"REMEMBER ME" ROSE GARDEN

There isn’t an American who is not affected by the events of September 11, 2001. Sue Casey wanted a living memorial for the victims and survivors of September 11, 2001 so she founded the “Remember Me” Rose Gardens in each area to honor those whose lives were lost and all who honor freedom. “Remember Me” Rose Gardens were created on or near each of the three sites to honor the spirit of the men and women whose lives were lost in New York, at the Pentagon, and at a field in Shade Township, Somerset County, Pennsylvania. 

We have always given roses to show sympathy and share the grief of our loved ones.  In our darkest hours, the rose extends her beauty and provides solace to us.  Always there, always comforting, always reassuring, the Rose, our National Floral Emblem, has always been a symbol of life, liberty and freedom. Let us continue to give roses and plant roses in the spirit of freedom. I saw this poem on a tablet in a memorial garden dedicated to those who died on September 11, 2001 attack. The garden is planted with David Austin Roses.

I give you this one thought to keep.

I am with you still, I do not sleep.

I am a thousand winds that blow.

I am the Diamond glint on snow.

I am the sunlight on ripened grain.

I am the gentle Autumn rain.

When you waken in the mornings hush,

I am the swift, uplifting rush

Of quiet bird in circled flight.

I am the soft stars that shine at night.

Do not think of me as gone.

I am with you still, in each new dawn.

Copyright © 2013. By Rosalinda R Morgan, author of “BAHALA NA (Come What May”.

All rights reserved. Remember Me Rose Gardens

SIMPLE SOLUTION AGAINST BLACKSPOTS

The solution seemed too simple, and too healthy to be effective.  If you got any of this on your clothes or skin you would only get cleaner and suffer no ill effects, because it is only a soap solution.  The solution is an alkaline base, which the plants thrive on and the black spot and powdery mildew hate.

Spraying on a weekly or 10 day rotation is a must.  The same is true for the toxic sprays.  It is recommended that you try it in a controlled area and see if you are happy with the results before you commit to an all garden test. 

The simple solution is made by using bar Castile soap and water in a ration of ¼ bar to a quart of water.  The soap should dissolve completely in the water and will look a silver milky color.  Speed up the process by shaving the soap into the water.  When the soap is dissolved you use 1/3 cup of the solution to 1 gallon of water.  You don’t have to worry about too much spray on your plants as the dropping off also treats the ground where the black spot lives.  This should be used up in a couple of weeks so use the extra on the soil around the plants.  Castle soap can be bought in most stores. 

FOURTH OF JULY – A ROSE TO CELEBRATE OUR INDEPENDENCE

 

Striped Red and White Rose

Parentage: R. 'Roller Coaster' x R. 'Altissimo'.

Fourth of July is a special day for our country. We celebrate our freedom that we cherish and that our veterans fought and died heroically and some are still fighting to preserve what we enjoy today. Won't it be nice to honor our country by having “Fourth of July” rose in our garden? Yes, a rose by the name of “Fourth of July”. As a gardener, I designed my front garden in the theme of Red, White and Blue. I have white alyssum, blue pansies and red roses. 

“Fourth of July” is a semi-double, gorgeous ruffled petals climber that looks like a burst of fireworks when in bloom. It has long, pointed buds and 3" and 4" blooms with striped red and white petals and glossy, dark green foliage. It is a vigorous plant and can grow 10 to 14 ft. high. It is the first climber to be honored as a 1999 All-America Selection winner for a long time. I planted mine next to a palm tree hoping it would climb the palm tree but the canes were growing away from the tree so I pegged the long cane last week. Pegging or bending the cane down and pegging it to the ground encourages more lateral stems and more blooms.  Next year, I plan to dig it up and move it next to the pillar supporting my front terrace and train it to climb the pillar. 

“Fourth of July” has strong apple fragrance, a very refreshing scent. Color is dramatic. It is a stunning plant, a real traffic stopper. It is an excellent repeat blooming rose with sensational flowers all season long. It is the best climber around winning awards at rose show around the country.  You can plant them attached to an arch, pergola or trellis for a stunning display of colorful blooms.  Some gardeners use them as a shrub in the entranceway to the garden.  To grow them as a shrub, prune them heavily in the spring. 

Best grown in medium moisture, slightly acidic, well-drained garden loams in full sun to part shade. Water deeply and regularly (mornings are best). Good air circulation is important because it promotes vigorous and healthy growth and helps prevent diseases. Summer mulch helps retain moisture, keeps roots cool and discourages weeds. Remove spent flowers to encourage rebloom.  Remove and destroy diseased leaves from plants, as practicable, and clean up and destroy dead leaves from the ground around the plants both during the growing season and as part of winterizing your roses in late fall.  It is very disease resistant and winter hardy.  Few roses can command attention like Fourth of July. It only has 10-16 petals but when Fourth of July is i bloom, it is quite a show.

 A RED, WHITE & BLUE GARDEN

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SPRING IN THE ROSE GARDEN

After this crazy winter when temperature went warm in January, then too cold in February, it is nice to see the garden coming to life again .  The air is warming up, the birds are coming back and you hear them chirping again.  The nurseries are brimming with new plants, gardeners are swarming the garden centers and heading home to plant those beautiful plants.  They are so enthused to start digging.  But there are so many things to do first:

 

·         Gather some soil from four different sections of the garden.  Let them dry and take them to your Cooperation Extension for a soil test.

·         Scatter Epsom salt in the garden.  A handful for Hybrid Teas and other big flowered roses will suffice and Minis get half the dosage.

·         Then start pruning.  The basic rule is to prune your roses when the forsythia blooms.  Cut out all diseased, damaged and dead wood, down to the white pith.  If you see brown, cut further down.  Seal all cuts with Elmer’s Glue.

·         After you have done with pruning, remove all leaves and clean the garden of old, diseased leaves.  They are the depository of blackspot spores and mildew.

·         Next thing to do is spread some fertilizer.  I used a Bayer All-in-One Rose & Flower Care.  In some states, you can not buy the Bayer All-in-One which is much better product than Bayer 2-in-One.  Bayer All-in-One contains fertilizer, fungicide and insecticide. I find this very effective in preventing diseases and it gives my roses my first feeding for the season.  Watch the weather forecast and spread it before it rains.  Some rosarians use 10-20-10 or 12-24-12. 

·         Once the roses start leafing out, spray with dormant oil.  It seems to work.  I don’t have much blackspot.  Aphids should be coming in droves pretty soon.  Get some ladybugs.  They will do the trick.  Also put some nematodes in your lawn.  They kill the grubs which later become Japanese beetles.

·         Last thing to do is mulch.  If you have mulch there already, add more but stir the old mulch first.  Some mulch packs down and has to be stirred a bit for better water penetration.  Mulch controls the weeds and keeps the bed moist.

 

Roses are not difficult to grow contrary to popular belief as long as you know what they need. Why do you think Roses have been around for millions of years?  All they need are food, water and sunlight.  Just like you and me.  

 Here at Rose Gardening World, we’ll educate you about the Rose - our National Floral Emblem and the state flower of several states.  Welcome to Rose Gardening World where Rose Gardening Tips, Rose Growing Advice, Planting a Rose Garden, Rose Descriptions, Where to Buy Roses, Where to see Rose Gardens, Rose Culture, Rose History, Rose Events, Rose Verses are all here in one place.  

 We are constantly updating our contents so visit Rose Gardening World often.  We want to help you grow Beautiful Roses and we welcome comments.  Take time and smell the roses. 

  Happy Rose Gardening!

 Check my other blogs:

YES, YOU CAN GROW BEAUTIFUL ROSES 

PLANTING BARE-ROOT ROSES

CLEANING ROSE PRUNERS BLADES

PRUNING YOUR ROSES

DAVID AUSTIN ROSES

DAVID AUSTIN ROSES IN COMMERCE

HARDINESS ZONE MAP

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