Friends of the San Jose Rose Garden - Rose Tips by Beverly Rose Hopper

How Deep? How High?

2012-01-10T09:13:00.000-08:00

When it comes to planting roses, just because you dig a big hole, doesn't mean you put the rose at the bottom of it.

In mild climate the best height to plant a rose is with the bud union above ground. In cold climates roses are planted with the bud union below ground level so the soil helps protect the union from freezing. But that is not necessary in California. It is better to plant the rose higher so the bud union is exposed to sunlight - some think this encourages basal breaks. A definite advantage to planting with the bud union above ground level is it makes it much easier to determine whether new growth is coming from the bud union (basal canes) or below from rootstalk (suckers.)

When determining proper height to plant, remember due to settling of soil the rose will end up lower. Also after the addition of mulch the rose will be covered up more. With that in mind, I generally try to plant so the bud union is 1 - 2 inches above the soil level. The exact determination is dependent on the length of the shaft or trunk (the area between the roots and the bud union.)

-BRH

400+ volunteers prune 4,000 roses in 90 minutes

2012-01-07T21:18:00.000-08:00

Wow what a successful Annual Pruning event in America's Best Rose Garden! Over 400 volunteers pruned 4,000 rosebushes in 90 minutes. All ages and abilities snipped and clipped. Our quick and easy method of "Pruning for Maximum Display" meant volunteers without previous experience could participate, and help get the job done.

Click here to watch the 3 minute video of highlights.

Thanks to all who participated. And thank you to our generous sponsors. The first 300 volunteers received a free bare root rose courtesy of Star Roses, over 200 Chinook books (value $20) were given to volunteers, and other prizes included (drumroll please, or should I say airhorn?) numerous pairs of San Jose Sharks hockey tickets plus parking passes (chomp! chomp!) and products from Dr. Earth organics.

Thank you San Jose Sharks, City of San Jose, Star Roses, Chinook Book, Summer Winds Nursery and Dr. Earth for your generosity.

And thank you to all our fabulous volunteers!

It's the Big Event - Annual Pruning plus prizes

2012-01-05T09:13:00.000-08:00

Sharpen your shears and come on down to America's Best Rose Garden. It's the Annual Pruning of the San Jose Municipal Rose Garden on Sat., Jan 7th at 9 a.m.

Our Master Volunteers will demonstrate our quick and easy method of "Pruning for Maximum Display." This nontraditional or should I say "cutting edge" method makes fast work of pruning and produces big bushes with loads of blooms.

The first 200 volunteers will receive a FREE rosebush courtesy of Star Roses, and a Chinook book chock full of coupons and discounts courtesy of Summer Wind Nurseries. And there's more! Volunteers will be entered to win products from Dr. Earth and San Jose Sharks hockey tickets. Chomp! Chomp!

Bring shears and gloves if have them, some provided. All ages and abilities welcome. No advance registration is required, check-in at the registration table upon arrival. Must be present to win.

Annual Pruning of the Municipal Rose Garden
Sat., Jan. 7th from 9:00 am - 12noon
Located corner of Naglee & Dana Avenue, San Jose
Free parking

The forecast is for perfect pruning weather!

For more info www.FriendsSJRoseGarden.org

Let there be Hips!

2011-10-28T10:24:00.000-07:00

For most of the blooming season, one of the main tasks in the rose garden is to "deadhead" or cut off old blossoms. After a rose has bloomed the part underneath the bloom swells up and ripens into a seedpod. This sends a message for the plant to slow down flower production. During spring, summer and early fall, good gardeners faithfully snip and clip off spent blooms to prevent hip formation and keep the rose pumping out flowers.

Fall changes everything. Rather than continue to deadhead, it is better to give the rose a chance to rest. Allowing hips to form in late fall allows the rose to complete its natural life cycle. The formation of hips signals the rose to slow down, induce dormancy and store energy for next year.

It can be tempting to keep on clipping. After all we love roses, and our plants which are well loved want to reward us with bloom. In fact, in mild climates it is possible to have have roses blooming through the holidays, and even a smattering at pruning time. In cold climates it may mean roses until the snowfall. However, let's not be greedy. The rosebush needs a rest.

Concerned if you don't deadhead you'll have fallen petals strewn about the garden? You can still have a tidy garden and allow hips to form by gently pulling off old blossoms from the flower head before they fall. This simple technique may satisfy your desire to deadhead yet it encourages hip formation. Yes, there may be times you just have to pull out the clippers and snip - blooms affected with botrytis (a grey mold fungus) should be removed. After all, allowing hips to form does not mean allowing disease to run rampant. Generally speaking a soggy bloom may rot, a dry healthy bloom will not.

When it comes to hips, learn to appreciate their function and beauty. Hips are a part of nature, they are full of vitamin C and can provide food for the birds. Hips can be quite decorative in the fall garden. Just as roses have many shapes, shades and sizes, so do hips. Some look like little orange pumpkins, others like juicy red balls. They make striking additions to fall flower arrangements, especially Thanksgiving bouquets. Hips can be quite pretty, and make a wonderful addition to fall rose shows.

Show your roses appreciation for a wonderful season of bloom. Give them a rest, and they will reward you next year. Hip Hip Hurray!

Guest Commentary for Day of Remembrance

2011-09-11T11:26:00.000-07:00

On this 10 year anniversary of 9-11, thought I'd share the following article written by Dorothy Wall. This originally appeared in the Mother Lode Rose Society newsletter "The Rose Hip" in October 2001.

With this Nation's tragic events upon us, rose shows and rose gardens sort of diminish in importance - perhaps even seeming trivial. We realize our vulnerability, our helplessness in the face of such an unbelievable and vicious attack on our country.

But as I found myself turning off the television and going out into the garden I realized that at at time such as this we need our roses and our gardens more than ever. How many times in our own life has my garden got me through a crisis when nothing else could! We need a place to feel grounded - to tie us to the earth and know there is a larger universe of which we are only a small part. That, in the final act, right will win and evil will surely fail and pay a price.

I often think and firmly believe that we are given flowers and especially roses to help us through the bad times, the sorrows and aches of life to help us remember that there is more beauty in the world than ugliness.

It is more important than ever to create some beauty where you can. We cannot change the world or replace the hate in the hearts of evil people with love, but we can refuse to despair. We can make sure that we promote harmony and not hate in our own small corner of the world.

And yes, we can, plant more roses!

###

Thank you Mom for the words of wisdom!

BRH

Weed Need You

2011-08-31T11:18:00.000-07:00

In honor of the National Day of Service, we are calling for troops of volunteers to help weed and deadhead the San Jose Municipal Rose Garden on Sat, Sep 10 at 9:00 AM.

After a long hot summer - and the recent round of budget cuts - the roses can get a bit shaggy and need some TLC to keep them looking good through fall. We'll start the morning with a short demo of easy fall rose care, and our Master Volunteers will be on hand to answer questions about "deadheading for maximum display" and other tips.

As always, all ages and abilities are welcome! Bring gloves and shears if have them, some provided.

For more info www.FriendsSJRoseGarden.org

Spider Mites

2011-07-29T17:57:00.001-07:00

Spider Mites are a summer pest. When the weather gets hot, that's the time to be on the lookout for spider mites, which damage rose foliage by sucking the cells dry.

How to identify mites? Foliage from above looks dry and when leaf is turned over you may see webbing. Spider mites attack the underside of the leaf and appear as tiny specks, like salt and pepper.

What causes mites? Water stressed plants, dust, use of chemical insecticides. Spider mites are not an insect - they are arachnoids - and use of insecticides kills off natural predators.

How to prevent? Besides good culture (lots of water, not using insecticides) a good plan of action during hot summer months is to remove bottom foliage (mites start from the ground up). Also hose off your plants at least once a week to help keep the foliage clean.

How to control? Spider mites reproduce at a rapid rate, so fast action is needed. An easy, effective and safe method is to use a water wand to wash the undersides of foliage. In case of infestations do this every day for a week to break the mites life cycle. Predatory insects such as green lacewings are helpful. If you need heavier artillery, there are miticides on the market. Always read the label and follow safety precautions.

For more info read UC IPM Guidelines on Spider Mites. And click here for Award of Merit article on Spider Mites from Marin Rose Society.

-Beverly Rose Hopper

Photo by Gail Trimble

How the San Jose Municipal Rose Garden Grew Through Self-Reported Volunteer Tracking

2011-07-25T15:59:00.000-07:00

The following article was submitted by Joleigh on Our Volts www.ourvolts.com Thought I'd share it with you.

Managing volunteers, arranging schedules, coordinating with supervisors and keeping track of volunteer hours can be overwhelming and time consuming, especially if you're a small nonprofit or grassroots community organization. Does it need to be so complicated? Is it possible to eliminate endless piles of paperwork and massive miscommunication?

In 2005, the San Jose Municipal Rose Garden, a free, public space in the heart of Silicon Valley, was placed on probation with the All-American Rose Selections (AARS). Budget cuts had left the space in a state of decline. Today, the fragrant garden is thriving; over 3,000 people volunteer to keep it well maintained and operating smoothly. In 2010, it won the AARS “America’s Best Rose Garden” competition. How did this patch of neglected shrubs manage to bloom again?

In late 2007, Terry Reilly and Beverly Rose Hopper founded the Friends of the San Jose Rose Garden (FSJRG). In 2008, the AARS decided to keep the garden in their program; evaluators noticed that the beds were finally being properly pruned and weeded and that plant disease was being controlled. FSJRG’s methods merit some attention: successful recruitment and management of volunteers, media engagement and an adept use of the web.

Self-Tracked Volunteer Hours for Social Currency

Reilly and Hopper began putting out the call for volunteers. San Jose Mercury News and other local media platforms told the story through ongoing coverage. Getting volunteers to show up was FSJRG’s first challenge; managing and retaining a base of willing participants was the next step. They set up an internet based system so volunteers could track their own hours and be recognized amongst their peers for the work they did. In the beginning, the means of tracking volunteer time involved a coordinator receiving hours and manually entering them into a database.

In August of 2010, FSJRG began using OurVolts, an online volunteer tracking system. This tool allows volunteers to log their hours themselves. The information shows up instantly as aggregated, public data for everyone from FSJRG to see. This data transparency and instant feedback on individual contributions is a different approach from the norm. Click here to see their OurVolts site and all the work that is still being done!

Since starting with OurVolts, FSJRG has seen an increase in volunteer participation and retention - volunteers seem to commit to the project and have more ownership over what they contribute when they can see the results of their efforts instantly added to the site.

Skillful Use of Social Media and Web

Efforts to build this vibrant community of rose aficionados involved a smart web strategy. FSJRG has an active Facebook page. Moderators pose questions to engage dialogue; volunteers are recognized in status updates and photo albums; accomplishments and events are announced and a range of blossom types are artfully captured and shared.

The FSJRG website is an achievement in and of itself. The site features regular blog postings, an interactive Google map of the garden, a mash-up Yahoo map which illustrates where the volunteers are from, an impressively documented FSJRG history lesson, an embedded version of OurVolts for logging hours and plenty of instructional videos.

Empowered Volunteers

San Jose Rose Garden volunteers are empowered in many ways. When a participant reaches 100 hours of donated time, they are given a City Commendation sign by the Mayor and City Council member.

The Master Volunteer Certificate program provides a workshop to sharpen horticultural skills. After completing the 5 hour training and probation period, Master Volunteers are provided a stylish green vest to identify them in the garden, and they are able to log their hours themselves.

Video tutorials on everything from removing “suckers” (nutrient-robbing stems near the plant’s root), pruning, planting and dead heading also enhance volunteer expertise.

Streamlining internal processes, wise use of web technology, skill-building and recognizing volunteers are all crucial aspects of volunteer retention and community project sustainability. The San Jose Municipal Rose Garden has proven that cultivating a loyal volunteer community is possible, despite thorny obstacles.

Big Bushes

2011-07-23T21:27:00.000-07:00

One of the things that sets the San Jose Municipal Rose Garden apart from other public gardens (and crucial to the restoration by FSJRG) was our maxim to “prune high for maximum display.” Too often rosebushes are hacked down to the ground, chopped to only a foot tall with disregard to plant habit and climate. Santa Clara County is blessed with a near perfect climate for roses. Almost anyone can grow roses here albeit with a range of results. Though truth be told some people should not be allowed to grow roses. I’ll never forget the time standing over a bin of bare-root roses I overheard a couple dickering over a pending purchase “if you buy that rose you’ll just have to water it” – how I wanted to snatch that rose out of their hands and save it!

Keep in mind that reference books or info online about the correct way to take care of rosebushes may have been based on rose culture in Minnesota, not California. Methods and results vary tremendously. The first time I visited rose mecca aka headquarters of the American Rose Society in Shreveport, Louisiana, I was shocked to see how small the rose bushes were. In both public and private gardens, roses only seemed to grow a few feet tall and consequently had very few blooms. I’ll admit the sparse display in comparison with our lush gardens back home were a bit of a disappointment.

The difference in performance is part regional, part tradition. Our climate provides for six or seven bloom cycles; depending on variety one can have roses blooming as early as March and as late as December. With all that repeat growth (not to mention sunshine) plants have the opportunity to grow large. Gardeners in colder climates may not have their first bloom until late June and the bushes only squeeze out a cycle or two before shutting down with an early frost; consequently the bushes are small. Regarding tradition, some gardeners prune “like grandma taught them” or perhaps how they did when living in Minnesota or based on reference materials not specific to our area or outcome desired.

Take a look at the bushes in the Rose Garden or in your home garden. When it comes to proper size, pruning and shaping, NEVER remove more than one half the height; otherwise your plant can go into shock. Think of it this way – the canes store sugars and energy for the plant, harsh pruning cuts off energy supplies, which the plant needs for future growth. Of course there are a couple exceptions, sometimes a rose has to be cut back hard because it needs to be relocated and transplanted, or perhaps you discover a rose doesn’t fit the space in the landscape. These are tricky situations, but as a rule of (green) thumb you will have the most success and happiest roses if you allow them to grow to their full potential.

Recently when viewing the big bushes loaded with bloom at the Rose Garden, someone asked, “aren’t the roses too tall?” Though I knew the answer I passed along the comment to Tom Carruth, world famous hybridizer at Weeks Roses. He laughed, “there’s no such thing as roses that are too big!”

by Beverly Rose Hopper
Co-Founder, FSJRG

Tale of Two Rose Gardens

2011-03-01T08:05:00.000-08:00

San Jose has two world-class rose gardens, each containing about 4,000 rosebushes. It’s important to know how they are related, yet how they differ. The San Jose Municipal Rose Garden is a historic landmark park containing primarily modern roses. The Heritage Rose Garden is a modern garden containing primarily historic roses. Confused? Let me explain.

In a nutshell, the San Jose Municipal Rose Garden is a rose garden in a park setting, and the Heritage Rose Garden is a rose garden that serves as a botanical collection. Quite different, but they compliment each other. Ironically, both gardens are located on the same street – though it’s called Naglee in front of the Muni and Taylor in front of the Heritage. Still confused? It may help to know the history why these two distinct gardens were created.

Famed architect John McLaren, who also designed Golden Gate Park, designed the San Jose Municipal Rose Garden in the early 1930’s. The plan was and is, for the 11 acre garden to be a world class garden, filled with thousands of roses amid expansive lawns, picnic areas and a reflecting pool (later transformed into a fountain) It was to be a showplace for Santa Clara County, drawing visitors from across the USA. That was true then, and with the recent restoration by Friends of the San Jose Rose Garden, it is true once more.

Initially the garden was planted with the popular roses of the day, but it also contained roses of historic interest, including roses from the California Missions and cuttings from roses grown by Martha Washington. As the decades rolled on, some of these roses died a natural death, and others were removed because they were no longer fashionable. We don’t have exact dates when these treasures were lost, most likely after World War II during the 50’s when America was looking to the future. The very latest varieties were planted each year, and visitors flocked to the garden to see what’s new. In fact, as an All-America Rose Selection (AARS) garden, the Rose Garden receives award-winning varieties in advance of being released to the public. With the recent upgrade to AARS Test Garden status, visitors can see the roses of the future – varieties planted in 2010 for evaluation won’t be on the market until 2014.

Most modern public rose gardens are filled with modern roses. Old garden roses, some which had survived hundreds of years, were becoming at risk of being lost forever. In the late 1980’s, Tom Liggett, a supporter of the Rose Garden but also an old rose aficionado, began promoting the idea of a public garden that would preserve these classic roses. Liggett’s concept was for a botanical collection, or a “rose encyclopedia” rather than a mass display of roses. The collection would contain rare or endangered roses, roses that may be rare in the future, roses of importance to hybridizing, and also unknown and modern roses of note, hence “heritage” roses. As the Heritage Rose Garden was intended as a preservation site rather than a park, a previously unusable plot of land under the flight path of the airport could be utilized. In addition the project was pitched to the City as low/no-maintenance; no-spray, all-volunteer, and initially no deadheading. There would be no lawns; restrooms, picnic facilities, water features or other structures that would require maintenance other than drip irrigation and the roses themselves.

The Heritage caused a sensation in the rose world, because there was no other collection like it in the USA, or even perhaps in the world. In recognition of this, it was the first inductee in the Rose Garden Hall of Fame by the organization Great Rosarians of the World (GROW). Jill Perry is the current Curator of the Collection, and the Heritage is a joint venture with the City of San Jose and the Guadalupe River Park Conservancy.

Friends of the San Jose Rose Garden and the transformation of the San Jose Municipal Rose Garden have also caused a sensation. FSJRG has received much press, many local and national awards, including recognition by California State legislators and the US Congress. FSJRG strives to set high standards and we are proud our program is being used as model by other communities. We are grateful for our wonderful volunteers and the public/private partnership with the City of San Jose.

Though there have been many changes over the decades, the San Jose Municipal Rose Garden has returned to its roots as a showplace, a destination, an oasis of tranquility and beauty. It is as one volunteer said, a place one “can breathe.” And as part of a nation wide contest by the All-America Rose Selections, it was recently named “America’s Best Rose Garden.”

Serious rose fans will want to become well acquainted with both gardens. As they are located within 5 minutes of each other, it’s easy to do. Plan on picnicking at the San Jose Municipal, as facilities at the Heritage are quite limited. But bring your camera to both!

- by Beverly Rose Hopper, Co-Founder Friends of the San Jose Rose Garden

The San Jose Municipal Rose Garden is located at Naglee and Dana
The Heritage Rose Garden located at Taylor and Spring Street
(Naglee changes name to Taylor at the Alameda)

The Video: Pruning Roses for Maximum Display

2011-02-02T22:41:00.000-08:00

Almost 58,000 views!

Get Gauntlets

2011-01-29T09:53:00.000-08:00

When it comes to gloves, I wear gauntlets or wear nothing. After 30 years of gardening, my hands are used to being bare in the garden. After all the temptation to putter about in the garden is sometimes too great to stop to put on protection. But that said, I love my gauntlets and wouldn't be without them when tackling big tasks. Putting on a pair tells the roses you mean business. The long cuffs protect the wrists and forearms - prickles don't send a shiver up your spine or leave a trail of blood. Gauntlets are tough, but they add a touch of flair as they look like evening gloves for the garden! Besides being a must for pruning season, they are perfect in summer because they enable the gardener to wear lighter clothing like a tank top but still be well dressed for the garden.

I've tried many different gloves and keep coming back to "The Gauntlet" which has served me well. A very popular model is the "The Rose Glove" by West County Gardener which is colorful and machine washable. It is so popular with our volunteers in the San Jose Municipal Rose Garden that we often refer to it as the "official glove of the Rose Garden." Another option you that that caught my eye is "The Bionic Glove" which looks rather James Bond-ish. Designed by a hand orthopedic surgeon, it offers a combination of protection and support - handy for long days in the garden.

- Beverly Rose Hopper

Pruning for Maximum Display

2011-01-12T14:42:00.000-08:00

by Beverly Rose Hopper
Master Rosarian, Co-Founder Friends of the San Jose Rose Garden

Introduction: This pruning technique was demonstrated with spectacular results at the San Jose Municipal Rose Garden. Three years ago the garden was in serious disrepair, landing on probation with the All‐America Rose Selection. Poor pruning practices had taken a toll. Friends of the San Jose Rose Garden, a nonprofit volunteer organization was founded by Terry Reilly & Beverly Rose Hopper to rescue the garden. In 3 years the garden was transformed from probation to by using innovative techniques such as “Pruning for Maximum Display” and in 2010 the San Jose Municipal Rose Garden was named “America’s Best Rose Garden."

Pruning is rejuvenation; cutting away the unproductive so fresh strong growth can emerge. A time of new beginnings, of promise, even miracles. A plant that looks haggard at winter's end, can after being lovingly pruned, burst forth with beauty in the spring.

For bushes in good condition, pruning is akin to a trip to the spa for a makeover; for those in rough shape the opportunity for rehab. Clipped and trimmed, diseased leaves removed, made ready for another year of blooms.

Pruning is a time of rebirth, and yet right now across America, rose bushes are at risk. Legions of gardeners lopping shears in hand are cutting and chopping rose bushes almost to the ground in the name of "proper pruning," without regard for the natural height of the plant, growth habit or habitat. The excuse? "Ya gotta cut them back hard if ya want them to be any good." Sounds harsh? It is.

It's easy to over‐do it. A little snip here, a little snip there . . . before you know it in a flurry of chopping most of the canes are gone. Leaves and stems are strewn all over the place. And if you have a conscience, you feel slightly sick "did I cut off too much?" If you find yourself in the circumstance, recognize the signs – you are an over pruner! Do yourself and the roses a favor. Get help. Stop before you do any more damage. Put down the pruning shears and step away from the rosebushes. Go inside and get a cup of decaf. Do some meditation and repeat the mantra "what do I want to achieve?"

If the answer is "I want a lot of roses blooming in my garden" then accept you need to prune lightly. Do not remove more than 1/3 – 1/2 of the height. Leave a lot of canes on. Disregard advice to only leave 3 ‐5 canes on a Hybrid Tea. Most roses can't handle that, and certainly not most rose growers. Leave that stuff for hardcore rose exhibitors desperately searching for the one perfect bloom. I should know. . . I've been there.

I used to be an over‐pruner. As an avid rose show exhibitor I wanted the very best blooms. If it meant sacrificing canes to produce a prize winning rose, it was worth it. No matter it sent the bush to an early grave, after all it would probably be replaced by next year's hot variety. But as the years rolled on I discovered pruning lightly had rewards – more roses. Pruning has a simple ratio – the harder you prune (more you take off) the less blooms you have but each bloom may be bigger. Conversely, the more you leave on the more blooms you will have. Most gardeners would prefer a sea of blooms to delight the senses rather than a couple eye‐popping blooms.

Simply stated ‐ prune high for maximum display. This has been demonstrated with spectacular results at the San Jose Municipal Rose Garden. Three years ago the garden was in serious disrepair, landing on probation with the All‐America Rose Selection. Poor pruning practices (too harsh) had taken a toll.

I knew the first step was to radically change the pruning process. Within a year, the garden went from probation to elation, revitalized and renewed, elevated to All‐America Rose Selection Test Garden status (one of only 23 in USA) along with other awards. Tom Carruth, one of the world’s top rose hybridizers and Director of Research for Weeks Roses, called it “the most dramatic turnaround of any garden” he’d ever seen. The transformation was indeed spectacular, and in 2010 in the first nationwide contest to select the best public rose garden in the USA, the San Jose Municipal Rose Garden won the honor, being named “America’s Best Rose Garden.”

What was this radical pruning program? Stakes were placed in each bed and marked for height. Volunteers were instructed to cut at that level (not below), and remove all foliage. Very simple. What about the traditional advice to open the center, remove crossing canes or thin growth? We ignored it. The results were in the roses, masses of blooms, and strong healthy bushes. This simplified pruning process also meant that volunteers of all ages and abilities could participate. In 2008 & 2009, roses were pruned at a rate of 33 rpm (roses per minute.) In 2010 we broke a new record, 935 volunteers pruned 4,000 rosebushes in one hour!

For video made by the author "Pruning For Maximum Display" click here and more including  Before/After photos of San Jose Municipal Rose Garden visit  www.FriendsSJRoseGarden.org

This article is based on previously published "Pruning Simply" written by the author for Regan Nursery.

Shear Power - Annual Pruning of Rose Garden

2011-01-10T18:07:00.000-08:00

175 enthusiastic volunteers demonstrated Shear Power by pruning 4,000 rosebushes by noon.

How did we do it? By "Pruning for Maximum Display." To make it easy for all ages and abilities to participate, stakes are placed in the rose-beds. Orange spray paint marks what level the roses should be cut back. This takes out the guess work and insures uniformity. Volunteers are instructed to cut to the level marked - not below. Then remove all remaining foliage, and rake up debris. We call it Pruning at 33 r.p.m. or roses per minute.

This technique has produced spectacular results, and has helped transform the San Jose Municipal Rose Garden into America's Best Rose Garden. Bigger bushes produce more blooms and mass displays of flowers.

The freshly pruned garden will come into first spring bloom at the end of April, with constant color through November using our methods of Pruning for Maximum Display and Deadheading for Maximum Display.

For more information on how you can be part of America's Best Rose Garden visit www.FriendsSJRoseGarden.org

Free Roses! Special Event Annual Pruning

2011-01-02T09:45:00.001-08:00

Sat January 8 at 9 AM FSJRG kicks off the Annual Pruning of the San Jose Municipal Rose Garden. This is always a not-to-be-missed event. This year the first 300 volunteers will receive a free bare root rose courtesy of Star Roses.

Come learn our quick and easy method of "Pruning for Maximum Display." Master Volunteers will show you how simple it is to prune roses, and how our technique has transformed the San Jose Municipal Rose Garden into "America's Best Rose Garden."

All ages and abilities welcome. Bring gloves and shears if have them (a few will be provided.)

For tips and a demonstration of "Pruning for Maximum Display" watch the pruning training video

The San Jose Municipal Rose Garden is located at the corner of Naglee and Dana Avenue in San Jose. Free parking.

- BRH

Transporting Potted Roses with Recycled Potting Mix Bags

2010-11-06T20:41:00.000-07:00

Transporting potted roses from the nursery to home can get messy. Not to mention tricky to keep long canes from getting tangled. Most nurseries offer disposable sheets of plastic to help keep the car clean from soil spills and foliage debris. This plastic is handy, but it typically gets tossed in the trash only a matter of minutes later upon arrival at home. Rather a waste and from an environmental perspective rather ironic.

A much better idea is to reuse empty potting mix bags for transporting potted roses. Not only do they keep the car clean, they also keep the canes intact and prevent tangles and breakage. I was introduced to this clever tip by Rosemary Sawyer of Rosemary's Roses in Columbia, CA. She recycles empty potting mix bags - potted roses slip into the bags for easy transport. Such an easy and effective method! I was especially pleased the roses could be transported laying flat - stacked like sausages - into the back of my car instead of having to bend canes in order to fit them in upright. Tucked into the bags the roses traveled home like a dream - in perfect condition even after a long ride along winding country roads.

Rosemary uses 2 cubit feet SuperSoil bags, however any brand of potting mix, planting mix would work (roses don't read labels!) Other possibilities are empty bags of bark, compost or manures. Generally such bags are sturdy and after using the contents in the garden can be easily folded flat and kept for your next trip to the nursery.

A simple solution to a thorny problem.

-Beverly Rose Hopper

Guest Commentary: Dr. Earth

2010-09-29T09:36:00.000-07:00

Received the following article from Milo Shammas the Founder and Formulator of Dr. Earth® products. This is a must read for anyone interested in organic gardening. Thought I'd share it with you here:

THE PROMISE OF DR. EARTH PRO-MOISTURE HYDRATER "Keeping the intelligence alive"
A report on a patented scientific advancement in the viability of microbes in packaged soils
by Milo Shammas

In 1991, I invented the concept of infusing fertilizers and soils with beneficial soil microbes and mycorrhizae, utilizing "Nature's Intelligence©." My Dr. Earth® products with ProBiotic® revolutionized the lawn and garden industry and changed expectations of customers. Now other companies, with the best of intentions, sell products believed to include living organisms.
However, my continuing scientific research has revealed serious discrepancies between laboratory conditions and conditions typically found in nursery or garden center environments, conditions that can render ineffective, the microbe-infused products of all well-meaning soil bagger.
After years of research I discovered a solution to the problem. Now my patented invention, Pro-Moisture Hydrate®, is included in every Dr. Earth® branded soil. But in the case of all other brands who have copied the use of beneficial organisms, the effectiveness of their products remains at serious risk, if it exists at all, as I will presently explain.

THE MYTH―that what works in the lab works in the real world
Beneficial microbes are cultured in a clean laboratory environment―with a stable and moderate temperature―for use in such products as yogurt, nutritional supplements, animal feed, beer, or packaged soil.
Soil producers add these costly microbes to their products with the belief that they are selling "living" soil. In fact, it may be "dead."
I was the first to include living organisms in DRY organic fertilizers, and there was no problem with viability. But soon everyone wanted this biology in BOTH dry fertilizers and WET bagged soils. After packaging, these WET soils are shipped from the manufacturer into the real world and are no longer in a controlled situation favorable to living microbes.

THE REALITY―an explanation of microbiology in relation to environment
When soil baggers ship their products to retail markets, the biology contained in the packages faces the harsh conditions of the real world:
extreme heat and cold. In 2004, one of my customers questioned how microbes could survive in the bags in his hot parking lot. I replied that they could because they were in a dormant state. The original Dr. Earth® microbe-infused products, the first ever available, were dry fertilizers in which microbes survived regardless of temperature extremes. Ongoing random tests proved their sustained viability. However, no one in the industry realized at the time, that adding them to WET soils created completely different, and fatal, circumstances for these tiny life forms.
I considered the customer's question carefully and grew concerned. I could not, with a clear conscience, sell products claiming to contain live organisms if I wasn't sure of the truth of that claim. I purchase my own soil from a Los Angeles nursery, where it sat in full sun, and had it tested. Two weeks later I received the bad news; all the microbes were dead.
I tested other brands that had begun adding microbes and mycorrhizae, stored under the same conditions, and saw the same results. The organisms were dying within 30 to 60 days after packaging.
The temperature of bagged soils stored outside on pallets, in direct sun, can reach 220°F, killing beneficial microbes just as cooking our food kills those that could harm us. Conversely, exposure to freezing kills them too. Microbes infused into WET soils break dormancy and come to life. They are full of water, actively multiplying and digesting organic materials.
When frozen, these organisms swell―since water expands when it freezes―causing their cell walls to crack open. They rupture, and DIE. Other soil producers, who embraced this profitable response to consumer demand for microbe-infused soils, still live with the problems my research revealed.
They continue to sell products of questionable value while I have perfected my invention.

THE SOLUTION―using "nature's intelligence," requires "keeping the intelligence alive"
For years, the answer to the problem had been right in my own home and part of my everyday life: ALOE VERA. This desert plant, used by early civilizations, thrives where temperatures reach as high as 140°F during the day and below freezing at night. Aloe vera works like a natural "anti-freeze." It draws water from the surrounding environment and reduces "evapo-respiration." Just as it protects plants, aloe vera keeps microbes moist and alive in extreme heat or cold, and elastic enough to survive the expansion that occurs with freezing, so they can swell without bursting and dying. What aloe vera does for your human skin and hair, it also does for living micro-organisms when incorporated into our wet packaged soils. It coats and protects them, remains in contact, and by lowering the surface tension of water, aloe vera serves to transport synergistic elements, such as moisturizing acids, through the cell walls to penetrate deeply. This is why I formulated, and patented (Serial No. 12,803,002) Dr. Earth Pro-Moisture Hydrate® with aloe vera.
I needed permission from the Department of Agriculture to include Pro-Moisture Hydrate® with aloe vera in my soils, but the USDA did not recognize aloe vera as a soil ingredient. I carried out extensive research between April 2005 and September 2008 and prepared a field trial and efficacy report. Results in our test gardens, comparing plants grown in our soils with and without Pro-Moisture Hydrate®, proved conclusively that Pro-Moisture Hydrate® increases plant yields, vigor, and color penetration.
With a patent and the Department of Agriculture approval, Dr.Earth® was prepared to offer the only packaged soil in America that protects beneficial microbes.

The integrity of our company―along with our pioneering research―allows us to make the PROMISE of Pro-Moisture Hydrate®: LIVING SOIL. We were the first to infuse beneficial microbes and mycorrhizae into fertilizers and packaged soils, offering customers "Nature's Intelligence©. Now, with our patented Pro-Moisture Hydrate® we are the first AND ONLY soil producer with the ability to ensure that we are "Keeping the intelligence alive©!"

PRO-MOISTURE HYDRATER is found ONLY in Dr. Earth® soils.

Note: The aloe vera plant, a succulent, has fleshy leaves with a tough outer skin, under which is a resinous, extremely bitter tasting, yellow substance.
Although when dried, this "aloe drug extract" has beneficial properties, including being anti-bacterial, it is NOT in Pro-Moisture Hydrate® because that anti-bacterial property would harm the beneficial microbes and defeat our purpose. We use only the "inner fillet."

###
Thank you to Milo and Dr. Earth for this fascinating article. The San Jose Municipal Rose Garden - America's Best Rose Garden - proudly uses Dr. Earth fertilizer.

-BRH

September in the Garden

2010-09-21T10:28:00.000-07:00

It may be almost Fall, but the roses keep blooming in America's Best Rose Garden. Lots of color for visitors to enjoy.

Thanks to volunteers and park staff who keep the garden looking good all year long.

This short video (2 minutes) was filmed in the San Jose Municipal Rose Garden on September 16.

Celebration of America's Best

2010-09-02T21:44:00.000-07:00

Time to celebrate the San Jose Municipal Rose Garden being named "America's Best Rose Garden" by the All-America Rose Selections. We kick off the festivities on Sat Sep 4 at 9:00 am with the Award Presentation. On hand will be the Mayor of San Jose, Chuck Reed, and Councilmember Pierluigi Oliverio, along with representatives of the All-America Rose Selections. Other special events include a Historical Hightlights Tour at 10:30 am, and at 11:00 am a Speaker Series in the Garden "Creating Tomorrow's Roses Today" by Jacques Ferare, Director of Research for Star Roses. And of course in between volunteers will have the opportunity to do some deadheading and weeding (of course!)

It has been quite a journey. From probation to elation in less than 3 years. Over 3,000 volunteers from around the Bay Area and beyond participated, clipping, weeding, and planting roses. It's been a labor of love, so it makes sense the celebration is Labor Day weekend. Come share in the special day, and bring a friend!

-BRH

Walking on Sunshine

2010-08-30T16:05:00.001-07:00

Walking On Sunshine, an All-America Rose Selections winner for 2011, has been a winner in the San Jose Municipal Rose Garden and in my home garden. Though how a rose looks when it is in bloom is important, equally important is what it looks like in between bloom cycles - and Walking On Sunshine has fabulous foliage that looks good all season long.

This charming yellow ruffled floribunda is another stellar rose from Keith Zary, master hybridizer at Jackson & Perkins. Unfortunately, in less than ideal economic times this rose may not get the publicity boost it deserves. The rose is so easy to grow, with excellent repeat bloom, and even a pleasing light fragrance (I said light, not catalog light!) Regan Nursery says it is a "great rose for the new rose gardener" but I believe it deserves a spot in every garden.

Check it out at the San Jose Municipal Rose Garden, and add it to your list for 2011.

-BRH

Unforgettable?

2010-08-30T16:02:00.001-07:00

Wonder why the bed of “Unforgettable” looks like it’s just been pruned? No, it’s not pruning season – that’s January – simply that Unforgettable had an unforgettable case of rust.

Rust, identified by round orange pustules on underside of foliage, is normally a cool weather fungal disease. Unforgettable had been struggling all year, and combined with conditions ripe for rust resulted in a doozy of a case - every single leaf was infected. Rust spores spread through the air, and we did not want disease spreading to adjacent beds. The San Jose Municipal Rose Garden is an organic/no-spray garden; toxic chemicals are not an option. Drastic action was required, and that meant stripping all foliage, trimming it back; giving Unforgettable a fresh start.

Removing all foliage during the summer is a bit risky, leaves produce energy and provide the plant protection against sunburn. But with tender loving care Unforgettable should recover. Or find itself bumped by a new variety.

- BRH

America's Best Rose Garden

2010-08-12T11:13:00.000-07:00

Wow what a journey it's been. In less than 3 years Friends of the San Jose Rose Garden (FSJRG) has taken the San Jose Municipal Rose Garden from probation to elation. We are thrilled the Rose Garden has been named "America's Best Rose Garden" by the All-America Rose Selections in the first nationwide contest to select the best public rose garden in the USA.

Hard to believe now only a few years ago this historic landmark park of 4,000 rosebushes was in dismal condition - roses dead and dying, beds overgrown with weeds - and in 2005 was put on probation by the All-America Rose Selections, and as a result was in serious risk of losing its national accreditation. In 2007, Friends of the San Jose Rose Garden (a nonprofit volunteer organization) was founded by Beverly Rose Hopper and Terry Reilly to come to the rescue. Our first event "Free the Roses" was held on Sep 15, 2007. The rest as they say is history. So far over 3,000 volunteers have participated and the turnaround has been dramatic.

Take a look at key dates:

2005 Rose Garden put on probation by All-America Rose Selections (AARS)
2007 Friends of the San Jose Rose Garden founded by Hopper & Reilly
2008 Taken off probation by AARS
2009 Elevated to AARS Test Garden status (one of only 15 in the USA)
2010 Named "America's Best Rose Garden" by the AARS

How did we do it?

Innovative horticultural techniques and marketing. We make it easy and fun to volunteer.

At FSJRG we offer a multi-tiered volunteer program: individual, group, organization (such as Kiwanis) and recently expanded into offering corporate volunteer days (Google).

Individuals can volunteer in our popular Master Volunteer program, where they also serve as Docents or our Ambassadors to the Garden. Master Volunteers become "vested" after participating in a training program then are free to volunteer in the garden at their own pace any day of the week or time. As an alternative to the Master Volunteer program, individuals can also participate in any of our Group or Mass Volunteer Days which are held periodically throughout the year. Our mass volunteer days typically attract about 200 volunteers from throughout the San Francisco Bay Area and beyond. These are always fun events, with refreshments and prizes.

Groups can contact FSJRG or the City of San Jose to arrange special volunteer days for their organizations. For example the Kiwanis have held major community volunteer days in the garden installing weed cloth. Corporations looking for team-building activities have discovered the San Jose Municipal Rose Garden is an excellent place to work together on projects - fresh air, roses, digging in the dirt - all good stuff! In May we hosted Google in the Garden and 300 Googlers planted roses, spread mulch, did painting and other various tasks. The garden looked great and a good time was had by all.

The All-America Rose Selections first nationwide contest to select the best public rose garden in the USA was a thorough process. After three months of voting, a panel of experts evaluated the top 10 gardens and selected a winner based on beauty, creativity and the garden's overall contribution to its community - and we are proud to be selected #1 in the nation!

The San Jose Municipal Rose Garden will receive a check for $2,500 and be featured in a national PR campaign highlighting the best gardens in America.

Thank you to our wonderful volunteers and our partnership with the City of San Jose for making this dream a reality.

- Beverly Rose Hopper

RoundUp & Roses

2010-08-11T08:29:00.000-07:00

As a nonselective herbicide, RoundUp can do wonders on weeds. Unfortunately it can also do not-so-wonderful things to roses. Ranging from stunted, mutated growth to outright plant death, the havoc makes both the rose and the gardener sick. For this reason RoundUp should never be used in a rosebed.

Alas, sometimes gardeners forget, or they mistakenly think they "will be careful." However, not matter how good the gardener is, or how careful, it is simply too risky because even spray drift can cause serious damage. Here's a pic of "Pretty Lady" looking not so pretty as the gardener (who shall remain nameless) used RoundUp on the adjacent poppies. Not only did the poppies take a hit, but so did the roses.

Very often when doing a garden call (Rose M.D.) and diagnosing sick plants the question has to be asked "have you used RoundUp?" And if the bed is on the property line, "has your neighbor used RoundUp?"

If the answer is yes, just say "No" to future RoundUp use or in the case of a friend, do an intervention to prevent the roses from needing rehab.

-Beverly Rose Hopper

Cut the Cord

2010-07-15T16:34:00.000-07:00

Is it wrong to be in love with a blower?

I treated myself to a battery operated device that lessens stress and brings pleasure - the Black and Decker 18 volt Hard Surface Sweeper. After years of struggling with a heavy blower which gave me a sore back, not to mention frustration from trying to detangle electric cords, I'd figured it was about time to make my life easier and dump the old blower for something new and lightweight - and blissfully cordless.

The Black and Decker battery operated blower aka cordless broom aka hard surface sweeper is so easy to use, that blowing the leaves and debris off the patio and outdoor furniture is no longer a chore, but a delight. Under 5 pounds, low noise, and with an interchangeable battery pack (fits other B & D products) that recharges in 3 hours. This blower is perfect for sweeping off decks, driveways, walkways, and patio furniture.

We have a patio located under oak and pine trees and though a naturally cool spot to relax, it requires a bit of upkeep because Mother Nature constantly drops debris - leaves, pine needles and oak tree dust/pollen. Using a conventional broom worked fine on the patio, but it was tedious to properly clean the nooks and crannies on the chair pads - typically I'd resort to using my finger to dig out dust - not a pleasant task. Washing off the patio was another option, but I felt guilty about wasting water, and besides hosing everything off meant soggy seats. Not very inviting! What a difference the Black and Decker battery operated blower makes - grab it and go blow - and in a jiff everything is spiffy.

If you're looking for a blower to blast off the leaves from the lawn or heavy duty jobs, you need a heavy duty blower. But for quick clean-ups on hard surfaces the Black and Decker 18 volt blower is a breeze.

-Beverly Rose Hopper

Velcro Garden Tie

2010-07-11T20:16:00.000-07:00

Green garden tie has been a staple for years, but recently tried out a new tie - one made from velcro. I've used velcro as fasteners in sewing projects, but never in the garden and was curious how it would hold together and hold up. Rather than made from two pieces (one with loops and the other with hooks) garden velcro is one strip with the loops on one side and the hook-type material on the reverse. Unlike garden tie which a piece can be torn off the roll, with velcro tie a pair of scissors is needed to cut the length needed. However, it is much easier to install or put into place on the plant . . . and the best part is if you don't like where it's been attached it can easily be removed and repositioned. With old-fashioned green garden tie putting climbers in their place wasted a lot of garden tape, as the specimen was cinched up and put into position it would often require cutting off tape that was only tied on a matter of minutes before. Velcro tie is easily adjusted to achieve the perfect fit.

As this is a new product can't yet vouch how it will hold up all season and into the next, but will keep you posted!

- BRH

Rubber Mulch?

2010-07-09T11:09:00.000-07:00

Was poking around the local garden center, when stumbled across something hadn't seen before - rubber mulch. That's right, mulch made from 100% recycled rubber. There were two versions listed, a shred and a crumble. Curiosity got the better of me and I ripped open a tiny corner of the bag to peek inside. The shredded version was reddish in color and looked similar to gorilla hair; the dark brown crumble was less natural in appearance as it still looked like rubber bits. The cost for recycled rubber mulch is more than bark based products, about $10 for a 2 cubit foot bag, but is touted as "lasts forever."

I'm not sure how I feel about this. It seems like a good product for a playground, but a garden? On one hand recycling rubber is a good thing, and it would be nice to have a product that lasts longer than a season or two. On the other hand, part of the purpose of mulch is to improve soil texture as it degrades, and clearly this is not meant to do that. I wonder what happens to all that plastic, er rubber, over time? What if you change your mind and want to re-landscape the garden, how do you get rid of it?

As we move towards more focus on "green" living it's a good thing to see recycling and novel methods of dealing with waste. I'm not convinced however, that "Rubberific" is all that terrific.

- BRH

1,000 Hour Volunteers

2010-07-03T09:14:00.000-07:00

Two of our Master Volunteers have reached a major milestone, logging over 1,000 hours volunteering in the San Jose Municipal Rose Garden. Wow! Myles Tobin and Harry Garcia have put heart and soul into keeping the garden looking beautiful, and keeping the weeds out! They are dependable, hard-working, and greet visitors to the Rose Garden with warmth and enthusiasm.

Thanks Myles and Harry for all you do - we salute you for your dedication and being an integral part of the success of FSJRG. We thank you and the roses thank you!

What's Growing On in the Rose Garden?

2010-06-10T11:51:00.000-07:00

The following article was written for the Rose Garden Neighborhood Preservation Association newsletter. Thought I'd share it with you here:

Recently, Friends of the San Jose Rose Garden (FSJRG) was honored by the Junior League of San Jose and received commendations from the US Congress, several California State Senators and Legislators along with other awards in recognition of the rescue and restoration of the San Jose Municipal Rose Garden. In less than three years, FSJRG has had over 3,000 volunteers from across the Bay Area and beyond participate by clipping, weeding, and tending this historic landmark park, planted 1200 roses, and contributed approximately $400,000 in services and products to the City of San Jose.

Almost any day of the week specially trained “Master Volunteers” in their distinctive green vest (with FSJRG logo of course) can be seen in the garden, clippers in hand ready to snip spent blooms or down on their knees dealing with pesky weeds. But the Master Volunteers serve another important service, that of Garden Ambassadors or docents, answering visitors questions with enthusiasm and a smile. The pizza parties, frequently held before or after a group event, add to the camaraderie (thank you Rosie’s Pizza on the Alameda.)

Besides individual volunteers, other community organizations such as Kiwanis and It’s a Beautiful Day have participated in programs at the Rose Garden. In addition, we had a tie-in with Disney in January; over 1200 volunteers participated in the “Give a Day, Get a Disney Day.” Upcoming corporate volunteer days include Recology and Google.

Recent developments at the Rose Garden include the upgrade to All America Rose Selection (AARS) Test Garden status, one of only 15 official AARS Test Gardens in the USA. The Test Beds contain roses of the future, varieties not be available to the public until 2013 and 2014. The roses are so new they are not even named yet, only numbered. Test roses are evaluated on 15 attributes including novelty, disease resistance, vigor and growth habit. Look for the test beds on the Dana side of the garden.

The San Jose Municipal Rose Garden has been transformed into a world-class garden, and many visitors have declared it is more beautiful than the famous Portland Rose Garden. Indeed, it may in fact be “America’s Best Rose Garden.” Currently there is a nation wide contest to determine America’s Best and we’re proud to say the San Jose Municipal Rose Garden is a leading contender. Votes are being cast across the USA and we want your vote. Go online to www.rose.org/voteform today and cast your vote for San Jose. Then tell a friend! Votes must be in by July 1, and the winning garden will receive $2,500 and the national recognition of being America’s Best. It would be a great honor for the neighborhood, the City of San Jose, and the State of California.

-Beverly Rose Hopper

White Licorice

2010-06-02T10:16:00.000-07:00

A pre-release for 2011 that you can see today in the SJ Rose Garden is White Licorice. It's a white with lemon overtones (will look more yellow in cooler weather) with disease resistant dark green glossy foliage. Oh, and did I mention it's also quite fragrant?

This beautiful rose is a wonderful addition to the San Jose Municipal Rose Garden, and is sure to be a wonderful addition to any garden.

White Licorice is available from Regan Nursery in Fremont.

50% off Edmunds Roses

2010-05-25T17:11:00.000-07:00

While they last, check out the big clearance sale at Edmunds Roses. 50% off all remaining roses. Check out the deals including Double Delight for only $7.48, Barbra Streisand $8.98 and the 2010 introduction Girls Night Out for $9.98, plus shipping.

Visit the Edmunds website for details and availability http://www.edmundsroses.com/

New Speaker Series in the Rose Garden

2010-04-27T13:04:00.000-07:00

FSJRG is always on the cutting edge, and we're proud to announce our new Speaker Series in the Rose Garden. Join us on Sat May 1 for our first deadheading event of the season, followed by a special presentation on organics from a nationally known speaker. Kicking off the speaker series will be Thomas Chaplin from Dr. Earth, who give a seminar "Healthy Soil, Healthy You." The program will cover the importance of organics, impact of chemicals, certification of organics and more.

Our volunteer day on May 1 will begin at 9:00am, and the seminar at 10:45 am. Bring a snack or bag lunch and blanket to picnic during the talk! Special thanks to Yamagami's Nursery and Dr. Earth for providing this exciting educational opportunity for our volunteers.

The San Jose Municipal Rose Garden is bursting into bloom, and our morning volunteer event will be clipping off spent blooms, weeding and getting the Rose Garden in tip top shape for the upcoming Mother's Day weekend, the busiest weekend of the year. Bring shears, gloves or rakes. All ages and abilities are welcome.

Read more about the May 1 event, speaker series and more in our latest newsletter at www.FriendsSJRoseGarden.org

Every Day is Earth Day in the Rose Garden

2010-04-22T16:13:00.000-07:00

If you dig in the dirt, then you're used to getting up close and personal with Mother Earth. "Feeding the soil, feeds the soul" is at the heart of many gardeners. There's something very primal about tending the soil, growing plants, experiencing the pure miracle of nature.

Soil is alive. It needs oxygen and water and nutrients to be happy and support life. At the San Jose Municipal Rose Garden, we've seen the difference between when the soil was "dead" after being mistreated and neglected. If you've forgotten check out the "Before" pictures on our website www.FriendsSJRoseGarden.org - reliance on Round-Up, lack of mulch and water left some beds looking, shall I say, a little parched.

In the case of the Rose Garden, there is a Happily Every After. The garden is restored, renewed and revitalized. Previously depleted soils received a steady diet of organics, and beds richly topped off with plenty of mulch. The only Round-Up now permitted in the garden is when we round up the volunteers for one of our events! Weed control is done by hand, and made easier because of the combination of weed-cloth and mulch.

The San Jose Municipal Rose Garden is proudly all organic. Dr. Earth fertilizer is the exclusive fertilizer to the garden. Mulch comes from the City of San Jose recycled garden waste program. We never spray for insects - we allow beneficial insects to do their job - and are planning another ladybug release again this year. I'll confess we did have to take action against legions of pesky snails, but we were careful to only use a product (Sluggo) that was non-toxic.

This is the 40th anniversary of Earth Day. It's good to celebrate. To remind ourselves of the gift of nature, the beauty, the magic of each and every living thing. But then every time we walk through the San Jose Rose Garden, and drink in the spectacular view of 4,000 rosebushes in bloom, we are reminded of of this, and more. The miracle of nature, and the miracle of volunteers.

- Beverly Rose Hopper

Food for Thought: Snails Ooey, Gooey and Chewy

2010-04-15T18:15:00.001-07:00

When it comes to pests, often people don't think of snails, yet they cause a lot of havoc in California gardens. After spending the morning hand picking snails, a volunteer quipped "there must be snail collectors who would be happy to go snail collecting at the Rose Garden. We could be the only rose garden with an escargot stand instead of a gift shop." Though the comment may have been in jest, we knew it was time to get serious about snails. A shipment of non-toxic Sluggo has arrived, so snails beware!

In honor of the occasion, here's an old favorite. Hope you enjoy it!

Food for Thought: Snails Ooey, Gooey and Chewy

Escargot was a special treat until I became an avid gardener. That’s when I realized those tasty morsels served dripping in garlic butter were the same creatures leaving slimy trails through my garden. As a garden pest, snails cause considerable damage but are largely ignored, perhaps because most of their activity occurs at night. During the day snails take refuge from heat and sun. We be unaware of their existence or extent of their numbers and blame snail or slug damage on other pests, and wonder why attempts at damage control are not successful.

The common brown garden snail, Helix aspera, was not original to California. It was introduced in the 1850’s as a food delicacy by the French. Since prehistoric times, snails have been part of the food supply. Archaeologists have uncovered roasted snail shells in excavations. In ancient Rome, snail farming was practiced. According to Pliny, Fulvius Hirpinus had a snail garden with separate sections for different species of snails, and they were fed meal and wine. Today, Heliciculture or snail farming is a commercial venture, supplying the snails which appear on store shelves and restaurant menus.

Though snails may be appreciated when served as escargot, in the garden they are pests, chewing irregular shaped holes in foliage and munching on tender shoots.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, 99 percent of snail activity, including feeding, occurs in the cool, dark nighttime, with peak activity taking place two to three hours after darkness begins. The nighttime dew helps the snail to glide about easily on its muscular “foot.” For this reason any daytime activity generally only occurs on cloudy or foggy days. Snails and slugs migrate, slowly moving between better feeding areas and shelter. Though it is possible to achieve some level of control, it is impossible to eliminate all snail problems because they will migrate to other areas – hopefully the neighbors!

To control snails and slugs, it is important to know something about their life cycle. Snails are hermaphrodites, with both male and female reproductive organs. If snails could talk, they could probably make a guest appearance on Jerry Springer, because some snails act as males one season and females the next. Other snails play both roles at once and fertilize each other simultaneously.

Mating occurs in the late spring or early summer. Snails such as Helix aspera lay on average 85 white, spherical eggs about 3 mm in diameter from five days to three weeks after mating. In the right conditions, such as warm, damp climates, H. aspera
may lay eggs in the soil as often as once a month from February to October. Because of their unusual reproduction, snails and slugs if left unchecked can become a major problem. One consolation is that some snail hatchlings are cannibals, eating not only their own shell but unhatched eggs.

EFFECTIVE PEST CONTROL AND INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT ARE BASED ON A COMBINATION OF METHODS.

The first step is understanding how landscape of the garden affects the ecosystem of snails and slugs. Pay careful attention to places where they can hide or find shelter during the day. An untidy yard with piles of empty pots, open bags of compost or planting mix, and various debris is not only an eyesore but provides sanctuary for snails, slugs and other pests. Even the most fastidiously kept garden is not exempt from challenges as many of the most popular companion plant for roses, such as alyssum, iris, lilies, iberius, agapanthus, and boxwood provide both food and shelter for snails. Rather than advocating a sparse garden, awareness and diligence in managing snail populations is recommended. Snails also take refuge in shelter such as the low ledges on fences, undersides of wooden decks, water meter boxes, and the exposed ends of drain pipes. The best bet is to regularly remove snails from such areas. The type of watering method employed in the landscape is also of consequence. Overhead sprinklers encourage snails and slugs by watering a large surface area. Consider drip irrigation which is not only more water efficient, but by reducing humidity and moist surface area it makes a less favorable environment for snails.

Handpicking is the most environmentally friendly method of snail removal, and is effective if done on a regular basis. It is recommended to begin with daily handpicking, and can be done on a weekly basis once the snail population has declined and a level of control is established. Personally, though I have no qualms about removing an offending snail from my prize roses – the thought of having to handpick snails and slugs on a daily basis is not my idea of a good time. However, I must confess that after an evening rain when snails thickly cover my front walk like crunchy land mines, I’ve derived a certain pleasure from grabbing a broom and sweeping them into the street hoping they will be run over by cars.

Other environmentally friendly methods include traps and barriers. Snails and slugs can be trapped under boards raised off the ground by one inch runners. This method also calls for removing snails and slugs daily and destroying them by crushing. Organic gardeners sometimes recommend using beer to trap and drown slugs and snails. This method is not foolproof as nails are only attracted a few feet, the beer must be kept deep enough to drown the snails, and it should be changed daily as snails prefer fresh beer to flat. I don’t have personal experience with this method, but it sounds like an excuse to buy a lot of beer! A garden safe method I have had excellent success with is using copper barrier tape. Copper is an effective barrier because it is believed the copper reacts with the slime the snail or slug secretes, causing an electrical charge. I’ve used it on my tree roses which had been plagued with snails, partly because of the underplanting of candytuft. The cooper barrier tape was placed around the base of the trunk of the tree and the stake. Its effectiveness was immediate and complete. Rather than finding bunches of snails clinging to the underside of the bud union, the snails were repelled from climbing up into the tree rose.
Another method the organic gardener might unwittingly consider using as a barrier is salt, however it is not recommended because it will increase soil salinity.

Natural enemies of snails and slugs (besides diligent rosarians) are toads, lizards, turtles, beetles and birds. However they are rarely effective enough to provide satisfactory control. In Southern California a predaceous snail, the decollate snail , has been released and is providing effective biological control of the brown garden snail in citrus orchards, but it currently cannot be released elsewhere.

Snail and slug bait with metaldehyde such as Cory’s Snail and Slug Death are effective, but are not permanent nor completely eradicate snails. They work by causing the snail to slime heavily, or overproduce mucous in an attempt to detoxify the bait; eventually the snail dies of desiccation. Be warned that poisoned slugs and snails can recover from metaldehyde ingestion if they ingest a sub lethal dose and have access to water. More important, metaldehyde snail bait can be hazardous and should not be used where children or pets would come in contact with it Flakes baits or liquids such as Deadline or products like Ortho’s Bug Geta Plus with Bitrex (a bitter tasting additive) may be less attractive and therefore less dangerous, but do not take any chances. Nontoxic snail baits made with iron phosphate, Sluggo and Escar-Go, according to label safe for use around pets and wildlife. Always read the label when using pesticides or any garden chemical and follow precautions.

When the urge for escargot strikes, never use your own home-grown snails. They may have been exposed to toxic chemicals while they’ve been out sliming around the neighborhood. Go out to dinner instead. Bon Appetite!

-Beverly Rose Hopper

Best in Silicon Valley

2010-04-15T08:58:00.000-07:00

Making a list and checking it twice, it's that time of year again. No, not that time, but time for the San Jose Mercury News annual survey the "Best in Silicon Valley." The San Jose Municipal Rose Garden should be a shoo-in for many categories - Best public park, best place to get married, best place to kiss (ooh la la) among many others. Cast your vote at www.MercuryNews.com/best-in-silicon-valley
It's fun and easy. There's a wide variety of categories, but you can skip around to pick and choose those of interest, and quickly write in your choice for winner San Jose Municipal Rose Garden.

Categories to look for and vote include: Best public park, best tourist attraction, best place to kiss, best place for first date, best date on a budget (picnic among the roses), best place to get married, best place to hold a reception, best romantic dining, best "stay-cation" (cheaper than a ticket to Paris' Bagatelle), best place for kid's party (lots of lawn to work off sugar high), best place for jogging (roses may inspire you to take an extra lap), best outdoor play area for kids (play catch in fresh air), best place to walk your dog (keep on leash and outside fence - woof) , and best Silicon Valley landmark. After all the San Jose Municipal Rose Garden is quite possibly America's Best Rose Garden!

And while you're at it, what about Best green business? Friends of the San Jose Rose Garden - our volunteer organization is definitely green!

- Beverly Rose Hopper

Letter From a Volunteer

2010-04-06T21:55:00.000-07:00

Want to share with you the following letter sent by one of our wonderful volunteers. It talks about the FSJRG program and "America's Best Rose Garden."

Happy Spring!

As you may know, I have been volunteering at the San Jose Municipal Rose Garden for the past several years. It has been an incredible journey and an amazing turnaround from probation [2005-07] through 'rehab' [in 2008] to elation [in 2009] when the Garden was restored to its former glory and taken off probation. All of this was made possible by a true "grass roots" effort, a public/private partnership between the City and an all-volunteer group [Friends SJRG together with other community volunteers.] It has been a mutually beneficial relationship and a rewarding experience, with the roses being the big winners.

Other 2009 highlights for the San Jose Rose Garden:
Chosen as an AARS 'test garden' for future rose varieties: One of only 23 in the nation, and one of two in California (the other is in San Diego).
Named as the 'Best Public Park' and the 'Best Place to Get Married' in the "Best of the Silicon Valley 2009 Reader's Choice Awards" as voted by the readers of the Mercury News. Over 3,300 responded to the polling. (Many of those who voted were you -- thank you.)
More than 600 new rose plants -- all donated -- were planted to replace those lost to years of neglect and disease.
A case study of SJRG's public/private partnership is being used as a model by other public gardens throughout the country.

So far in 2010:
Over 1,200 volunteers turned out for "Winter Pruning" events in January (up from the approx 200 volunteers who turned out in Jan. 2008) -- thanks, in part, to 'the magic of Disney.' This year's volunteers had the opportunity to 'Give a day. Get a Disney day.' -- a national campaign to encourage volunteerism.

This year we've also set our sights on becoming "America's Best Rose Garden." The winning garden will receive a $2,500 donation and national recognition. If you'd care to, please join me in voting for the San Jose Municipal Rose Garden. [A sample ballot is immediately below.] A link for casting your ballot is in the email underneath or go to http://www.rose.org/voteform. With your help, I believe we have a legitimate shot at winning. Feel welcome to forward this email to a friend. (There's a handy link for forwarding it in the email underneath as well.)

The voting officially starts on April 1st, 2010 and closes July 1st, 2010. The top ten gardens with the most individual votes will become finalists. Then, a panel of experts from AARS will travel to the finalist cities, evaluate the gardens, and select one winner based on beauty, creativity and the garden’s overall contribution to its community. The winner and nine finalists will be announced in the summer of 2010.

Thanks and warmest regards,
~Arlene

*****
Thanks Arlene for sharing this wonderful letter!
-BRH

Vote San Jose "America's Best Rose Garden"

2010-04-05T19:26:00.000-07:00

Thousands of volunteer hours have transformed the San Jose Municipal Rose Garden into a jewel, and here's your chance to help spread the word to rose lovers across America. Vote in the All-America Rose Selections (AARS) "America's Best Rose Garden," a national competition to find the best public rose gardens in America. Cast your vote for San Jose and help this historic landmark garden win $2,500 and national recognition.

It's fun and easy. Vote now at www.Rose.org.voteform/

Want to know more why the San Jose Municipal Rose Garden should win America's Best Rose Garden? Here's a few highlights:

- 4,000 rosebush garden in constant bloom from mid-April through early December
- All organic, "no-spray" garden, mulched with recycled garden materials
- From probation to elation in 2 years, rescued and restored by volunteers of Friends of the San Jose Rose Garden.
- 250 specially trained "Master Volunteers" and participation by approximately 2,000 general volunteers
- Innovative horticultural techniques on display (Pruning for Maximum Display, Deadheading for Maximum Display)
- Elevated to AARS Test Garden, only one in Northern California, one of only 23 in USA
- Historic landmark garden, site of countless weddings, graduations, picnics and celebrations.
- Featured on President Obama's national website to promote volunteerism, www.Serve.gov
- Serves as a model for other communities across the USA (Oakland, Sacramento, Connecticut and more)

Check out photographs of the Rose Garden (including Before & After) and videos at www.FriendsSJRoseGarden.org

More on the contest: The top ten gardens with the most individual votes will become finalists. Then, a panel of experts from AARS will travel to the five finalist cities, evaluate the gardens, and select one winner based on beauty, creativity and the garden’s overall contribution to its community. The winning garden will receive a $2,500 cash donation and will be featured in a national PR campaign highlighting the best gardens in America. The winner and nine finalists will be announced in the summer of 2010.

- Beverly Rose Hopper

Feed Me!

2010-04-03T22:07:00.001-07:00

"Hey you - this is your rose speaking. I just woke up after a long winter's nap and I'm hungry. You dug a nice hole and stuck me in it and expect me to grow big and tall without something to nosh on? If you want me to produce those big blooms you've been dreaming of then bring on the feed bag now so nobody gets hurt. I've got thorns and I'm not afraid to use them.

Going organic is good for the roses, the soil, and the soul, and at the top of my list is Dr. Earth - the exclusive fertilizer for the San Jose Municipal Rose Garden. It provides all the nutrients, macro and minor, plus something called mycorrihizae (promotes root development) for growing big beautiful roses while it feeds the soil. Definitely fine dining.

Want some other choices for the spring menu? Here's a sampling:

Start off with Osmocote, that way I have some steady nourishment. But a rose needs a little variety, can't eat the same thing day after day and expect to be happy. Probably need to touch up my color so give me some Sequestrene or Sprint for deep green leaves. Then the first round of rose food - Bandini Rose Food, Vigoro, or generic. I may be prickly but I'm not picky, pick out something that lasts for a month or so. By the way, have you watered me in between? Roses are thirsty, and I definitely need H2O to wash it all down. That's the basics, now on to gourmet chow Mills Magic Mix. Ah, sweet smelling aroma, chock full of organics. I can feel my buds forming now. Then get over to the feed store for Alfalfa pellets (tell them you want it for roses, not rabbits). Throw on a couple handfuls - alfalfa contains traiacontanol, a growth stimulant - think of it as steroids for roses. Good for the soil too. Finally top me off with steer manure, or horse manure if you have it. And for heavens sake's give me a good long drink.

How about a cocktail to go with the meal? Stinky Stuff. Mix tablespoon of fish emulsion per gallon. Especially good in the spring when the soil is still chilly. Really gets me going.

Yes it's a big meal, but remember this is a special occasion kick off spring menu. I don't want this all the time or I'd get sick. Speaking of sick, unless you want me and you to get sick DON'T ever give me any of those systemic combined fertilizer/insecticide products! The stores are full of that c*#p but it's deadly stuff so stay away.

That's it for now. Keep up the watering, squirt me with some Miracle Gro once in awhile and when you're in the mood mix up a batch of Alfalfa Tea. Ahh . . .it's going to be a wonderful spring. I can feel it deep in my roots."

- Beverly Rose Hopper

The Hole Story

2010-02-18T12:58:00.000-08:00

Traditional advice when planting a rose is to dig a hole 24 inches wide x 18 inches deep. If the hole does not have good drainage, then it is suggested to dig even deeper to break through the hardpan. In much of California, the soil is clay (where do you think all the adobe for the missions came from?) But I can't help but wonder if it is even possible to break through all the clay even if you try digging to China! There is a simple way to check the drainage, and that is to put water into a freshly dug hole and wait to see if it drains within the hour. If it doesn't drain, then you should dig some more or consider planting in containers.

At the San Jose Municipal Rose Garden, a power auger has been used to dig the holes - after all over 400 holes had to be dug! This gets the job done, but the holes are by no means 24 x 18. I haven't gotten out my measuring stick but they look more like 18 x 24.

When it comes to planting roses, I've dug big holes, small holes and once I even grew a rose in no hole. (I tossed it aside and the darn thing grew on top of the ground.)

SO WHAT'S THE BOTTOM LINE?
I have a simple formula:
Size of Hole = Size of Roots + My Energy.

- Beverly Rose Hopper

Re-Gifting "The Best Gift"

2009-12-25T09:15:00.000-08:00

Last Christmas the San Jose Mercury News editorial said the Revival of the San Jose Municipal Rose Garden by Friends of the San Jose Rose Garden was the "Best Gift of 2008." The restoration has touched so many lives with beauty, friendship and lessons in the importance of community service. It is still the Best Gift as it keeps on giving. To read it again or for the first time click here. or visit http://www.friendssjrosegarden.org/city_best_gift.htm

Thank you to all our wonderful volunteers, our partners at the City of San Jose and generous sponsors. Happy Holidays!

More National Recognition for FSJRG - Serve.gov

2009-12-15T08:37:00.000-08:00

A few weeks ago I was contacted by a Public Affairs Specialist from the Corporation for National and Community Service, who asked me to write an article on FSJRG for President's Obama's website Serve.gov. Here it is:

Volunteers have the power to transform their community. As Co-Founder of Friends of the San Jose Rose Garden, I have witnessed how people of all ages and abilities can come together to make a difference, transform neglect into beauty, and inspire change in other communities. In less than two years volunteers took a historic landmark park from probation to elation. This is our story.

Due to budget and staff cuts the San Jose California Municipal Rose Garden fell into serious disrepair. Built in the 1930’s, the 11-acre park features expansive lawns and a 5-acre rose garden containing 4,000 rosebushes. Sadly, severe cutbacks led to poor horticultural practices such as using herbicides in the rose beds to control weeds – which also killed the roses. In 2005 the Municipal Rose Garden was at risk of losing national accreditation by the All America Rose Selections and placed on “probation.” City officials ignored the letter of probation, and in January of 2007 a crisis point was reached. Roses were dead and dying, beds choked with weeds, and only 20% of the Rose Garden was pruned.

Rosarians and community advocates (Beverly Rose Hopper and Terry Reilly) decided something drastic had to be done. We built public awareness and support through television and newspaper interviews along with rallying support at City Hall, and used slogans such as “Free the Roses” (after all the roses were on probation) and other catchy sound bites. Using tools such as Google Mashup, we discovered people from all over had sentimental connections to the Rose Garden. What started as a neighborhood issue became a regional campaign. In addition we promoted the idea that volunteers could help with park maintenance – at the time the City of San Jose had no framework for such a program.

In the fall of 2007, Friends of the San Jose Rose Garden was officially launched as a nonprofit volunteer organization in public/private partnership with the City of San Jose. A combination of marketing, improved horticulture and a two-tiered volunteer program were core to our success, leading to such achievements as pruning 4,000 roses in only 2 hours.

Besides mass volunteer events which attract all ages and abilities, we offer a “Master Volunteer” program – after participating in a training program volunteers receive a distinctive vest emblazoned with our logo, which permits them to clip or weed whenever they choose. Master Volunteers also serve as docents and garden ambassadors.

With 1,000 volunteers in our database, and over 150 “Master Volunteers” what is the secret to our support? Fresh and innovative marketing, community outreach, an interactive website filled with photos/training videos/news, a companion blog, a Fan page on Facebook and the cultivation of our volunteers.

We value our volunteers and value the power of recognition. The green vests which distinguish Master Volunteers (MV’s) in the garden are key. Volunteers are easily identifiable as someone who belongs. MV’s log their hours on our website (6,000 hours in 2009) and for every 10 hours receive a gold star for their vest, and for 100 hours receive a framed Commendation from the City Council. We also know the importance of fun – pizza parties, movie nights, tickets in the City’s box for a hockey game or concert, and get-togethers like our “We’re Thankful for Our Volunteers” event. In fostering teamwork many new friendships have been formed.

The renovation of the garden (835 new roses planted) was completed in less than 2 years. We implemented new horticultural techniques specifically for public gardens to create masses of blooms. The transformation has been spectacular. In May of 2009 the San Jose Municipal Rose Garden received full re-accreditation and was elevated to “Test Garden” status by the All-America Rose Selections – one of only 23 Test Gardens in the USA and the only one in Northern California.

Our program has been developed into a “Case Study” and is being used as a model in other communities, including Oakland CA (Friends of the Morcom Rose Garden) and Sacramento CA (Friends of the McKinley Parks Rose Garden.)

The San Jose Municipal Rose Garden is attracting visitors from across America, the site of picnics and celebrations, a peaceful oasis in a hectic world. In these economic times, the importance of parks cannot be understated. Parks serve all the people, providing a place of beauty to lift the spirit and renew the soul.

What Friends of the San Jose Rose Garden achieved is an example of people power: the rescue, restoration and revitalization of the San Jose Municipal Rose Garden, who took it from “probation to elation” and the shear power of volunteers.

For more info www.FriendsSJRoseGarden.org

Hot Off the Press - December FSJRG Newsletter

2009-12-05T21:30:00.000-08:00

Check out the latest newsletter from Friends of the San Jose Rose Garden. Read how to receive a FREE BARE ROOT ROSE from Star Roses and FREE ADMISSION TO DISNEYLAND by volunteering at our Annual Pruning event Jan 9. FSJRG is participating in the "Give a Day, Get a Disney Day" promotion to celebrate volunteerism. Lots of other exciting info including: Our Quick & Easy Pruning Method, Show 'Em Way to Rose Garden, Update on AARS Test Beds, Gifts for the Gardener, Soils Dead or Alive and of course articles on Pruning and Planting.

Click here for newsletter or our website www.FriendsSJRoseGarden.org

Spooktacular Roses for Halloween

2009-10-28T14:24:00.000-07:00

Halloween is lurking around the corner. While you're considering your costume, get in the spirit of things by dressing up the garden too. I used to put gobs of spider webs on the tree roses leading to the front door. It was festive and fun. Of course it led to jokes that my roses had a really bad case of spider mites!

If you don't want to go the web route (or even if you do) perhaps you might want to add some Halloween themed roses to the garden. Here's a list to get you started - click on name for more info:

Drop Dead Red Fl 2010
Pumpkin Patch, Fl 2010
Bewitched HT 1967
Spellbound HT 2007
Black Magic HT 2007
Raven S 1999
Sorcerer Min 1994
Love Potion F 1993
Taboo HT 1993
Phantom S 1992
Magic Lantern Gr 1995

A couple of oldies
Halloween, HT 1969
Talisman HT 1929 (one of the original roses in the San Jose Municipal Rose Garden, if you have this I want a cutting!)
Merry Widow, Gr 1958
Deuil de Paul Fontaine M 1873

Of course the spookiest roses are the ones that haunt us every year: the must-haves that transform into must-nots, roses that give up the ghost for no apparent reason, or the ones we hastily shovel pruned but wish we had back. Boo!

-BRH

A Glimpse Into the Past

2009-10-26T17:19:00.000-07:00

As we move into the future with the San Jose Municipal Rose Garden, we want to remember to honor the past. Old scrapbooks brimming with clippings have provided a wealth of information on this historic landmark, and I'm thrilled to have come across something to add to the collection. Grande dame and friend of the rose world for over 60 years, Muriel Humenick, gave me a map she had documented of varieties in the San Jose Municipal Rose Garden back in 1969. At first glance, old-time names like Ma Perkins, Jimeny Cricket and Gay Time leapt out. It seemed none of the varieties listed were still there, though it was nice to see the general layout of the garden remained the same. How much had changed in 40 years! I wondered, are any of these roses still in the garden today? And were any of the roses in place in 1969 there when the garden was first dedicated in the 30's?

Looking at a current map of the garden (click here) only four varieties from 1969 managed to hold their same place today - Duet, Montezuma, Oklahoma and Miss All American Beauty. Whether or not they are indeed the original bushes is not possible to know, but it's nice to think at least some of these plants have provided 40 years of beauty.

Could any of the roses shown on the 1969 map been part of the original plantings? From the archives I dug out the hand-drawn map of the original hybrid tea bed to do a comparison. Only two varieties from the original planting of the garden - Talisman and President Herbert Hoover - still existed in the garden in 1969, but sadly they are long gone from the garden today.

The loss of many of these historic roses was the inspiration in the 80's for the Heritage Rose Garden, which serves as an important botanical collection of roses of note. Though the San Jose Municipal Rose Garden is primarily modern roses, we recognize the importance of roses past and roses future. As part of the FSJRG restoration project a broader range of roses were included as a tribute to its past, and we embrace the future with the exciting honor of becoming the only All-America Rose Selections Test Garden in Northern California.

-BRH

Our Master Volunteers Have More Fun

2009-09-10T12:42:00.000-07:00

Besides the clip, clip in the SJ Muni Rose Garden, some of our lucky Master Volunteers will be going chomp, chomp at an upcoming Sharks game. Councilmember Pierluigi Oliverio has given FSJRG use of the City's Luxury Box for the Sep 25th Sharks game. There are limited seats, and MV's can register for a drawing of tickets.

Our volunteers report they like Friends of the San Jose Rose Garden because not only are they making the garden a more beautiful place, they have a good time while doing it. There's more growing and blooming in the garden besides roses (and I'm not talking about the occasional weeds either!) Friendships have been made while working together in the garden, chatting with visitors, relaxing at one of our pizza parties, movie nights, field trips, etc. Did you know a group of MV's even went on a trip to Africa together?

Though we can't promise you Africa, we can promise you that helping to create beauty feels good - good for the soil, and good for the soul. If you're not a Master Volunteer but interested in becoming one, check out the FSJRG website for more info. All ages and abilities welcome. Volunteers may have diverse backgrounds, but we all speak a common language - roses.

-BRH

FSJRG Inspires New Group Dedicated Deadheaders

2009-09-08T10:43:00.000-07:00

Friends of the San Jose Rose Garden (FSJRG) is a model for other communities across the USA, and the inspiration behind the newly formed "Friends of the Morcom Rose Garden" and Dedicated Deadheaders based on the FSJRG Master Volunteer program.

Tora Rocha, Gardener Crew Leader for the City of Oakland, has spearheaded the development of a volunteer organization to help maintain the Mocom Rose Garden. Their first event (you are invited!) Sat Sep 12: From Woodstock to Rootstalk, 9:00am - 1:00pm, Morcom Rose Garden, 700 Jean Street, Oakland. The event will feature the unveiling of their master volunteer program "Dedicated Deadheaders" complete with tie-dye vests. The morning work party will be followed by a Kickoff Celebration 1:30 - 4:00 pm at the Grand Avenue Tavern for wine and munchies.

FSJRG is thrilled to see other similar volunteer organizations take root. And thank you Terry for meeting with Tora to help them get off the ground on this worthwhile project. FSJRG wishes Friends of the Morcom Rose Garden all the best and shear success!

For more info/website: Friends of the Morcom Rose Garden click here.

-BRH

Deer Diner

2009-09-07T10:07:00.000-07:00

My doze in dreamland was interrupted at dawn by the distinctive sounds of deer leaping through the dry underbrush. In the early light peering over the balcony at the roses below, I surveyed the missing buds. Not too bad it seemed, maybe a bush or two. But with deer damage, you don't see it all at once. Deer nibble at buds, chomp on blooms, and chew on foliage; leaving the stems stripped. Sure enough upon closer inspection discovered the deer made an early morning buffet of seven of my roses, starting at two bushes of Moonstone and working their way through Gemini, Paradise Found, Over the Moon, Elle and St Patrick which was hit especially hard. Somewhere over the hill I imagine deer sharing tasting notes, "the yellow had such substance, and the bouquet on the pink was heavenly!"

Speaking of bouquet, guess there's no avoiding it now. With cooler night-time temperatures deer are returning from higher elevations. It's time to apply Liquid Deer Fence again and hope that the horrendous odor keeps the deer out of the roses. Too bad the stench keeps me out of the roses too. Maybe time to get going on plans for a higher fence.

Special Event Sat Sep 5 - First 75 Get a Free Rosebush!

2009-09-03T18:05:00.000-07:00

Fall Fun in the San Jose Municipal Rose Garden, Sat Sep 5th at 9:00 AM. First 75 volunteers to arrive receive a FREE ROSEBUSH from Regan Nursery. Activities include deadheading, weeding, various rose care and VOTING on your favorite road sign. In addition, Master Volunteer Training will be conducted by Beverly Rose Hopper at 9:30 AM.

Bring clippers if have them, some will be provided. All ages and abilities.

San Jose Municipal Rose Garden located at corner of Naglee and Dana Avenue, San Jose. Visit Friends of the San Jose Rose Garden website for more info including our fall newsletter, click here.

The Gift of Roses

2009-08-09T10:21:00.000-07:00

While watering the roses this morning, my mind was wandering over future triumphs and past tragedies, when suddenly I was snapped to my senses by a strong rose scent. Hose in hand, stretching over the front row of roses to reach the ones in back - too deep in thought to notice my nose was practically buried in a bloom of Fragrant Cloud until the spicy fragrance jolted me awake.

Not only did the rich rose aroma hit me but the realization, there I was, so engrossed in reviewing events which happened 10, 20, 30 years ago, that I almost missed the gift of the moment. A beautiful rose filled with fragrance. I stepped back and opened my eyes . . . and admired the deep green leathery foliage of Pink Promise. . . The pure white blooms of Secret's Out. . . . I took a deep breath and thought what a gift roses are. They are presents wrapped in petals, beautiful reminders to celebrate this moment. Each one special in its own way. This is why I love them so.

-BRH

Got Heat? Get Over the Moon

2009-07-22T10:29:00.000-07:00

After two weeks of sizzling temps over 100 degrees, most of my roses have succumbed to wilt, melt, sunburn, shrunkened size, or simply shut down. Only a few hardy souls have survived the searing heat, and still manage to look good under extreme conditions.

OVER THE MOON, a new apricot hybrid tea, has been absolutely stellar. When other roses shrink in the heat, Over the Moon has kept its size. When others have melted petals, Over the Moon is full of fresh and full of substance. When others have brown crispy foliage, Over the Moon has leaves that are lush and green.

Check out the photo above. In hot weather it keeps its cool and looks fabulous even when fully open.

If you are looking for a new heat-tolerant rose for your garden, add Over the Moon to your list. Introduced in 2009, it will be available from Regan's
Nursery this fall for 2010 season.

-BRH

Spider Mites

2009-07-16T15:01:00.000-07:00

Hot Sale on Roses at Regan's

2009-07-14T13:09:00.000-07:00

Hot notice from Regan Nursery:

"Dog Days of Summer Sale!
Oh...those Dog Days of Summer! Well, we're just about all dog lovers around here, so that's no slur! In fact, If you have a dog, and bring the pooch in on a leash, you'll get a 10% extra discount on your entire purchase when you shop with us now, through August 31st! And YES, that's 10% over and above the already fantastic sale prices."

ALL ROSES 30% OFF PLUS EXTRA 10% IF BRING IN FIDO = 40% DISCOUNT. Woof! Woof!

Tom Thumb

2009-07-13T12:36:00.000-07:00

Got my hands on (excuse the pun) a plant of Tom Thumb, one of the smallest miniature roses ever created. Hybridized in Holland in 1936, it has been used extensively by breeders such as the "Grandfather of Miniature Roses" Ralph Moore to produce many miniatures.

Tom Thumb is indeed tiny, the perfectly formed buds are typically purplish, but in some climates may appear pink or red. Read more about it here.

What is the smallest rose in the world? Si from Spain is about the size of a grain of rice.

Got Arthritis? Try These Shears

2009-07-12T13:14:00.000-07:00

Though my personal favorite pruning shears are Felcos, my Mom swears by her new pair of Barnel Pruners. Between arthritis and a broken wrist, she found it difficult to keep up with the constant clipping required by any good garden. Pruning would leave her, well . . . prematurely pooped.

Then she discovered Barnel Pruners which made such chores fun again. The lightweight yet sturdy design was easier on her hands and wrists, enabling her to spend more time in the garden (and less time taking Motrin!)

Barnel Pruners are available online from Harlane and from www.therosegardener.com

I'm not quite ready to turn in my Felcos, but if you give Barnel Pruners a try let me know what you think.

Smith & Hawken Bites the Dust

2009-07-10T08:29:00.000-07:00

After 30 years, Smith & Hawken is closing down. Sorry because it was always a pleasure perusing their displays of upscale garden goodies and occasionally picking up something practical like shears or gloves.

Smith and Hawken's catalog was a gardener's dream, at least it was wonderful to sit back and dream about a garden outfitted with luxurious items, though sometimes it got a bit out of hand. Such as when they were selling bare-root roses. Naturally I had a good look then almost fell out of my chair when I came to a listing for First Prize standard aka tree rose aka (as my Dad refers to them) "rose on a stick." I could not believe my eyes - "First Prize Standard $200 each." Plus shipping.

I immediately called Smith & Hawken customer service to inquire if it was a misprint, and when assured indeed it was not, I asked why on earth were they charging $200 for a tree rose?

The rep said "because it is First Prize."

No comment.

Join us Sat for Summertime Snipping

2009-07-09T07:48:00.000-07:00

FSJRG Summertime Volunteer Day Saturday July 11 - start time 8:00 AM. Come out early when the weather is still cool and have a chance to win some cool prizes.

Including 11 pairs of West Country Gauntlet Gloves ($35 value), 12+ Rose Bushes, and other great items!

Interested in becoming a Master Volunteer? We will be offering a special one-hour training session beginning about 8:30 AM. Will cover techniques used in the Rose Garden and other rosy info.

All Ages & Abilities Welcome.

Scoring the Test Roses

2009-07-08T19:23:00.000-07:00

The San Jose Municipal Rose Garden has been elevated to an All-America Rose Selection (AARS) Test Garden. The only one in Northern California, and one of only 23 in the entire USA. It's quite an honor for the Rose Garden, and a privilege to be part of the judging process.

How does it work? Roses in consideration are "test" grown for a two-year period, and evaluated by a panel of judges. Scores, observations and comments are submitted and results tabulated nationwide. Out of the 38 roses planted this year in the San Jose Rose Garden for testing, one can expect only 1 - 3 of the top scoring roses will receive the AARS Winner designation.

It's been interesting to watch the roses - and my opinion of them - develop and change. There have been a couple that wowed my socks off but as the season progresses have let me down. An attack of powdery mildew or strange growth habit often being the culprit. With a heavy heart some of my personal early favorites are now low on my list, but others are beginning to catch my eye. And I'm holding my breathe for a couple of front runners that they cross the finish line as winners.

Evaluating the roses is a careful and thorough procedure. They are judged on 15 aspects: disease resistance, novelty, form, color, aging quality, fragrance, repeat bloom - just to name a few. And it is important to note that how a rose performs locally may have nothing to do with how it performs elsewhere. On the West Coast, our roses are prone to powdery mildew, whereas elsewhere it may be non-existent. Disease resistance is now one of the major goals of rose hybridizers, recognizing that most gardeners don't have the time or desire to spray - and in fact the test roses can NOT be sprayed.

At the end of the two-year testing process, it typically takes another two years before supply is built up for distribution, which means the roses planted this year will not be commercially available until 2013. Truly the roses of the future!

-BRH

Fourth of July

2009-07-04T19:36:00.000-07:00

Looking for a patriotic rose to plant in your garden? What better way to celebrate the 4th of July than with the Fourth of July, a red and white striped climber hybridized by Tom Carruth of Weeks Roses.

Here's what Weeks says about it:

"An explosion of eye-popping color for the landscape is just the beginning of the festivities ahead from this fragrant new Climber. You'll get a bang out of the big sprays of large long-lasting blossoms. And the fireworks just seem to keep coming because it blooms and reblooms readily in the very first season. Sparkling green foliage, superb vigor and good hardiness complete the spectacle. The first Climber to take the coveted AARS award in 23 years, making it to the top through an unprecedented expanded 3-year trial period."

A Piece about Peace (Rose)

2009-07-03T09:23:00.000-07:00

Fourth of July weekend is filled with festive activities celebrating our county's independence, and hard fought battles for democracy. Though our freedoms may have been achieved through war, our true freedom comes with peace.

Every rose has a story behind it, and the classic hybrid tea "Peace" one of the most famous roses in the world has a dramatic history. During World War II, Peace was hybridized by Meilland, and introduced in 1942 in France as Mme. A. Meilland, in Germany as Gloria Dei, and in Italy as Gioia. Budwood of Peace was flown out of France on one the last planes to leave France before it fell to Nazi occupation.

In the United States, Conard-Pyle propagated plants, and the yellow blend hybrid tea was given the name "Peace" at a ceremony in Pasadena CA on April 29, 1945 - co-incidently the very same day Berlin fell.

That same year at the inaugural meeting of the United Nations, the American Rose Society gave each delegate a long stem of Peace. Attached to each rose was a note which read "We hope the Peace rose will influence men's thoughts for everlasting world Peace."

Peace was the only AARS winner for 1945. To read more click here.

Rose Heat Wilt

2009-07-02T13:26:00.000-07:00

When the temps skyrocket and you feel like you're going wilt, think about your poor roses. You may be able to slip into an air-conditioned room, but they are out in the hot sun all day baking away. So for heavens sake give the roses a drink or two. It's ok to hose them off to cool down their foliage and provide some moisture in the air. It's a myth that water droplets on the leaves will act as a microscope and burn the foliage. At least I've never seen it happen in my garden, and I've hosed plenty of roses!

Some roses rejoice in the heat - St. Patrick performs better in hot than cool. But some can't take it and will wilt, burn and generally turn into crispy critters, no matter how much you water. Though the bloom and stem may perk back up with an infusion of water and cooler temps, the burnt bits will not regain substance. Besides sunburnt petals and foliage, high temps result in smaller size blooms. If the damage to the bloom is severe, your only option is to deadhead, and wait for the next bloom cycle.

If you have a special bloom that you want to protect, consider making a portable sunshade. I've constructed devices as simple as a square of cardboard stapled on a wooden 1/2 inch post, or even paper plates clipped on with clothes pins.

Roses that are in pots need extra water - daily. And if you're able move the pots to cooler and shadier location until the heat wave passes.

We're Going Organic!

2009-06-27T08:11:00.000-07:00

The San Jose Municipal Rose Garden is going organic. The spray switch had already been made - organic Neem Oil is the only spray used - with the exception of the AARS Test Beds which are are NO-SPRAY ZONE.

Now for the big news from Terry (drum roll please):

"After trying several types for fertilizer, the garden is now exclusively using Dr. Earth's Rose Organic 3 Rose and Flower Food. It has proven to provide great cell growth, and is long lasting. It has a blend of cottonseed meal, fish bone meal, fish meal, alfalfa meal, kelp meal, mined potassium sulfate, soft rock phosphate, seaweed extract and soil conditioning by the introduction beneficial microbes plus Ecto and Endo Mycorrhizae (soil fungi). It is available at Yamagami's Nursery and Regan's Nursery."

This is fabulous news. Not only will we be feeding the roses, but we will be feeding the soil.

Thank you Kellogs & Dr Earth!

Thriller - Michael Jackson

2009-06-25T22:44:00.000-07:00

In memory of Michael Jackson here's a pic of the white/pink blend hybrid tea "Thriller." The rose was hybridized by Bridges Roses in 1986. Michael Jackson's classic album "Thriller" released in 1982 was the best selling album of all time.

Last Chance Minis

2009-06-25T07:45:00.000-07:00

Just received my minis from Nor'East Miniature Roses. As I reported here last month, sadly Nor'East, one of the top sources of mini roses in the USA, are shutting down their retail division. The good news for budget conscience consumers is Nor'East are having a big blowout sale to clear out stock. With the clearance I had some concerns what shape the minis would still be in, but much to my relief upon arrival they were in perfect condition. And also happy was able to obtain varieties such as the micro-mini Tom Thumb before it dissapears from the market (in fact as of this morning Tom Thumb is no longer listed on their site.)

June 30 is the LAST DAY. Check out the Nor'East website for info/pics/prices.

Just Say No (to this product)

2009-06-24T11:19:00.000-07:00

When it comes to fertilizing, my mantra is "USE WHAT FITS YOUR TIME & BUDGET" with one big exception. The exception is - do NOT use combined systemic fertilizer and insecticide. Yes I know you've probably got some and perhaps have even used it recently. But for your sake, the kids, the dogs, and your roses, stop!

One of the most commonly used products is Bayer Rose & Flower Care. But have you read the label? Do you know what you are putting into your garden? If you are using 1 in 2 Systemic it contains disolfuton - a very toxic product. It has a "Danger" label, which means it is, well dangerous. Much more concern than something labeled "Caution." Besides the Danger rating, it kills off beneficial insects, and to have a healthy garden you need a balance of good bugs and in order to attract the good guys you a few bad guys that they can munch on.

One of the so-called benefits of this product is that it lasts 6 weeks. Think about that - not only the fertilizer but the INSECTICIDE lasts 6 weeks. That means the poison is there in the soil every time you stick your fingers in it. Do a bit of digging, pull a weed; get exposed. I'm not against using insecticides in general, but they should be used cautiously and only on a as-needed basis. Using the same product on a constant basis can develop resistant insects and fungus. This means when you need to pull out the big guns they might not work as effectively.

When you go the nursery or garden supply and see the big displays of systemic combination fertilizer/insecticide, pass right on by (before the fumes make you pass out.) And if you have some at home get rid of it - at the hazardous waste center.

Is it Long Lasting?

2009-06-23T20:14:00.001-07:00

There are many things to think about when selecting a rose. Besides color, form, disease resistance, plant habit, fragrance, repeat bloom - also consider "is it long lasting?"

This doesn't refer to the life cycle (though this varies also) but how long does the bloom last on the bush? And for those who enjoy cut flowers in the home, how long is the vase life?

Some roses are very long lasting. My top 3 choices for long lasting hybrid teas are Moonstone, Black Magic and Asso di Cuori. Moonstone a gorgeous white with pink blush (photo above) will easily last several weeks on the bush and more than a week as a cut flower. Black Magic, a dark red almost black, is another long lasting hybrid tea. Asso di Cuori aka Ace of Hearts, another red, will easily hold its form for forever (well almost!) On the other hand the new Legends aka known as the "Oprah rose" looks fabulous on the bush but so far I've found if I cut one of its humongous red blooms they expire within minutes.

Typically roses with a lot of substance in the petals are longer lasting than those with thin or crepe-like petals. Singles (roses with 4 - 8 petals) often have a brief moment of glory, though there are exceptions such as the spectacular red climbing shrub Altissimo.

Want your roses to be longer lasting regardless of the variety? Keep up them hydrated with lots of water. Especially important during warm summer months. For longer lasting cut roses try recutting the stem under water. This really makes a difference. As far as "conditioning" a cut rose goes, some like to use an aspirin or splash of non-diet 7-Up, but my personal favorite and the choice of many rose buffs and arrangers is Chyrsal. Available in several formulations, I like Chrysal Clear Professional processing solution as used by florists.

Revised Mayor's Budget Final Vote 2Day

2009-06-23T09:08:00.000-07:00

A word of explanation:

When the City of San Jose proposed to slash the newly restored Rose Garden, my posts here on rose culture became sparse. I was simply too heartbroken to compose anything except Letters to the Editor or emails to Council Members, urging them to not turn their backs on all that had been achieved. Instead energy was re-directed into getting the word out, and our volunteers and the public responded with support for this historic landmark. The campaign of calls, letters and addressing the council made an impact, and much to our relief the Mayor proposed a revised budget which would save the revenue producing Rose Garden. After a lot of blood, sweat and tears, it looks like our efforts will not be in vain. Final vote is today. Read more on main FSJRG special budget page.

Yes these are tough times, but the Rose Garden was built during the Depression because it was recognized people need a place of beauty to lift their spirit and renew their soul. This is still true - last week a man thanked me (and all the volunteers) for restoring the Rose Garden. He said he was "about to lose his job, but coming to the garden and seeing all the roses made him feel better." When I told him about the potential cuts, he shook his head and said "how absurd it was to risk it all to save a few bucks." The garden was worth much more than that.

Indeed.

UPDATE: COUNCIL VOTES TO SAVE ROSE GARDEN! THANK YOU TO EVERYONE FOR A SUCCESSFUL CAMPAIGN! A BIG ROSY THANK YOU TO THE MAYOR OF SAN JOSE & CITY COUNCILMEMBERS. Read more on FSJRG main page.

Basals

2009-06-07T14:49:00.000-07:00

Basal canes are new growth that emits from the base or more properly the bud union aka graft of the rose bush. Basal breaks (what it is called when a basal breaks forth from the woody surface of the bud union) produce strong sturdy new basal canes - the future of the rose bush. A healthy rose bush will produce basals which is a sign of plant rejuvenation - as older canes become less productive new basals take their place.

It is of utmost importance to know the difference between basals and suckers. Unfortunately too often gardeners see strong new growth sprouting from "down there" and they wrongly jump to the conclusion it's a sucker and remove it. What they don't realize is by removing basals they have harmed the rose and destroyed future prime growth.

Knowing the difference in a grafted rose is quite simple: growth that originates from the bud union (that knotty area where the rose is grafted to the root-stalk) is good BASALS. Growth that originates from below (not attached) to the bud union but from the trunk or roots is bad SUCKERS.

Look carefully at the photo above. There are 3 basal breaks. (Hint: the 3rd one is between the 2 larger breaks)

Be careful weeding around the base of the rose, applying fertilizer, etc, to avoid knocking off new basals breaks or basal canes. And for heavens sake NEVER use a scrub brush on a bud union because you may accidently rub off new breaks. There are some that recommend giving the bud union a scrub now and then to clean it off but unless you have x-ray vision you might also clean off the basal breaks. Use water instead.

Suckers

2009-06-01T11:06:00.000-07:00

Most modern roses sold are actually two roses in one - the variety you want on top (ie. Peace, Double Delight, Iceberg, etc) grafted to root-stalk (most commonly Dr. Huey). Most roses sold begin life as a bud-eye grafted onto root-stalk, which enables commercial growers to reproduce roses in large quantities in the growing fields. Though roses grafted onto vigorous root-stalk quickly develop, sometimes the root-stalk is so vigorous that it sends up sprouts from the roots. These root sprouts are called "suckers" because if left on the plant they will overtake the rose, sucking all the energy into growing more root-stalk rather than the roses you want.

Unsuspecting gardeners will sometimes proudly point to the red double flowers that have suddenly appeared on long slender stems from their rosebush, thinking they've got something special. Dr. Huey may look pretty, but given the choice between growing beautiful blooms of "Double Delight" or a mass of suckers, I think most would prefer the rose the former!

The easiest way to identify suckers is to look for the source. They key is to check out the bud union, the big knotted place where roses are grafted to the root-stalk. On grafted roses, canes that grow from the BUD UNION OR ABOVE is good v.s. canes that come from BELOW THE BUD UNION are suckers. Below the bud union means the trunk or roots. It helps to plant roses in mild climates with the bud union a couple of inches above the soil level, makes it easy to check at a glance. Otherwise you might have to dig around a bit to check where the growth is coming from. A word of caution, do not make the mistake to think canes coming from the bud union itself (whether the top part or bottom) are suckers, those are BASAL canes which are very good new growth.

The best way to remove suckers is to pull them off clean. Cutting suckers off generally leaves a bit behind which can re-sprout, so try to remove as much of the sucker as possible.

Unless a rose is sold/purchased "grown on its own roots" the rose is grafted to root-stalk. Rose that are grown on their own roots (typically old garden roses and miniatures) never have suckers because the entire plant is the same rose variety. Alas most modern roses are grafted to root-stalk, so learn how to identify and deal with suckers so you're not one.

Rose Slugs

2009-05-27T10:40:00.000-07:00

Leaves look like lace?

Rose slugs are probably the culprit. Tiny larvae of primitive wasps (sawflies) they chew on rose foliage in manner that leaves it skeletonized.

Rose slugs have slender green bodies that look like catepillars, with a orange "head." Learn to identify and locate the 3 main types of rose slugs: 1. European rose slugs are smooth and found on top of leaves 2. Curled rose slugs are found on underside of leaves, and their smooth bodies curl up in a circle 3. Bristly rose slugs have bristles rather than smooth bodies and also found on undersides of foliage.

How to get rid of these pests? Take action at first sign by checking foliage top and bottom and squish the little critters. This usually does the trick. In severe cases resorting to chemical warfare may be necessary but remember whatever product (organic or otherwise) that kills bad bugs also kills good bugs.

For more info including photo of curled rose slug click here.

One More Makes Four (eggs)

2009-05-21T22:15:00.001-07:00

No More Nor'East (retail)

2009-05-21T12:35:00.000-07:00

Just received word that Nor'East Miniature Roses, the nations largest supplier of miniature roses, will be shutting down their retail mail order division. That's the bad news. The good news is effective Mon May 25 you can place orders at 50% discount as they close out the business.

Here's the 50% off details:

A 3-plant minimum applies to all orders.
The 50% discount offer is valid on orders placed after May 25, 2009. No other discounts or coupons may be applied.
Offer not valid on previously placed orders.
ARS new member coupons may not be applied to offer.
Valid gift certificates may still be applied during check-out.
Offer valid on orders shipped between June 1 to June 30, 2009.
Due to the closing of our retail services, plants purchased after May 25, 2009 will no longer be covered under the 90-day plant guarantee.
The 50% discount is valid only on plants and does not apply to shipping charges. Normal shipping rates apply.
Offer valid while supplies last.
Due to the extreme blow-out pricing, we strongly recommend listing 1 to 3 substitutes during your check-out process should your requested varieties be out of stock at the time of shipping.

And Then There Were Three (eggs)

2009-05-19T16:54:00.000-07:00

Secret Nest

2009-05-18T16:57:00.001-07:00

Spotted what I thought was a tuft of weeds in a pot of "Secret's Out" but as I grabbed ahold of it discovered much to my surprise it wasn't weeds after all, but a secret nest with two tiny eggs. I quickly but carefully placed it back, tucked just inside the rim of the pot where it had been partially hidden by rose foliage.

It seems every year I discover a birds nest built somewhere in and among the roses. Perhaps birds hope rose thorns will keep away predators? Or simply that green lush foliage provides cool shade and a beautiful spot to nest. I had been watching this particular bird for the past week or so darting from the trees into and around the roses - thought it was looking for insects to eat. Now I know it was busy making a nest and laying eggs! What type of bird was this particular feathered friend? An Oregon Junco or Junco Hyemalis, aka Dark-eyed Junco.

Yellow Leaves?

2009-05-18T11:16:00.000-07:00

People often ask why their rosebushes leaves are turning yellow. There can be many reasons, some are cause for concern and some are not.

To diagnose, look beyond the yellow for other identifying marks. 1. Are there blackspots? The fungus blackspot causes leaves to develop black spots, turn yellow and drop off. 2. What about the leaf veins? Signs of nutrutional defiency are when the veins are yellow or darker than rest of the leaf. 3. Next turn the leaf over and look at underside. The fungal disease rust appears as small orange pustules, and causes yellowing. 4. See any webbing? In very hot weather spider mites ( look like tiny salt and pepper specks) attack the underside of the leaf. Spider mites are especially a problem if you use insecticides. No beneficial insects, bigger chance of getting mites.

If you don't see any of the above, one of the most common - and natural - reasons for leaves turning yellow is they are simply worn out! Sometimes though leaves meet their demise before their time because of stress. Lack of water or heat stress can really take its toll. So when the weather spikes, make sure the roses have lots of H2O to avoid stressed out roses, droopy bushes and leaf drop.

The Oprah Rose

2009-05-15T09:33:00.000-07:00

Big, bold and beautiful - it's Legends. This huge red hybrid tea was selected by Oprah Winfrey to be "her" rose. Hybridized by Tom Carruth of Weeks Roses, it is sure to be legendary in your garden.

No Staff? No Fountain? No Rangers? NO WAY!

2009-05-12T16:05:00.000-07:00

After two years of work, rescuing and restored our beloved Rose Garden and having it recognized nationally as new AARS Test Garden (only one in Northern California) we are NOT going to sit back and do nothing in regard to proposed budget cuts.

Send an email, a letter or make a call to the Mayor of San Jose and City Council. Click here for addresses.

Get the word out - today I did an interview for KTVU TV Channel 2 on statewide and local budget cuts and how this impacts the San Jose Municipal Rose Garden. I will be too busy to watch as will be at Budget Hearing at City Hall.

The City of San Jose will vote on budget cuts June 23. Make your voice heard.

Rescued & Restored - But at Risk (again!)

2009-05-11T08:21:00.000-07:00

Two years ago the San Jose Municipal Rose Garden was in horrible shape - dead and dying roses in beds choked with weeds. Friends of the San Jose Rose Garden was formed to rescue the garden, and hundreds of volunteers snipped, clipped and weeded, transforming the rose garden - the garden was taken off probation and full accreditation reinstated, and in addition received national honors being named an AARS Test Garden (one of 23 in USA and only one in Northern California.)

But, the Rose Garden is at risk once more. Proposed budget cuts by the City of San Jose would eliminate all permanent staff, shut down the Fountain, and cut out all Park Rangers.

Your help is needed to stop this severe threat. Click here to see Before & After slideshow of Rose Garden. After all the hard work we cannot let it slip away. You can make a difference - click here to find out how.

Mother's Rose

2009-05-10T17:55:00.000-07:00

Mother's Day is filled with roses - on cards, gifts, bouquets or taking Mom for a stroll through the thousands of blooms in the San Jose Municipal Rose Garden.

People often have wistful memories about a rose grown in their Mother's or Grandmother's garden, and want to plant a rose just like Mom's.

Want to get a rose named after Mom but not sure what to get? Consider Mother's Rose, a pretty coral pink blend hybrid tea from Jackson & Perkins. Or perhaps Mom's Rose, a pink blend hybrid tea but this one's from Certified Roses.

Whatever you choose, just give it lots of love!

Most Fragrant Rose

2009-05-07T20:34:00.000-07:00

At the Rededication Ceremony & Celebration we had a contest for the Most Fragrant Rose blooming in the San Jose Municipal Rose Garden. Guests sniffed the dozen roses in competition and the winner was (drum roll please) ELLE.

Have to admit I was pleasantly surprised. Elle received the most votes, beating out traditional deeply scented favorites such as Fragrant Cloud and Double Delight.

Elle is a gorgeous pink hybrid tea, AARS winner 2005, exhibition form (high pointed center) and very disease resistant foliage- and very fragrant. A winner for the San Jose Municipal Rose Garden and for yours!

Powdery Mildew

2009-05-06T07:51:00.000-07:00

Leaves crinkled and covered with white powdery stuff? That's Powdery Mildew, one of the Big 3 of rose fungal diseases (powdery mildew, blackspot and rust) Powdery mildew's fungal spores are spread through the air - so remove infected foliage at the first signs of disease. But did you know that by the time the first signs of powdery mildew are visible (crinkled foliage) the fungal spores have already penetrated and infected the plant two weeks prior?

Prevention is key. Select roses that are disease resistant. Some varieties (such as Crimson Bouquet) rarely or never get ill, while others (Tropicana) are very prone to disease. Plant in sunny locations. Keep plant well watered and fertilizer - stressed plants are more prone to disease. And believe it or not, water is your friend in fighting powdery mildew. It is a myth that water causes powdery mildew - the spores germinate on dry, not wet, leaves. Hosing off your roses once a week can actually wash off spores and keep plants happy and healthy.

Decide what your is your level of tolerance or perfection. If you want a perfect garden, you may opt to use fungicides - on preventive basis. There's a wide range of products from nontoxic Cloud Cover to organic Neem Oil to traditional fungicides such as Banner Maxx (choice of many serious rosarians nationwide but not available for sale in California.)

For more on Powdery Mildew, click here to read University of California Pest Notes.

Before and After - Slideshow of Rose Garden

2009-05-04T19:41:00.000-07:00

Click on slideshow to view in larger format

WHAT A DIFFERENCE! Thanks to all for making this possible.

Easy Does It

2009-05-04T12:57:00.000-07:00

The All-America Rose Selections winner for 2010 was officially announced at the San Jose Municipal Rose Garden Rededication Celebration, "EASY DOES IT" - an orangey-apricot to honey pink floribunda. Here's a pic of one of the very first blooms of Easy Does It, with its ruffled petals and very disease resistant glossy foliage. Tip: Want easy care roses? Select varieties with glossy leaves such as Easy Does It - shiny glossy foliage is tougher against fungus spores than soft, dull or matte foliage.

Easy Does It will be available to the public this Fall. Meanwhile get out to the San Jose Municipal Rose Garden where you can take a sneak peak of it on display.

Ribbon-Cutting at Rose Garden

2009-05-02T18:53:00.001-07:00

Re-Dedication Ceremony of San Jose Municipal Rose Garden and ribbon cutting of new AARS Test Beds was a huge success. The enthusiastic crowd was not deterred by the liquid sunshine - the garden was breathtaking and a good time had by all.

Here's a pic of ribbon cutting. Look for more great photos on the blog and website soon.

THANK YOU TO ALL!

What is the AARS?

2009-04-27T07:36:00.000-07:00

The All-America Rose Selections (AARS) is a nonprofit association of rose growers and introducers "dedicated to the introduction of exceptional roses for today's gardener." The AARS evaluates roses that are tested nationwide for a two year period, and only the top scoring roses receive the coveted AARS designation. AARS winners must be not only beautiful but easy to grow. In fact, in keeping with the public's growing demand for disease resistance and environmentally friendly gardening, Test Gardens are no longer sprayed. AARS roses must be beautiful and easy to grow.

The San Jose Municipal Rose Garden includes over 80 AARS Winners, ranging from the 2010 selection (to be announced) to the 1946 winner, Peace.

The President of the All-America Rose Selections, Tom Carruth, will be participating in the May 2 "Re-Discover the Rose Garden" celebration and volunteer day on Sat May 2, sponsored by Friends of the San Jose Rose Garden and the City of San Jose. Expect a rosy announcement!

Neem Oil

2009-04-26T11:42:00.000-07:00

Gardeners who prefer to use "natural" products over conventional chemicals may want to check out Neem Oil. Sold in many formulations, including the readily available Rose Defense by Green Light, it is a broad spectrum fungicide, and insecticide. Used on a regular basis, it is a good preventative for the big 3 rose fungal diseases - powdery mildew, rust and blackspot.

Besides use as a fungicide, Neem Oil is also an insecticide, which means it is effective against aphids and other pests. But remember any product that kills bad bugs also kills good bugs. Depending on your perspective, choosing a "natural" product over a chemical which only target fungus may or may not be kinder to nature. Whichever you choose, always read the label and practice safe spraying.

MV's in Training

2009-04-25T07:57:00.000-07:00

Meet Tania, one of our newest Master Volunteers in training. Originally from Russia, Tania quipped that the map of where our volunteers hail from has now gone international!

This past week in the sweltering heat about 30 brave souls braved the 100 degree temps to participate in Master Volunteer training sessions at the Rose Garden. New recruits then log 5 hours of snipping, weeding, mulching under supervision to become "vested." Friends of the San Jose Rose Garden currently has about 150 Master Volunteers. Just about any day of the week green vested MV's can be found snipping, weeding, and caring for the 4,000 roses bushes.

Whether you're down the street, across town, from another county or country, come help in the Rose Garden (May 2 is our next BIG event - open to all.) We thank you, and the roses thank you!

Celebrity is a Star

2009-04-24T16:50:00.001-07:00

Want star power in your rose garden? Celebrity gets rave reviews at the San Jose Municipal Rose Garden for blooming power, disease resistance, and being a stand out in the garden. This hybrid tea rose knows how to deliver - big yellow blend blooms are atop sturdy stems covered in dark green foliage.

Introduced in 1988 in honor of Week's Roses 50th Anniversary, Celebrity has been around long enough to prove itself on the rose stage. As with many "older" roses, it many be harder to find, but definitely worth adding to your rose collection.

Syrphid Slurps Aphid

2009-04-23T12:34:00.000-07:00

Walking though the garden this morning saw a Syrphid Fly Larva in action - slurping up an aphid. This beneficial insect is a friend of roses, not a foe, but as it is often mistaken for a bad bug naive gardeners squish 'em at first sight or get out the insecticide . . . . Then wonder later why their garden has a lot of aphids.

Learn the difference between good bugs and bad bugs. Your garden will be much healthier (and so will you!)

Want to be a Master Volunteer?

2009-04-19T08:40:00.000-07:00

Training sessions Mon Apr 20 and Tue Apr 21 at 10am and 1pm.

Why volunteer? Read Myles Tobin's article "What's a Few Hours Between Friends?" latest FSJRG newsletter on page 6.

To learn more or pre-register click here.

Water Is It

2009-04-18T10:51:00.000-07:00

The *secret* to growing prize winning roses it is water, Water, WATER! Lots of water makes long stems, lush foliage and big beautiful blooms. In my opinion, as long as you have good drainage, you cannot overwater. The saying "roses don't like wet feet" refers to poorly drained soggy soil, not good hydration. Most people simply do NOT water enough. Roses need at least 7 gallons of water a week. During the Spring and Fall water roses twice a week, during the summer three times a week. Roses in containers may need to be watered every day. And during a heat wave roses need extra water.

When getting my private garden prepped for a rose show or garden tour, I would water the roses every day two weeks in advance of the event. What a difference it made!

What about during times of water shortage or conservation? The most efficient way to water is using a drip irrigation system, especially when using automatic timers. Duration and setting depends on the outflow of each emitter, but a good trick is to set up a ring around the base of each bush with 3 emitters to insure the emitters cover the root zone and stay put.

Don't be afraid of getting water on the foliage. It is a myth that wet leaves cause powdery mildew. Hosing off the foliage once a week can be beneficial to wash off dust, smog, and insects. Clean leaves are happy leaves!

Better Than Ladybugs

2009-04-17T13:52:00.000-07:00

Are Ladybug Larvae. Often mistaken for pests, they can eat 1200+ aphids before reaching adulthood. The larvae hatch from round yellow eggs found in clusters on the underside of leaves. They hatch looking like tiny pointed caterpillars. The black bodies have orange stripes or spots depending on the species. (Over 450 species of Cocinellidae in North America) As they mature, their soft bodies morph like an accordion into hard shelled ladybugs. This process from larvae to adulthood takes about 2 - 3 weeks.

Ladybugs, also known as Ladybirds or Lady Beetles, are one of the most popular beneficial insects (cuz they look so cute!) and readily available for purchase at many nurseries. However, because ladybugs are so mobile (they fly off quickly) releasing them into the home garden may be more beneficial for the neighbor's garden than your own. I've heard it recommendeded to mist ladybugs with 7-Up to delay their departure in hopes that they will "stick around" long enough to lay eggs.

FSJRG is planning on doing a Ladybug release for the San Jose Municipal Rose Garden, as a fun, educational and environmentally friendly event for children. With 5 acres and 4,000 rosebushes, even if the ladybugs fly off they'll still be in the Rose Garden!

For the UC IPM Pest Notes on Lady Beetles click here.

Aphid Lion

2009-04-16T13:10:00.000-07:00

Green Lacewings don't look fierce, but don't let that fool you. The carnivorous larvae hatch from eggs laid on the underside of leaves and are sometimes referred to as Aphid Lions because they attack aphids with a voracious appetite. The mouth of Green Lacewing larvae have long, hollow curved jaws that dig into prey (aphids) and suck up body fluids. Talk about the wild kingdom!

Learn to identify the good bugs from the bad bugs. Try to let nature keep things in balance. Remember if you use insecticides (not to be confused with fungicides) the beneficial insects will be killed along with pests. If your garden lacks beneficials you may consider purchasing some from specialty sources or select nurseries. Click here for info on ordering beneficials online.

If You Saw This Bug . . .?

2009-04-15T16:36:00.000-07:00

Don't panic, and for heavens sake don't squish it. Though it looks suspiciously like a caterpillar about to chew your roses, it's not a bad bug but a good bug - a beneficial insect busy eating aphids.

Syrphid Fly Larva, which grows up to be a yellow and black fly, sometimes referred to as a Flower Fly or Hoverfly.

(photo by Baldo Villegas)

Soldier Beetles Attack Aphids

2009-04-14T08:36:00.000-07:00

Got aphids? No need to get out the chemical artillery if you've got Soldier Beetles. Often mistaken for bad bugs - with a nickname of Assassin Bugs is it any wonder? These predaceous creatures will do battle by munching up aphids by the hundreds.

These good bugs are easily identified by their orange bodies with black wings, and can be spotted on buds and foliage. But remember they will show up for battle only if there is food for the troops. So when you first spot a few aphids, don't panic. The Solider Beetles are on their way to save the day (and the roses!)

Additional names for Soldier Beetles include Leatherbacks and Leatherwings. Whatever you call them, when it comes to aphids, they're ready for action.

For more on Soldier Beetles from the Marin Rose Society click here.
Photo courtesy Baldo Villegas aka the Bugman.

All About Aphids (Almost)

2009-04-13T19:10:00.001-07:00

Spring brings lots of lush new growth. It also brings a lot of aphids.

Aphids can be particularly pesky pest because they suck the juices out of buds. So unless you're a vampire, you probably don't appreciate aphids. However they are interesting creatures. Aphids are asexual, are born pregnant (!) and can give birth to 12 aphids a day. Aphids shed their skin as they grow, this white residue is often mistaken for dead aphids on foliage. Aphids are farmed by ants for their honeydew, so controlling ants in one step in controlling aphids.

Though most people get really worked up about aphids - no need - they are simple to deal with. An easy and cheap method is to get out the hose and blast off the aphids with water. Squishing them with your fingers is a bit messy, but also works and may give you a sense of satisfaction. Beneficial insects such as ladybugs, green lacewings and assassin beetles do a fabulous job of eating up the aphid population, but remember you must have something for beneficials to eat (ie. aphids) in order to attract them to your garden. Chemical control should be your last option because insecticides that kill aphids will also kill good bugs (beneficials) as well.

For more on aphids, click here to read UC Davis Integrated Pest Management pest notes.

Making a Difference

2009-04-02T08:26:00.000-07:00

Hot off the presses. From All-America Rose Selections newsletter:

"One particularly exciting story involves the San Jose Municipal Rose Garden which was in serious disrepair, and on the brink of losing its official AARS Public Garden accreditation. In response, local rosarians Terry Reilly and Beverly Rose Hopper formed the non-profit "Friends of San Jose Rose Garden" bringing together a very motivated community of caring volunteers which partnered with city staff/officials to revive the garden. The Garden has now reclaimed its beauty and is an inspiration for other gardens nationwide. To learn more about this wonderful public garden and the volunteer group, visit the Friends of San Jose Rose Garden website."

Click here for AARS newsletter, and scroll down for complete story.

Thanks to all FSJRG volunteers - you're the best!

Blue Roses!

2009-04-01T09:36:00.001-07:00

April Fool's.

Unless you get the spray paint, blue roses do not exist - yet. Many roses are called blue - Blue Moon, Blue Nile, Blue Girl and Shocking Blue just to name a few - but they are really shades of lavender, not true blue. Researchers in Australia and Japan have been actively trying to insert the blue gene into a rose, and some reports claim a blue rose, but to my eyes they still look purple!

Blind Shoots

2009-03-31T15:14:00.000-07:00

Gazing over the roses in Springtime one should see a sea of green, and lots of stems topped with fat green buds. But take a closer look - you may be surprised that instead of a bud atop a stem, you see a brown withered tip. What the ???

Blind Shoots are when the new shoots or stems suddenly stop growing and come to a dead end. No bud, no bloom. Thankfully rarely this afflicts the entire bush, but nonetheless blind shoots rob the bush of future roses.

What causes blind shoots and what to do about it? Cut off the withered tip at a leaf set to stimulate new growth. Though there are many theories what causes blind shoots, my observation is it's prevalent during sudden changes in the weather (sound like Spring?) Some varieties are more prone than others. Make it a habit to carefully inspect your rose bushes to insure along with all that lush new growth there are a lot of lovely new buds. If not, get out your shears and snip the tips!

Update on Liquid Fence

2009-03-30T16:03:00.000-07:00

Re: Oh Dear!
After a couple of days the odor dissipated. Was feeling brave so for the sake of investigative reporting thought I'd try it again. This time not so bad - only gagged twice.

Kiwanis Volunteer Day Slideshow

2009-03-28T22:11:00.000-07:00

200 Kiwanis + 50 FSJRG = Fast work weedcloth & mulch.
Thanks to everybody who came out. What a great day!
Click on slideshow to view in larger format

Visit main FSJRG photo gallery for more pics.

Edmunds Roses Special

2009-03-27T15:35:00.000-07:00

Want a last minute bargain on bare-root roses? Edmunds' Roses just announced a web special - as low as $10 each if order 10 or more. Not sure you have room for 10 more? Take out the lawn or split order with a friend! Click here for more info.