This Sunday, January 11, 2009, we will host the Rose Care and Pruning Seminar from 1 pm to 3 pm. Mr. Ed will conduct our annual “hands-on” rose pruning seminar at Red Morton Community Park, 1400 Roosevelt Ave., Redwood City. Come prepared to prune roses. Bring your pruning shears and gloves because you will practice what you learn! If it rains, wear rain gear and water-resistant shoes. Mr. Ed will demonstrate pruning 'Hybrid Tea', 'Floribunda', 'Miniature' and 'Tree' roses. He will also outline fertilizing and spray schedules. There will be instructional handouts to take with you.

Dress weather-appropriately for the event as it is outdoors. We will serve light refreshments and there is, of course, no cost.

The rose garden at this time of year looks pretty sad. There is only an occasional flower, leaves are yellow or have fallen and if you have been faithful about dead-heading, there aren’t even any colorful rose hips. If the weather is rainy and blustery, we are tempted to ignore our roses until the garden warms up.

But, the rose garden has not shut down; it is resting. Rose bushes are much like insects and other cold blooded creatures. Their activity is temperature dependent and when the weather is warm, they are frisky and their metabolism is up and they grow and bloom and behave as we enjoy seeing them. When the weather cools and is cold, everything slows down and our rose bushes go into their resting phase. The bushes are still metabolizing but much more slowly and so we may think they are inactive. It is during this resting phase that we have the opportunity to prepare our rose bushes for the warm weather.

First, on the list of things to do is to prune the roses. It’s important that you know which of your roses are Hybrid Teas, Floribundas, Grandifloras, Shrubs or Climbers because they are not all pruned in the same way. (If you are not sure, come to our Rose Care and Pruning Seminar--see the first article of this edition). After pruning, the roses must be dormant-sprayed with a mixture of Liqui-cop and Pest Fighter Year Round Spray Oil. Seal all cuts over one-quarter of an inch in diameter with Morrison’s Tree Seal or Dr. Farewell’s Seal and Heal to prevent borers from laying eggs in the soft core of the rose bush canes.

Next, all old leaves and weeds must be removed from the rose beds. Now, do something really pleasant for your roses: Scatter about one-eighths of an inch of Cottonseed Meal throughout the rose bed and scratch it in with your long handled cultivator. Not too hard, not too deep so that you don’t damage the roots. The cottonseed meal decomposes slowly and replaces soil nutrients which the rose bushes have used up over the year. Slowly is the key word here because, remember, our rose bushes are resting and have a low metabolism, therefore, are not able to use a concentrated nutrient source.

If you would like to do yourself a favor at this time, scatter some Concern brand Weed Prevention Plus over the entire rose bed. Concern is composed of corn gluten and is entirely organic. Mr. Ed has been using it for the last four or five years and has cut down the weeds in his rose beds by 90-95%!

Finally, cover your roses with a two inch blanket of Gold Rush as mulch. Just lay it on top of the soil around the rose bushes and let them enjoy their rest until spring wakes them up, raring to grow.

Community Activities Building
Red Morton Park
1400 Roosevelt Avenue
Redwood City

Admission charged
Please see their website for additional information:
http://penorchidsoc.org/

Ranunculus are here and are all in buds and ready to bloom. They are perfect for spring beds or containers to brighten up your patio or front door. They are the perfect pairing with primroses that will continue to flower until spring.

The Latin name ranunculus means "little frog." They origninated in the Middle East, hence their alternative name "Turban Buttercup." They have tuberous roots and hollow stems. Ranunculus are available in a wonderful array of colors: yellow, white, red, pink, orange, and copper; either peony flowered or open flowered, with dark or yellow centers.

Some trivia about Ranunculus:
In fairy tales, frogs are apt to change into princes and it was an Asian prince in just such a story who gave his name to this flower, which grows naturally in swampy ground. The prince was so good-looking that he was loved by everyone. He also had a beautiful voice but this was his undoing. He loved the open country and sang delightful songs in the presence of nymphs. He did not have the courage to declare his love to them and this haunted him so much that he died. After his death he was changed into the flower with delicate tissuey petals which bears his name. Language of Flowers: Meant "you are rich in attractions" to the Victorians.

Products for spraying and fertilizing:
• Pump sprayers or Gilmore hose end sprayer
• Master Nursery Pest Fighter Oil
• Felco Pruners, loppers, and saws
• Microcop Spray or Liqui-cop spray
• Lily Miller Dormant Spray (Lime/Sulphur)

Products for planting:
• Bumper Crop or Gold Rush
• Master Nursery Master Start Fertilizer