INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

The Chairman 3 Notes

AGM Notice 5

Gareth Davies - 6 Reporting From the The Times Rhondda

Derek Lawrence - 8 VOLUME 2, ISSUE 4 SUMMER 2019 Reporting from Nanyang Roy Halsey - 11 On the train south, we’re resting and reflecting on a great few days in Thanks Roy Glasgow for the Tollcross Park International Trials. Huge credit to the Pauline’s Patter - 12 Glasgow City Council for running the trials and to Derek Wells for Summer Shows Round Up making sure that everything runs smoothly. Full details and a report

Caption 15 of the trials results will appear in Derek Lawrence’s next article in the Competition Autumn edition of the Rose Times so I won’t steal any of his thunder on trial with 16 Kerry Austen here except to report that it was a successful event, with the Rose Society UK well represented. One result from the trials that I must David Kenny - 18 Our Man in Tullow mention was the award for Best Established Rose at the City of Oasis? Noasis? 20 Glasgow Trials. The winner was the floribunda Absolutely Fabulous An Oasis of Calm

Suzanne Horn - 24 bred by Tom Carruth and introduced by C & K Jones from Tarvin in Hello Gorgeous Cheshire. With neither Tom or anyone from C & K in attendance, it

Dean Hole - Again 27 was my pleasure to pick up the award on their behalf. Diary Dates 28 We continue to fine-tune our operating systems with variable results. Our latest ‘advance’ being the ability now to pay for society Sulphur Rose - 29 Volunteers Required merchandise and subscriptions via our Square card reader system WFRS News 31 meaning that credit and debit cards and now be used. The card-pay system will be incorporated into the website soon as well. We Contact 32 appreciate all of our member’s patience as we try to improve our society and the way we operate on a very tight budget.

We should always Talking of budget, we would like to extend our thanks to Blue remember Dean Diamond (Fryer’s Roses) for their very generous donation scheme Samuel Hole’s based on sales of Gareth Fryer bred roses in June 2018. We will be words ...... using the donation to help us further improve the way we run the “He who would grow beautiful Roses must society and, hopefully to improve our society stand to take it to have them in his Chelsea next year as we increase the visibility of the Rose Society UK, heart”. increase membership and further promote roses in the UK.

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We have not been to quite so many shows with our stand this year mainly due to ‘human resources’. Building and breaking down the stand for a two, three and especially four day shows is tiring enough in itself, meeting the visitors and answering the many questions that the public pose for the whole show can be exhausting. We desperately need some additional volunteers to help ‘man the stand’ for short periods during the show. You really don’t need to an all-knowing rose expert; an enthusiasm and love of roses will be more than enough to enable you to get involved and really make a difference. We hope that you enjoy the contributions in the newsletters from our members and friends from the rose community. But we still want to hear more from you; your rose stories, your experiences and your recommendations. Our summer schedule of events is now complete as we look forward to the Autumn shows and a final flush on our roses to see us over winter. For our part, Pauline and I are looking forward to another ‘Fall’ trip to the USA, hoping to see more roses and rose friends. We will hopefully report on that in the next Rose Times.

Absolutely Fabulous (Julia Child in USA) - Best Established Rose at the City of Glasgow Trials.

Ed

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The Chairman Notes

The year seems to be flashing by for here we are in August and now looking forward to a fine flush of autumn blooms. The seasons as we all know are becoming milder, but after the wet spring with the resultant lower light levels I thought the roses would be a bit late to flower. Not so however, the June weather began rather mixed but soon changed to strong sunshine. With the warmer conditions my roses responded well with lots of bloom particularly the Climbers and Ramblers sometimes called Scramblers excelled. The evergreen rambler Alberic Barbier which covers the lychgate entrance to my suddenly exploded with a mass of light primrose blooms in June. It loved the very hot spell that followed and is still giving a few blooms now. Even more spectacular though was Princess Marie growing close by for they often intertwine with both flowering together in July. Princess Marie has been growing for over fifteen years along a wall, but the spectacular flowering has been better than ever this year. The wall on which it grows and covers, is my boundary with a footpath known locally as the gulley. which runs adjacent to my long garden. The rose acts as a strong thorny deterrent to any intruders proving much more attractive than any barbed wire. This year despite being hard pruned last autumn the Princess has spread her long branches into the neighbour’s arching tree and has grown up six metres forming an arch over the gulley. She covers approximately twenty metres along the wall but will need further attention this autumn to keep her under control. There are other ramblers in my garden, and I will write about them in the future.

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Chris Warner however has given me information about two new Rambling Roses he thinks worthy of a mention. He is usually known for his world-famous Patio roses but tells me he did a little breeding with rambling roses a few years ago. He raised an orange-salmon pink Rambler as the picture shows about 15 years ago. He has never released it and it has been growing on his nursery ever since. The seed parent was Mary Sumner with pollen from Kiftsgate he says it is very healthy with shiny foliage and fragrant too. It is growing through a holly tree on his nursery and has reached twenty-five feet in height. He had previously tried to hybridise this colour into ramblers by using a chance seedling found at Picton Castle. It was named Leo’s Eye and is an orange pink shade, but he found it to be of poor health, so he discarded it and made the deliberate cross. Leo’s Eye is still listed in specialist catalogues but a new healthy Rambling Rose in this shade should surely be worth growing The other rambler he is growing is in the wilder part of Chris’s nursery it is a chance seedling supplied to him by Marron Cheshire a member of the Amateur Rose Breeders Association. The Rose named for Marron’s daughter Amanda Saborn is not in commerce to date. It was found in her garden when she moved in, about 17 years ago. It is thought to be a chance seedling cross from Kiftsgate and Rambling Rector which was growing nearby in the vicarage garden. It has much more attractive flowers than Kiftsgate as can be seen from the picture and is highly fragrant but equally as vigorous as Kiftsgate It was entered in ARBA trials a few years ago without success because ramblers need a much longer period than the two-year trial period. At Chris Warner’s nursery it was growing into a Mountain Ash tree which it eventually felled and is now free standing.

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I will obtain propagating material of both these varieties and give them a trial because new roses of this type don’t appear very often. I have for many years had an interest in growing Climbing and Rambling roses and will report on how they perform in future. Our Society is now well established so would members support a society visit if it were arranged it could be an opportunity to meet. We are an internet society and have no or regular meeting place but I’m sure there are many places where a visit or seminar could be arranged. There is even a National collection of Rambling Roses of which I have been writing at Moor Wood in Gloucestershire, though it’s not for the faint hearted. Maybe members ideas suggestions should be raised at the Annual meeting in November. Just a thought, please do let us know all contact details are here in the Newsletter. The autumn will soon be upon us, and in September we shall be holding our membership and advice stand at Harrogate Autumn Flower Show along with the Society Autumn Rose show. This will be followed with a stand at the Malvern Autumn Show, there are rose classes here too, but entries must be made to Show organisers. Do come and say hello if you visit either of these events it always good to meet and have and opportunity talk about roses and any plans for 2020. If any members can help on the stand for a few hours, then as always please do let us know help is always most welcome.

Save the date 2019

AGM

11am on 17th November St Michaels Church Hall, Pelsall

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Our Vice-Chairman Gareth Davies is an accomplished gardener and a top exhibitor He has won countless awards for the roses he produces in his garden in Talybont, Brecon Today he reports on another event that he is involved with ...... Rhondda Rose Show, 2019

The 55th Annual Show of the Rhondda Rose Society was held on 22nd & 23rd June at Pugh’s Garden Centre near Cardiff. The Show is normally held on the first weekend in July but in order to avoid clashing with other National Rose Shows it was decided to bring it forward a fortnight. Despite concerns that the early date would result in a shortage of blooms our worst fears were fortunately not realised and the visiting public were treated to a fine show of colour from the quality roses exhibited by our Rhondda Rose Society members supported admirably by our rose friends from Andover, Burnham-on-Sea, Bristol, Felixstowe and the Midlands. Altogether, 13 exhibitors staged a total of 138 exhibits. All Star Classes were well supported. There were 8 exhibits in the HT Star Class which was won by Howard Thomas with a lovely bloom of ANDREA STELZER. In second and third places there were blooms of RED DEVIL and LOWRI staged by Gareth Davies. Ivor Mace won both the miniature and miniflora Star Classes with blooms of HELLO GORGEOUS and MISS MABEL respectively. Picture frame classes are always popular and well supported with JAN GUEST staged by Gareth Davies achieving the top award. Ivor Clark’s exhibits were outstanding and he gained first prizes in the two basket classes, one for HT’s and the other for floribundas. In addition he also gained first prize for a beautiful bowl of 12 HT’s. Ray & Pauline Martin staged their superb bowls of floribunda and mixed roses to perfection. Most of the Dean Hole Classes were well supported with Neil Duncan leading the field in the “points table” at the end of this stage, closely followed by David Bryant and R & P Martin Although Neil was not able to cut his usual number of HT’s his exhibits of GRAHAM THOMAS caught the eye for their sheer power and quality.

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John Anthony’s winning vase of mixed flowers featured a lovely composition of RHAPSODY IN BLUE with blue delphiniums. Box Classes for 6 and 12 miniatures were won by David Jay with MAGIC SHOW, JOY & GLOWING AMBER appearing in both. In the Section for growers of 100 bushes or less both Terry Harman with his HT’s and David Jay with his miniatures were the main prize winners. Our thanks are extended to our Judge, Mike Thompson for the efficient way he carried out his duties. AWARDS, presented by Dr. R. Bailey-Wood (President of Rhondda Rose Society) Crystal Glass awarded to R & P Martin for most points in the Show. Three Crystal Glass awards were presented to Ivor Clark Crystal Glass awarded to Lesley Jones for her spray in a picture frame. A Miner’s Lamp presented to Howard Thomas for his superb bloom of ANDREA STELZER Felco secateurs presented to Ivor Mace for gaining most points in the miniature and miniflora classes. Rose vouchers donated by R V Roger were presented to David Jay for his box of 12 miniatures and he also received a Rose Society UK medal for this exhibit which was judged to be the Best Exhibit in the Show.

Pauline Martin’s mixed basket David Jay’s Best in Show box of 12 miniatures

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Derek Lawrence, Executive Director of the World Federation of Rose Societies and Rose Society UK Committee member reports on his visit to China ...... THE ROSE SPLENDOURS OF NANYANG

There’s an English saying that goes, “First impressions always count”. That quaint old phrase filled my mind when I arrived in Nanyang during April, to be greeted by an amazing panorama of bright, beautiful and fragrant roses.

Located in the south west of Henan Province, the City has a total of 466 rose growing companies, giving employment to over 100,00 people. The total growing area is more than 6,600 hectares, which enables nurseries to grow over one billion roses, that generate a yearly income in the region of two hundred and thirty-eight million pounds. In essence, Nanyang is essentially the central hub for rose production to serve the whole of China. The demand from the general public is enormous, and popularity for the genus rosa continues to thrive. The City began to nurture professional markets for the production of roses during the 1980’s where various new business enterprises slowly gained momentum that led to eventual success. By 1995 the government designated the rose as Nanyang’s “City Flower”. In 2016 the local Officers applied to host a WFRS Regional Convention aiming at expanding its global fame as a rose city. After the application was warmly approved by the WFRS Executive Committee, the City launched a colossal project to revamp many urban areas and to create stunning new vistas and gardens, featuring mass plantings of roses. This was evident the moment I arrived: road junctions, dual carriageways, central parks, housing estates and shopping malls were laden with roses. Despite the hustle and bustle of the infrastructure, I felt I’d landed in rose paradise!

The surrounding areas have plans to increase its plantings area to 10,000 hectares by the end of 2020, and thus intensify the processing of roses. An experienced worker can graft between 800 to 1,000 bushes every day. It sounds like back-breaking work to me! At this present time, five companies are specialists in making rose-related products such as wine, tea, cosmetics, essential oil and snack food. Production by its workforce is, undertaken with military precision. The sheer vibrance of the place underpins this work ethic.

During my various duties for the Federation, I met up with the Mayor, Mr. Hou Haosheng,

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new standard roses growing under cover on the nursery

who explained: “Nanyang is located at the junction of the north and south, and has four distinctive seasons. The mild weather and sufficient rainfall are suitable for both northern and southern , especially roses and magnolias”. The landscapers have planted about 18,000 different trees, and one million roses, including 6,000 standard roses, 300,00 floribundas and grandiflora types, as well as 640,000 ground cover plants. “Every rose is an angel”, continued the Mayor, “bringing beauty and aroma to the planet and building bridges for friendship for the cultural exchanges throughout the world”. His wise words would reverberate in my memory as I continued on my tour of this remarkable region.

As you might have gathered from my prose, the pace of the Nanyang is electric. I found myself catapulted into celebrity status, where enthusiastic film crews, were eager to interview me wherever I ventured. I was ushered into a TV studio to appear on a chat show, and the following evening I participated in a lavish award ceremony. It was nerve-wracking delivering a speech during a live TV broadcast – but I did manage to keep my composure.

However, being a true rosarian, it was the roses who were the real stars. Many delegates to the Convention were treated to tours of rose small nurseries. I was amazed to see that standard -type cultivars having such thick stems where no supports or stakes are required. Some bushes had two varieties grafted to the same bush. It was great to see such ingenious ideas.

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The breeding houses have ensured that new cultivars have novelty appeal. Many had mixed tones and some were striped. My only frustration was that many of the varieties seen in nurseries and enjoyed in gardens, were not labelled.

Tours to various gardens proved to be a most satisfying pastime. I was fascinated to see roses grown as bonsai trees, which further underpinned the oriental flavour and skills being presented.

One special moment that shall remain engrained in my memory for the rest of my life, was joining other Senior Officers of the World Federation of Rose Societies, and having the honour to officially open the newly- created Nanyang World . The garden consists of three parks – East Rose Garden, West Rose Garden and North Rose Garden. This vast area contains a total of 5100 rose varieties and a staggering 1.4 million bushes! Highlights include a Rose Lake, Rose Stage, Rose Museum, Rose Flower Street and 19 urban exhibition gardens. The East Garden is the core area, where the main exhibition area is designated for conferences and various ceremonies. The West Garden is a cultural exposition area and house such exhibits as the Rose Flower Mountain, Rose Flower Sea, Viewing Platform, Landscape Water System and Children’s Play Area. The North Garden is the base for scientific research and further development in rose culture.

The City of Nanyang truly celebrates the sheer beauty and versatility of the Queen of all Flowers. It reflects on what advancements have been made by the early pioneers whom

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discovered the four stud China roses that had the ability to repeat flower, which were transported to the West via the tea clippers, over two hundred years ago. The City also manages to look to the future – reassuring millions of visitors to come that the rose will continue to reign supreme in an ever changing world.

Until next time, continue to dead-head your roses. Give taller varieties a slight trim to prevent wind-rock damage, in readiness for any autumnal gales which might sweep over the British Isles.

007 – With a License To Grow Roses

The Opening Ceremony of the Dancers at the closing ceremony WFRS Regional Convention

We are very sad to report the passing of Roy Halsey. Roy has been one of The Rose Society UK’s biggest supporters since we began in 2017. A regular helper on the Society stands and willing to ‘talk roses’ at any time. Roy was a popular speaker at local societies in Devon, donating his speaker’s fees to Society funds. He was also a respected Rose Society UK and RHS accredited judge. We are going to miss Roy immensely; his wit, good humour and support will be hard to replace. Our Roy Halsey sincere condolences to his wife Jackie and to his family.

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Pauline’s A Roundup of the Society’s Summer Rose Patter Shows

Pauline’s Patter– Round up of Summer activity. Well, we’ve survived the spring and summer shows. As I write it is blowing a gale and pouring with rain, not ideal weather for our poor roses that have suffered some neglect throughout the busy summer months. Let me update on the summer shows with Shepperton first. The society’s show was held at Squires Garden Centre Shepperton as part of the summer rose festival. Entries were high and up on the previous year despite some large exhibitors being unable to attend. The exhibitor with the most overall points was Neil Duncan who also gained points toward the Dean Hole Championship. Ray and I won the most points in the Dean Hole at this show, running neck and neck with Neil going into the Northern show at The Jersey Rosarians Challenge Winner Chorley and Harrogate Autumn. Two new classes were introduced and well supported namely the Jersey Rosarians challenge and the Jim Naylor Challenge class. We were lucky enough to win the Jersey rosarian challenge with our bowl of floribundas which also won Best Exhibit in the show and Neil Duncan won the Jim Naylor Challenge class. Jim Anderson brought some stunning blooms from Normanby to win the under Ivor Mace won best mini/ 150’s Championship miniflora exhibit with this bowl Barbara and Tom Marshall are Rose Society

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UK and ARS members were visiting from the USA. Barbara is an experienced American Rose Society and kindly helped with our judging teams. We also welcomed new member, Daniel Myhill, who is interested in judging and was able to shadow one of our teams of experienced judges. All in all the show was a huge success with our grateful thanks to our President Colin Squire and his very supportive family and

organisation. Neil Duncan’s Shepperton bowl of “Silver Anniversary” Best HT exhibit and below his Chorley Star HT winner - “Crescendo”

HT in a picture frame winner “Norma Major” exhibited by Iain Silver at Chorley

A return to Shepperton for Bill Heath saw him pick up the Miniature Cluster Star award which was a very popular decision

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Secondly the northern show at Chorley sponsored by Chorley City Council, held in the beautiful setting of Astley park. Unfortunately, entries were very low and whilst the show was well supported by the few exhibitors that were able to attend entries were down on previous years. The weather was not kind to us and it rained almost solidly all weekend. The people of Chorley however, are made of tough stuff and they came out to support the show in their thousands. Again, our champion exhibitor, Neil Duncan brought some stunning roses and swept the board. His vase of Six Andrea Stelzer won best in HT’s and his bowl of floribunda’s won best in show. We were lucky enough to win the Jersey Rosarian Challenge and John Anthony won with a beautiful mixed bowl of roses and other flowers. Iain Silver from Scotland put in some stunning entries as did local exhibitors Ken Ellis and John Watson. The Society stands at Chorley and Shrewsbury won Gold awards and we were very pleased to get excellent feedback with our new venture selling potted roses at Shrewsbury. I should mention the Rhondda show that was the first summer show of the season held at Pugh’s Garden Centre. Although very early, in what turned out to be a late season for roses, there was a good number of exhibits with many of us travelling the length and breadth of the country to enter. Some spectacular exhibits from all exhibitors especially David Jay’s Miniates that won best in the show.

And finally, a message to any potential exhibitors and/or judges. We can not run shows without exhibitors or judges so if anyone feels that they would like to take part or become a judge please get in touch with me.

[email protected]

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Vice-Chairman Gareth Davies was on top form at Shrewsbury flower show, dispensing sagely advice and selling a rose or two along the way

The best caption for this animated image of Gareth, sent to us, will win a little prize. Send your suggestions by email to; [email protected] or by regular mail to; Caption Competition 66 Langer Road Felixstowe Suffolk IP112HS

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Coordinator Kerry Austen gives us another update Launch Day event June 2019 We held our International Rose Trial launch day on Tuesday 25th June. It was a great success that brought together people from the Rose community and the wider horticultural and educational world. Around 60 people attended, including representatives from The Rose Society UK, HTA, RHS, Vitax, Farm Foss, Week, Garden News Magazine and local schools. We also had rose breeders from the UK, Chris Warner and Heather and Calvin Horner. The day gave us the chance to show people around the site and to explain how the trials work and how important they are to the rose breeder. Without this kind of trial, the smaller breeders in the UK and Europe would not have the opportunity to test their roses and therefore the decision to grow on and take to market may not happen. It is also a great opportunity for the bigger breeders to see how their roses perform in different areas and in different Rose Society UK President Colin Squire OBE conditions. Our trials currently have 68 admiring the new trial grounds varieties of all types of roses including

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climbers, HTs and Floribundas. Paul Rochford welcomed guests and gave a brief history of the nursery site and the family business. A delicious lunch followed and then Kerry Austen spoke about the trials and how the judging of the roses worked. Guests were taken

on a tour of the trials field and the nursery and the afternoon ended with tea and home made cakes. We would welcome anyone who is interested in being a judge to email Kerry and give her your details. We are also keen to hear from anyone who would like to sponsor an award. We would like to thank everyone who came and thank you for all your continued support

International Rose Trials 2020 Invitations for the seedling trials for 2020 – 2022 will be sent out at the end of August. There is no limit to the number of varieties that you can submit and no charge. We had 68 entries for 2019 – 2021 hopefully next year we will have even more!

For entry criteria and any other information contact: [email protected]

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Rosy Musings from David Kenny

I often wonder if all gardeners and especially rose growers are quite mad. Think about it. We spend the winter months cleaning and tidying the garden then in late winter/early spring we get ripped to pieces our beloved plants. There is also feeding, spraying and fretting over whether they will grow and look good in the garden, on the show bench and when brought into the house as cut flowers. On a more serious note it has been a mixed season so far. While the long, continuous very hot conditions of 2018 didn’t return it was very hot on the Continent and in South East UK during July. Here in Ireland while it was warm, we didn’t have crazy temperatures. The roses bloomed extremely well in June putting on a wonderful display. Absolutely Fabulous, Newsflash, Loving Memory, Remember Me, Bonica and Solitaire were outstanding. Disaster struck in early July when I first noticed signs of the dreaded rust on Dublin Bay. It didn’t look too bad and I gave a quick spray. Over the next week or two the rust spread like crazy affecting several varieties including the afore-mentioned Loving Memory, which was quickly defoliated, also affected were Silver Jubilee, Eyepaint and one or two others. Up until two years ago I never saw rust on my garden roses. My Laxa stocks got some but it is a different strain than the one which affects garden roses and once sprayed early is easily controlled.

The big problem is that it is very difficult to know which sprays will work against rust. I have used a combination of Farmfos and Systhane which has worked quite well. The disease hasn’t become any worse and seems to be slowed down if not halted. I am also using a copper-based product Fortify CU. The latter is a natural product and won’t do damage to the environment. The spraying regime has worked quite Sam McGredy’s climber well. “Dublin Bay” Several of my seedlings being tested for health

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succumbed to the disease. Those affected will be thrown out and burned. It is thankfully one line of breeding that is most affected so that stops now. The good news is that many seedlings are resisting so it is not all doom and gloom. Jacques Farere, Vice President of License and New Business Development at Star® Roses and Plants writing in 2018 American rose Annual believes that “some of the breeding lines used for blackspot resistance are in fact very susceptible to rust”. Yesterday I went through my maidens and cutbacks and I’m happy that several are showing resistance, but I also see signs of blackspot and the downy mildew setting in. Oh! the joys of rose growing David’s fabulous floribunda and breeding.

“Newsflash”

Alex Cocker’s “Remember Me”

I received some very sad news from New Zealand today. The legendary rose breeder, Sam McGredy, has passed away.

This photo is me, Jim Cunningham and the great man himself in Hamilton NZ in 2013. The rose world has lost another fine rosarian

Editor’s note; Systhane is officially on the ‘Withdrawn’ list – see NALG website; https://www.nsalg.org.uk/growing-advice/check-your-shed-supplies/ In the product Fungus Fighter, Systhane has been replaced with Tebuconazole

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I think all exhibitors would agree that in general, the standard of presentation of the exhibits at our national shows has never been better? This can be attributed to two things; firstly, several years ago the shows committee increased the points available for ‘Presentation’ to 35% and secondly, the medium used to hold the roses, floral foam (Oasis) has improved and now does a really good job. It’s another, separate issue that the floral foam business is now trying to rebrand the foam as being bio- degradable and hopefully this will happen and the foam that we rely on will be available for the foreseeable future. For now though I’d like to take this opportunity to discuss how we are currently using and mis-using the stuff. The instructions for use are quite clear; the foam should be soaked BEFORE being cut to fit the vases, baskets or bowls. If you’ve ever been in a marquee during the wee small hours when an exhibitor is cutting up dry oasis you’ll understand that the sound that is not unlike fingernails down a blackboard! When the vases and bowls are emptied at the end of a show, it’s easy to see when the foam has been ‘dry cut’, placed in a vase and then, finally soaked. Many are the exhibits that do not survive until day two. That is a great shame, especially for the show visitors who we are hoping to encourage to grow roses! The show rules state that the floral foam MUST be cut to be BELOW the level of the container. This is partly for aesthetic reasons but also for practicality from the perspective of those helping to fill the exhibits with water at the end of day one. Getting water into a vase crammed full of foam is almost impossible; definitely not easy. A better way to use the foam, to use less foam, to save money (and maybe the planet too) is to cut it into cubes rather than cylinders we show in pictures below. By cutting the correct size cubes the foam will sit beneath the rim of the vase which can then be filled with water ensuring that the roses are actually sitting in water and

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hopefully keeping them looking good for longer. Bowls can be more tricky. It’s not easy to keep the foam much lower than the rim of the bowl. Here, to ensure that the bowl can be filled and refilled with water an area of the bowl (a hole or a well) should be completely foam – free. It’s very easy then to see if the water level in the bowl is sufficient. A popular and very attractive class is the miniature basket. Over time we have all realised that filling the basket rather than just using a small piece of foam greatly assists in the staging process. It is still very important to ensure than the foam remains below the edge of the basket. Again aesthetics is important but especially in the basket class that will often use a great number of roses, water refilling is very important for a good show on day two. A small ‘well’ cut into the foam either at the side or even in the middle, under the handle, will greatly assist the refill. Judges will be encouraged to penalise floral foam misdemeanours in line with our rules so the advice must be keep the foam below the edge and use less to save money and the planet. We understand that the RHS have banned the use of floral foam at their own shows. Hopefully, if it can be re-engineered, floral foam will be allowed at their shows in future. Until then they suggest the use of sustainably sourced moss or newspaper as an alternative. Some of our more ‘senior’ exhibitors will remember that reeds were used as a staging medium in days gone. The idea of exhibitors harvesting reeds from our local rivers and streams of course is not an option these days either.

OK, here’s the technical stuff; At our shows we use bikini type vases in up to four different sizes; 12 inch, 11 inch, 8 inch and 7 inch. The 11 inch and 8 inch have the same rim diameter and can be treated the same way. For 12 inch vases cut a block of floral foam about 80 x 80mm in cross section For 11 inch and 8 inch it’s 50 x 50mm in cross section and for the 7 inch it’s just 30 x 30 mm

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Cut pre-wetted foam- Place in vase then press gently into vase - Fill vase with water

Note, foam is pushed down so that it is about 20mm below the rim of the vase. This way you can ensure that the roses are definitely in water

7 and 8 inch vases showing the foam pressed into the vase and water filled to the top

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Basket classes are popular with exhibitors and show visitors alike. But the rules still apply. The foam should be kept below the rim of the container (in this case a basket) By carefully sculpting the floral foam (and allowing for a water filling hole/well) a very pleasing effect can be achieved All of our show baskets are being re-lined to ensure that water can be held within the baskets to ensure that the exhibits stay fresher for longer. Finally box and frame classes. Foam placed into the box vases can be helpful when staging but an absolute pain to remove at breakdown. Putting foam into the picture frames is completely unnecessary and getting the foam out at the end of the show is at best time consuming and at worst . . . impossible! To the experienced exhibitor all this may seem a little‘ Old hat’ and maybe even a bit irrelevant. But having seen many, many shows on the second or third day, it’s quite disheartening to see fabulous displays of roses fade and droop when just a little extra attention may keep them looking good until the breakdown. Remember too that we always try to water the exhibits at the end of each day so a little help to get the water in would make the job so much easier.

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The Story of Hello Gorgeous!

by Suzanne Horn

It was a crisp and lovely morning back on October 10, 2010 when I took a stroll through the garden to greet my collection of exhibition roses. I was met with a joyful surprise when I turned a corner to spot a striking orange and yellow blend miniature rose that was blooming for the first time. It was a test rose, which was a cross between Singin’ in the Rain x Cinnamon Girl, and it was given to me by hybridizer Chris Greenwood of Glendora, California as a cutting.

I had been looking forward to the time that I would see the little miniature test rose bloom. On the other hand, it was not on my radar yet, which is why I caught my breath when I saw this beautiful little yellow bloom with orange petal edging and a yellow reverse, literally glowing up at me in my garden.

My first reaction was to say out loud, “Hello Gorgeous!” Many readers will recall that this was the catch phrase used by Barbra Streisand as the Fanny Brice character in the musical film, “Funny Girl”. I quickly contacted Chris Greenwood to share my enthusiasm for the first bloom and sent him a couple of snapshots taken in the garden. I recently came across the email I sent him at the time, suggesting he register the new little rose with the name of ‘Hello Gorgeous!’ and noting “It’s blooming and it’s GORGEOUS!!!” I told him that I suggested the name because those were the first two words to come out of my mouth when I saw the in bloom, and that it deserved the name.

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I was honored when Chris registered the rose in 2011 with the American Rose Society as an orange blend (ob) under Registration name of ‘Grehorn’ and the exhibition name of ‘Hello Gorgeous!’ Since that time, I have continued to grow the rose and have found the plant to be extremely vigorous and surprisingly disease resistant. It is also extremely floriferous and always seems to be in bloom throughout the year here in Southern California. Combine those highly desirable qualities with its radiant, vibrant color and beautiful exhibition form, andyou have a great all around rose for the garden and also for exhibition.

‘Hello Gorgeous!’ presents lovely, full, high-centered blooms with intense, bold, “stop in your tracks” color. The flowers are about two inches in diameter and have about 41 petals. The flower form is classic hybrid tea. These blossoms have great substance, with the same “petals of iron” you find on the famed hybrid tea, Marilyn Monroe, but without the formidable thorns, since ‘Hello Gorgeous!’ is nearly thornless. The blooms present little or no fragrance, as is common with miniature and miniflora roses, but the beautiful form and gorgeous color more than make up for it.

This rose has an upright growth habit, and plants are medium-sized, bushy and well-branched, generally reaching a height of 2' to 3' and a width of 2’ to 2 ½’. It is a very easy rose to grow and is ideal for planting in either in the ground or in containers. It appreciates being well fed, although American exhibitor Richard Anthony, who owns the mail order rose nursery “For Love of Roses” in Tennessee, recommends only feeding the rose once per bloom cycle in order to achieve queen-quality blooms. In addition, you will want to grow your plants in full sunlight in order to bring out its best and most vibrant color.

A prolific bloomer that repeats well throughout the year, its eye-catching flowers are borne one to a stem as well as in lovely sprays. They are presented on long

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straight stems, making them perfect for cutting. Those beautiful blooms are clothed in semi-glossy, medium green foliage, making ‘Hello Gorgeous!’ a welcome addition to any garden.

I took my first bloom of ‘Hello Gorgeous!’ to a rose show held by Santa Clarita Valley Rose Society in Southern California on November 3, 2012. I was so proud when it won Miniature Queen of Show (see photo). Since that time, it has gone on to make many winning appearances at rose shows in the U.S. with additional royalty including Queens of Show, Mini Courts of Honor and a Mini Princess at a National Show.

‘Hello Gorgeous!’ has now begun to grace the trophy tables in the U.K. Superstar exhibitors Neil Duncan and Ivor Mace have had it in some of their winning exhibits. Ivor entered this bloom at the 2019 Rose Society of Wales Summer Show, where it won the single stem miniflora class. Whether you want to grow this rose for exhibition or just to brighten up a spot in your garden, this is truly a gem of a rose. Although ‘Hello Gorgeous!’ is not yet commercially available in the U.K., it will be coming soon. It will be a gorgeous addition to your miniature rose collection.

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The Rose King again More thoughts from Samuel Reynolds Hole

We exhibitors continually tell ourselves that this hobby of ours is what we do for enjoyment! Perhaps that’s what keeps us going? Growing the roses in the face of ever-mounting obstacles such as the weather and pests and disease is bad enough. They never bloom on the right day and even if they do we then have to transport them half way across the country. We are all sleep deprived as we stage our roses in marquees through the night and the weather even as we enter them is often unfavourable. Reading the Dean’s A Book About Roses it’s clear that we are treading a path that others before us were very used to. He wrote ......

They have travelled to our rose show From north, south, east and west, By rail, by road, with precious loads Of the flower they love the best, From dusk to dawn, through night to morn, They've dozed mid clank and din, And woke with cramp in both their legs And bristles on their chins

These words are as true today as they were in 1869 when Reynolds Hole first wrote the book That’s why we really do love exhibiting roses!

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Dates for the 2019 and 2020 Rose Society UK National Rose Shows are;

National Autumn Rose Show 2019 to be held at the Harrogate Autumn Show 13th to 15th 2019

National Spring Rose Show 2020 to be held at the Malvern Spring Show 7th to 10th 2020

National Southern Summer Rose Show 2020 to be held at Squire’s Rose Festival Shepperton 27th to 28th June 2020

Dates for Spring and Summer 2020 Provincial Flower Shows are;

Rose Society of Wales Summer Rose Show at Venue to be confirmed, 11th and 12th July 2020 Ryedale Rose Festival at R V Rogers Rose Centre, Pickering 4th to 5th July 2020

Note to all Affiliated Societies.Don ’t forget to order your Bronze Medals in good time and, if you’d like your show advertised in the next news- letter, on our website and Social Media platforms, please send details to; [email protected] Pictures and results from your shows are always welcome too. So please send them to; [email protected]

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The Clean Air Act of 1968 had a very positive effect on the nation’s health but ironically, the removal from the atmosphere of harmful sulphur fumes had an unexpected and devastating effect on the nation’s favourite flower. Black Spot has become Public Enemy No 1

Nick Baldwin from Greenacres Direct believes he has the solution and is looking for Rose Society members to try his product out

Sulphur a Great Ally of the Rose

Sulphur has throughout the ages been a huge benefit to both the horticultural and agricultural sector.

Sulphur provides many vital components that are essential to plants for both growth and vibrancy. One of the key attributes with sulphur is the ability to alter the pH of the soil making it more acidic and thus providing the optimum growing medium and lessen the risk of the plant becoming chlorotic resulting in weakness and diseased.

A key component of sulphur is its ability to release locked up nutrients in the soil together with helping in the formation of important enzymes and assisting in the formation of protein within the plant. Sulphur is also invaluable in the formation of chlorophyll.

The favourite diet of roses is a well-fed, heavy,acidic soil of pH 5.5 to 6.5.If your soil is greater than PH7 (alkaline) an application of sulphur twice a year will reduce the pH of the soil (always check soil pH prior to application).

Produced in a clean 1-2mm chip our Sulphur Soil granules are fast acting lasts for up to 2 years and if kept dry will not expire. Blackspot and Powdery Mildew

Sulphur is the natural enemy of blackspot and powdery mildew diseases. In times when sulphur dioxide was present in the atmosphere, as a result of coal burning fires and industrial pollution, prior to the 1968 Clean air act blackspot was unknown.

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In recent years concern has grown amongst scientists and environmentalists that neonicotinoid chemicals harm bees.

A recent detailed report published into effects of neonicotinoids has produced strong evidence relating to neonicotinoids and their impact on the bee and the environment.

The RHS has been a strong advocate of this and has been extremely proactive in removing any products containing neonicotinoids from their retail operation.

Sulphur Rose is a perfect tonic for healthy blooms and foliage whilst providing a barrier to stop spores and disease penetrating the leaf, application should be throughout the year as the blackspot spores overwinter in the soil and in nooks and crannies on the rose stems. As temperatures rise in the spring, the spores become active and air borne on the wind or splashed onto the plant by rain hitting the soil. The disease starts again and the new leaves are attacked.

Sulphur Rose has no chemical content and is safe to humans, wildlife, pets and especially Bees.

Greenacres Direct are looking for 10 rose society members who would like to trial our products and report back with their findings- we will supply product free of charge.

Please contact :-

Nick Baldwin

Greenacres Direct [email protected]

01858 410725

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World Federation News

Looking ahead to 2020 and we have another WFRS event; The Heritage Rose Conference in Brussels, Belgium

Make a date for your diary - 8th to the 12th June for the conference with a full Pre and Post Conference programme For more information, please contact; [email protected]

We’re pleased that many members have expressed an interest in attending the 2021 Convention in Adelaide. It will be fantastic to have a strong contingent of Rose Society UK members representing us ‘down under’. For all the latest info please go to the convention website via the link below.

Every three years the WFRS holds major international conventions, bringing together rose enthusiasts and experts from around the world with garden visits and expert lectures. 19th World Rose Convention- Australia 2021 Thursday 21st October to Thursday 28th 2021 World Rose Convention (click for link)

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That’s all for now; next edition, in Autumn we’ll be reporting on the final 2019 National Shows. We will also have some more Members’ Rose Stories and results of the rose Trials in Belfast, Glasgow and updates from Rochfords.

General enquiries: Getting in [email protected] Membership enquiries: touch [email protected] Treasurer enquiries:

Visit our website: [email protected]

www.therosesociety.org.uk or mail to: Tammy Mellor say hello on our Facebook page -

just click on the Facebook logo 18 Priory Avenue Leek Staffs ST13 6QJ

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