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 42 respondents.
They were as follows: Banach,
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 8321 (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!
Banach, Rod: Lavaglut, Rosa Mundi, Westerland, Hurdy
Gurdy, and Dublin Bay
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 4th of July
Candler: Double Delight, Knick Knack, Betty Boop, 4th
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,
4th 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, 4th
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, and Rod Banach has moved cross country every few
years so each move has been a crash course in learning the new environment,
local culture, pests, and which varieties they can grow that they couldn’t
before.
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, and Rod
Banach has built a mite wand from parts available from both Lowes and Home
Depot. He no longer has to use Avid
or other mitacide. 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),” and Rod Banach travels
extensively for work and finds it difficult to come home to an unattended
garden.
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. Rod Banach asks
people about their time investment and usually recommends rugosas for
novices. 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, and Rod Banach has
even consulted in Korea, France, Japan, England, Germany, and China.
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