ANNUAL CONSULTING ROSARIAN REPORT FOR 2003

 

March 1, 2003

 

Carol Ann Rogers

 

     As part of the educational mission of the American Rose Society, Consulting Rosarians are required to submit to the district CR chair an annual report.  The form used can be the one supplied by the ARS or one designed by the district CR chair that encompasses the basic information needed to show that our CRs are still active and sharing their knowledge with the public as well as supporting the ARS, district, and local societies.  I did try a different survey approach this year and got some interesting responses.  There are 58 CRs in the Yankee District and I had 41 respondents.  They were as follows: Berg (2), Brazzell (2), Breed, Brower, Cafferky (2), Candler, Cannistraro, Chapin, Chute, Cotton, Cunningham (2), Denman, Doorakian, Fuss (2), Emmons (2), Garrard, Goldstein, Herald, Kolis, Kopper, Long, Lowe, Mattia, McKeown, Mendes, Mixter, Morin, Osborn (2), Rhodes, Roderick, Rogers (2), Russo, and Turull.

 

These reporters grow approximately 8286 (1300 Lowe) roses.

 

1.  The consensus of opinion of why people grow roses is that they absolutely love the flower.  Whether it is used for making a garden or yard spectacular, is the subject for beautiful photographs, seeing it at its best during a show, or is part of a gorgeous bouquet brought to friends, the rose has become an integral part of their lives.  Mike Chute sums this up nicely.  “I love gardening.  My greatest reward is producing strong, healthy plants which, in turn, reward me with flowers.”   Susan Breed remarks that her garden is a laboratory for using information in different ways to test effectiveness, and Nancy Mixter grew up with roses so she not only loves to grow them, but enjoys reading about them and helping friends with rose problems.  Tessie McKeown feels that rose gardening provides both mental and physical therapy for her, and Dan Russo is interested in the preservation of rare roses.  Joan and Jim Brazzell love to volunteer in TheWedding Rose Garden in Stratford so that residents and visitors may enjoy the wonder and beauty of the rose.  We also have people like Dave Berg, Mike Lowe, John Mattia, and others who take their love of roses to the ultimate step of hybridizing in their quest of finding “the perfect rose”.

 

2.  The five favorite roses that our CRs grow vary widely, but given the space, a garden with all of these selections in it would be spectacular! 

 

Berg, David: Claire Matin, Oxbow, Sally Homes, Wintonbury Parish, and Robusta

Berg, June: Clair Matin, Oxbow, Seafoam, Wintonbury Parish, and Nora

Brazzell, James: Peace, Love, Graham Thomas, Queen Elizabeth, and Double Delight

Brazzell, Joan: Peace, Carefree Delight, Graham Thomas, Mary Rose, and Aloha

Breed:  Pristine, Chicago Peace, Moonstone, Signature, and Midas Touch

Brower:  First Light, Sally Holmes, Queen Elizabeth, Heritage, and New Dawn

Cafferky, Marion: Jeanne Lajoie, Outta the Blue, Cliché, Dublin Bay, and Dr. W. Van Fleet

Cafferky, Joseph:  CL. Coral Dawn, CL. Jeanne Lajoie, Peace, Bonica, CL Sympathie, and 4^th of July

Candler:  Double Delight, Knick Knack, Betty Boop, 4^th of July, and Heritage

Cannistraro:  Double Delight, Keepsake, Olympiad, Sexy Rexy, and Jeanne Lajoie

Chapin:  Touch of Class, Mm Hardy, Stanwell Perpetual, Mellow Yellow, and Lillian Austin

Chute:  Rhode Island Red, Graham Thomas, Nicole, Playboy, and Rina Hugo

Cotton:  Signature, Christopher Columbus, Touch of Class, Sombreuil, and Crimson Bouquet

Cunningham, Edward: Crimson Glory, Lydia HT, Etoile d’Hollande, Poulsens’s Pearl, Mme Gregoire Staechelin and 36 other varieties he recommends.  Contact him for his list—edcps116@cox.net.

Cunningham, Patsy: Crimson Glory, Altissimo, The Impressionist, Yolande d’ Aragon, and Mme Gregoire Staechelin

Denman:  Mister Lincoln, Pele, Double Delight, Minnie Pearl, and Golden Wings

Doorakian:  John Cabot, George Vancouver, Morden Sunrise, Quadra, and William Booth

Fuss, Donna: Earth Song, Starry Night, Knock Out, Scentimental, and Electron

Fuss, Michael: What a Peach, 4^th of July, Knock Out, Starry Night, and Carefree Beauty

Emmons, Arthur: Touch of Class, Europeana, CL Rainbows End, Dublin, and Fairhope

Emmons, Terry: Linville, Incognito, CL Rainbows End, Europeana, and Moonstone

Garrard:  Elina, Graham Thomas, Abraham Darby, Double Delight, and all miniatures

Goldstein:  Brides Dream, Keepsake, Double Delight, Paradise, and Jean Kenneally

Herald:  The Fairy, Heritage, Carefree Beauty, Red Meidiland, and CL. Golden Showers

Kolis:  Gemini, Touch of Class, Olympiad, Scentimental, and Diana Princess of Wales

Kopper:  Moonstone, Pristine, French Lace, Just Joey, and Sexy Rexy

Long:  Elina, New Dawn, Easy Going, Abraham Darby, and Mme Isaac Pereire

Lowe:  Autumn Sunset, Friends Forever, Folklore, and Yolande d’ Aragon

Mattia:  Elina, Signature, Keepsake, Suffolk, and Veteran’s Honor

McKeown:  Sweet Afton, Touch of Class, Gertrude Jekyll, Iceberg, and Lancome

Mixter:  Moonstone, Elina, Jilly Jewel, Graham Thomas, and 2 “family roses” hybridized by her father and named after her mother and herself

Mendes:  Knock Out, Carefree Delight, New Dawn, 4^th of July, and The McCartney Rose

Morin:  Sarah Van Fleet, Carefree Delight, American Pillar, Dr. W. Van Fleet, and Travemunde

Osborn, Audrey: Jeanne Lajoie, Secret, Baby Love, Alika, and Carefree Delight

Osborn, Oz: Alba semi Plena, Altissimo, Playboy, Peace, and Princesse de Monaco

Rhodes:  Marilyn Monroe, Ivory Fashion, Gemini, Playboy, and Elina

Roderick:  New Dawn, Jeanne Lajoie, Double Delight, Queen Elizabeth, and any Austin Rose

Rogers: Carol Ann: Nicole, Playgirl, Fairhope, Knock Out, and Color Magic

Rogers: Stephen: Knock Out, Moonstone, Nicole, Marijke Koopman, and Touch of Class

Russo:  New Dawn, Dorothy Perkins, Playboy, Aloha, and Sweet Chariot

Turull:  Mister Lincoln, Frau Karl Druschki, Sally Holmes, Flutterby, and Knock Out

 

3.  Unique circumstances in the garden ranged from trying as Dave Long did to thwart deer intrusion by installing a 12 foot high fence in some areas of his yard, to upgrading winter protection by building Microform tents to cover plants as Martin Brower of Maine did.  The Cunninghams had limited space, therefore, expanding vertically with climbers helped. They also ran into the unusual problem of having to dig out from one large bed burned trashcans that were buried in their yard during the 1930’s and 1940’s!  Many people have had to go to great lengths to amend either very sandy soil, or clay soil.  George Doorakian, Mike Lowe, Sam Goldstein, and Manny Mendes have all resorted to installing some raised beds to help drainage, and Alex Kopper planted more roses in pots for a “movable decorative garden” because of the large trees that are beginning to shade his rose garden.  The Osborns recalled at one time having to move 400 roses from New Jersey to the Cape in November, cutting them back, bear-rooting them, wrapping them in wet newspaper, bundling them in grape crates and burying them for the winter.  They had 85% survive!  Nancy Mixter solved a hillside gardening problem by terracing the area and planting landscape and shrub roses that cascade forward with The Fairy and Knock Out on the lower portion as well as small evergreens.  WhenTessie McKeown’s roses had a terrible case of black spot last summer, she stripped off all infected leaves, cleaned the debris off of the beds, then sprayed at 5-7 day intervals with Daconil, alternating with Fungi-gard.  Dan Russo combated high wind conditions by setting up fences and pillars.  The Emmons also have had high winds to contend with and must always be vigilant for late frosts that could damage their open garden area. 

 

4.  Many of our CRs have found new products and methods to make rose growing easier and to get better results fighting pests and diseases.  The Bergs found that fertilizing with Plantex, (Milikowski) a water-soluble fertilizer that comes in different formulas, worked so well for all of their potted roses that they now plan to use it on the whole garden every time they water using a siphon..  The Cunninghams have started to use an EZ Grow automatic fertilizing unit, and Magnum Gro has greatly helped the Osborn’s garden. Manny Mendes has tried Pursell’s Rose Fertilizer mixed with Epson Salts.  Tessie  Mckeown stands by commercial 5-10-10 fertilizer in early spring, then uses an organic such as Electra after the 1st pruning and monthly until July.  She also foliar feeds with Miracle Gro every two weeks. Some people have found the virtues of mulch and are using it more.  For example, Alex Kopper uses compost mulch with rabbit pellets and is pleased with the results.  For water control, Dave Candler has purchased a “Shrubbler” irrigating system (from Dripworks, e.g.) which provides a 12 inch circle of water each, and can be easily made as branches from a long polyethylene pipe.  This reduces the personal time it takes to water significantly.  The Osborns also use poly-pipe with Dramm drip irrigation, and Mike Chute has saved some watering time after installing the above ground Dripworks irrigation system that utilizes “shrubblers” as the emitters.  He also incorporated the E-Z Grow Automatic Fertilizing System from Rosemania into the irrigation system.  He likes above ground irrigation because of its visibility, and its quick and easy installation. Joan Brazzell had installed a Netafim Precision Irrigation system which enabled them to irrigate and use mulch to inhibit weed growth.  The system is self-flushing. For controlling pests and diseases with ease, Clarence Rhodes has purchased an electric sprayer, and David Cannistraro has mounted his 15-gallon electric sprayer on a cart. John Mattia has found that Bayer’s General Garden Insecticide works as well as Orthene.  The Osborns have suggested using Windex with Ammonia D for Japanese Beetles and Bill Turull stands by ZeroTol Fungicide to battle blackspot.  Susan Breed “did not like using Daconil because of the thickness and residue left on the leaves,” and Nancy Mixter finds that Immunox is “a super control for blackspot.” Manny Mendes is spraying Banner Maxx with Mancozeb, and Dan Russo also has seen an improvement in his garden when using Mancozeb fungicide.  Dan is also trying Wilt-Pruf this winter as part of his of winter protection process.  The Cunninghams are finding that Compass is a helpful fungicide, and they use it in their Solo backpack sprayer.  Judy Garrard “got a trial sample of “ Messenger” from Eden/Bioscience.”  She remarks, “ I would definitely recommend this to people to promote more bloom and some disease and insect resistance.”  (I have gotten some information about this product and company from the ARS, and it appears that it is truly an exciting new addition to the market that has been tested and endorsed.)  In the “animal pest” department, Dave Long has found that “Deer Away” seems to work for an extended period of 3 months, and James Brazzell had an infestation of moles for which he successfully used the German made Mole Chaser.  These are battery-operated devices which are put in the ground and emit unpleasant sounds to the moles and they leave for a new home.

 

5.   The necessity of using chemicals and spraying is the overall consensus of opinion concerning any aspect of rose culture that is unpleasant.  As Stephen Rogers comments, not only does one have to keep on schedule, but also contend with wind, rain, and heat while trying to do so throughout the growing season.  Many of our CRs worry about the effects these chemicals have on our environment and what neighbors are thinking when we appear in full PPE  to spray our roses.  George Doorakian has implemented IPM and uses a hose end sprayer containing liquid soap when insect populations are high.  Winter protection comes in second for being an unpleasant labor-intensive task for New Englanders, and keeping “critters” out of the garden takes third place.  Dan Russo also remarks “ that pruning large numbers of climbers can be very time consuming and painful (thorns).”

 

6.  For new rosarians, our CRs have some good suggestions for starting a rose garden.  Susan Breed always asks what people are hoping for in rose gardening and gives advice after hearing their answer to her question.  The Bergs, the Fuss’s, the Osborns, the Emmons, the Rogers, Judy Garrard, Mimi Herald, Dave Long, John Mattia, Nancy Mixter, Elizabeth Morin, Dan Russo, Martin Brower, Bill Turull, and Joan Brazzell all suggest shrub roses for their hardiness and low maintenance.  For people with limited space, June Berg, Dave Candler, Dan Cotton, Judy Garrard, Joe Kolis, Terry Emmons, and Carol Ann Rogers suggest miniatures. Growing in pots is great, too!  Manny Mendes suggests fragrant roses, and if space is available, Martha Chapin, Dan Russo, Alex Kopper, Martin Brower, and Dan Cotton suggest OGR’s.  Hardy roses such as the Canadian Explorer Series, especially in northern New England, and the Meidiland shrubs are also recommended as well as repeat OGRs, mini floras, and floribundas.  Karen Roderick finds that New Dawn does very well in New England.  Joan Brazzell and Dan Russo also recommend reblooming modern climbers.  Art Emmons recommends ground covers for appropriate areas and both he and Terry recommend ramblers.  Edward Cunningham has broken down the question to specific areas: Ease to grow: Shrubs, OGRs, English roses, species, and landscape.  Shaded areas:  Hybrid musks, albas and species.  Many blooms:  Shrubs and floribundas.  Fragrance and beauty: HTs, OGRs, English roses, and if spraying is not a problem, Hybrid Perpetuals/Bourbons.  Mike Chute has compiled and made available a list of 25 roses that grow well in New England.  Basically, most of our CRs remarked that new rosarians should begin with these types of roses and work their way up to the Hybrid Teas.

 

7.  Noteworthy consultations were interesting, and many CRs stated that they took great pleasure in sharing their knowledge with others and making new acquaintances.  Donna Fuss comments that “it is important that all CRs make the person with the question feel good and not that it was a dumb question”. She is absolutely right, and I’m sure that all of our Yankee District CRs comply with this statement.  Susan Breed is a member of the Rose Advisory Committee for the Emerald Necklace Conservancy in Boston.  Her committee recommended to the Boston Parks and Recreation Department the roses to be put into the Kelleher Rose Garden, a historic Olmstead Garden, which is being restored.  David Cannistraro is also involved in the restoration process of this garden.  Dave Berg worked with a committee in Norwich, CT planning their Rose activities for 2002, and Dave Candler participated in presentations at garden centers which resulted in follow up consultations.  Martha Chapin always answers questions about roses at her Garden Club regardless of the season, and the Cafferkys have planted roses at their local VFW and Legion Homes.  Dan Cotton enjoys on site consultations at individual’s homes and finds that garden clubs are particularly interested in rose culture, and James Denman has helped his local cemetery to establish rose plantings.  George Doorakian is also a daylily expert and has recently formed a daylily society in Bedford, MA where he includes in each program a segment on rose culture and has recruited 4 new members for the ARS.  His rose/daylily lectures have been widely accepted.  Sam Goldstein finds that most of his consultations pertain to planting, winterizing and black spot, and Alex Kopper had friends ask for advice on planting a seaside rose garden where the care would be minimal and the plants be hardy and disease free.  He chose “Linda Campbell”, a red rugosa, which has been very successful.  Mike Lowe has done several garden designs, worked on a 400-foot hedge in Delaware, and a fence covered with “Amanda Patenaude” and “Friends Forever” in Manchester, NH.   Manny Mendes enjoys rose consultations at flower shows, and the Osborns take great pride in seeing the positive results from their mentoring on rose culture, and the success of the community garden which they introduced in Harwich, MA.   Clarence Rhodes enjoyed speaking to a garden club he describes as “a knowledgeable group of people having fun growing things.”  The Rogers worked with the staff of the historic Webb House in Old Wethersfield, CT to prune their OGRs and climbers as well as to instruct their volunteer gardeners on general rose care.  They also participated with the Westbrook Garden Club in planting a bed of R. virginiana at the I-95 rest area in Westbrook. Bill Turull had a success story with “500 roses hit with black spot with half of them deleafed and the balance dropping leaves.  The application of ZeroTol cured it!”

Nancy Mixter has found that many young people referred to her have questions about climbers leading her to believe that they are interested in “romanticizing” their landscape, and Dan Russo assisted in the completion of an upcoming ARS article on rambler roses. Art Emmons as Chairman of the ARS Public Gardens Committee finds that the regular requests for massive care with limited chemicals are challenging, and Martin Brower, who has a small nursery, really enjoys spending the time with his clients teaching them about the intricacies of rose culture.  Joan Brazzell enjoyed the enthusiastic response she received while speaking to The Oronoque House and Garden Club about the history and care of roses as well as The Wedding Rose Garden at Booth Park in Stratford.  James Brazzell thoroughly enjoys answering questions about that garden as well as general questions posed to him on site or over the telephone.

 

I would like to thank all of you who took the time to answer the survey.  I will be sending a copy of our results to the National CR chairpeople as well as make it available to the members of each Yankee District Society.  If anyone would like our CRs to elaborate on any of their comments, they can be reached through the recent publication of the Yankee District Newsletter, “The Rose Window”.

 

Carol Ann Rogers

Yankee District CR Chair