Pruning is a way of fine tuning and controlling the growth of your rose plants. It helps to reduce diseases, keeping the plant shape attractive and also regulates blooming. Proper pruning encourages the rose to make vigorous new shoots that will support larger flowers. Since we all want our roses to be healthy and produce abundant flowers, pruning should be a job you love and face with confidence!
Pruning your roses is simple and easy! Over my many years of rose growing, I have pruned tens of thousands of roses. I have also read countless articles on rose pruning and have come to the conclusion that some rose growers have too much time on their hands or just want to complicate a very simple task! No offence to long winded writers.
I have written a few suggestions on how I prune my roses, but remember these are only suggestions. If you ask a 100 people how to prune a rose bush, you will get a 101 different answers. One good thing to remember is that you’ll never kill a rose bush by pruning! Well almost never.... Learn more
Monday, February 23, 2009
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
The Language of Love
By Terri Clark
As the day devoted to love and its expression thereof approaches, who does not think of the perfect flower to say it WRIT LARGE. I speak of course of the long stemmed, blood red rose. Not pink or peach or cerise, but blood red. Chosen no doubt for this color’s resemblance to the very blood that beats fast and furious through the veins of lovers everywhere, the red rose has inspired poets through time immemorial.
When I was young and just beginning to explore amorous emotions, the yellow rose was my favorite. Yellow, like a new day emerging filled with vigor and endless possibility, probably contributed to this rose’s poetic meaning leaning to the frivolous, friendly and even flighty.
Then there is the pink rose in all its hues and shades. Pale pink just hints at romance, more in the guise of admiration but the deeper the pink tints become, the more passionate the feelings - heading for red one might surmise.
Citrusy orange can almost be dangerous with the recipient being drawn to the flame like an unsuspecting moth. It has such desire written all over its red-tipped petals that it brings a flush to the cheek just thinking about it.
Then there is the white rose, pure and pristine. A bouquet of these roses might indicate the innocence of the receiver or express the high esteem in which she is held. White rose buds, on the other hand, indicate youthful innocence, perfect for your favorite younger girl.
But on Valentine’s Day, named we think for a martyred Roman priest during the reign of Claudius II who had the audacity to marry Christians, we naturally are drawn to the red rose. Our heart keeps us alive by pumping beat by beat, day after day. It races when we are in love raising every sense we possess to their heights. Chief among these are scent and sight. The red rose embodies both.
Roses as metaphor have survived for centuries through the written word and still touch a chord.
From Shakespeare to Robbie Burns – who could say it better?
O, my love is like a red, red rose,
That is newly sprung in June.
O, my love is like the melody,
That is sweetly played in tune.
As fair are you, my lovely lass,
So deep in love am I,
And I will love you still, my Dear,
Till all the seas go dry.
Till all the seas go dry, my Dear,
And the rocks melt with the sun!
O I will love you still, my Dear,
While the sands of life shall run.
And fare you well, my only Love,
And fare you well a while!
And I will come again, my Love,
Although it were ten thousand mile!
Robbie Burns
"What's in a name? That which we call a rose
by any other name would smell as sweet."
Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare
As the day devoted to love and its expression thereof approaches, who does not think of the perfect flower to say it WRIT LARGE. I speak of course of the long stemmed, blood red rose. Not pink or peach or cerise, but blood red. Chosen no doubt for this color’s resemblance to the very blood that beats fast and furious through the veins of lovers everywhere, the red rose has inspired poets through time immemorial.
When I was young and just beginning to explore amorous emotions, the yellow rose was my favorite. Yellow, like a new day emerging filled with vigor and endless possibility, probably contributed to this rose’s poetic meaning leaning to the frivolous, friendly and even flighty.
Then there is the pink rose in all its hues and shades. Pale pink just hints at romance, more in the guise of admiration but the deeper the pink tints become, the more passionate the feelings - heading for red one might surmise.
Citrusy orange can almost be dangerous with the recipient being drawn to the flame like an unsuspecting moth. It has such desire written all over its red-tipped petals that it brings a flush to the cheek just thinking about it.
Then there is the white rose, pure and pristine. A bouquet of these roses might indicate the innocence of the receiver or express the high esteem in which she is held. White rose buds, on the other hand, indicate youthful innocence, perfect for your favorite younger girl.
But on Valentine’s Day, named we think for a martyred Roman priest during the reign of Claudius II who had the audacity to marry Christians, we naturally are drawn to the red rose. Our heart keeps us alive by pumping beat by beat, day after day. It races when we are in love raising every sense we possess to their heights. Chief among these are scent and sight. The red rose embodies both.
Roses as metaphor have survived for centuries through the written word and still touch a chord.
From Shakespeare to Robbie Burns – who could say it better?
O, my love is like a red, red rose,
That is newly sprung in June.
O, my love is like the melody,
That is sweetly played in tune.
As fair are you, my lovely lass,
So deep in love am I,
And I will love you still, my Dear,
Till all the seas go dry.
Till all the seas go dry, my Dear,
And the rocks melt with the sun!
O I will love you still, my Dear,
While the sands of life shall run.
And fare you well, my only Love,
And fare you well a while!
And I will come again, my Love,
Although it were ten thousand mile!
Robbie Burns
"What's in a name? That which we call a rose
by any other name would smell as sweet."
Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Canadian Roses Going to Russia
By guest writer Patrick White
In May of last year, 32 Explorer rose cultivars - some 5 varieties - were taken to Khabarovsk in the Russian Far East - a gift from the CRS to a sister city of Victoria. The selection of Explorers was most appropriate in view of the rather harsh climate of the destination. Imagine ground freezing to 2-3- meters in winter, and very hot, dry summers.
What has this to do with the WFRS meeting in Vancouver?
The hybridiser of the these Explorers, Dr Felicitas Svedja, will be a featured speaker at the plenary sessions. And Alexander Ukulov, President of the Russian Rose Society who translated into Russian the instructions for the planting of these roses is also a featured speaker at the convention. Further to this, the planting method incorporates principles of the EarthKind protocol - a subject to be presented in the Vancouver sessions.
Register now to attend the World Rose Convention 2009!
In May of last year, 32 Explorer rose cultivars - some 5 varieties - were taken to Khabarovsk in the Russian Far East - a gift from the CRS to a sister city of Victoria. The selection of Explorers was most appropriate in view of the rather harsh climate of the destination. Imagine ground freezing to 2-3- meters in winter, and very hot, dry summers.
What has this to do with the WFRS meeting in Vancouver?
The hybridiser of the these Explorers, Dr Felicitas Svedja, will be a featured speaker at the plenary sessions. And Alexander Ukulov, President of the Russian Rose Society who translated into Russian the instructions for the planting of these roses is also a featured speaker at the convention. Further to this, the planting method incorporates principles of the EarthKind protocol - a subject to be presented in the Vancouver sessions.
Register now to attend the World Rose Convention 2009!
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Julia Childs Wins more Awards!
I'm thrilled to see that Julia Childs, one of my most favorite and recommended roses has won yet more awards. This beautiful floribunda recently won the 2009 American Rose Society Membership choice award. Julia keeps racking up the awards from coast to coast, country to country. You will find this rose to be extremely healthy, bushy in habit, robust in growth and just an all around wonderful garden shrub. Her glossy foliage is dense making her one of those roses that looks good even when not in flower.
Ohhh but when she flowers, it's masses of golden yellow flowers that seem to have a slightly old fashion charm to them. The fragrance is very unusual a mix of anise and sweet tea. Every customer of ours just loves this rose! If you don't yet have a plant, get one! Heck get two or three she is worth planting a border or bed. You will also find her ideally suited for large containers and growing as a standard ( tree) rose.
Saturday, February 7, 2009
Master Gardeners Event!
Hello Rose Fans!
Some of you may be familiar with the outstanding Master Gardeners programs of BC. This is a keen group of gardeners and one that I always enjoy speaking to and about. They have many interesting events and I highly recommend that you take a peak at their website and try to attend some of them.
One of their big events this spring can be found at.
http://www.bcmastergardeners.org/
Take a peak at this event!
" The Master Gardeners Association of BC is holding its annual Spring Seminar at the Michael J Fox Theatre, Burnaby, on Sunday, March 8th.
We expect approximately 450 attendees, approximately 60% are Master Gardeners and 40% are general public. All are gardening enthusiasts. This is a one-day event with 4 horticultural speakers."
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
World Rose Convention - Update
We have well over 400 registrants from 21 countries already preparing their bags to attend the World Rose Convention in Vancouver on June 18 - 24, 2009!
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Brad is Back from Hawaii!
Hello everyone!! I'm back from my 2 week winter Holiday to Hawaii. It was just a wonderful sunny time but as always nice to be back. As much as I love the tropics for a winter break, I came back with a deeper appreciation for our wonderful four seasons. There is something so refreshing about the rainy days giving way warm sunny days! All of one would be far to boring. We have such an amazing variety of plants to choose from because of our climate. Most of what we grow here needs our winter dormancy and since in normal years its a mild oneeeeeeeee its easy on the plants.
So enjoyyyyyy our cooler winter, complain just a bit as I do, but know as gardeners we have it madeeee in the shade here! Roses, Shrubs, Evergreens, Bulbs,Annuals, Trees, we can do it all in such grand style and with such selection! The price of plants here is also far far less than any place I have visited in both the USA and UK. The quality is far superior, climate is amazing. Love the West coast and this ideal Rose growing and gardening climate.
More to come soon, but im still jet lagged!
Brad
So enjoyyyyyy our cooler winter, complain just a bit as I do, but know as gardeners we have it madeeee in the shade here! Roses, Shrubs, Evergreens, Bulbs,Annuals, Trees, we can do it all in such grand style and with such selection! The price of plants here is also far far less than any place I have visited in both the USA and UK. The quality is far superior, climate is amazing. Love the West coast and this ideal Rose growing and gardening climate.
More to come soon, but im still jet lagged!
Brad
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