The Best Gift

Instead of ho-ho-ho it had been a week of oh-no-no.  Sprained ankle, son's car vandalized, daughter in accident and my father-in-law passed away.  The Christmas spirit felt more like a nightmare.  

On Christmas morning I was driving down I-5 somewhere between SF and LA when Terry texted me Merry Christmas, check out www.friendssjrosegarden.org/city_best_gift.htm

Borrowing my daughter's Blackberry, I proceed to read  the December 25 editorial of the San Jose Mercury News "The Best Gift:  Revival of a Rose Garden."  It brought tears to my eyes.   Thank you to all the wonderful volunteers and city staff who have helped to restore the Rose Garden.  You have transformed a once-blighted landmark into a place of beauty for all to enjoy.  And thank you to the San Jose Mercury News for the wonderful editorial.  It renewed my spirits and filled me with joy.  It was the Best Gift.

Fabulous Felcos

If Santa doesn't stuff your stocking with these, then treat yourself to a new pair of Felcos. Quite possibly the best pruning shear (I also love the Felco loppers and folding pruning saw) they are the favorite of most rose fanciers. Sure they are a little more expensive but definitely worth it. Felco pruning shears come in many models; my personal fav is #8 made for smaller hands, but you can't go wrong with the #2 which is considered classic.

Sturdy, long lasting, they get the job done. I've pruned thousands of roses and would not want to be without my Felcos.

Not a paid advertisement, just my two cents.

Rose Signs Re-Do

Renovating a rose garden means paying attention to every feature, including updating the signs placed in each bed displaying what variety it contains. Many of the old signs were in disrepair, and missing or misplaced as they could easily be pulled out of the beds by pranksters or wayward hoes.

Eagle Scout Brandon Chapman came to the rescue. His Eagle Scout project was constructing new larger wooden signs with anchor stakes and easy-to-read plaques. Recently a crew of volunteers installed the new signs, and wow do they look great!

Goodbye Charles

Been very quiet the past week because my father-in-law passed away. Like all proper Englishmen, he loved to putter about in the garden. He knew how much I loved gardening so he would always beam with pride when he'd show me his vegetable garden, what was in the cold frame, his roses (I couldn't bear to tell him that huge rambling red rose was really Dr. Huey) and the cherries. He was famous for his cherry wine ("would anyone like another glass of my cherry wine?") He had a long and happy life. I will miss him.

Be Hip about Hips

Time to stop deadheading! In our mild climate roses keep blooming through December and need a rest. Best way to trick the roses into going dormant is to allow hips (or seedpods) to form which sends a signal to the plant to stop producing roses. So rather than getting out your shears and snipping off those spent blooms, simply pull off those petals that are blown and ready to fall.

As hips ripen they turn into plump orange and bright red "fruit." Think of it as a Christmas treat for the birds.

Welcome Rose Garden Friends!

This blog is a companion to the Friends of the San Jose Rose Garden website http://www.FriendsSJRoseGarden.org/

Friends of the San Jose Rose Garden or FSJRG is a volunteer organization dedicated to the restoration of the San Jose Municipal Rose Garden, a Historic Landmark. Co-Founded by Terry Reilly and Beverly Rose Hopper, FSJRG has developed an innovative program of volunteer coordination, training, marketing, and a vital private/public partnership with the City of San Jose, which may be used as a model for other communities.

Recently FSJRG received national recognition from All-America-Rose-Selection for their achievements. We are proud of the combined efforts of volunteers and city staff and invite you to visit the website for upcoming events, view photos/videos, and more. http://www.FriendsSJRoseGarden.org/

(Photo credit: Gary Reyes, San Jose Mercury News)