February Meeting of the Maine Rose Society Minutes: Barron Center Portland Maine, 2/9/02 at 1PM

Present: 20 Members, 1 Guest
Members: Diana Allen, Dr. Merle Bacastow, Mrs. Louise Bacastow, Kathleen Buffum, Mr. Soren Christensen, Mr. Jerry Cinnamon, Mrs. Joan Gotlibson, Dr. Vaughn Hardesty,Mrs. Clair Homan, Mrs. Sari Hou, Mrs. Wendy Kemp, Mrs. Elaine Law, Mr. Steven Law,Rita Lesniak , Mr. Clarence Rhodes, Deborah Rumey, Mr. John Sarna, Mrs. Wilma Sarna,Marion Stevens, Grace Wetherill, Guest: Irene Wight

Scheduled Speaker:
The scheduled speaker Ann Hooper remained absent during the meeting, but the enthusiasm of those present and the topics discussed made for a very enjoyable meeting. Below is how we spent our time.

Coming Events

• Portland Flower Show
  • Sign-up sheet for the Portland Flower Show March 12 - March 17 in two hour blocks was passed around. Members signed up with blocks of time still available. Contact Steve Law if you wish to sign up. The Maine Rose Society will have 8 passes, available at the vendor’s door, for participants.
• Joint Meeting with Mid-Maine Rose Society
  • We are exploring a joint meeting of the Maine Rose Society and the Mid-Maine Rose Society for a presentation by Art Emmons.
• Annual Rose Sale
  • Clarence Rhodes will have 150 bushes for sale/ pruned at his house and needs help to haul to sale; help sell and collect money - this is the largest fundraiser for the society.
  • Suggestion to list roses for sale on the Maine Rose Society web site; this is being done.
  • The Master Gardeners will possibly have a separate/ same day sale with the Maine Rose Society. MRS should also sell perennials, as has been done in the past.
• Annual Rose Shows and Talks
  • Committee required for rose show - hospitality committee to present literature - for example on rose care, etc., See Clarence Rhodes if you wish to volunteer.
  • District rose show is March 22-24, on Friday, Saturday, Sunday in Providence. Dr. Jim Henning is main speaker. Clarence Rhodes is going.
  • Steve Law will speak at Central Maine College in an upcoming event that does not yet have a time.
  • Clarence Rhodes will speak on March 3 to the Mid-Maine Rose Society on Growing Roses in Containers.
  • Clarence Rhodes will present at Home Depot in South Portland, Maine as part of the Year of the Rose event of the American Rose Society; participants welcome.
• Discussion during Meeting Time
  • Discussions started with the idea of experimentally cutting canes and selected buds on somewhat dried-out bare root roses, so that the canes can be supplied by an adequate supply of nutrients; also hair roots are important in supplying nutrients to the plant and should be preserved. The discussion moved to vitamins that may promote root development (B1 and B6); the possibility that roses root better in a smaller pot and then can be transferred to a larger pot or planted; how to experimentally find out how much water is absorbed by a planting mixture in a pot, once you know that water weighs 8.33 lbs. per gallon - thanks to Clarence Rhodes for leading this discussion.

Vice President Dr. Vaughn Hardesty called for volunteers to bake for the March meeting - several members stepped forward. We adjourned with visions of spring roses before our eyes.

by MRS secretary: Jerry Cinnamon, Feb. 13^th, 2002