ROSE RAMBLER 11.05.2017 …
Hello dear rose friends as the frosty mornings take their toll on our beautiful roses for this season – a few will be glorious this weekend for Mother’s Day gifting – the most spectacular rose right now is PERFUME PASSION.
You know, there are times when the name of a rose is very, very important – I understand that because I do the GIFT ROSE which is, quite sincerely, mostly about the NAME OF THE ROSE … however, when appropriate, I will select a more gloriously beautifully flowering rose or a more robust, healthy specimen to pop into the GIFT ROSE pack!
Why? Well, it’s all about the MEANING of the GIFT ROSE – you don’t want a shaggy, half-decent rose being delivered and let’s be honest here, sometimes in their flowering cycle, most roses go through a pretty shaggy time when they’re definitely NOT suitable for gifting.
MOTHER’S LOVE which is so appropriate for Mother’s Day this weekend has NEVER been at her absolute best by late April/early May so think outside the square and afford your Mum the most spectacular rose available at the time!
It might be AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL or SUMMER ROMANCE or LA VIE EN ROSE which are all new varieties we have carefully selected to add to our list for this season.
A gorgeous modern shrub rose which produces masses of blooms in clusters – best described as lemon in colour, very deeply-cupped cool yellow in the centre with very pale lemon/white outer petals which open flat as the blooms age.
SUMMER ROMANCE
A supremely healthy modern shrub rose which produces fully quartered, old-fashioned style blooms which have a captivating spicy fragrance continually throughout the season.
LA VIE EN ROSE
A beautiful addition to the Delbard series – it’s healthy, produces masses of fragrant blooms which are suited to a vase and all this, produced on a sturdy upright bush with extremely healthy foliage … very highly recommended for 2017 planting in your garden.
GRA’S GARBLE …
It’s winter which means it’s footy season so let’s see if you can get this joke:
Q. Why are football grounds odd? A. Because you can sit in the stands but can’t stand in the sits!
ORGANIC ROSE SPRAY MANAGEMENT PROGRAM …
There’s little need to continue spraying the roses now as they are ready to go into winter dormancy which means their foliage will spoil with yellow leaves and black spot.
This means there is no more photosynthesis; the rose ceases flowering or producing new foliage so the foliage will drop and the rose bush will be ready for winter pruning.
VERY INTERESTING EMAIL …
Dear Diana, I have heard that you must pick up all fallen rose leaves. Being elderly and with bad knees I find that I am unable to do this. Will this be detrimental in the long term or will your rose programme help to keep the roses in tip top condition. Your advice will be much appreciated. Many thanks … Margaret
Diana’s response: Whoever wrote such rubbish could never be a ‘real’ gardener! Can you imagine how I would ever be able to maintain a rose nursery where petals and leaves are falling EVERY DAY in masses? I would be on my hands and knees all day picking up petals – I would rather be out amid the roses sniffing and enjoying them and I encourage you to do the same!!!
Yes, if you are using our organic management spray program use it immediately AFTER PRUNING and spray over the mulch on the ground as well just because you can! Hope this relieves you of the stress thinking you were doing it all wrong!!! Best wishes … Diana
I will remind you as we head into winter rose management that once the roses have had a bit of dormancy, they’re hardened for winter pruning and the organic rose management program will be implemented again.
Meantime, please don’t give up on regular seaweed solution applications. Remember, as the nights get frosty, your roses and other plants will enjoy between 3-5 degrees of greater frost tolerance if their cells are filled with seaweed solution protection!!!
I urge you to conduct trials in your own garden … pour seaweed solution over a few plants, leave others without and see for yourself what the difference is … these trials are not ‘overnight’ visually apparent but your whole garden will appear more robust and healthy when you implement regular fertilizer and maintenance programs!
When ordering your roses NOW FOR WINTER PLANTING, afford your plants a really great start with ECO-SEAWEED – this 600g pack of powdered seaweed with just a small scoop per 10 litre watering can will make more than 500 watering cans of solution … all that for just $32.50 – be sure and add it to your winter rose order!
Q. What lights up a football stadium? A. A football match!
HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY
… to all our beautiful rose gardening Mothers, Grandmothers, Nonnas, Omas and Great-Grandmothers … “Grandmere” which my beautiful Mother has the joy of hearing 17 of her great grandchildren call her!!!
If you’re awake nice and early on Sunday tune into 3CR GARDENING SHOW at 855 on the AM band quite close to 774 ABC Melbourne. Graham will join a great panel of professional gardeners who offer their Sunday morning for your listening pleasure and learning …
3CR GARDEN SHOW
7.30AM – 9.15AM at 855 on the RADIO AM BAND
SILKIES ROSE FARM, CLONBINANE
Open Every Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday 9am – 4pm
PHONE: 03 5787 1123
