BIRMINGHAM GARDEN FACES ROSE AMERICAN ROSE SOCIETY AFFILIATE SOCIETY Editor: Glenda Boudreaux

MARCH ambghbmsn.com (205) 337-7100

2010

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE  Dear Rose Society Members: Thanks to all of you for a great meeting in February. In case you were not present, you missed: great fellowship, delicious food, new members – the opportunity to meet five new members at this meeting and several who joined last month, excellent pruning demonstration, question and answer session, and more…. For your information, one new term is mentioned in the Deep South District Bulletin that we need to be aware of. This is miniflora. This class of rose was approved by the American Rose Society in 1999 and has added much to all rose shows. Originally the name was written Mini-Flora with a trademark notation after the name. According to the DSD Bulletin, it is now officially written as one word miniflora. Good to know!! For the benefit of all our members, and especially our new members, we plan to continue the Question and Answer session each month. Please bring your questions, and I am sure someone will be able to answer your question. We all learn from each other, and this is one way to continue our personal rose education. See you on Monday, March 29th, at 6:30 p.m.

Happy Gardening, Gloria Purnell

CR REPORT By Martha Eskew, CR Many rosarians worked Saturday, pruning the Dunn Formal Rose Garden. We accomplished much and had great fellowship. Lessons were given on pruning for those who needed them. Now another activity is planned to benefit the Birmingham Botanical Gardens. Your help is needed on April 15th – April 18th. This is the Spring Plant Sale and volunteers are needed to sell roses in the rose booth. Clayton Richard and Bob Eskew have ordered miniature roses, miniflora roses, climbers, Earthkind roses, shrub roses, old garden roses, floribundas and antique roses to stock our booth. If you can volunteer and have not filled out a volunteer form call Bob at 823-6621. Thanks. I hope you have pruned your roses and have begun your integrated pest management spray program. It is not too late to add new roses to your beds or maybe put in some companion plants. If you do not have a rain gage, you might make or buy one to measure the amount of water your garden gets. The roses need at least one inch of water a week. You need to fertilize your roses after the last frost date, about the last of March. Use the results of your soil test to determine what your soil needs. In most areas of Alabama a nursery special with trace elements should be good. Remember your roses need to be fed after every blooming cycle. Walk your garden and check your roses. If you keep them sprayed, fed and watered, they will reward you with beautiful blooms.

OUR NEXT MEETING Monday, March 29th

Arrangement Workshop at 5:00 p.m. Meeting at 6:30 p.m. Program will be led by Mayre Parr and Dean Hodge

Tiffany Maring is the hostess.

MINUTES OF THE FEBRUARY 22ND MEETING OF THE BRS Submitted by George Ann Hamilton, Recording Secretary Gloria Purnell, President called the meeting to order. Thirty-seven members were present at the meeting. The hostesses were thanked for our refreshments- Joyce Benjamin, Ann and Carl Jones, and Chris and Tina VanCleave. New members were introduced- Sharon and Bob Bamburg, Mary Hinds, David Swindle, and Patty and Steve Wood. Frank Baier gave the Treasurer’s Report. As of February 22nd, 2010 the checking account balance is $6,876.17 and the Certificate of Deposit balance is $4,783,45. Gloria gave Carl Bruner’s advertising report. Everyone is encouraged to sell ads for the Rose Show Program. A full-page ad is $110.00, one-half page is $65.00 and a one-third-page ad is $35.00. Next month is the deadline for all ads. Ann Jones, Awards Chairman reported that all awards for the Rose Show have been donated or purchased. Chris VanCleave gave the Rose Show publicity report. Southern Living will have our Rose Show on their on-line calendar. Thicket magazine will have an announcement, the Birmingham News will have write up, the BJCC will make sure we are on the events marquee and flyers will be available at the April Plant Sale. Jane Hinds made a motion to have eight new directional signs, eight information signs and one banner for the Rose Show to be purchased at a cost of approximately $200.00. Glenn Hodge seconded the motion. Motion carried. Robert Eskew reported that volunteers are needed for the Plant Sale on April 14th, 15th and 16th at the old Vincent’s Market in the Brookwood Shopping Center. Pruning Day is March 6th from 8:00 – 12:00 in the Rose Garden. The Glorious Garden Tour is Sunday, May 9th and docents are needed to be on hand to answer any questions. Mayre Parr and Dean Hodge will hold an Arrangements Workshop at 5:00 p.m., March 29th in the Hodges Room. The minutes from January 25th meeting were approved as printed in Garden Faces. Chris VanCleave program chairman introduced Frank Baier and Robert Eskew who demonstrated how to prune our roses. Use good pruners, wear leather gloves, envision an upside down umbrella for your rose bush when you are finished pruning. Spray with lime sulfur after pruning. When to prune your roses for the rose show: 60 days for Hybrid Teas, 65/70 days for Floribundas, and 55/60 days for miniatures. Come to the Dunn Rose Garden on Saturday, March 6th to learn more about pruning your roses for the Rose Show. The meeting was adjourned.

Respectfully submitted, George Ann Hamilton

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While the advice and information in this newsletter is believed to be true and accurate at the time of publication, neither the authors nor the editor accept any legal responsibility for any errors or omissions that may have been made. The Birmingham Rose Society makes no warranty, expressed or

implied with respect to the material contained herein.