Mentors Matter

by Ron Daniels, President – Nashville Rose Society, Master Rosarian, Master Gardner

 

As I look back on my experiences with growing roses for the last 28 years, I remember who introduced me to the love of roses and was kind enough to mentor me. This fine gentleman was John Curtis, or as NRS members referred to him, “The Rose Farmer”. He earned that name because of his commitment to organic methods of growing roses.
Continue reading “Mentors Matter”

Winterization of Roses

By Marty Reich, Master Rosarian

 

It is time to put the kids to bed. The last big rose chore before we get to put our feet up and enjoy the rose catalogs needs to be done by about the first week of December. A general rule is to wait until there have been two real (not just a couple of hours) freezes below 28degrees F. Protect too soon and the bush will not have time to gear up its internal winterization mechanism.
Continue reading “Winterization of Roses”

Roses: Back on the Menu with Insects

by David Cook, Davidson County Extension Agent with the UT Extension office of the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture

 

Roses_Back_on_the_MenuDavid Cook’s presentation to the Nashville Rose Society is an excellent resource for the types of insects that attack our roses in Tennessee. He explains how to identify the culprit based on the damage to the plant, and gives organic solutions for dealing with them.

Click here for David’s presentation, “Roses: Back on the Menu”.

YOU Can Grow Roses: Eleven Steps to Growing Good Roses

by Jack Wedekind, Master and Consulting Rosarian

 

Jack-&-Betsy-Wedekind-containerGarden
Jack and Betsy Wedekind’s container garden with over 100 rose bushes
Many people seem to think that growing roses is just too difficult or time consuming. I will admit that it takes some work and commitment. But I have found it to be an extremely rewarding hobby. Our hobby that began with six rose bushes, over a few years, grew to a garden of over 100 bushes. My wife Betsy and I joined the Nashville Rose Society and the American Rose Society (rose.org), both non-profit organizations, and received lots of help and advice.

If you want some concise no-nonsense steps that will result in good roses, consider the following Eleven Steps to Growing Good Roses:
Continue reading “YOU Can Grow Roses: Eleven Steps to Growing Good Roses”

The Magic of Refrigeration

by Jack Wedekind, Master Consulting Rosarian

Rose refrigerator
Jack and Betsy Wedekind’s 1928 GE Monitor Top Refrigerator
Two things I enjoy the most about being a rose grower are exhibiting in rose shows and sharing my blooms with others. I don’t have a huge number of rose bushes in comparison to many people I know. So how do I manage to take bouquets to our church every Sunday in the growing season and exhibit at a few rose shows? It’s the magic of our 1928 General Electric Monitor Top Refrigerator in the garage!
Continue reading “The Magic of Refrigeration”