Hello dear rose friends … there were a lot of enquiries about the ‘blind shoots’ which I mentioned in last week’s Rose Rambler. Because it was raining here, I couldn’t go and take a photo so I did a google search … fabulous photos immediately! Do take a look because it’s another interesting learning experience for rose gardeners and the sooner you take the ‘blind shoots’ off the rose, the quicker it springs into rose bud development!
ROSE SOCIETY OF VICTORIA, INC. … have asked us to let you all know about their Show:
SPRING ROSE SHOW 2013
Mount Waverley Community Centre
Cnr Stephensons Rd & Miller Crescent, Mount Waverley
(opposite Mt Waverley Railway Station, off street parking available)
SATURDAY November 9th – 1pm to 4:30pm
SUNDAY November 10th – 10am to 4pm
For all enquiries phone Beth Williams 0418 359 996 Website: www.rosesocietyvic.org.au
Graham used to love exhibiting roses and would encourage you all to have a go at it – they have a special section for Amateur Rose Growers – good fun and seriously, even better when your rose is awarded a prize! Have a go at it!!!
IT ONLY TAKES ONE … That’s one hot northerly wind to radically change the beautiful rose blooms into a pretty ordinary mess because those winds bring with them the ‘THRIP’ … take a close look at these pics and you’ll never, ever, call an aphid a THRIP again!
Aphids cause their own sort of havoc and they are destructive on newly forming rose buds but the THRIP do a lot of damage too and there’s very little we rose enthusiasts can do but remove the spent/damaged blooms and wait for the next roses.
HERE’S “GRA’S RAMBLE” … (same name as last week I think …? Starts with the joke!).
Q. What do you call a horse that lives next door? A. A neigh….bour!
Eco-Oil (what a great Aussie invention) made from the Melaleuca, Eucalyptus and Canola Oils right here in Australia and now they’ve added HIPPO’s that attract good insects! CLEVER! This product will control scale, 2 potted mite (look real close in hot weather), aphids, white-fly and citrus leaf miner and spreads liquid seaweed beautifully over the plant leaf and stems. There is NO spray resistance, NOOOOO withholding period and it’s safe for EVERY plant! It is registered ORGANIC (Cert No. A1222).
WARNING: DO NOT USE IF TEMPERATURE IS GOING TO BE OVER 28 DEGREES!
Remember to mulch (lucerne is the best!) because:
- It feeds plants and worms
- Saves water
- Feeds soil microbes/mycorrhiza/rhizomes
- Reduces weeding
- Saves digging which saves your back!
Q. What’s a horses favourite sport? A. sTABLE TENNIS !!!!
Did you know that research has shown that gardening for 30 to 45 minutes per day is the equivalent exercise to walking 3kms for 40 minutes or cycling 8kms in 30 minutes ..? That’s not just out walking smelling the roses ….!!! However, just out walking and smelling the roses will add years and years of goodness to your life and change your day .. every day!
MOON PLANTING GUIDE FOR THIS WEEK … Don’t plant anything on the 19th October. The best sowing and pruning days are all day 20th and 21st; from 1.40pm on the 24th and all day on the 25th and 26th. Best harvest days to 5.30pm on 19th; all day on 22nd and 23rd to 1.35pm on the 24th … NO SOWING between 27th October and 2nd November and the very best weeding days this month are all day on 27th, 28th, 29th, 30th and 31st !
There will be no excuse for weeds in your garden during Cup Day Holiday in early November and I promise you, they will stay away for longer if you eradicate them on the nominated days! Do it and hold this calendar through to the end of this month – no guide next week!
IN CLOSING … Have lots of happy moments in your rose garden this week … remember to be quick to forgive and love unconditionally … just like dogs do!
Diana & Graham Sargeant at Clonbinane