There are a lot of open gardens and events which we have been invited to share with you:

ALL ROSES HAVE A FRAGRANCE …

Or do they?  Here’s an email from Darren …

My response:  Hi Darren … maybe it’s YOU ????  Could it be the heat ????  Take a bloom, lay it in the palm of both hands – your body heat will warm it – then take a really clear, long sniff.  REINE DES VIOLETTES

is most definitely a fragrant rose!  There are times when I have detected absolutely NO FRAGRANCE in THE CHILDREN’S ROSE which would be considered one of the most highly fragrant roses in the nursery … it’s all about time of day and where your olfactory senses are at … please let me know how you experience this … cheers, Diana

After emailing that his neighbour come in to check for fragrance, no, she couldn’t smell anything either, the following day I received this email:

GRA’S GARBLE …

Let’s start with something funny because I’m about to get serious … Q.  What sort of hat does a spy wear?  A.  A peek cap! 

It is reported that Australian’s dump 40% of their food waste in garbage bins which then ends up in landfill sites.  If you want to take positive action to stop this happening at your home, here’s a really great idea which I have been trialling for several months since being shown how to by Helmut at Wandong –

Take 1 metre (approx.) off-cut lengths of 100-200mm (or greater if you can find it) stormwater pipe, either plastic/terracotta/concrete and push them very firmly into a garden bed – particularly important if you have a large-breed dog who could push the pipe out of the ground – compost is LETHAL for your pets!!!

The pipes should be located very close to the kitchen.  If you can find a ‘lid’ that would be good – just to keep vermin/birds/pets out.  Each time food scraps are added to the pipe, have a bale of straw/milled lucerne/shredded paper close to lightly cover them – this will add air which is a very important component in good compost-making!

You shouldn’t need to water into the pipes since most food scraps contain lots of moisture but occasionally, if you’re out with a watering-can of seaweed solution, slosh it into the pipe for added nutrient/break down capacity.

Worms will very quickly work out what you’re doing and take up residence in your ‘pipe-house’!  Keep a check on what’s going on by lifting the lid once the pipe is filled up.  Leave it for about 12 weeks then raise the pipe and harvest the humus/compost layer to place around newly planted seedlings, roses, planting holes for all plants.

ALWAYS cover the fresh compost with straw mulch – exposed to the sun, the precious microbes in the compost might die!

An average household will need to have four or five compost pipes to adequately accommodate kitchen scraps.  For a really funky look, get the kids to paint them in all different colours, let them test their graffiti skills at home and add a supremely environmentally-friendly composting system to your garden!

Helmut died at a grand age recently; as a tribute to his life of practicing and sharing, I feel compelled to share his infinite knowledge of ‘natural gardening’ and I hope that you will use this simple, easy, economical and sustainable way of caring for our environment by reducing land-fill waste and composting your food scraps – I am because it does work!

I am doing a COMPOSTING WORKSHOP for Mitchell Shire on SATURDAY, 7th NOVEMBER starting here at the Rose Farm at 10.00am to demonstrate all my composting methods – then we’ll go to the CLONBINANE COMMUNITY HALL (just up the road) to build compost heaps for the Community Garden there.

Bookings are essential – call us on 5787 1123 or contact Council’s Waste Education Officer, Anne McLean:  5734 6200 or email wastemanagement@mitchellshire.vic.gov.au

Just so I know you’ve read all my ‘garble’ and you’re waiting for the second joke, here it is:

Q.  What has four legs and doesn’t walk?  A.  A table – of course! 

Enjoy building your new ‘pipe-houses’ which are sure to be a success during the warm months ahead … Gra

 

ROSE RAMBLER … 15.10.2015 …

Hello dear rose friends –thank you so much to those who visited our site at the Garden Festival this past weekend – I was happy to ‘eye-ball’ some familiar faces in the audience at my presentations – sincere thanks for your support and welcome to all our new subscribers!  This was our site:

When you visit us at STATE ROSE AND GARDEN SHOW at WERRIBEE on Saturday, 14th and Sunday, 15th November – we have an outdoor display with lots of FLOWERING roses and you will enjoy the expert advice from TWO Consulting Rosarians – myself and our son Eric will be there all weekend so do put these dates in your diary – the State Rose Gardens will be in full bloom!

It’s a FREE event (please do give a gold coin donation at the gate because these gardens are managed by a host of volunteers!) and there are lots of displays from nurseries and garden suppliers, delicious food and coffee stalls.  More in later R/R editions …just keep the dates free … this is our PREMIER EVENT OF THE YEAR … to be right there in the most spectacular, world renowned State Rose Gardens – you MUST BE THERE TOO!

INFORMATION SHARING …

It’s from emails I receive and respond to that you will learn lots about those issues we ALL have with rose gardening so read on, weeds first:

ANYTHING has to be better than using lethal chemicals which contain glyphosate (Roundup) in a rose garden and our environment!

My response:  “Yes, we’ve got a plethora of aphids too but in the same breath, there are masses of ladybirds (every time I look they’re mating!!!)

and the little birds are keeping on top of eating them too!  You’re NOT diluting efficacy of eco-oil by adding seaweed!  It’s strengthening the cell wall of rose foliage!!!!

I ask the same question as you … why lots of aphids on some roses and not others???  Is it the location?  More confined, easier for aphids to access, less wind, some varieties have more lush foliage in the early spring flush???  All possibilities/probabilities and MOTHER NATURE takes over and does HER job which is one of the lovely challenges of gardening … keep looking out for ladybirds and as long as you’ve got lots of little wrens, sparrows and other birds in the garden, they’ll surely be feasting on the aphids – just like this ladybird – she’ll have them all cleaned up by the end of today!

 

Your horse poo … I will share it around that you have lots available for collection – lovely stuff and just down the road from Silkies Rose Farm so customers might bring their trailer and load up while they’re here!  Thank you … Diana

My response:  Hello David … do you think the rose you purchased was good quality?  Also, if the rose was only planted this winter, it’s not possible to have the ‘soil sickness’ that is often referred to when planting into the same location where a rose has been growing for many years – the dead rose would only have been there a short time I’m assuming???

I suggest you turn the soil well, add seaweed solution weekly until you purchase a new pl
ant for that location – buy a lovely healthy specimen and I think you’ll be fine!  I hope this is helpful.  Cheers – Diana

The story doesn’t end there … Andrea sent a follow up which reads:  “I have just re-done the beer for tonight!! Little alcoholics!  P.S. there is one unhappy camper in the story of the earwigs and that’s my husband!  He couldn’t understand why his beer supply was diminishing so quickly!  Yes the little earwigs had premium Boags! He was most upset to think I had given them the best!  Needless to say we are off to Aldi to get some less premium beer for the darling earwigs!  Andrea”

GRA’S GARBLE …

Just a joke this week since I’ve been busy holding the fort while Diana has been off gallivanting at the Garden Expo!

Knock, Knock.  Who’s there?  Mice.  Mice who?  Mice to meet you! 

Be very vigilant with filling mice bait stations OUTSIDE of your home and definitely OUTSIDE the chook enclosure!  Never put mice bait stations INSIDE your home because you will then have issues with rotting carcasses in walls/under the house/in the ceiling!!!  Please check that vermin haven’t dragged bait out of the bait station because mice bait is lethal stuff if your pets get to eat it!!!

Q.  Why do gorillas have big fingers?  A.  Because they have big nostrils! 

ROSE RAMBLER 8.10.2015 …

Hello dear rose friends as the frenzy builds for a spectacular Horticultural & Gardening Festival event at the Melbourne Showgrounds starting tomorrow, Friday 9^th until Sunday 11th … we’re ‘bumped in’ with our safety vests on, set up our presentation and would love to see you visit our display and hear Diana speak on MAIN STAGE – Friday from 1.30pm – 2.10pm and again in the DEMONSTRATION AREA with friends from OCP on Sunday 1.30pm – 2.10pm where we’ll show you how easy it is to prepare and spray the organic rose management program to ensure you grow the most beautifully healthy, abundantly free-flowering roses in your garden!

Also come visit Diana at Stand D30 at the festival this Friday, Saturday & Sunday, where she will happily sign a copy of her book ALL ABOUT ROSES and show you how giftroses.com.au really works. See you there!

GREETING AND MEETING CUSTOMERS …

There is no greater delight than personally meeting our ‘online’ customers – very recently we have had customers from NSW and QLD visiting Victoria and SILKIES ROSE FARM was on their agenda whilst driving down the HUME FREEWAY.  Since we are within 500 metres of the CLONBINANE interchange we would love to see YOU when you’re down our way!

 

WHEN ROSES JUST DON’T SEEM TO HAVE THE ‘RIGHT’ GROWTH …

Pic of Dublin bay with affected foliage:

MY RESPONSE … Ok, there are a few roses in the nursery pots doing the same thing???  Has happened before and our agronomist recommended using YATES TRACE ELEMENTS … fixed the problem in no time – if you can get hold of a pack of ROCK DUST that would be good for them too … fortnightly applications of seaweed solution will help the TRACE ELEMENTS do the job.  You might check with the source of compost what EXACTLY they have in the product????  A bit spooky that roses you DIDN’T put the compost on are doing fine!  You must be asking the question yourself???

They’ll come right in no time, I’m sure – please keep us posted.  Hope this is helpful … cheers, Diana

WEEDS … PESKY THEY MIGHT BE but NEVER use GLYPHOSATE (ROUNDUP/ZERO) ANYWHERE NEAR YOUR ROSE GARDEN!!!  

   

GRA’S GARBLE …

ROSE RAMBLER 1.10.2015

Hello dear rose friends – a pinch and punch for another whole new month – Happy Birthday to my beautiful little sister Sandy today – since she’s not settled in her new home yet, I may not send her a GIFT ROSE  but if I did, I would have sent MANY HAPPY RETURNS

but I might send her either one because most roses can be grown in a large tub and she can take the rose with her when she creates a garden at her new home!  If you have an event which offers you an opportunity to send a gorgeous, long-lasting rose bush, take a look at giftroses.com.au for a lovely selection of rose varieties to inspire you.

All roses will grow to their maximum size when planted in the soil but when grown in planters, their size will be naturally limited by the size of the pot but they are ‘transportable’ and very versatile as they can be moved around the deck, even inside to shaded areas for an event and when they’ve done their job in a pot, plant them into their final resting place in your garden.

If you have no option but to plant roses into tubs, consider removing the base of the tub (or poking very large holes into it) so that the roots can move right down into the soil below a paved area or whatever surface they’re placed on – up in the nursery we have arches with climbers and clematis so we’ve removed the base of the tub to allow the roots access to soil and moisture – the growth has been amazing since we did this!

GRA’S GARBLE …

It’s time to get your irrigation system in order – check all drippers/sprays and clear them of insects, etc. because it’s time to start watering your garden – we use ‘shrubblers’ where the water output can be regulated according to different plants requirements

Q. What has a sweet taste and flies?   A.  A lollipop left out in the garden. 

Water availability at root level, especially now, determines the stem length and number of flowers throughout the coming months.  On rose bushes, the miracle of plant growth is amazing at this time of year and one weekly soaking of 20 litres per plant during October will ensure solid root development resulting in prolific flowering and strong healthy bushes which will withstand the pressures of whatever weather conditions prevail.

NEVER WATER ROSES OVER THEIR FOLIAGE LATER THAN 2.00PM … ROSES MUST HAVE DRY FOLIAGE GOING INTO THE EVENING OR YOU WILL DEFINITELY ENCOURAGE SPORES OF MILDEW TO OCCUR!

These curly leaves are an indication of mildew – you MUST take action immediately by spraying with eco-rose/eco-fungicide (same product) when you see this happening on your roses …

Keep your monthly organic rose management program happening – it’s easy, effective, really economical and guarantees healthy, robust, free-flowering HAPPY roses throughout the season!

Q.  What’s brown and sits on a piano stool?  A.  Beethoven’s LAST MOVEMENT! 

Because of the amazing growth occurring with flower buds developing, fertilize NOW (if you haven’t already) and apply seaweed solution regularly to increase thickness of the cell wall of your plants to withstand all weather variables – apply every fortnight all over the leaves to ensure your roses enjoy up to 5 degrees frost and heat tolerance!

Hope your garden is well mulched as we head into the warmer weather – planting seedlings of NASTURTIUM which add a lovely colourful ground-covering mass will act as a ‘double-whammy’ because the plant secretes a mustard oil which many insects find attractive and will seek out – particularly cabbage moth.  Alternatively, the flowers repel aphids and cucumber beetle; planted around apple trees is advantageous to repel codling moth… plant Nasturtium after frosts just as you would tomato seedlings.  It’s all happening now … Gra

Be sure to attend this spectacular gardening event at the Melbourne Showgrounds which is sure to be a most entertaining event for the whole family!  Come visit with Diana at Stand D30 where she will happily sign a copy of her book ALL ABOUT ROSES and show you how giftroses.com.au really works.  See you there!