INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

The Chairman 2 Notes The Times Malvern Show 4 VOLUME 1, ISSUE 4 J U N E 2 0 1 8 Sharlene the 7 Hobby Hybridizer

Have Will 10 Happy Birthday Travel

WFRS Fifty 14 Our society is officially one year old. Glorious Years We are all so happy with the progress

Dave Kenny Says 19 that the society has made in just twelve short months. Leigh-on-Sea’s 21 Greatest Rosarian Membership is rising steadily and we are encouraged by the diversity of the AGM Notice 26 rose lovers who have joined. From all really pleased to win Best in Show for

Linda Nutbein - 27 across the UK and from wider afield the society’s Educational Stand (report Thenford’s Roses too. Our Affiliate Membership and later). We had a few new members sign Looking Good 30 Bronze medal has been welcomed by up over the three days and of course many societies, our latest being we met hundreds of the show visitors Harrogate Spring 31 and answered questions on all aspects Show Uruguay! It really is upwards on on rose culture. Naming Right with 34 onwards but with a note of caution; as Mansel our society grows, so does the At RHS Malvern a week later the same 2018 Calendar of 36 workload and, as you know, we are all stand received a Silver Gilt Medal and Events volunteers. We are ever hopeful that our amateur exhibitors came up more members will step up to the plate trumps again after a very difficult and offer help wherever it’s needed. spring and put on a small but colourful show of grown roses. We, have in this edition, many contributions from our members and With Spring now behind us, we are We should always that is exactly what we need for the looking forward to a summer full of remember Dean future. Please continue to send in Samuel Hole’s wonderful roses. Rose shows are only a photographs and articles. I hear from words ...... part of our society’s remit but in June many of our members how much they they are front and centre of our

enjoy reading contributions from their thoughts. Shepperton is first up on “He who would fellow members. 23rd June; details later in this edition. grow beautiful Apologies for the delay in this edition; So, the roses are blooming, the Roses must have we have had such a busy few months. summer can start. Hope you all have a them in his heart”. Our first outing of the year was at great one. Harrogate Spring show where we were Ed

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The Chairman Notes As I put these notes together for this Our edition of the Rose Times we are summer within a few days of the first Rose Show anniversary of the inauguration of our is to be Rose society on 28th May 2017. Many held under of the plans we made on that the banner occasion have been realised due to of “Squires the efforts and the enthusiasm of Rose members of the steering committee. Festival” on Things have moved on apace and the 23th &24th June. We also understand membership is increasing day by day, that there is to be a country wide and it is apparent that as we continue promotional Rose Festival at to grow there is a need for more help centres to increase interest in growing to take on some of the tasks. We are our Nations Favourite flower during very appreciative of the support the June. Rose trade and Sundries suppliers We shall of course be staging our advice their generosity has made our efforts and membership stand with an to establish the society come to educational display at the other shows fruition. detailed in our 2018 programme. If you The annual General meeting is planned attend any of these please do, make for Sunday 14th October when a review yourself known at our stand for we are and appraisal of our first year’s always happy to meet members on activities must be made. Much of the these occasions. Our display at the administration is undertaken by our recent Harrogate Spring Flower Show secretary Ray Martin and whilst he gives gained the ‘Best in Show’ award this his time freely there are aspects of the was followed two weeks later with a management of the society with which similar display at the Malvern Spring more help is needed as we continue to Festival which gained an RHS silver gilt grow. May I urge members to consider if Medal. Congratulations to all involved they are able to help and contact Ray or and thanks to the members who helped myself with any offers. staff the advice stand your help was

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greatly appreciated. our exhibitors who with fewer blooms put Our Spring Show was also held at Malvern, on a show worthy of our society. There it was a worthwhile show despite all the are reports of both events elsewhere in worries that there would be very few the magazine blooms because of extremely poor dull Happy Rose Growing, early season weather. The entry was down John on previous years, but it is great credit to

The Rose Society Bronze Medal

Our new Bronze Medals is now available and so far the response has been encouraging. Affiliate Membership is just £10 and the medals are priced at £20 each. The medals will be awarded with a medal card as shown. If your local society has not yet signed, PLEASE mention it to them and help spread the word

Going World Wide With a little help from our own ‘man of the world’ Derek Lawrence, we have applied for membership to the World Federation of Rose Societies. Our application will be considered at the WFRS 18th World Rose Convention" A Fairytale of Roses" June 28 - July 4, 2018 in Wonderful Copenhagen. Some of our members will be attending the Convention, hopefully they will let us all have a report on it for our next Newsletter?

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Our Vice-Chairman Gareth Davies was on top form at . . . .

The Malvern Spring Show

The Malvern Spring Show in May is an

event which is eagerly anticipated by those of us that grow roses under the Fortunately, some exhibitors were protected environment of glass or able to produce the goods with the polythene. However, the cold and dark result that a colourful and attractive days of winter slowed the growth and display of rose blooms was development of the early flowering appreciated by the visiting public. shoots and consequently many rose Congratulations are extended to all who managed to enter one or more rose blooms but particular mention must be made of three exhibitors who gained the following awards: TIM & TAMMY MELLOR, who won the Kilbee Stuart Cup and Spring Championship for most points in the Show and the Arthur Cox Trophy for most points in the miniature and miniflora classes. GARETH DAVIES, who won the Gardeners Company Cup for most exhibitors were pessimistic about their points in the HT and chances of having blooms for the classes. He also won the Rose Society Show. UK Silver Medal for the best exhibit in the Show for three stems of the HT Gareth’s three blooms of Lowri LOWRI.

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In reviewing the Show special mention which held their shape well should be made of the following throughout the Show. exhibits which attracted the attention Picture frame winners were TIM & of the public : TAMMY MELLOR with the miniature An exceptionally attractive bloom of rose BEHOLD and GARETHDAVIES who the HT ADMIRAL RODNEY which won staged the HT ADMIRAL RODNEY and the miniflora SHOWSTOPPER.JOHN ANTHONY was successful with an attractive exhibit in a large picture frame of the variety EYE OF THE TIGER. TIM & TAMMY MELLOR’S exhibits in the miniature and miniflora section were of high quality and particularly noteworthy were their blooms of GLOWING AMBER in the vase and bowl classes, but it was their superb box of six blooms of BEHOLD which really caught the eye. Gareth’s Star HT Bloom Admiral Rod- We were delighted to welcome three the Star Class for GARETH DAVIES. His ‘first time exhibitors’ to the show this vase of three stems of LOWRI was particularly significant as the variety was one of the last seedlings bred by the late Lionel Poole. Other Star Class winners were JOHN ANTHONY with a lovely bloom of the miniflora BUTTERCREAM and TIM and TAMMY MELLOR who exhibited the shapely miniature DR. TOMMY CAIRNS.

JOHN ANTHONY staged a beautiful Bev Gant’s floating bloom of Odyssey bowl of six blooms of BUTTERCREAM

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year. Three ladies from Hull brought blooms

to the show and were rewarded with success at the first attempt. BEVERLY GANT showed a beautiful bloom of ODYSSEY to win her first Red Card, Bev’s sister, ROZ WARLEY and Roz’s daughter KELSEY PATE also brought some quality blooms to the show and we’re sure to be seeing more from this trio at future shows. In conclusion, mention must be made of the

CaptionSociety describing exhibit which won a Silver Gilt picturemedal. or graphic.A great deal of time and effort was spent in putting up an exhibit which to all intents and purposes was identical to that staged at the Harrogate Spring Show where it was awarded a Premier Gold Medal and Tammy and Tim Mellor the award for Best in Show. 2018 Spring Champions

Colin Squire - President John Anthony - Chair Gareth Davies - Vice Chair Ray Martin - Secretary

The Treasurer Tammy Mellor - Treasurer

18 Priory Avenue Email us at; Iain Silver - Membership Secretary Leek Derek Lawrence - Committee Staffs [email protected] ST13 6QJ Mike Thompson - Committee Chris Warner - Committee Neil Duncan - Committee Visit our website: Brian Schofield - Committee www.therosesociety.org. Brian Christie - Committee Tim Mellor - Committee

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Have you ever fancied having a go at breeding your own roses? Behcet Ciragan, President of the Swiss Society of Rose Friends, introduces us to a lady who does just that in her home in Switzerland Sharlene Sutter - a South African Hobby Hybridizer in Switzerland

It was just over a year ago that I met Sharlene - via an Australian administrator of HelpMeFind, the international Rose database. What a surprise it was to find out that we live in the same country and are members of the same rose society! Since then I have been following her on Facebook. It was not her love for roses, but love for a young Swiss, that brought Sharlene from her native South Africa to Switzerland for the first time in the early 1980's. After her husband’s numerous assignments abroad, the couple finally settled in the Eastern part of Switzerland 20 years ago.

Seeing the over 200 different rose varieties in Sharlene's garden, it is hard to believe that she had only a few roses up until 2012. The frosty winter of 2011/12 was the turnabout for her. One of her roses that died that winter started sending out rootstock canes the following season. "I wondered what I should do with it," says Sharlene, "and decided to learn how to graft. These days, learning is easy with the Internet." The first grafting experiments were done in 2012. From there, it was a small step to try her hand at hybridizing as well. She did her first controlled crosses in 2013. Success

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“I was motivated her to do more crosses each year sowing a total amazed how of 900 seeds this past well the January. seedlings had "I breed with HT’s and developed Floribundas, collecting after several and freezing some pollen to use on the months first blooms of the next under season. Here, the first artificial two weeks of June are the best time to do the crosses. The seedlings generally bloom in the first light“ season. I prefer purple / violet or coffee tones. Pink only if they are scented. I also like glossy dark green foliage." says Sharlene

I was amazed how well the seedlings had developed after several months under artificial light. Many seedlings are culled and only the lucky ones find a spot in the trial beds in front of the house where they undergo further observation. Sharlene grafts onto Canina, Inermis and Pfänder rootstock.

So far, Sharlene has registered two of her roses bred in 2013; “Breeding 'Adorabelle' (SUSado) a pale pink roses is Floribunda from the cross fascinating 'Deborah' (Meilland, 1989) x 'Astrid because each Gräfin von Hardenberg' (Evers / seed in a Tantau, 1997), as well as single hip 'Verian' (SUSver) a very healthy, produces a upright, fragrant, pink Floribunda with the parentage 'Deborah' x 'Arthur unique rose“ Bell' (McGredy, 1989). Some of the other seedlings shown below have not been named yet and are identified with a code.

In 2016, Sharlene also started breeding bearded Iris, to bridge the gap in rose breeding in May / June. However, none of these have bloomed yet.

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"Breeding roses is fascinating because each seed in a single hip produces a unique rose. Repeating the same cross produces different results. You never know for sure what you will land up with", says Sharlene happily. Below is a selection of some of Sharlene‘s lovely roses, bred during the last 5 years.

Behcet Ciragan

“To catch the reader's attention,

place an interesting sentence or

quote from the story here.”

Adorabelle - floribunda (2013) ‘Deborah‘ x ‘Westerland‘ (13/08)

Verian - floribunda (2013) ‘Deborah‘ x ‘Arthur Bell‘ (13/01)

Two open pollinated seedlings from Westerland‘ (2014)

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Have roses, will travel - in conversation with Neil Duncan, one of the UK’s top exhibitors

Over the last few years Neil Duncan has become one of the UK’s best known amateur exhibitors. We decided to ask him “what makes him tick?”

Neil, when did you first take an interest in roses?

“When I was fifteen, for my first job, I moved to Lew a small village just outside Witney to a horse breaking yard, as a part of the job, when we weren't busy with horses, we looked after the which had an Old English in it. I didn't know it at the time but that must have been where my first interest started. Later, I didn't start with roses. A colleague went to work for Toby Balding in gave me some tulips from the Fyfield where I met my future wife Ukraine and Bill encouraged me to Paula. We lived at her mother’s house enter them in the local spring show in and we planted my first roses in her 2004, they duly won my first prize garden. card, so when the summer came

around he talked me in to showing How did you first get the idea of the roses.“ exhibiting?

“I became friendly with a man called Now you were bitten by the Bill Gould who used to keep point-to- exhibiting bug, we’ve all been there! point horses; he was also a National What was your next step? dahlia exhibitor. It was Bill who encouraged me to start showing but it

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“Bill let me have a piece of his “In 2006, for my 30th birthday, Bill and we went to Scott’s, a rose nursery bought me my first Royal National near Taunton, to get some more roses. I Rose Society membership, opening was told that Red Devil was a ‘must have’, the door to the national shows. One so I got five bushes plus four other night Bill called and said Gardener’s varieties; also five of each. Together we World had a rose special on. A five did all the local shows and, as Bill was minute segment, filmed at the from Shrewsbury, we exhibited there too. Lakeland Rose Show, featured Tony It was at Shrewsbury where I became Bracegirdle on his allotment and at aware of some of the Royal National Rose the rose show; that was the start of Society exhibitors who also exhibited the real obsession. I got in touch with there.” Tony and he agreed to let me look How did you make the step up from around his allotment. We drove three local to national level? and a half hours from Andover to Ramsbottom to see it and, Wow; it was unreal he had about 2000 bushes and his roses were stunning. If you're going to learn from anybody, go to the champion grower.”

Now you’re all set to go then; when

Neil’s winning exhibits at Rhondda 2010

did you enter your first National show? “2008, was the first year I entered a RNRS summer show; I did OK, won a couple of classes, novice and one or Neil with Bill Gould two other classes. From there on I just wanted to grow more roses;

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increasing the number of could go around with them during varieties. Miniatures, hybrid teas and judging at a couple of shows. That floribundas; I was beginning to realise I season I picked up tips and learned wanted to grow roses to a high the do’s and don'ts of what was standard so looked into different needed when staging by listening to methods of feeding and growing.” top judges like Don Carlton and Tony Bracegirdle.”

I hear that at the first shows, due to Now, having won many classes, your riding-out commitments you with your roses, when did you win would get to the shows very early your first Championship? morning, stage your exhibits and “In 2011 I won my first national 250 disappear without seeing any of your Championship but sadly Bill passed competitors? And, is it true that at away in the May of this year so this point you didn’t even drive? You never got to see the results of all his were apparently regarded as a bit of a work with me. The following year, ‘mystery’ exhibitor; when did you 2012, I won the 250 Championships think that you had really “arrived” as at Bagshot Lea, St Albans and an exhibitor. Harrogate. When talking to David “It was in 2010, at the Rhondda show Bryant at the show in St. Albans, I that I had my first big cut of roses. I said that I was going to enter the had 2 plots by then and 250 roses, Open Classes in 2013 he agreed and Paula had started to drive me to shows said he thought that I should.” and we had made a van into a camper with a bit in the back for the blooms. 2013 would be the last year that There I won with a bowl of 12 Red the RNRS would run an Open Devil hybrid teas. I had copied how to Championship before they stage a bowl from pictures on the introduced the Dean Hole internet and had started to dress my Challenge classes. How did you get blooms with cotton wool. I also won on? with a bowl of 12 Sally Holmes “I won the last Open Championship floribundas and got some wonderful in 2013, before the Dean Hole comments on my roses which spurred Challenge classes were bought in. I me on to think that I wanted to must have gotten around 500 become a national champion. I needed bushes by now and was completely to know what the judges were looking hooked on showing. I was doing as for from the exhibits and so asked if I many shows as possible and

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traveling far and wide, as we still do now. That’s where my motto ‘Have roses will travel’ comes from and why it is now on my tee shirts.”

Neil, this has been a fascinating insight on your journey into rose showing. Since 2013 of course you have been a leading figure at rose shows throughout the UK. Perhaps next time we can chat about how you grow and prepare your roses for the shows; your method of transporting them and perhaps pass on some tips for aspiring exhibitors.

Thanks Neil; good luck in 2018 Neil Duncan - man on a mission

One of Neil’s winning exhibits at Squires Summer Show 2017 Three vases of five stems of floribunda Varieties - Ainsley Dickson (left) Sexy Rexy (right) Dancing Pink (front)

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Derek Lawrence, Executive Director of the World Federation of Rose Societies ...... COMMEMORATES THE ORGANISATION’S…. FIFTY GLORIOUS YEARS Milestones, and the subsequent celebrations in which they merit, are what enrich our lives. Whether it is a special birthday, wedding anniversary or long-term service in employment. As I approach my third year in my amazing journey as Executive Director of the WFRS, I feel a great sense of pride, and indeed, privilege to be in this prestigious role during the Federation’s 50th year.

limited to the use of a telephone, typewriter, basic printer and huge metal filing cabinets. Documents would have been sent via the postal service. Fifty years on, my Office is furnished by a laser printer Rosaraie International du Parc de la and devices that grant access to the

Tète, Lyon France worldwide web. Thanks to great technological advances, we can all I have often wondered what the role of contact each other in an instant, Secretary was like half a century ago. wherever we reside in the world. In Thumbing through the archives, can many ways, improved only scratch the surface. Although, communication processes have initially at its founding in London on 4th enhanced relationships we enjoy July 1968; the organisation comprised with worldwide rosarians. of eight Member Countries and was in I wonder what our forefathers its infancy. However, technology was would have thought of the

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advancements we have made in the reflect the true popularity of the last 50 years of the Federation’s rose during the 1960’s. Around the existence? world, the Hybrid Teas and It was at the fourth International Floribundas reigned supreme. The Conference held in London, where an public were eager to gleam wisdom international organisation to represent on how to grow them successfully. national rose societies, was advocated by the Royal National Rose Society. The Judging by the huge enthusiasm of objectives of were stated as: ‘To co- the event, the newly-formed WFRS ordinate any activities of an Council approved that the next International character which have as International Convention would be their object the development and held in the USA during 1974, under knowledge of the Rose. To disseminate the auspices of the American Rose information of a scientific and cultural Society. On reflection, this nature. To regulate and standardize as arrangement of having a world far as may be possible in the light of event every three years has different national needs such matters remained intact, with smaller pertaining to Conferences and other regional conferences being held on International meetings or assembles’. The Council of the RNRS, agreed to take responsibility in the interim, and to appoint a Secretary for the first three years. The first official meeting was held during the International Conference held in Hamilton, New Zealand in 1971. There was much anticipated excitement about the launch of this new venture. Dr. Allen, from the American Rose Society became the first President, and Mr. Rosaraie International du Parc de la Tète, Len Turner (Secretary of the RNRS) was Lyon France appointed Secretary. The event was an annual basis. As ED, I am highly publicized by the host country, conscious of the immense hard which received 1,500 delegates and work that goes into creating a over 70,000 visitors. There were many world event. However, having a lecturers held, giving a welter of yearly regional event is the perfect knowledge on culture and history. solution to keep in contact with the Tours of many sumptuous rose gardens members’ requirements, and acts enthralled delegates. To my mind, for venue for various committee these dazzling attendance figures

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meetings. It is also a great

opportunity to explore some extraordinary countries, which are less well known for their rose accomplishments.

Over the intervening years, the organisation has grown in size and stature, with such countries as Austria, Chile, Iceland and Monaco David Austin Rose Garden joining the ranks. The Federation currently consists of 39 Member sterling job in advancing the Countries. On balance, it is thought knowledge and progress of the rose that the WFRS represents over throughout the globe. There is also a Breeders Club, which focuses on what trends will be developed in the future, with particular significance to disease resistance.

'Alain Meilland' and '007' with portrait of 'Cocktail'

100,000 amateur and professional rosarians worldwide. Rosaraie Princess Grace Monaco I feel that the early pioneers would be gladdened by the great strides Apart from its research and the WFRS has achieved over the last educational functions, the half Century. There are currently Federation recognizes achievements nine standing Committees such as of rosarians with awards such as the Conservation & Heritage, World Rose Award medallion, or the International Rose Trials, highly prestigious Silver or Gold Standardisation & Registration and Medals. International Judges, which do a

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Every three years, a ballot is conducted by all Member Countries to determine a rose worthy of the title of the world’s favourite rose. It is stipulated in the rules, that the variety must have been in commerce for at least 15 years. Once the outcome is established, I report the winner to the President and Chair of the Awards Committee. The first-ever winner of the ‘Hall of Mornington - Australia Fame’ was bestowed to ‘Peace’ in 1976. The particular breeder of the late father during 1957. winning rose is presented with a The winner for 2018, will be announced framed painting of variety at World in Copenhagen in June. As ever, there’s always immense speculation, especially within the media, who will be the overall winner.

In 1995, the WFRS launched a new award scheme to observe outstanding rose gardens around the globe. Eligibility includes such criteria that the nominated garden’s design must have visual impact, and be of educational merit. The on display must be labelled, and be of some assistance with preservation of the genus. The Award is recognised by the production of a marble inscribed plaque; which recipients proudly display in the winning garden. It is the highest international accolade any rose garden Mornington Botanical Garden - Australia can achieve. Since its foundation, the ‘WFRS Award of Garden Excellence’ has Convention. In 2015, during the been presented to over sixty convention in Lyon, Alain Meilland magnificent gardens, which have was the recipient of the award for included David Austin Nurseries in the cultivar, ‘Cocktail’ bred by his Albrington, England. Roseraie Princess

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Grace de Monaco memorial rose are theatrically managed. I am eager garden in Monaco and Mornington get onto the stage, and commence the Botanical Rose Garden in Victoria, proceedings. I hope that you will be in Australia. the audience to witness the climax event, of the 18th World Rose Over the past twelve months, I have Convention. been assembling the list of nominations, to be discussed and balloted by the Awards Committee, If you are unable to attend, I will be in Copenhagen. The winning giving you the low-down to this gardens will be announced at the magnificent Golden Jubliee celebration, closing ‘Awards Ceremony’. later in the year. Until next time, keep your roses The lavish WFRS award ceremonies healthy, and this will ensure their are truly electric in atmosphere, and exquisite blooms, will give you endless joy in the months ahead.

Derek

Cocktail - Meilland 1957

MEMBERS Please let us have your rose stories. This newsletter is about you and for you. Please send us pictures of your roses, your successes and even, if it helps, your failures. Tell us about roses that you’ve seen and roses that you’d like to see. Don’t be shy, share with your fellow rose lovers.

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from Tullow in the Republic of Ireland, David Kenny shares a few thoughts

Growing roses in Pots every second day. The heavy I grow some of my roses in pots as watering often leads to leaching of opposed to growing pot roses which the nutrients from the pots so I foliar you buy in flower shops, garages and feed approximately every ten days. I garden centres. These roses are really use mainly a seaweed based foliar a type of cut flower and are meant to food but supplement this with be grown indoors, in balcony boxes, Tomato Food every few weeks as it is on patios and seldom if ever do well high in nitrogen and this gives if planted out in the garden. excellent colour to the foliage and blooms. I use pots that are at least 20 litres in size. I usually use a potting compost Weeds in the rose bed mixed with good loamy soil in the No matter what we do ,the weeds pots plus blood and bone meal which just seem to appear overnight and add organic material. I also put in a grow like crazy. Even in this long slow release fertiliser like Osmocote drawn out winter/spring when which will feed the over a long nothing else was doing well the period. You can add grit to the weeds survived and thrived. It is mixture as it will help drainage. It is difficult to know what works best to very important to give your potted keep them away. One way to deal roses plenty of water as they can dry with them is to use a weed- killer but out very quickly. In warm summer one must be very careful as most conditions this may mean watering weed-killers are not suitable for

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garden use. Also with our now a hoe to remove weeds. Be careful to enlightened view of the environment be gentle with the hoe because if you and the loss of the bee population it go too deep you risk breaking the is very difficult to get weed-killer. I roots and causing suckers to grow. I find two methods work best and use both much and hoe and find this sometimes use them together. In keeps most weeds at bay. early spring when you have fed your Another method is to use a weed roses it is a good idea to mulch them suppressor like Mypex. Many with a good well-rotted compost e.g. gardeners use Mypex plus farmyard manure, mushroom ornamental stones to keep the weeds compost and I have even used peat- down and to add a bit of colour to the based compost. Make sure if you are garden. This method tends to work getting horse manure that it is very best when it is put down when the well rotted and at least a year old rose beds are being made when holes otherwise you will have grass growing can be made to accommodate the up all over the rose beds. Some roses. If you use this method be sure people use bark as a mulch, but it can to leave space around the plants so be very acidic and can do more harm that they can breathe and so you can than good. Using a mulch will keep water them easily as Mypex can heat most weeds under control. Even if up the area around the roses some weeds germinate they are soft especially during a long, hot summer and much easier to remove. I also use (I live in hope). David

Saturday 28th and Sunday 29th July 2018 Our exhibitors will once again have the chance to shine in The Rose Society UK Northern Summer Rose Show visit the website HERE

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Leigh-on-Sea’s Walter Easlea was the son of a working gardener. His father, also Walter, was Greatest Rosarian employed by a wealthy Colchester family when Walter junior was born in December 1859. A few years later, Walter senior moved his family to Stamford, by Lincolnshire, to take up employment with the breeder, Thomas Laxton. It was Jim Sanctuary seeing Laxton, a scholarly horticulturist and associate of Charles Darwin, crossing peas that first fired young Walter with the A Celebration of the enthusiasm for hybridising, and, while still 150th anniversary of a young boy, he was raising his own the birth of Walter crosses of peas, potatoes and Easlea DHM strawberries. One can imagine his excitement on tasting his early successes. The keen gardener, taking a mid-summer stroll a hundred years ago along Pickett's Walter's first experience of rose growing Road, Eastwood, now known as Eastwood was when the family moved to Road North, could not have failed to be Oxfordshire, where his father worked for impressed by the huge field of colourful the rosarian, George Prince. Bitten by the and fragrant roses he or she would have rose-bug, young Walter moved to encountered on land opposite where the Cheshunt to take up a job as a budder. A Carnival Gardens cottages are now little later, he joined his father at situated, just along the road from the Waltham Cross, working for the rose- post office at Coombes Corner. This was breeder, William Paul, where he Walter Easlea and Son's famous Danecroft developed his hybridisation skills. His Rose Nursery, established in 1906, and duties included assisting in planting the where, in 1932, Walter was to produce his much-acclaimed rose displays supplied by finest and most celebrated rose, 'Easlea's Paul's nursery to the Royal Horticultural Golden Rambler', still in commerce today. Society's garden, then at Kensington. Walter also enjoyed his first experience of exhibiting roses, taking baskets of superb blooms by van to the London flower shows. At the Rose Conference, held at Chiswick in 1889, his father introduced him to Canon Hole, and founder of the National Rose Society, who remarked on the wonderful display of roses that Walter junior had staged on behalf of William Paul. Another of Walter's rosarian friends was the greatly respected gardener of the late Victorian Walter Easlea period, the Rev. H. H. D'ombrain. Also,

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much admired by Walter, was another growing business. His search for suitable ecclesiastical rosarian, the Rev. J. H. land took him to the Pickett's area of Pemberton, who gardened at Havering Eastwood (which did not become part of -atte-Bower, near Romford. A highly Leigh until 1913), and here he secured acclaimed amateur rose hydridist, 'some acres of good clayey loam', as he Pemberton was responsible for was later to recall, on the south side of introducing many popular roses, Eastwood Road North, then known as including the Hybrid Musks. Clearly, Pickett's Road. At this time, most of the the young Walter was now mixing in land in Leigh to the north of the London quite illustrious horticultural circles. Road was still being farmed and Walter's nursery plot had previously been a It was while Walter junior was at wheat field. The year was 1906 and the Waltham Cross that he started writing Danecroft Rose Nursery was now in articles for the press, and business. also entered a competition organised by the National Rose Society for an essay on 'Hybridisation of the Rose'. Walter's essay was judged the best and he was awarded a medal, which became one of his most cherished possessions. He continued writing articles for gardening magazines until he was well into his eighties, and over many years was a regular and popular contributor to the National Rose Society's Annual, with a variety of rose -related articles. Climbers, roses in pots, roses for hedging, were amongst After working for other people for so the multitude of subjects he covered, many years, Walter must have viewed testimony to his skill as one of Britain's running his own nursery with some leading rosarians. In 1920, he assisted trepidation. However, he was assisted in the renowned garden writer, H. H. building up a fine collection of rose stock Thomas, with 'The Rose Book', which by his friend, Raymond Chenault, a was to become the definitive volume Frenchman who had joined Paul's on the subject for many years, selling Waltham Cross nursery in order to thousands of copies. improve his English. Following advertisements in the gardening press In the early 1900s, after thirty years of and the National Rose Society's Annual, working at Waltham Cross, Walter, orders started flooding in and the now in his mid-forties, thought it time nursery went from strength to strength. to better himself financially and The rose fields burgeoned with colour decided he should start his own rose and Walter was particularly impressed by the beautiful bloom on the wood,

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which he attributed to the sea air and the who had opened the new London-to- exposed lie of the land. Thousands of Southend Arterial Road in March 1925, and crosses were made each year, producing the HT, 'Rupert Brooke', named in memory many top class and highly commercial of the esteemed war poet, who died in blooms, and two of Easlea's best known 1915. roses, the ramblers,'Thelma' and 'Easlea's

Golden Rambler', are to this day still in One of Walter's first important orders was commerce in Britain and elsewhere. placed by Southend Borough Council, which, in 1903, had purchased the 26 acres of land now known as Chalkwell Park. A Rose Garden was being established and Easlea's Danecoft Nursery supplied many of the bare-rooted plants. Over the years, this magnificent municipal rose garden became one of the best in the country and many of its visitors were to become regular customers of the Danecroft Rose Nursery. Another important source of orders was from visitors to the many rose shows up and down the country, the nursery's wonderful floral exhibits winning many important awards and securing lucrative Easlea’s Golden Rambler plant sales. ' Thelma', named after Walter's grand daughter, was released in 1927. It has soft, coral pink flowers, which are produced in spectacular sprays of up to 18 flowers. Better known, though, is 'Easlea's Golden Rambler'. Released in 1932, the large, heavily-scented, deep creamy- yellow flowers, which display a boss of golden stamens, stand out against the dark olive-green foliage. It won many grand prizes, including the Royal Horticultural Society's prestigious Award of Garden Merit, and, due to international Thelma acclaim, Walter appointed distributors for Since the early 1900s, Walter had been a the rose in the USA. member of the Council of the National Other popular roses released in the 1920s Rose Society, no doubt a reflection of his included the HT, 'Prince Henry', named in prominent position as a distinguished honour of the third son of King George V, authority on the genus. Each year, in

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memory of its founding father, the Benjamin Cant, and also the famous NRS presented a notable person with Irish rosarian, Sam McGredy. One of the prestigious Dean Hole Medal, and his American friends, E. G. Hill, on a in 1935 Walter was the recipient of visit to England, stayed with Walter this illustrious award. His name was and by all accounts was very now firmly impressed on the roll of impressed with the hybridising work important British rosarians and being carried out at the Danecroft Walter was to remain a member of Nursery. Another American friend, W. E. Nickerson, had the honour of Walter naming a rose after him. Walter also visited Alex Dickson's rose nursery at Newtownards, near Belfast, where, he later wrote, 'I could have lingered for some days'.

One of Walter's many delights were his regular visits to the National Rose Society's trial ground at Haywards Heath, where, as one of the NRS's judges, he was responsible for ensuring that the new varieties, entered for trial by both British and Walter Easley’s Hybrid Tea - Lulu overseas rose breeders, were worthy of cultivation and sale to the public. the NRS Council for the rest of his life. Walter's extensive knowledge, honed from his many years experience of Walter's achievements enabled him rose breeding, was greatly valued by to meet many eminent rose breeders his fellow judges and he was now and amateur growers. He enjoyed a held high in the ranks of the elder friendship with the French breeder, statesmen of the rose fraternity. Pernet-Ducher, as well as his sons, Claude and Georges, and in 1914 visited the Pernet-Ducher nursery at Lyons. But Walter was to be greatly sadden to learn that a few months later both sons had been killed in the Great War. And tragically Walter was also to lose one of his own sons, Walter Allen, felled by enemy fire while serving with the Hertfordshire Regiment near Ypres in September 1917.

Walter was friendly with another Hybrid Tea - Lal important Essex rose breeder,

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Although now well into his 70s, Walter was to include the esteemed name of continued the programme of rose Walter Easlea and Sons. One of the last hybridisation, after 1932 concentrating his roses to be released to the public by efforts on breeding reds, crimsons and Walter - in 1939 - was the pure pink scarlets. The business prospered with son, Hybrid Tea, 'Mrs. George Easlea', named George, taking an active role in managing after his daughter-in-law, and, the nursery. In 1929 Walter and George poignantly, the business was wound up greatly increased production by renting in the same year. land at Church Road, Hockley, known as the Vicarage Rose Nursery. By 1930, Walter and his wife, Ada, moved to Walter Easlea and Sons were growing Cambridge at the start of the War to be 10,000 standard roses, in addition to the near their son, Maurice, from where tens of thousands of hybrid teas, Walter continued to write informative floribundas, climbers and ramblers. Four articles on roses for the horticultural years later, Easlea's rich vermillion pink press. He remained on the Council of the Hybrid Tea, 'Lal', was on sale to the public National Rose Society until his death, and a bed containing 200 plants could be aged 85, in February 1945. The site of seen at Queen Mary's Rose Garden, the Danecroft Nursery is now a housing Regent's Park. estate and all that remains to remind the visitor of Walter Easlea and Sons are two In the late 1930s, with a second World roads, Danescroft* Drive and Irvington War looming on the horizon, the purchase Close, named after the cottages where of ornamental plants was not the first Walter, his son, George, and their thing on the mind of the home gardener, families lived. In 1954, George emigrated and nurserymen up and down the country with his family to New Zealand where, to were concerned about the future financial this day, many of Walter's wonderful viability of their businesses. Municipal roses continue to flourish and bring joy authorities also had more pressing to gardeners, a most fitting memorial to activities on which to spend their money, one of Britain's truly great rosarians. and public parks were being ploughed up for vegetable growing, in accordance with Jim Sanctuary the 'Dig for Victory' campaign. With the outbreak of hostilities, the Government decreed that commercial nurseries would be required to utilise their land for food production, although permitting a small area to be set aside to retain a stock of ornamental plants for when the war ended. By now, the Danecroft Rose Nursery was just a green island in the midst of a stark estate of residential housing. The grubbing up of their stock, representing so many years of hard work, Ed’s note, Queen Mary’s Rose Garden was to spell the end of the line for many ornamental plant nurseries, and sadly this is definitely worth a look this summer

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AGM 2018

This year’s AGM will once again be held in the Midlands, at the hall of St Michael and All Saints Church in Pelsall. The Meeting will be on Sunday 14th October starting at 11.00am We will issue more details nearer the event. It is our hope that once the official business is complete, we will once again have an afternoon of rose- related entertainment. Coffees, teas and biscuits will be available of arrival. and a light buffet lunch will be proved.

Our members will be bringing their roses from all over the country to Shepperton for the National, Southern Summer Rose Show. Come along you will see some of the best exhibitors in the country with some of the best roses. Admission is free.

The Rose Society UK - June 2018 P A G E 27 Thenford Gardens and “At Our member Linda Nutbein is the resident Thenford Rose Expert at Lord Heseltine’s Garden in we are Northamptonshire fortunate Here she shows us around the garden and to have introduces some of the rosy inhabitants many I always think of garden borders provided by climbing plants and beautiful as theatrical stages – directed none does the job as walls” by the gardener to amaze and magnificently as a well trained enthral with the dramatic effect rose. of the planting or romantic Here at Thenford we are fortunate combination of colour. The to have many beautiful walls chorus line are the low which surround the courtyards “To catch the herbaceous, then the taller and . The brickwork reader's groups of ‘extras’, finally the is old and weathered and full of attention, place statement plants…the stars of character so we don’t want to hide the show! an interesting it but simply enhance it with sentence or All these players --plants - careful planting and training. would not be so impressive quote from the At the rear of Thenford House we without the backdrop: the story here.” have two huge sheltered south- scenery which defines the facing walls, the perfect spot to location, sets the mood and show-case the exotic flowers of R.’ brings the whole act together. Devoniensis’ – the magnolia rose. In the garden this backdrop is Trained horizontally into this we have R. ‘Frances E. Lester’. This is one of my favourite rambling roses because it is so very easy to train and has a neat growth habit – each lateral arm has regularly spaced vertical shoots which flower at about 6” with no whippy growth. The single flush of pale pink flowers are then followed by neat sprays of tiny hips which Rosa ‘Frances E. Lester’ after and on next page; in flower

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wall trained Magnolia grandiflora defining each compartment. Two of these areas are planted with ‘hot’ colours and two with ‘cool’. The two hot areas each have two climbers R.’ Paul’s Scarlet’ fan trained on the wall. This is a particularly vibrant red and together with the glowing Rosa Francis E Lester vermillion of R. ‘Alexander’ and the rich purple of R. ’Plum Pudding’ provide winter interest. really add a zing to these borders. On the opposite wall we have R.’ Paul’s Scarlet is not a reliable repeat Veilchenblau’ with it’s single but climber, however, but it is well stunning flush of slate-blue, foliated and very healthy and so fragrant sprays. To complement continues to be a useful backcloth. this we have the climber R.’Compassion’ with flamboyant blooms of peach and honey that appear constantly until the frosts. Another most useful rose for shady aspects. To prevent the borders feeling ‘flat’ we have obelisks planted up with R. ‘Awakening’ and Clematis ‘Marie Boisselot’. These not only give the borders another Rosa‘Paul’s Scarlet’ in January dimension but by using this extra height we can fit in more plants and more colour. The outside walls of the walled garden stand guard over our mixed herbaceous borders which are divided into compartments. In these borders are numerous large shrubs like Ceanothus and Abutilon with four magnificent and again in July

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The cool compartments have particular benefit to this rose as itis R.’Blairii Number Two’ along the susceptible to powdery mildew. wall. This Bourbon climber has huge, pink, flamboyant blooms but is not reliably remontant. Again, this is not a problem as from mid-summer it’s only purpose is to provide a subtle back-ground for the principal players in the border below. Here we have used two groups of R. ‘Gertrude Jekyll’, which is famous for it’s exceptionally strong fragrance.

Where the herbaceous borders run into the area our wall becomes most unusual in that it turns in a lovely round curve instead of a harsh, angular corner. We have R.’ Mortimer Sackler’ trained around this curve. This is another really well-behaved rose…nice straight stems of rich burgundy that really show off the Rosa ‘Blairii Number Two’ providing pretty peach flowers all along them. Like height at the back of the border most David Austen roses it can be grown as a free-standing shrub or climber and R.’ Blairii Number Two’ is slightly is tolerant of shade. And it’s a rose that I problematical however as it love pruning so much that I try to save it continuously produces extremely for a miserable wet day as a special vigorous vertical growth with needs treat! tying in just when the border is at it’s fullest and access to the rose is limited! Last year I started to reduce Linda the amount of nitrogen and fed only with a high potassium feed which appears to be having some effect. Farm-Fos 44 would also be of

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Dress to impress in 2018

Our members have been seen all over the country (even in the USA and Australia) sporting our branded shirts and jackets. We have had more orders in the last few weeks and will be finalising an order very soon. If you would like anything from the range please email Ray on; [email protected] or call on 07867973229 Prices are; Polos (grey or blue) £14 Fleeces (dove grey) £25 W/P Jackets (grey) £38 Postage & Packing £3

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Harrogate Spring Flower Best in Show!

Harrogate Spring show saw the The show usually attracts in society stand winning a Premier excess of 40,000 people and Gold Medal in the scientific and they were busy on the advice educational section and to top it and information stand all, the Best in Show Award. throughout the four days. Ray, Pauline and John , along Members, Bob Mercer, Linda with Dorothy and Ian Silver Nutbein and her partner Liz, spent many hours preparing the helped man the stand and stand and we were delighted really added to the success and that their efforts were to the recruitment of new recognised by the judges. members. People as usual were intrigued by the practical demonstrations on taking cuttings, budding and growing roses from seed. Many people were surprised that roses grow so easily from seed and the trays of open pollinated seedlings sown in January with buds showing colour created a great deal of interest. The advice stand had the usual questions about pests and Centre piece of the stand and the diseases and the advice Best in Show trophy generally is to keep roses fed

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and watered, pruned fragrant, that will grow into a appropriately and mulched well. large climber in a small pot. They Some people like to use chemical are advised that there are many and and beautiful fragrant climbers but others prefer an organic most will not survive in a pot for approach. The Society is very very long. People are advised fortunate that Tom Nellis is that some of the patio climbers sponsoring the Harrogate show may meet their needs. There are and are happy to recommend many healthy roses available and that members use Uncle Toms the Society’s advice is to Rose Tonic to keep their roses purchase from specialist rose healthy. growers or reputable garden Another topic that frequently centres. The stand displays gets asked is about planting catalogues as provided by the roses where roses have grown rose growers and promotes ‘Find before. There are many schools That Rose’ which is produced of thought but some expert annually by Angela Pawsey (a growers have tried Mycorrhizal labour of love). People really fungi to good effect. A value information contained in particularly good product is the booklet; where to buy Mycorrmax a premiuim fungi specific roses; all too often the powder with Trichoderma and public just want a rose that has Bacteria – Root inoculant. This is the name of a loved one. produced by The Nutrient All in all it was a productive show Company who also kindly but everyone was very pleased sponsor The Rose Society. to get home and thaw out after a People ask for advice on what week of standing in extremely roses to grow and everyone chilly temperatures. wants a healthy rose that is

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Patio Climber Open Arms bred by The ‘Build-Up’ team Chris Warner

Don’t forget to visit the website; http//www.therosesociety.org.uk The member’s Area is now live and we’ll be adding content throughout the summer The login USERNAME is; therosesociety The password is; BlueberryHill It will change on 1st July, you will be notified the new password by email Or our Facebook page; (click on logo)

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More from our member in Swansea Amateur rose breeder Mansel Lovering

"What's in a name?"

Firstly an admission on my part. The story of the paper boy and my missing roses, which I used to introduce my article on breeding roses was first told in a National Rose Society Annual of the early 1950's. I substituted a paper boy for the postman used in the original. I wonder if anyone still remembers the then NRS (later to become the Royal National Rose Society), the demise of which has led to the formation of our new society.

Now to my title "What’s in a name"? Which comes first - the rose or the name when a new plant is raised? With some breeders, probably most, the flower is given a name after many tests and trials. For myself I choose a name and then do all I can to produce a bloom to match the chosen 'monika'. I have tried other methods of course, naming my successes in the seedling stage after family members. Firstly after my wife, 'Valmai's Delight'; then my daughter, my grand-daughters and then our first great grandchild. However, as fast as decent roses come from my seed boxes, so did the number of great grand-children increase!

So then, in naming my babies, a new aim came into my life; I turned to a regiment - the South Wales Borderers - the only Welsh regiment to land on French soil on D-Day 1944. Yes, the very regiment formed from the boys who featured against the Zulu's at The Regimental badge of the Rorkes Drift. South Wales Borderers

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The aim now was to breed a yellow/white blooming H.T. to replicate the regimental badge of silver and gold - see photograph with the sphinx surrounded by a wreath and bearing the name Eygpt together with the initials SWB.

Now I must admit that I had a second equally important aim; to offer the SWB (now incorporated into the Royal Welsh) at their barracks at Brecon, 25 or 50 bushes to commemorate the loss of so many Welsh boys during and after D-Day until the cessation of hostilities in 1945.

One who had lost his life was my uncle Mansel’s Hybrid Tea who died of wounds in August 1944 near The South Wales Borderers Caen. He was just 9 years my senior at the time and at aged 22 was more like a brother, even a father, when my father was away on wartime activities.

Sadly the Dering Lines at Brecon is now closed meaning that an alternative site for planting the roses was needed. Lieutenant Colonel (Retired) J C St John Kilmister of the Cardiff Maindy Barrack has proposed a new home for the roses at the planned memorial at the National Memoriam Arboretum in Staffordshire, where the six antecedent regiments will be remembered and honoured. If in the future, you visit this area of Staffs; look out for the "South Wales Borderers".

Finally, how do you name your roses? Remember to register them with the American Rose Society, a free service which guarantees that your roses are attributed to you.

Best of blooms to you

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16 June Chipperfield H S Flower Show with rose classes 23 - 24 June Squires Rose Festival Rose Society UK stand and National rose show 28-29 June Royal Norfolk Show County Show with full rose show classes 30 June - 1 July Rose Society of Wales Show Rose show at St Fagans Museum 2 - 8 July Hampton Court Flower Show 7 - 8 July Rydale Rose Festival Rose show at Rydale Rose Festival 10 - 12 July The Great Yorkshire Show Rose Society UK stand only 14-15 July The Carnforth Rose Show Open Rose Show 23-26 July Royal Welsh Show Agricultural Show with full rose show classes 28 - 29 July Chorley Summer Show Rose Society UK stand and National rose show 10 - 11 August Shrewsbury Flower Show Rose Society UK stand and open rose show 16 - 19 August Southport Flower Show Open rose show 14 - 16 September Harrogate Autumn Show Rose Society UK stand and National rose show 29 - 30 September Malvern Autumn Show Rose Society UK stand and open rose show

The Rose Society UK National schedules are available on the website.

OUR REGULAR EXHIBITORS SHOULD BY NOW HAVE RECEIVED A HARD COPY OF THE SCHEDULES Please contact the secretary if you require a copy We will also publish any schedules that the host society wish to share with our members. Please use [email protected] to share your schedules

This is by no means a complete calendar of show events for 2018 If you’d like your event advertised on our website, Facebook or Twitter pages or in future newsletters; please let us know by emailing by clicking

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The Rose Society UK - June 2018