could result is sun burn or add to conditions favorable for fugal diseases. For best results and efficiency, be sure to time the irrigation so it is complete before the day gets hot (preferably by mid‑morning, that is, 8 a.m. to 9 a.m.). Avoiding daytime watering prevents excess ground moisture into night time. Too wet soil can lead to unhappy roots and/or fungal diseases.
Now would be the time to sprinkle 1/2 cup to 1 cup of Epson salts widely around each rose bush (use half as much for minis and mini-floras). There is some indication that this helps stimulate new cane growths known as "basal breaks" at the "bud union" (the big part next to the ground where grafting was done).
You can begin fertilizing when new growth is 2" to 3" long. I suggest an initial feeding each year be higher in nitrogen (N) to encourage new stem and leaf growth. In about two weeks, apply fertilizer that is higher in phosphate (P) and potassium (K) to give roots a boost at start of season. New information suggests that continued use of fertilizer higher in P and K will foster greater root development and lead to better growth, resistance and healthier plants. Look for fertilizers rated as 8‑10‑8 that include micro elements for greater results.
I highly recommend organic type fertilizers vs. inorganic or "chemical" ones. Organics foster better soil development, a richer, livelier, more viable community of soil organisms that break the elements into easily absorbed form and release them slowly. They will "build" soil structure into a healthy component and when used regularly will develop a soil rich in reserve energy, allowing you to use less product with the same results.
There are rose events coming up which you may find of interest. The Pacific Southwest District Rose Show and Convention, April 24–26, L.A. Arboretum, 700 West Huntington Drive, Monrovia, CA. The San Diego Rose Society rose show May 2–3, 195 E Douglas Ave, El Cajon Community Center. Plan to attend and experience seeing the blooms of your favorite roses or to research possible new additions to your garden. Entry applications for garden show at the San Diego Fair are now being accepted. Inquire www.sdfair.com.
Be sure to visit the Rose Haven Heritage Garden located at 30500 Jedediah Smith Road (the cross street is Cabrillo Avenue) in Temecula, California, a 3.4‑acre rose garden owned and maintained by the Temecula Valley Rose Society, a non‑profit organization, supported with donations from kind people like you. (Look for the donation box when you visit!) THANK YOU SO MUCH!
For more ideas, visit TVRS' Rose Haven Heritage Garden. Click here to see the map to Rose Haven Garden in Temecula, as well as our Society web site at Temecula Valley Rose Society.org. Spread the joy of roses!
