ROSARIAN REMINDER Published by The Tulsa Rose Society Affiliated with the American Rose Society July 2012 This Month s Meeting: Tulsa Garden Center 2435 S Peoria Tulsa, OK 2:00 PM July 8, 2012 Program: Cynthia Woodson of Water World Speaking on Garden Irrigation Methods (Also, a panel on summer rose care) Refreshments Brenda Johnson & Jean Sluder Butch Neumeier - Drinks Events to Come Regular meetings are held at the Tulsa Garden Center the second Sunday of each month at 2:00 PM Business Meetings are held at the Tulsa Garden Center the first Wednesday of each month at 10:00 AM in the Volunteer Room Looking forward: July 8 - Regular meeting 2:00 PM Water World - irrigating your garden. August 12 -- Our annual Ice Cream Social Visit the Tulsa Rose Society website for the full year of meeting dates after the calendar is established. TRS President s Note Following a mild winter and early spring this early summer does not come as a surprise. We really don t need to repeat last summer with 44 days above 100 degrees, but we are off to a good start, aren t we? Keep those roses watered this month. In 2004 when we hosted the ARS national convention in Tulsa, we pledged the profit, if any, to the improvement of the Tulsa Rose Garden. We did end up with a profit of $10,000. which we have maintained in an interest-bearing CD since that time. Your Board was waiting for an opportunity to donate something in the Garden that could carry our society name. We are pleased to announce that we now have that opportunity to make an improvement to the Tulsa Rose Garden in the form of adding some nice park benches. The City of Tulsa has approved the addition of 14 new 6 foot benches. The Tulsa Garden Club is sponsoring 7 of them and a few other individuals have sponsored some but there were 4 available for TRS to sponsor and that just about took our funds after installation, plaques and misc. required to complete the job. As in any City project, watch for the orange cones and wait a few months for something to happen. But we are actually hoping to have the benches installed before winter of this year. We are so pleased to have identifying plaques on each bench showing our name, so plan on visiting our benches sometime next spring! We had an interesting garden tour for our June meeting led by Mark Stelljes on the 3rd. You will find a short article by Rose Rusnam later in the newsletter covering this activity and we appreciate Rose writing that for us. We encourage articles from all of you when you have rose experiences that we would all enjoy hearing about. I am sorry to report that Mark Stelljes has had to have a repeat knee replacement this year and is recuperating at home now. Also Butch Neumeier and George Morrell have had some health issues lately. Please send good thoughts to these and others whom we may not know about. Unfortunately, John and I will miss our July 8 meeting with our speaker from Water World. We trust you will greet her warmly and enjoy her presentation. We will see you at our ice cream social in August! Judy
Rosarian Reminder Page 2 TULSA ROSE SOCIETY EXECUTIVE BOARD MEETING May 2, 2012 President Judy Carter called the meeting to order at 10:07 a.m. Don Johnson, Brenda Johnson, Gordon Beck, John Carter, Gordon Beck, Norma Whitehead, Butch Neumeier, and Rose Rusnam were all present. The minutes of the last board meeting were approved as printed in the Reminder. Norma Whitehead gave the Treasurer's report. We have $6,962.62 in the checking account with no liabilities. The treasurer's report will be filed for audit. Judy told us that she, John, and Anna Staggs attended the reception for Clint Fuhrman s 90th birthday. They took roses to help celebrate the event. The May meeting will be held the first Sunday of May because of the conflict of our usual meeting date with Mother's Day on the second Sunday of May. Dr. Eric Rebek of OSU will give the May meeting about pests of roses. The June meeting will be held on June 10, 2012 and will be a garden tour of several of the gardens where Mark Stelljes tends the roses. Club members will meet at the garden center to car pool on the tour. The August meeting will be our annual ice cream social. The members bring cobblers, cookies, or other items that go well with ice cream. Mark will announce the final programs later. John Carter, Butch Neumeier, and Gordon Beck will furnish trucks for bringing in the properties. They will be at TGC from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. on May 18, 2012. Don and Brenda will talk about the show at the May meeting of May 6, 2012. The judges are all lined up. We also discussed our insurance coverage for garden we tour as the Johnson's garden will be open on May 5, 2012 and for other gardens we tour and events we sponsor. We still have some fish emulsion for sale. New Business We then discussed the Kincade garden stakes we purchased as a society and can still purchase on the internet. We bought bundles of 25 each in four sizes: 6 inch, 10 inch, 15 inch, and 20 inch. The cost to the society was $134.36. We then discussed the resale prices at our next meeting. We will also use some of these for a door prize. There will not be an executive board meeting in June and possibly not in July either. The meeting was adjourned at 11:25 a.m. Respectfully submitted, Rose M. Rusnam, Secretary Michael Trainer, Thomas Barnett, Becky and Dave Jones, and Renee Sheehan are all email only members. They are new to the rose society. Thomas Barnett asked about having a rose show in Broken Arrow. This was discussed, but no decisions were made. Unfinished Business The rose show was discussed. Don Johnson, Website: rosesinctulsa.com E-mail: rosesinctulsa@cox.net Phone: 918-455-7673 Fax: 918-451-2789 Mark Stelljes Owner/operator ARS Consulting Rosarian 13201 South 129th East Ave Broken Arrow, Ok 74011 (South of 131st on 129th E Ave) Rose Bushes, over 600 varieties Earthkind/Modern/Mini/Eng OGR s/shrubs/carpet/romantica Onsite services/pruning/planting Tools, Chemicals and Fertilizers Answers to your Questions Call for Business Hours
Rosarian Reminder Page 3 2012 SCD CONVENTION AND ROSE SHOW One of the things that I really care about at the SCD Convention and Rose Show is the meeting up again with old friends, and the making of new ones. When we were scratching our heads and trying to come up with an appropriate theme for the convention we are hosting this fall for SCD, it just became obvious that it had to do something with re-uniting with those of like mind that we hold dear. Thus, Renewing Friendships in OKC was chosen to be our theme. So, we want to see you here as old friends and or perhaps someone new to the hobby that we can make new friends with. Accordingly, we have planned a convention that caters to that premise renewing friend ships in Oklahoma City. We, for that express reason, will have a hospitality room in the Magnuson with lots of treats, and plenty of ap petizers to whet your appetite. Further, we will have a get acquainted on Friday evening (included in your registration as is the hospitality room) that will have lots of hors d oeuvres (I hope that is how one spells that!) and a cash bar. The prep room will be open at 4:00 a.m. for the exhibitors who need time to prepare their Queens! In the afternoon, we will have two programs one from Bayer chemicals on what to look for to take care of what varmint, and the other will be a Horizon Roses presentations from the Horizon editor Bob Martin. Bring your note pad, you will need it! Following that will be the SCD business meeting which will include elec tion of officers for the next three years. That is important! Don t miss it! There will be an awards banquet to recognize the skilled rosarians that won the top awards, (notice I didn t say lucky) with Bob Martin again as the keynote speaker. There will also be a cash bar for all us thirsty ones. The next morning at 8:00 a.m. (we know it is early, but who hasn t heard about the worm!) for breakfast and brunch at the Will Rogers Park Garden Center Building, then on to Dennis and Renee Niklas home in Pied mont and then on to Bert and Kathy s home in Guthrie to look at their rose gardens. No critique please! Then back to the hotels for a pre-arranged early check-out. After that you can talk about what a good time you had! Did you renew friendships? Surely you did! Safe trip home. Bert Wheeler, General Chairman TRS Members Note: This is only a 2 hour drive from Tulsa. This is an opportunity to exhibit or just see a nice fall show. Add this to your calendar now so you will not forget. Dates and times are on the next pages. Would you like to help? Check with Brenda Johnson. She was looking for some clerks. You can even try your hand at design. See Norma to sign up.
Rosarian Reminder Page 4 SCD FALL CONVENTION AND ROSE SHOW SCHEDULE OF EVENTS Friday, Oct 12, 2012 3:00 p.m. 6:00 p.m. Registration Open 4:00 p.m. 6:00 p.m. Hospitality Room Open 5:30 p.m. 7:00 p.m. Renew Friendships in OKC Welcome Reception - Appetizers and Cash Bar 7:00 p.m. 9:00 p.m. Hospitality Room & Registration Open Saturday, Oct 13, 2012 4:00 a.m. 9:30 a.m. Preparation Room Open 7:00 a.m. 9:30 a.m. Rose Show Entries Accepted 7:00 a.m. 12:00 noon Registration Open 8:00 a.m. 5:00 p.m. Trade Show Open 8:30 a.m. 9:30 a.m. Judge s Breakfast 10:00 a.m. 12:00 noon Rose Show Judging 11:45 a.m. 1:30 p.m. Lunch On Your Own 1:00 p.m. 5:00 p.m. Rose Show Open 2:00 p.m. 2:45 p.m. Program: Bugs and Fungus 2:45 p.m. 3:30 p.m. Program: Horizon Roses 3:30 p.m. 4:30 p.m. SCD Business Meeting 6:00 p.m. 7:00 p.m. Social Cash Bar 7:00 p.m. 9:00 p.m. Awards Banquet 9:00 p.m. 11:00 p.m. Hospitality Room Open Sunday, Oct 14, 2012 8:00 a.m. 12:30 p.m. Garden Tour and Brunch
Rosarian Reminder Page 5 SOUTH CENTRAL DISTRICT CONVENTION REGISTRATION Hosted by the Oklahoma Rose Society at Magnuson Hotel & Hilton Garden Inn, Oklahoma City, OK, October 12 14, 2012 Name(s) Address City State Zip Telephone ( ) E-Mail Registration Fee (Received before Sept 12, 2012) @ $45.00 $ Registration Fee (Received after Sept 12, 2012) @ $55.00 $ Fee includes Registration, Friday s Welcome Reception, and Hospitality Room Banquet @ $35.00 $ Sunday Garden Tour @ $35.00 $ The bus tour includes two private gardens and breakfast at Will Rogers Park Building Total Enclosed $ Exhibitors must be registered and have an exhibitor s number on their entry cards. Horticulture and Arrangement Judges must also be registered for the Conference. I (we) plan to exhibit in: Horticulture Arrangements Please make checks payable to Oklahoma Rose Society Send to: Dennis & Renee Niklas, 12816 Oak Hill Dr., Piedmont, OK 73078 Or Go to our Website www.oklahomarosesociety.org and download this printable form! Hotel Information We re giving you a choice! Both hotels are adjacent to the convention center. Be sure and mention the ARS Convention for a spe-cial room rate! The cut-off date for the block of rooms and the special convention rate is Sep 12, 2012. Shuttle service Standard Rooms(Kings/Doubles) - $99.00 Standard Rms - $69.00 Two Room Suites(Kings/Doubles) - $119.00 Suites*- $69.00 *Upon Availability 801 S. Meridian Ave. 737 S. Meridian Ave OKC, OK 73108 OKC. OK. 73108 405-942-1400 405-942-8511 oklahomacityairport.gardeninn.com www.magnusonhotelokc.com
Rosarian Reminder Page 6 News and Going on s Our longtime member, Anna Staggs has moved to a senior residence. Anna s address is: Anna Staggs, %The Arbors, Apt 10, 10201 South Yale, Tulsa, OK 74137. Her new phone is 918-298- 7317. We are sorry to announce that our member, Bonnie Seals Rune, passed away recently following another bout with cancer. She lived in the Fayetteville, Arkansas area. TULSA ROSE SOCIETY GARDEN TOUR For our June rose society meeting, Mark Stelljes planned a garden tour of some of the gardens where he tends the roses. About ten of us went on that tour and I think we all really enjoyed it. Mark wanted us to see gardens that were not all roses. He only sprays the gardens about once every three weeks. He, of course, also fertilizes these roses, and in some cases had designed the beds and had brought in soil for them. Only ten of us went along on the tour, but I'm sure that most of you would also have enjoyed it. We started in some of the gardens at really beautiful older houses in the midtown area of Tulsa. We later saw a couple of gardens in Bixby. The weather was warm, but balmy compared to the heat wave we're experiencing right now. Mark explained that he wanted us to see that you can grow roses and keep them in relatively good shape without over taxing your abilities or resources. I wish that more of you could have joined us, but I can say that I was glad that I was able to go on this tour. Rose M. Rusnam, Past President Plant Markers Plant markers will be available at our July meeting. Tulsa Rose Society has purchased 25 each of the 4 sizes (6, 10, 15 & 20 ) that we will be selling individually at our meetings. Individual markers are $1.75 each for 20 inch, $1.50 each for 15 inch, $1.35 each for 10 inch and $1.25 each for 6 inch. If you need 25 or more of a given size you can order them from Kincaid Gardens as documented in the past two newsletters. Our reward code to use is Rose-TRS9 TRS9. Rose TRS9 This is your newsletter. What do you want to see in it? How can we make it a benefit to you as a member? I have tried to always include some educational material appropriate for the time of the year or the program we will be having. I also include news and information about other activities so you will be informed as to what is going on. If the newsletter is not meeting your expectations let me know. Change is possible. The same question applies to the website and our Facebook page. Have you used them? You might benefit from those resources also. We have the past couple of years of newsletters out there.
Rosarian Reminder Page 7 Watering Your Roses Ronald G. Schwerdt, Rgschwerdt@aol.com, Consulting Rosarian The key to growing bigger and better roses is maintaining the proper balance in the soil of air, water, and nutrients. While there are many reasons why your roses did not perform, as they should last year, some problems have simple solutions while others are more complex. Many are simple physiological problems, and have no relation to an infectious disease. Many arise from problems with plants environment, such as: too much water or too little water, poor drainage, insufficient soil aeration, or a nutrient deficiency, etc. To better understand water and its relationship to the soil, you should first understand how plants' roots and stems utilize water in the soil. By implementing changes in the soil's structure, you will allow for better soil drainage and an improvement in the air and soil movement. Water is one of the most common compounds on earth, profoundly affecting all plant growth, both physically and chemically. The dictionary refers to water as a transparent, odorless, tasteless fluid. To a plant, it is the lifeline of its existence. Water is the means by which fresh air is introduced into the soil, since rainwater contains more oxygen than normal tap water. When the soil contains sufficient oxygen, combined with the proper nutrients, it results in a greater pulling in of moisture by the root system. This abundance of moisture is what puts that crispness in the petals of your finest looking blooms, and substance in the foliage. A plant's tissue is about 90% to 95% water. With this in mind, it is easy to see that without this vital compound, roses would not exist. While water is considered one of the main resources required to sustain life on the plant, it can also cause some significant changes to take place within the soil that should be addressed. These changes can trigger the start of retro-gradation in a balanced soil. What happens when water is added to a soil? It forces carbon dioxide out of the soil. The carbon dioxide is generated by the plants roots and soil microorganisms. At the same time, it carries dissolved nutrients to the root zone where they can be absorbed by the fine feeder roots. Even though roots absorb fertilizers from the soil, they do not benefit from it at this time. It is only after fertilizer has gone through the cycle in the leaves (photosynthesis), that roots derive the benefits of the nutrients. This is one of the reasons why a deep soaking once a week is more beneficial than a light sprinkle two or three times a week. Now that you know how water interacts within the soil, it is easy to understand how a rose bush standing in water because of inadequate drainage will affect that plant's growth. While roses in containers require a large quantity of water, having their roots constantly immersed in water is the best way to kill the plant because it interrupts its supply of oxygen. The ideal situation is to have a soil retain as much water as the soil's texture allows. This is referred to as "field capacity" and assures sufficient moisture to keep leaves turgid at all times. What you want is an evenly moist soil, not one that is wet constantly (saturated). It is hard to overwater if there is good drainage. In container grown plants, wet roots are the number one cause of death. In the soil, water is contained in three forms. One is hydroscopic water. This is water that is chemically tied up by the soil particles. The second form occurs when the soil is watered. The water gradually works its way down, filling the pore spaces with water and air - this is referred to as gravitational water. A soil is said to be at full "field capacity" when all the soil particles are coated with water. This is capillary water and is what the plant uses. Even though the soil is kept moist with nutrients that are made available, plants can wither if they can't utilize them. One reason for this is the constant and excessive use of chemical fertilizers containing a high concentration of mineral salts, which must be periodically flushed out of the soil. As these salts are leached out of the soil, various nutrients and trace elements are washed out with them. This may cause a deficiency in the soil, and those nutrients will need replacing. A high concentration of salts can draw water and nutrients out of the roots causing a nutrient deficiency that can cause the
Rosarian Reminder Page 8 lower leaves on a bush to fall off, stunted growth and dehydration, etc. This does not mean you must stop, or even reduce your fertilizing program. What this means is you must water before, as well as after a fertilizer is applied. Water and a soil's structure go hand and hand. No matter what method is used to water you must have, or condition your soil into, one that is friable and well aerated so it can breathe. The key to watering is not how much you water, but how much moisture the soil is retaining. The more organics incorporated into your soil, the more water the soil will retain. This plays a major role in helping build the foundation for growing healthy plants. The ph of the soil and the ph of the water you use is also extremely important and is one of the determining factors in how well your roses grow. Soils conditioned for optimum plant growth consist of about 50% soil and 50% pore spaces. These pore spaces between soil particles can be filled with either air or water or a combination. Normally these voids are filled with half air and half water. As water decreases, air increases. Too much or too little of either can be fatal to the plant. In the Mid-West, July and August are the months when close attention should be given to the roses and soil. The weather is generally very hot and extremely dry, with not too much rainfall. Using a rain guage will give some idea on the amount of water the soil received during each rainfall. It is during this period you are thankful that you applied mulch; helping conserve soil moisture. If you don't do anything else during these two months keep the soil moist by regular, deep soakings. There are many ways to soak the soil. An easy way is to form an 18" ring of soil about 4" high at the base of each plant. If you have hilled up your plant with soil for winter protection, you can re-use this soil. Place the open end of the water hose inside for 5 to 10 minutes and flood the circle. Having enclosed rose beds; I lay the hose in a bed and flood it with 2" to 3" of water, on the average, about once a week. Again, much depends on your soil's structure, thickness of mulch, temperature, and wind velocity, etc. Besides being the cheapest watering system, it's fast and efficient. You can also use a drip or soaker hose, which will supply 1/3 to 2-1/2 gallons of water per ft. per hr., depending on your water pressure. By adding a water timer, it's now as easy as turning a dial to set the system for the correct amount of time. When a plant uses up available soil moisture faster than normal, the plant is put under stress; when this happens plants more likely than not attract plant pests and insects. While under this stress, plants that have suffered winter damage that was not noticeable in spring show the damage, resulting in some cane deterioration such as die back. The same can be said about the foliage on a healthy plant. If it transpires moisture faster than the root system can absorb it from the soil, it will cause brown leaf edges from dead plant cells. All this leads to the number one object in these months. WATER, WATER, WATER. Flushing the foliage with water early in the day gives the foliage a chance to dry, lessening the chances of diseases developing. Done every two or three days using a strong spray of water, over and under the foliage, will keep the bushes free of most plant pests. When spraying, adjust the setting so it produces a fine mist which will adhere to the foliage, rather than large droplets that roll off the leaves. A rose bush needs one inch of water per week. Will this water reach the root zone where it can be utilized? This depends upon the soil structure. In a sandy soil one inch of water will penetrate about 12", in a medium loam about 7", and in a clay soil about 5". All things being equal, your success in growing roses will be in direct proportion to the quantity of water in the soil that reaches the root zone. How many gallons of water is this, and how long will it take to deliver one inch of water for a 200 sq. ft. rose bed? First you must know the water flow from your hose. A simple way to do this is to place your water hose into a container and measure the amount of water in the container after one minute, with no water being diverted elsewhere. Or you can use an in-line meter. For practical purposes, let's say the rate of water flow is 4 gallons per min. Known Factors: 1. One inch of water = 28,000 gallons of water per acre or (43,560 sq. ft.) 2. The rate of water flow is 4 gallons per min. 3. The area to receive one-inch of water is 200 sq. ft. Continued on page 10
Rosarian Reminder Page 9 What To Do in July (The following was copied from the Houston Rosette and edited slightly for Tulsa Conditions. It is well written and will be more interesting than my words.) Summer is officially here! You know what that means. It s water, water, water!!! Please don t let your roses go without enough moisture. Temperatures are getting into the 90 s, and with the wind that we have had, roses dry out very fast. Roses growing in pots need to be watered twice a day; watering once a day is not enough. Fertilizer is washed from the pots with a lot of watering, A soluble fertilizer every two weeks is good for potted roses. Half the dosage every week. Should the pot get totally dry, put it in a pan and water it from the bottom so that it can soak up the water and get evenly moist. Summer time does not mean that you become a couch potato. Roses still need your attention. The sooner that you cut a spent bloom, the sooner that you will have a new one to replace it. Leaves are the food factory for your plants. No leaves, no factory! Leave as many as you can. Leave as many leaves on newly planted roses as you can. Grow the plant first. After the root system is well established, treat the bush like the rest of your roses. The first year is critical in the development of a new plant. Water. Water is very important especially during the heat of summer. Without water, nothing works. It is the water that makes everything else work. Without it, the plant begins to die. Whether you have an automated system or use a water hose, just use it. Fertilizer. It is still important. If it has been a while since you fed your plants, give them some now. A one-half dose will probably be enough. Remember to water before and after fertilizing. Insects. We are likely to see several insects, bugs and caterpillars in our garden this summer. Let s not forget that thrips are still with us. They are just not as numerous at this time of year. There is no preventive spray that will fix all of the above. Spider Mites. The heat of summer is the ideal time for spider mites. They love the heat as it radiates from The Rosarian Reminder is published monthly by the Tulsa Rose Society. Submit information and articles to John Carter, Editor at 1825 West Lincoln St, Broken Arrow, OK 74012-8509 or via email at editor@tulsarosesociety.org or call 918-355-8020. Newsletters are mailed to Tulsa Rose Society members. Memberships are $20 for individuals or families. Membership benefits include the newsletter, group purchases of roses and rose care products and support from an active organization. Your Club officers for 2012 are: Judith Carter - President Mark Stelljes - First Vice President - Programs Ed Neumeier - Second Vice President - Membership Rose Rusnam - Secretary Norma Whitehead - Treasurer Rose Rusnam - Immediate Past President Consulting Rosarians: Troy Garrett (Checotah) 473-5649 Don & Brenda Johnson (Sapulpa) 227-1954 John Carter (North Broken Arrow) 355-8020 Norma Whitehead (North Broken Arrow) - 286-8244 Mark Stelljes (South Broken Arrow/Bixby) 455-7673 Butch Neumeier (Claremore) 342-2885 Alice Klein (Collinsville) 371-2540 Meetings are normally held at the Tulsa Garden Center at 2 PM on the second Sunday of each month. Monthly business meeting is the first Wednesday of every month at the Tulsa Garden Center at 10:00 AM. Everyone is welcome. Visit our website at www.tulsarosesociety.org. sidewalks, pavement, bricks and anything else that might hold heat. Watch closely, and use your water wand on them early before they get established in your garden. Spray the undersides of the leaves every other day for at least three sprayings. If you do not get wet too, then you haven t done a good enough job. If you let mites go too long, you will have to use a miticide. Most miticides are VERY expensive. High pressure water is more environmentally friendly and much less expensive. Gardens that have been sprayed with a lot of insecticides are most likely to have spider mites, because predators that destroy spider mites have been killed with insecticides. Mulch. Let s not forget that a good layer of mulch will help to keep the moisture in the soil so that you will not have to water as often. It also helps to keep weeds under control. Also, mulch decomposes to make hummus, and therefore needs to be replaced periodically.
Tulsa Rose Society 1825 W Lincoln St Broken Arrow, OK 74012-8509 First Class Mail (continued from page 8) Unknown Factors: 1. The amount of time required applying one inch of water. 2. The amount of water being used. 3. 200 sq. ft. x 28,000 gallons per acre = 5,600,000 gallons 4. 5,600,000 gallons / 43,560 = 128.55 gallons of water used. 5. 128 gallons / 4 gallons per hour = 32 min. per one inch of water. In conclusion Having read this article, you cannot help but realize that water is the essence of life for a plant. It plays the dominating role in all functions of a plant's existence, at present and in future years. There is a parallel to this point; that was addressed in an article written on soil nutrients, which seems appropriate: "When asked about all the men in her life", Mae West eloquently replied, "... Honey, it isn't the men in my life, it's the life in the men". This same ideology applies to water and a plant's survival. Repeated many times over... if you don't do anything but water your plants they can survive, but without water they will die.