June 2009 Rose Lore Page 1

Rose Lore NewsletterRose Lore NewsletterRose Lore NewsletterRose Lore Newsletter written by Members, for Members of thewritten by Members, for Members of thewritten by Members, for Members of thewritten by Members, for Members of the

MesaMesaMesaMesa----East Valley Rose SocietyEast Valley Rose SocietyEast Valley Rose SocietyEast Valley Rose Society Affiliated with the American Rose Society

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Bob O’Brien, editor www.roses4az-mevrs.org June 2009

Monthly Meeting: Mesa Community College Elsner Library—Community Room

1833 West Southern Ave. Mesa, AZ 85202

Program: Thursday, June 14 @ 7:00pm

Introduction to Rose Show schedules and Challenge classes

— presented by Marylou Coffman & Helen Baird

Double Take, a mini-flora rose

See Rose of the Month

article on pg 4.

June 2009 Rose Lore Page 2

MEMBERSHIP DISCOUNTS

The following nurseries will give MEVRS members a 10% discount (unless otherwise

indicated) on any rose-related purchase when you show your membership card.

In some stores you must pay by cash or check

only to receive the discount. Be sure to get your annual Membership Card from the Membership Chairman.

A & P Nurseries (15%) Four Valley Locations

Gilbert, Mesa (2), Queen Creek

Berridge Nursery

4647 E. Camelback Rd Phx Potted roses always in

stock!

Gardener’s World 3401 E. Baseline Rd., Phx

Harper’s Nursery Three locations:

Mesa, Scottsdale and Phx 480-964-4909 (Mesa) Potted roses still in stock

Treeland Nursery 2900 S. Country Club Dr.,

Mesa 480-497-2525

When you patronize these businesses, please thank the manager for support-ing the MEVRS!

A Mesa-East Valley Rose Society name badge will give you bragging rights at shows, workshops, tours and other events where you will be representing your rose society. The badges are gold with black lettering, held to your shirt by a magnetic bar instead of a pin. They are good-looking and serviceable.

MEVRS Name Badges are now available. See sample below. Cost is $6.00. See (or contact) Dave or Donna Dibble to order your own , personal name badge

A book just donated to our library is now available for checkout! It is called The Contemporary Flower Arranger, written by Lynda Owen. This is an astounding book, almost coffee-table size, ful l of photographs to give ideas on how to display your roses.

If any of you know of a book you would like to make available to other MEVRS members, please see me at the meeting or email me.--Linda Ahlborn

New Product Available

Rose Labels from Paw Paw Everlast Label Company have now been added to the MEVRS product inventory. We purchased them in bulk in order to give you a great deal!

These labels are very popular among rosarians. They are made of double wire standard with an extra large zinc nameplate. This tilted nameplate is easily assembled and slides past the tilt into a secure position. You can stick waterproof labels to the surface or use a waterproof paint pen to write directly on them (available at Michaels).

MEVRS member price: .50 each for quantities less than 50 .40 each for quantities of 50—100 .35 each for quantities over 100

Contact Mike Jepsen, MEVRS Ways & Means, to purchase 602-312-1813. www.everlastlabel.com

June 2009 Rose Lore Page 3

The Circlehoe is a great tool for rose gardeners who have problems with weeds and grass growing close to the roses. The front of the Circlehoe is sharpened, to quickly slice under weeds with a single stroke. The rest of the head is dull, so you can safely push the foliage of “good” plants out of the way without causing any damage. And because of the open center of the circle, you can easily see the plant you’re working on.

Here are some other great uses:

• use the blade to cut in and cultivate shallow soil

• scratch in your fertilizer

• create small, narrow trenches for planting seeds

www.circlehoe.com

The Circlehoe comes in three sizes:

1. Mini Circlehoe is 11” long and is small enough that you can carry in your pocket, very light weight and works best for small areas and immature grass and weeds. The blade is only 2” in diameter. $8.95 online.

2. Hand Circlehoe is 15” long and is designed for touch weeding and cultivating in large containers or raised beds. The blade is 2.5” in diameter. $13.45 online.

3. Long Handled Circlehoe is 59” long and has a 3” diameter blade. This is the best choice for weeding and cultivating at ground level or in the back of raised beds. It eliminates all that bending over and prevents back aches and injuries by ensuring good ergonomics. $26.95 online.

*The Circlehoe does not work on those deeply rooted “tap root” weeds.

TOOL TIPS

by Cindy Jepsen Consulting Rosarian

PRODUCT GUIDE FOR ROSES by Mike Jepsen Consulting Rosarian

Alfalfa Meal is an organic fertilizer, with an analysis of 2-1/2-2. It breaks down very quickly in the soil because it does not need an outside source of nitrogen, so plants can use it’s nutrient value.

Alfalfa is available in pellets or meal and can be made into a tea (see recipe below).

What it does...

• Alfalfa contains the growth hormone, Tricontinol, which helps to make bigger stems and blooms, darker leaves, and overall improved vigor.

• You need to be careful not to over use alfalfa because the roses can get “hooked” on it and will sulk if it suddenly gets taken away.

When to use...

• I recommend using 1 cup per large bush at winter pruning. Use 1/2 cup for smaller bushes or roses growing in pots.

• I also recommend using 1/2 cup per large bush several times during the summer months. Use 1/4 cup for smaller bushes or roses growing in pots.

• Alfalfa tea can also be used during the active growing season (in our area that would be mid March to early May and early October to mid November.

Alfalfa Tea Recipe…

1. 10-12 cups of alfalfa (meal or pellets)

2. 32 gallons of water

3. 2 cups Epson Salts

4. 1/2 cup of KeRex Chelated Iron

5. 2 cups of Urea (45-0-0)

Cover and stir daily for 4-5 days. Apply 1 gallon per large bush, 1/2 gallon per small bush or large potted roses, and 1/4 gallon for small potted roses.

June 2009 Rose Lore Page 4

Double Take is a Mini-Flora rose. It is a beautiful red rose with a white reverse. There are around 25 petals and the petals are scalloped. The rose produces exhibition quality blooms and they are mostly singles, but sometimes can have clusters of blooms.

It has a mild old rose fragrance. The foliage is a wonderful semi-glossy dark green. It is a medium upright bush and will grow to about 30 inches in height. It can be used as an exhibition rose or as a cut flower. It is also an excellent garden rose. It will do well in the garden or as a container rose.

The rose was hybridized by Frank Benardella in 2008. The parentage of this rose is Baby Boomer, another Benardella rose, and Timeless, a hybrid tea rose hybridized by Keith Zary for Jackson and Perkins.

Available from NorEast Miniature Roses in Arroyo Grande, California ONLY thru June 30th. This company is ceasing all retail sales as of June 30. Details online at www.noreast-miniroses.com . So now would be a good time to order any other miniatures that you need or want. Their close-out price is only $3.75 each while supplies last.

ROSE of the MONTH for JUNE

by Marylou Coffman, Consulting Rosarian & ARS Judge

POWDERY MILDEW

This fungus is one of the most prevalent and serious rose diseases. One of the best preventatives for

powdery mildew is to plant powdery mildew resistant varieties of roses. As conditions warm in the spring

the dormant fungus becomes active and produces spores which can be blown by the wind to susceptible

young growth. Symptoms are slightly raised blister like areas on the upper leaf surface. Later, all young

growth can become distorted and covered with a white powdery substance. 71 degrees and 90% humidity

are perfect conditions for spore germination. Temperatures above 90 and free standing water will inhibit

germination. The fungus invades the surface of the plant and feeds on the plant nutrients and grows to

produce more fungus and spreads to more plant tissue and produces more fungus to spread to other

plants.

Air circulation is important to prevent the spread of the fungus. Closely planted gardens with moderate

air movement are ideal for the spread of the disease. The spread of spores usually occurs during daytime

when the plants are dryer. Higher humidity at night favors germination and penetration of the fungus. Cool

damp nights and warm days favor development of powdery mildew. Dormant pruning and sanitation of the

rose planting area and removal of dead leaves can reduce the chances of re-infection. When roses are

rapidly pushing new growth in the spring is the ideal time for powdery mildew to get started.

Fungicidal sprays may be applied at seven to ten day intervals. Fungicides will work best when the

disease is just getting started rather than when the disease is well established. There are fungicides that

prevent mildew and others that treat the existing mildew and some that claim to work systemically within

the plant. Remember that these products have varying degrees of toxicity to you and the environment.

(Reprinted from Desert Rose Newsletter. Author: Hal Reynolds, President, Desert Rose Society, & ARS

Consulting Rosarian.)

June 2009 Rose Lore Page 5

Additional Rose Sources and Hardware, for Your Garden

by Joanne M. Reiter & Siri Amrit Kaur Khalsa

ROSE CARE CORNER for JUNE

by Phyllis Henslin, Consulting Rosarian

Those 100 plus degree days in May certainly made us all aware that the summer heat has arrived. The advance preparation you have done in your gardens will certainly help your roses survive the summer.

MULCH:

Beds should have 2 to 4 inches of mulch to assist in moisture retention and help keep the soil temperature cooler.

IRRIGATION:

Check your irrigation system to make sure your drip lines are working properly. Roses in the ground should receive 4 to 5 gallons of water 3 to 4 times a week. Roses in pots need to be watered 5 to 6 times per week . Deep watering them every 2 to 3 weeks will help push the salts out of the root zone.

Keep your water wand handy and hose off your roses at least once a week. Spraying the bottom of the leaves as well as the top will increase the humidity, plus wash off any spider mites that may be lurking on the under side of the leaves. Spider mites like hot dry weather and are very destructive once they get started in your garden.

FERTILIZING:

Fertilize your roses at ½ rate every 6 weeks. Use a good organic fertilizer such as Groganic rose food. Our society sells this fertilizer and can be obtained by calling Mike Jepsen. Roses still need to be fed during the summer months so they stay healthy and are ready to start growing once our temps start dropping in September. By reducing the amount of fertilizer, we decrease the excessive new growth which can burn easily in the extreme heat.

DEADHEADING:

Continue to deadhead, but cut at a shorter distance below the bloom. More leaves on your bushes give more protection to the canes and provides more nutrition to the plant.

Summer is a great time to pick just the bloom and float it in a pretty bowl.

PERFECTLY RED hybrid tea

and

SIXTEEN CANDLES floribunda

Photos by Corrine Geersten from her garden

June 2009 Rose Lore Page 6

ABOUT FACE

AMERICA

AMERICAN CLASSIC

AMERICAN DREAM

AMERICAN HERO

ARIZONA

BOB HOPE

BRANDENBURG GATE

BRONZE STAR

CAPT. HARRY STEBBINGS

COMPASSIONATE FRIEND

COURAGEOUS

DESERT PEACE

DISTANT DRUMS

FIELD OF DREAMS

FIREWORKS

FIRST CLASS

FOURTH OF JULY

FRONT ‘N’ CENTER

GOLD MEDAL

HOME AND FAMILY

HONOR

JOHN F. KENNEDY

LET FREEDOM RING

LIBERTY BELL

MEMORIAL DAY

MISTER LINCOLN

NEPTUNE

OKLAHOMA

OLD GLORY

OUTTA THE BLUE

PATRIOTS DREAM

PEACE

PEARL

PINK PEACE

PROUD LAND

PURPLE HEART

QUEEN MARY

REMEMBER ME

RONALD REAGAN

SALUTE

SILVER STAR

SOARING SPIRITS

SPIRIT OF FREEDOM

STARS ‘N’ STRIPES

VETERAN’S HONOR

WE SALUTE YOU

WILD BLUE YONDER

WORLD PEACE LOVE AND PEACE

WORLD WAR II MEMORIAL ROSE

YANKEE DOODLE

VETERAN’S GARDEN ROSES

Some of the roses in our special Veterans section of the rose garden include:

DESERT PEACE, hybrid tea, tall and bushy with long stems, mild fragrance

MEMORIAL DAY, hybrid tea, medium tall and bushy, strong damask fragrance,

loves the heat, 2004 AARS Winner

June 2009 Rose Lore Page 7

MUSINGS from the MCC ROSE GARDEN

Carol Poe, Volunteer Coordinator

“You might like to consider helping to deadhead in the Rose Garden as a Rover. Rovers roam the Rose Garden breathing in the beauty of the blooms of our 500 plus varieties of roses—stopping to deadhead blooms as they roam! If you will make at least one visit each month to the Rose Garden to deadhead, then email me and sign up as a Rover.

You are invited to come and deadhead our beautiful rose garden with the Deadheaders on Saturday, June 20th. Deadheaders will be deadheading the Rose Garden at 7:00 am or earlier! Social time with coffee, lemonade, and Krispy Kreme donuts will be at 8:30 with a business meeting at 9:00. Most have finished their deadheading by then and go home after the short business meeting. “ Carol Poe, Volunteer Coordinator

On Saturday, May 16th, a special program was held on Patriots Terrace in the MCC Rose Garden to

honor all military forces for the work they do or have done to serve their country. MEVRS President,

Leroy Brady welcomed all attendees. Special guests in included: Dr. Shouan Pan, President Mesa

Community College; Mesa Councilmember Dennis Kavanaugh; Arizona U.S. Congress Representative

Harry Mitchell; Mesa Mayor Scott Smith; and Martin Sepulveda, U.S. Naval Reserve.

June 2009 Rose Lore Page 8

VETERAN’S GARDEN ROSES (more!)

Some of the roses in our special Veterans section of the rose garden include:

Photos from the archives of Bill & Phyllis Henslin—Thank You!

BRONZE STAR hybrid tea, medium tall, blooms fade to soft apricot color, strong spicy fragrance, disease resistant

FOURTH OF JULY climber, red & white striped blooms, refreshing apple scent

fragrance, very disease resistant

GOLD MEDAL grandiflora, medium height, disease resistant

OUTTA THE BLUE shrub, medium height, spicy clove fragrance, A “modern antique” rose with “old rose” form

June 2009 Rose Lore Page 9

MEMBER PROFILE , by Lynn Twitchell

Pet Smith, member since 2002

For those who have NOT had the pleasure of visiting Pet & Richard Smith’s Chandler garden, make it your goal to attend the 2010 spring tour. Better yet, get acquainted with Pet at the next MEVRS meeting. She is a dynamo of fun with an up-lifting and positive spirit. The Smith rambling gardens lay on an acre cul-de-sac lot north of Ray Road in a beautiful up-scale Chandler neighborhood. But, Pet didn’t begin gardening until nine years ago when she ended her career with an electronics firm. One day, looking for home-improvement ideas, she found herself in front of the Rose Society booth at a Home & Garden Show. She purchased three small rose bushes from the volunteers, brought them home and planted them—but they all died. She said she was dismayed and so called the number on the Glendale Rose Society material. They directed her to Mike Jepsen, president of MEVRS, and the rest is history.

“Mike invited me to come to the December meeting and sent me a ticket,” Pet said. “He reassured me

that I would not be lonely among rosarians, and he was right, it was easy, I fit right in,” she added. “I thought rosarians would be older ladies, but that first meeting was at Dona Martin’s home, and she was young and attractive and had so many roses it blew me away. I then knew I could do this too.”

Mike came over and helped her choose her first roses, dig the holes and plant. She learned how to do it all and today, some 170 rose bushes grace her comfortable gardens which she

and Richard and their five small dogs enjoy. Richard and Pet met on a 150-mile, two-day

bicycle charity ride for MS. They both worked for the same micro-chip company, Richard as an engineer. Pet didn’t train on Saturdays with the company team because she was the member of a club. “So,” she said, “he was impressed with my ability to ride well. I was always out in front of the pack. But, it wasn’t until the party coming home that he found his way to the front of the bus to talk to me. We visited and partied all the way back to Phoenix.”

Pet is originally from Thailand and grew up with lush flower gardens that grace her homeland. But, she

said that she never had any part in all that, it was done by gardeners. She travels back to Thailand to visit family every other year. “This last visit I visited the king’s summer home and gardens and was so impressed with the beauty and the amount of people working in them,” she said.

June 2009 Rose Lore Page 10

WEB Pages of Interest

Mesa-East Valley Rose Society

www.roses4az-mevrs.org

Find articles by clicking on the “Newsletters and Articles” tab on the

Home page.

MCC Rose Garden www.rosegardenatmcc.org

Help Me Find Roses

www.helpmefind.com/rose

Annual Membership Dues are due for the year of

June 1, 2009 thru May 31, 2010

Please turn in your annual $25 dues

at the next meeting to the treasurer, Phyllis Burgess,

Or

Mail a check payable to MEVRS To

MEVRS, Attn: Phyllis Burgess P.O. Box 40394

Mesa, AZ 85274-0394

MesaMesaMesaMesa----East East East East

ValleyValleyValleyValley

Rose SocietyRose SocietyRose SocietyRose Society Rose Garden Activities 2009-10

2nd Thursdays—7 p.m. General Meetings

3rd Saturdays—8 a.m. Rose Garden Deadheading by the

volunteers.

Jan-Feb Saturdays: Garden Winter Pruning

Activities 2009-2010

Nov. 1 Green Valley Rose Show

Nov 11-15 PSWD National Show &

Convention in Palm Springs

Nov. 21 MEVRS Show at MCC

Nov. 21 PSWD Hort. Seminar @ MCC

Nov. 28 West Valley Rose Show

Dec. 5 All-AZ Rose Societies 42nd

Banquet & Show @Scottsdale

Dec. 10 Holiday Social Event @ MCC

Feb. 20 11th MEVRS Auction @ MCC

March 28 MEVRS Annual Garden Tour

April 3 Glendale Rose Show

April 10 Scottsdale Rose Show

April 16-18 Tucson Rose Society 50th year

PSWD Convention

In-the-Future Events

2010, Aug.20-22, Nat’l Mini RS Conf/RS Show,

Milwaukee, WI. dsrosenut@wi.rr.com

2010, Oct. Fall Nat’l Convention/Rose Show, Atlanta/

North GA. berdks@mindspring.com

June 2009 Rose Lore Page 11

Consulting Rosarians

Larry Bell* (Ahwatukee Foothills)…………………..480-706-9667 Helen Baird* (NPhx, Sctsdle)…………………………..602-953-9133 LeRoy Brady* (Mesa) …………………………………..480-962-9603 Jeannie Cochell (NE Valley)jcochell@cox.net......602-363-6444 Marylou Coffman** (Gilbert) ...........................480-926-3064 Donna Dibble (East Mesa)................................480-380-4592 Phyllis Henslin (Mesa, Apache Jct.) ...................480-807-3592 Millie Hisey* (Apache Jct-winter) ......................480-474-9139 Michael & Cindy Jepsen (Tempe) ....................602-312-1813 Ken & Peggy Jones (West Phoenix) .................623-931-5004 Arveda Larson* (Scottsdale) ...........................602-953-3832 Terry* & Heidi* Leavitt (Phoenix) .....................602-971-0179 Dave* & Gerry* Mahoney (Glndl/Peoria) ...........623-581-3756 Nelson Mitchell* (Peoria) ................................623-412-1586 Steve Sheard (Tempe, Chandler) ......................480-831-2609 John F. Green (Tucson) ...................................520-795-2964 Terry Schick (Flagstaff)………………………………….928-853-0653 Liz Strong (Tucson)Lizzie441@comcast.net……. 520-797-7890

Terry Swartz* (Tucson)………………………………520-623-8285 *ARS Judge **ARS PSWD Chairperson of Arrangement Judges

Standing Committees

Auction Chairpersons….. .Ryan Regehr ................. 480-518-1529 Cheryl Doan .................. 480-838-4062 Audit………………………... Judy Tolbert Historian…………………….. Evelyn Gannon.............. 480-857-3090 Hospitality .....................Sally Crofford ................ 480-838-9497 Librarian ........................Linda Ahlborn................ 480-695-5891 Membership .................. Lynn Twitchell. ............. 480-503-4508 Mickey Kundrat............. 602-359-8528 Newsletter, Editor...........Bob O’Brien................... 480-831-5198 Member Emails...............Linda Ahlborn................ 480-695-5891 MCC Test Garden ...........LeRoy Brady ................. 480-962-9603 ....................................Marylou Coffman........... 480-926-3064 ....................................Lynn Twitchell ............... 480-503-4508 Pioneer Park Rose Garden Coordinators ....................................Jean & Peter Pegler ....... 480-969-9391 Publicity.........................Lynn Twitchell ............... 480-503-4508 Rose Garden Volunteers..Carol Poe...................... 480-895-7793 Rose Show Chairman ......Lynn Twitchell ............... 480-503-4508 Ways & Means ...............Mike Jepsen .................. 602-312-1813 Bruce Gannon ............... 480-857-3090 Web site ........................Corinne Geertsen........... 480-649-9822

MesaMesaMesaMesa––––East Valley Rose SocietyEast Valley Rose SocietyEast Valley Rose SocietyEast Valley Rose Society Membership in the MEVRS affords the applicant (one-family household/individual) a monthly on-line newslet-ter, nursery discounts and the camaraderie of people who share the love of roses. Annual membership dues are $25, payable by June 1. Applicants joining after September 30, will be assessed $15 for mem-bership through May 31st of the following year. Payments may be made at a meeting or by mail to the fol-lowing address:

MEVRS/Membership, P.O. Box 40394, Mesa, AZ 85274-0394

Date__________ New________ *Gift*________ Renewal________ Amount Paid ________

Cash_____________ Check#___________________

Names:_________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________

Address _____________________________________________

City State Zip ___________

Phone ( ) _____ E-mail address________________________________________

________Yes. I would ALSO like to join the American Rose Society, the national organization with which MEVRS is affiliated. Membership in the ARS provides reciprocal entrance fees to gardens all over the USA, a bi-monthly national magazine American Rose, a copy of “Handbook for Selecting Roses,” . I am including in my check, an additional amount of $49 (seniors $46) for a one-year ARS membership.

June 2009 Rose Lore Page 12

MesaMesaMesaMesa----East Valley Rose SocietyEast Valley Rose SocietyEast Valley Rose SocietyEast Valley Rose Society Executive Officers

President LeRoy Brady 1st Vice President Cheryl Doan 2nd Vice-President Lynn Twitchell Recording Secretary Linda Ahlborn Corresponding Secretary Phyllis Henslin Treasurer Phyllis Burgess Past-President Steve Sheard

Board of Directors

Cindy Jepsen Mickey Kundrat Bob O’Brien

Vincent Quarles Ryan Regehr

Check out our ARS Award Winning website:

www.roses4az-mevrs.org

Rose LoreRose LoreRose LoreRose Lore Bob O’Brien, Editor Mesa-East Valley Rose Society Inc. PO Box 40394 Mesa, AZ 85274-0394

Developers of The Rose Garden at Mesa Community College,

the largest public rose garden in the Desert Southwest!

Calendar of Events

June 11, 2009 Thursday, 7:00pm Members Meeting

MCC Elsner Library, Community Room

November 11 – 15, 2009 ARS Fall National Conference and Rose Show

Palm Springs (Cathedral City), CA

Meetings are held at 7:00 pm on the 2nd Thursday of each month at Mesa Community College:

Elsner Library Community Room, 1st floor 1833 W. Southern Ave., Mesa, AZ

The Rose:The Rose:The Rose:The Rose:

Our National Our National Our National Our National

Floral EmblemFloral EmblemFloral EmblemFloral Emblem

All articles for the newsletter MUST be submitted to the editor

by the 20th of each month.