July 4, 2010
First off I would like to give a great big THANKS! to Susan Mulvihill of The Spokesman-Review for her wrrite up of the show. We saw a lot of new faces this year and the ones I asked all said that they read about it “in the paper:” Every rose has its admirer
Hopefully next year will be a lot better for growing and showing. This year was “interesting” with a couple of badly timed freezes and the late rain. One person (from Montana?) mentioned that she lost 300 roses (out of 323) over the winter. Ouch.
Still, a lot of nice roses (and their growers) did show up. We took a ton of photos and will be posting some of them soon.A lot of new people showed up, asked lots of questions, and admired and sniffed a lot of roses. Maybe we’ll see some of them at the meetings.
If you want to try showing your roses in the 2011 show give it a shot. There are a lot of categories and some of those have only one entry (and some have none!) Why not put your rose there?
We also have a bunch of arrangement categories so try your hand at putting one or more together.
Pics & winners coming soon
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June 24, 2010
You’ll get to see a whole bunch of beautiful roses and arrangements.
You’ll get to ask questions of people who know alot about growing roses n the Spokane area.
You’ll have a great time!
And if you have a rose of your own then bring it! We’ll show you how to display it properly.
Here’s the info on what, where, when, etc:
Saturday, June 26, 2010
West Central Community Center
1603 N Belt St . Spokane WA
Here are some interesting articles on attending rose show and why you want to go!
Why?
I said: “HEY! See you next weekend at the rose show!” You replied: “Rose show? Oh, no! I don’t go to rose shows. I’m not interested.”
Not interested? You’re a member of a rose society, and you’re “not interested” in rose shows? I don’t understand how that can be.
Without waxing poetical, there are two simple reasons why you should “bother” with rose shows. You go to rose shows, or take part in them, either to do good for yourself, or to do good to others. Some of you might go for both of those reasons.
I assume that you joined a rose society because you LIKE roses. You probably grow some roses. Perhaps you even grow a great many roses. You enjoy seeing roses, and being around people who share your interest in roses. You do, of course, find the requisite roses and lovers of roses at our monthly meetings, but that opens only a very small door to a very small sampling of the greater world of roses.
At a rose show, usually for free, you will see, smell, touch, and enjoy roses that, in all probability, you will never see in your neighborhood nursery. At a rose show, you will have the opportunity to pick the brains of the folks who GROW those unfamiliar, tantalizingly lovely roses. With the beauty that a rose show rolls out in front of you I can’t see why ANY lover of roses would NOT want to take advantage of the opportunity to take part, or at LEAST to go to a rose show!
Here’s the rest of this article by the Pacific Southwest District of the American Rose Society: Rose Shows? Why Bother?
8 Good Reasons on Why We Show Roses
Why do we show roses? Most of the readers of this article already have a pretty good idea of the answer to this question. Others I suspect would like to learn that answer. I begin this discussion with a series of articles addressed primarily to the novice rose exhibitor and I think a good place to start is to address the question of why you should consider showing your roses at rose shows. There are, as you will learn, many reasons. Here are eight good ones in reverse order for you to consider.
#8. You Will Help Your Rose Society
A central activity of nearly every rose society is the annual sponsorship of a rose show. In this activity the rose society comes together with a common purpose. The task is not easy; there is much work to do. You belong to your rose society and hopefully gain advantage in doing so. Without rose exhibitors there can be no rose show despite all our hard work. So by entering even one rose bloom you help your rose society. Call it “solidarity”; whatever you will show you care.
Here’s the rest: Why do we show roses?
From the Jersey Show Rose Society
OK, I know you don’t believe me.
Why would anyone want to get up at 5:00 AM, drive 100 miles to enter a show with hardcore exhibitors?!
Because it is fun.
Because a rose show is filled with roses! All sizes and varieties! Such a sight to behold. It is fun to walk through the aisles, looking at the roses that you’ve only seen in catalogs or on the internet, checking out the size and color, sticking your nose in it to see if it is fragrant. Sometimes, you’ll be lucky enough to see the person who exhibited it and can ask them questions about it, how it grows for them. Getting knowledge of a rose from a local rosarian is invaluable!
Because a rose show is filled with rosarians! People like you who love roses. After their entries are in (and sometimes while they are prepping them) most exhibitors love to talk about their roses!
Here’s the rest: Exhibiting Roses is FUN!
So are we going to see you there???
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June 10, 2010
On Tuesday, June 8 we had our First Annual Rose Arranging Class in the meeting room at Manito Park. Our able teacher was Heather Figg. Heather is an experienced, award-winning arranger and a patient teacher.
All who attended gained some very valuable hands-on experience arranging roses and other flowers. It was a bit early for many roses to be available, so we used carnations, iris, and peonies to supplement.
We certainly gained a new appreciation of the artistry and work involved in preparing even the simplest of arrangements. Those simple arrangements require very careful placement of material, while the complicated arrangements involve a great deal of thought and a large number of roses!
I’m sure all participants agree that we learned a great deal and improved our skills. I (Gwynne) forgot my camera, but Pati brought hers, so I hope to have photos of our efforts to post soon.
For those who want more: check out the following links for inspirational photos and additional information on specific styles of arrangements.
Tri City Rose Society Rose Show Photos for 2008, 2007, 2006, and 2005.
Peninsula Rose Society Rose Show Photos for 2007
Gold Country Rose Society Rose Show Photos for 2003
DelChester Rose Society Rose Show Photos for 2006
Article on Modern Arrangements from the California Coastal Rose Society
Article on Arrangements in the Oriental Manner from the Tri City Rose Society
Ikebana By Junko has information on Ikebana (Oriental flower arranging) with many beautiful photos
So check out these sites and get inspired. This is another great way to enjoy our favorite flower and increase appreciation for the beauty of roses.
If you do not wish to enter an arrangement in the show this year, please come and show your support for your friends and fellow Spokane Rose Society members who are making the attempt. We would love to see you at the show.
For those of you who are entering an arrangement, have fun and enjoy your creation and those of your friends and fellow arrangers, and Good Luck!
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May 1, 2010
Everyone who attended our March meeting thoroughly enjoyed the entertaining and informative talk given by Eva Lusk on using native plants to attract wildlife to our Spokane area gardens. (Now, by “wildlife” we mean the good kind, i.e. hummingbirds, butterflies, bees, etc., not deer.)
Eva gave us a wonderful presentation on the many plants native to our area that will make our gardens more friendly places for birds, butterflies and other beautiful creatures. Her presentation was illustrated beautifully with photos of the plants she recommended taken in her own yard, a designated Backyard Wildlife Sanctuary due to her passion for using native species.
The plants Eva recommends have the added bonus, as native plants, of being easier to grow and maintain than plants from other geographical areas. Native plants are adapted to our local soil and weather conditions, and are more likely to be resistant to local pests and diseases.
Beautiful and Unusual Native Plants
Here are a few examples of plants she recommended. (Photos are from the University of Washington Library Digital Collection.)
A good example of a lovely native vine is Orange Honeysuckle (Lonicera ciliosa) – a vigorous climber, 6 to 18 feet, blooms in May, produces berries in September. Attracts hummingbirds.
Another native is Western Trillium (Trillium ovatum) – a shade loving plant, 6 to 24 inches, blooms April through May.
Another native shade plant is Wild Ginger (Asarum caudatum) – an evergreen shade plant, 4 to 6 inches, it produces unusual brownish-maroon blooms April through July.
A fine example of a beautiful native wildflower is the Grass Widow (Sisyrinchium douglasii) – 6 to 12 inches, blooms early April though June.
If you missed the meeting or would like to request a handout compiled by Eva with her recommendations and descriptions and uses for each, call or visit the Spokane County Extension Master Gardeners at 222 N Havana in Spokane just south of the Spokane Fairgrounds and the Indians Ballpark, phone: 477-2181. They are open Monday – Thursday from 9:00 am – 3:00 pm and Fridays from 9:00 am – 1:00 pm. You can also visit the Master Gardeners website or email them at mastergardener@spokanecounty.org.
For More Information
If you would like more information on gardening with native plants you may want to visit some of the following sites.
Spokane County Conservation District: Landscaping With Native Plants
Washington Native Plant Society
WSU Extension Guide to Native Plants
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Inland Northwest gardening,
native plants,
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April 29, 2010
We had another fun time at our April meeting. On Wednesday, April 28 at 7 pm we had our (now) Annual Silent Rose Auction and enjoyed a presentation by Elizabeth Casteel, the Tomato Lady.
The Tomato Lady
Elizabeth told us how she got involved in growing and selling tomato plants. Her production has grown from just a few plants that she sold in her driveway to thousands of tomato plants that she sells from her home and at events such as the Garden Expo.
We got to see photos of her tomatoes as they grow from seedlings to full grown plants. Some of the plants grow to over 6 feet and all produce beautiful tomatoes. Elizabeth also shared with us some of the very clever ways that she accommodates her many tomato plants as they grow.
Elizabeth grows approximately 138 different varieties of tomatoes. Those of us who attended the meeting had the opportunity to purchase some of her more interesting and unusual tomato plants. We discovered that tomatoes come in many different colors, from the traditional red to pink, purple, orange, yellow, green, just about any color except blue.
If you want to pick up tomato plants from Elizabeth visit her website for more information or try to catch her at the Garden Expo, but be aware that last year she sold out all of her plants by 9:30 am!
Silent Rose Auction
The April presentation was followed by our Silent Rose Auction. This was a great opportunity to pick up some lovely roses at exceptional prices. Bidding was fierce for several of the roses.
Someone was lucky enough to win Carol’s donation of the brand new introduction: Michel Trudeau! Michel is sporting such beautiful blooms already, and what a delicious scent!
Michel Trudeau is a lovely Canadian rose with large, single to semi-double, deep pink blooms with a silver reverse. It is a vigorous rose, hardy to Zone 2! It was named in memory of Michel Trudeau, the youngest son of the late Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Elliot Trudeau. Sadly, Michel was killed by an avalanche in British Columbia’s Kokanee Mountains on November 13, 1998 at the age of 23. You can visit Northland Rosarium (or follow the link above) to purchase this lovely rose. A portion of the sales for this rose will go to the Canadian Avalanche Foundation.
See you at the next meeting: Wednesday, May 26th 7 pm at the Manito Meeting Room in Manito Park.
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northland rosarium,
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tomatoes
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February 17, 2010
There is a rose garden at the home of Thomas and Carol O’Neill, on Long Island, that was planted as a memorial to those who were lost on Sept. 11, 2001 – specifically those who perished at the offices of Sandler, O’Neill & Partners, LLP on the 104th floor of Two World Trade Center. There is a sculpture and fountain with a tablet inscribed as follows:
I give you this one thought to keep.
I am with you still, I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow.
I am the Diamond glint on snow
I am sunlight on ripened grain.
I am the gentle Autumn rain.
When you awake in morning’s hush,
I am the swift, uplifting rush
Of quiet bird in circled flight.
I am soft stars that shine at night.
Do not think of me as gone.
I am with you still, in each new dawn.
The rose gives us strength of spirit and as we experience our own rose gardens through the season of life. The rose lifts our spirits in our darkest hours, the rose extends her beauty and solace to us in spring and once again reminds us that we must keep this beauty in our hearts as a symbol of hope for the future.
God bless,
Carol Newcomb, President
Cliff Winger, President-elect
Erin Alonso
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October 21, 2009
The Spokane Rose Society’s annual Rose Hill Day gathering and picnic took place on Sunday, July 12, 2009 at Rose Hill in Manito Park in Spokane, WA.
We had a good turnout of Rose Society members and visitors seeking information about roses and the Spokane Rose Society.
Everyone enjoyed a delicious potluck in the shade and strolled around Rose Hill admiring the roses in the sunshine.
Robusta - Rugosa
Colorful Miniature Roses
Floribunda
Starry Night - Shrub Rose
Graham Thomas - English Rose
Taking Time to Smell the Roses
Fragrant Cloud
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garden pictures,
Manito Park,
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Rose Hill,
rose pictures,
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October 21, 2009
In July Heather Figg gave a very informative class on how to create rose show arrangements on the beautiful grounds of the Northland Rosarium. The class covered Traditional, Oriental, Modern, and Abstract arrangements.
Heather showed tools and supplies used in flower arrangements, such as frogs, florist foam, floral adhesive, and discussed the proper use of each. Heather also recommended resources for flower arranging supplies, and she even gave away some books on the subject.
Participants learned about the best way to select, collect, and protect flowers for use in arrangements. Other topics included: the do’s and don’ts of rose show arrangements, proper placement of light and dark colors, how to find novel containers, when to stick with classic containers, filler foliage, and more.
Heather discussed the different styles of rose arrangements and demonstrated the composition of two of those styles, shown here.
This was a great class. We laughed a lot, learned a great deal about rose arrangements, and came away very inspired.
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October 21, 2009
In May we visited Harry and Leslie Rendle’s garden. We all refer to Harry as Mr. Mini with good reason. Miniature roses are his specialty.
Harry and Leslie keep their garden immaculate: everything is labeled and neatly manicured.
It’s no wonder that Harry takes home so many blue ribbons.
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miniature roses,
miniatures,
rose garden,
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October 21, 2009
In May we visited the Hathaways for a tour of Phyllis’ famed garden. Phyllis certainly has a way with growing things, and it was a pleasure and inspiration to see her “French intensive” gardening style in person.
Phyllis uses lawn for pathways and to divide her flower beds.
You’ll find clematis winding its way throughout her yard.
Roses, roses, roses . . .
Easy access fruit.
Contrasts in texture, shape, height, and color add interest.
A covered path adds mystery.
Little touches of elegance abound.
Tags:
garden pictures,
rose garden
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