President's
Message
by
Bob Jacobs
Hello Friends
It looks and feels like
winter is fast approaching. Now is the time to start
getting ready to put your roses to sleep for the
winter.
Here are steps that I
have started. First, stop any granular fertilizer.
Second, do not cut your spent blooms as cutting will
send a signal to the bush to keep growing. I have now
started removing the lower leaves up to about 12 to 18
inches depending upon the bush. Do not cut your bush
back until we have had at least two hard frost which
will insure the rose bush has gone dormant.
On Saturday, October 10,
five of us drove down to Columbia, TN to tour Ruby and
Lyle Worsham's rose garden. They were gracious hosts as
they gave us information on their best show roses, and
tips on how they take care of a potential "Queen" for an
upcoming rose show. Lyle showed how he will tie a stick
to a cane that is growing a little crooked which stays
on the cane until he gets to a show perhaps two weeks
later. And if rain or dew threatens the bloom, Ruby is
out with a large umbrella positioning it over the
bloom. Wow! They are serious exhibitors. We enjoyed
lunch with them and as we were leaving, Ruby gave us
starts of two different plants we had admired. Then we
drove to Sara Jo and Don Gill's home in Nashville. Don
gave good tips on his fertilizing and spraying routine,
and showed us how he uses small containers (one color
and one clear) to cover blooms from rain, wind and dew
prior to a show. There is a special technique. Ask me
at the next meeting. Also, I will have a show and tell
on how to travel to a show with your roses.
I look forward to seeing
everyone at our November 6th meeting. A nominating
committee to select a slate of the three officers and
the member-at-large will be presented at this meeting.
The membership shall have the privilege of nominating
from the floor prior to a vote.
Bob Jacobs, President |
