May is Rose Month in the Lowcountry

Since roses are at their peak bloom in May in the Lowcountry, the Charleston Lowcountry Rose Society is celebrating May as their Rose Month instead of June. In some areas of the country, the Rose reigns supreme in the garden in June but not in the Lowcountry.

As in the past four years, the Charleston Lowcountry Rose Society is having an exhibition of members’ roses and other rose-related items at Johns Island Public Library’s Display Cabinet just as you enter the library to your right. You can pick up brochures about growing roses and membership application forms both to Charleston Lowcountry Rose Society and the American Rose Society from the display.

The Charleston Lowcountry Rose Society holds their monthly meeting on the third Mondays of the month at James Island Town Hall at 1122 Dills Bluff Rd on James Island, SC 29412. Social starts at 6:30 pm with meeting at 7:00 pm. Everyone is welcome to attend and the admission is FREE.

Our members enjoy the benefit of the American Rose Society Consulting Rosarians who give pro bono service answering various questions on rose culture for free. Consulting Rosarians are nationally accredited rose authorities. They take classes from the American Rose Society sponsored schools and take continuing education every three years to maintain their status.

Some gardeners have the wrong notion that roses are difficult to grow. It is not so. The Rose has been around for millions of years and has grown naturally throughout North America. If it survived millions of years, it can survive anywhere provided you give them what they need – water, food and sunshine. Just like us. If you provide them with their basic needs, you’ll be rewarded with the most beautiful flower there is. The Charleston Lowcountry Rose Society will teach you how to grow beautiful roses. There are so many roses on the market that growing roses is not that difficult as choosing the varieties to plant.

President Ronald Reagan signed the proclamation declaring The Rose as our National Floral Emblem on November 20, 1986. Several states have it as their state flower. Charleston is home to the only class of old garden roses, the Noisette Rose, that was bred, evaluated and introduced to the world by the United States.

Let’s celebrate May as the Rose Month in the Lowcountry! We are blessed with this beautiful flower in our midst so let’s all grow roses. At least One Rose for Every Home!

For more info on growing roses, visit the following sites:

www.charlestonlowcountryrosesociety.blogspot.com

www.rosegardeningworld.com

www.rose.org

www.heritagerosefoundation.org.

MAY IS ROSE MONTH IN THE LOWCOUNTRY

Roses, roses everywhere in the lowcountry!

 

Since roses are at their peak bloom in May in the Lowcountry, the Charleston Lowcountry Rose Society is celebrating May as their Rose Month instead of June.

 

Come to the local libraries (Photos below) at the Charleston area and see the Charleston Lowcountry Rose Society's display of members' roses together with brochures about growing roses, The American Rose magazines and some membership application forms for both the Charleston Lowcountry Rose Society and the American Rose Society. Not pictured are the displays at Mt. Pleasant, North Charleston and Goose Creek.

 

At Johns Island Public Library

 

At St. Andrews Regional Library

 

At West Ashley Library

 

At James Island Library

 

We will also have a booth at the Charleston Farmer’s Market on May 16 at Marion Square in downtown Charleston.  Here is the photo from last year's display.

 

 

To join the Charleston Lowcountry Rose Society, pick up an application form from the display at the libraries, or visit our website - www.charlestonrose.com. This year, we will have a special treat to our members - a picnic at a private plantation in Yemassee in June.

 Let’s have One Rose for Every Home!

JANUARY IN THE ROSE GARDEN

By Sandy Lundberg

 

Even though January is a time to relax from some of the garden chores, there are a few things that should be done.  The most essential is making sure that your plants are well watered if there is not enough rain.  The freezing temperatures are tolerated better by a well hydrated plant.   Be sure to water plants in pots several times a week.

It is important to spray for fungus diseases at least once, preferably twice, during the months of January and February.   During this period, you should spray with lime/sulphur in order to kill any disease spores or insects that have managed to survive the freezing temperatures.  Be sure to spray the tops and undersides of the foliage and spray the ground.

Although, we generally do not have to protect the roses for freezes here in the Lowcountry, any new bushes planted in the fall might need some protection.

After a couple of hard freezes, any tall stems that could twist and break in the winter winds should be topped taking off about a third of the bushes’ height.

 

“SHOVEL PRUNING”

January is a time to take a very critical look at your plants.  It may be time to remove some weak plants that have not performed well over the past year or two.  It is probably time to stop wasting time, energy and money on them.  Order a new replacement for that hole

 

SOIL and SOIL AMENDMENTS

We like to take soil samples during this time of year when the garden activities are lighter than usual.  It also allows time to make any necessary adjustments recommended by the soil test before the spring growing season begins.  A sandwich bag half full is the amount needed for the test.  When you take the sample, be sure to get samples from several different locations in the bed.

We take some samples to the Clemson Extension Office for testing.  Be sure to designate that the samples are for roses.

During January, you can spread your organic mix and scratch it in lightly.  It will not cause the plant to start growing until the soil warms up in the spring.  We like to use 3 cups of Purely Organic per hybrid tea, floribunda and other large roses such as shrubs and polyanthas.  We use 1 cup per bush for the minis and minifloras.

Charleston Lowcountry Rose Society 2014 Rose Show Awards

2014 CLRS ANNUAL ROSE SHOW HORTICULTURE AWARDS

 

CLASS                       TITLE                         VARIETY(S)                    PRESENTER(S)

                                                              

LARGE CHALLENGE CLASSSES

 

1.         Sea Island Challenge                         No Entry

            HT/Gr 5 Different –

            Separate Containers

2.         Coastal Carolina Challenge               No Entry

MF 7 Different –

            Separate Containers

3.         Lowcountry Challenge                       No Entry

            Mini 7 Different –

            Separate Containers  

4.         Fragrant Roses                                Fire Fighter                    Rosemary O’Connor

 

                                                              LARGE COLLECTION CLASSES

 

5.         Collection 3 HT/Gr                             Marlon’s Day                          Mike Denson

            Same or Different

6.         Collection 5 HT/Gr                             No Entry

            Same Variety

7.         Cycle of Bloom HT/Gr                       No Entry

            Same Variety

8.         English Box Exhibition                       Not Awarded

            Same or Different

9.         Rose Bowl Exhibition                         Fame!                                      Pat Hibbard

10.       Artist’s Palette                                     No Entry

            5 F Different

11.       Picture Frame HT                                Marlon’s Day                          Mike Denson

12.       Rose Bouquet                                     Not Awarded

            At least 3 Different    

 

                                                            HYBRID TEAS AND GRANDIFLORAS

 

13.       Queen Hybrid Tea/Gr                         Marlon’s Day                          Mike Denson

            King Hybrid Tea/Gr                            Marilyn Wellan                       Mike Denson

            Princess Hybrid Tea/Gr                     Keepsake                     Sandy & Bob Lundberg

            Court 1 Hybrid Tea/Gr                       Randy Scott                Sandy & Bob Lundberg

            Court 2 Hybrid Tea/Gr                       Moonstone                              Mike Denson

            Court 3 Hybrid Tea/Gr                       Let Freedom Ring       Sandy & Bob Lundberg

14.       Hybrid Tea or Gr Spray                      Black Baccara                         Bill Prioleau   

15.       Fully Open Hybrid Tea/Gr                  Pacific Celebration                  Mike Denson

                                   

 

                                                                        FLORIBUNDAS

 

16.       Floribunda One Bloom                       Harold’s Pride             Sandy & Bob Lundberg

17.       Floribunda Informal Bloom                No entry

18.       Prince Floribunda Spray                 Sexy Rexy                   Sandy and Bob Lundberg

 

                                                                        POLYANTHAS

19.       Polyantha Spray                            Sneprincesse                Sandy and Bob Lundberg

 

                                                            LARGE FLOWERED CLIMBERS

 

20.       True Climber                                       Candy Land                            Pat Hibbard

 

                                                                        SHRUBS

 

21.       Classic Shrub                                  Buff Beauty                            Matt Potter

22.       A. Modern Shrub                           Scarlet Meidiland                    Pat Hibbard

            B. Knock Out Roses                       Knock Out                              Jane Hamrick

 

                                                                        OLD GARDEN ROSES

 

23.       Dowager Queen                                  Mme. Plantier                          Matt Potter

            OGR Prior to 1867

24.       Victorian Rose                                The Fairy                                 Rosemary O’Connor

            OGR In or After 1867

 

                                    MINIATURE/MINIFLORA COLLECTION CLASSES

 

25.       Mini/MF Cycle of Bloom                   Dr. John Dickman       Sandy and Bob Lundberg

26.       Mini/MF Collection                            Daddy Frank               Sandy and Bob Lundberg

            3 Same or Different

27.       Mini/MF English Box                         Shirley Raye                Sandy and Bob Lundberg

            Same or Different

28.       Mini/MF Artist’s Palette         Daddy Frank, Chelsea Belle,  Sandy and Bob Lundberg

            5 Different                              Renegade, Joy, Ty

29.       Mini/MF Rose Bowl                           Nancy Jean                  Sandy and Bob Lundberg

            Exhibition

30.       Mini/MF Rose Bouquet                      Various                        Sandy and Bob Lundberg

            At least 3 Different Varieties

31.       Mini/MF Picture Frame                       Shirley Raye                Sandy and Bob Lundberg

 

                                                                        MINIATURES

 

32.       Mini Queen                                 Daddy Frank               Sandy and Bob Lundberg

            Mini King                                    Fairhope                      Sandy and Bob Lundberg

            Mini Princess                               Renegade                    Sandy and Bob Lundberg

            Mini Court 1                                Marie Jeanette             Sandy and Bob Lundberg

            Mini Court 2                               Intimidator                  Sandy and Bob Lundberg

            Mini Court 3                              Not Awarded

33.       Mini Spray                                  Chelsea Belle              Sandy and Bob Lundberg

34.       Mini/MF Fully Open                   Lo and Behold            Mike Denson

 

                                                                        MINIFLORAS

 

35.       MiniFlora Queen                                 Abby’s Angel              Sandy and Bob Lundberg

            MiniFlora King                                   Butter Cream              Sandy and Bob Lundberg

            MiniFlora Princess                              Contrary Mary            Sandy and Bob Lundberg

            MiniFlora Court 1                               Whirlaway                   Sandy and Bob Lundberg

            MiniFlora Court 2                               Wright Touch              Sandy and Bob Lundberg

            MiniFlora Court 3                               Shameless                    Sandy and Bob Lundberg

36.       MiniFlora Sprays                                 Not Awarded

 

                                                                        NOVICE

 

37.       Novice Queen                                     No entry

            HT/Gr/F

38.       Novice King                                        No entry

            Mini/MiniF

 

                                                            JUDGES’ CLASSES

 

39.       Judges 3 HT/Gr                                   No entry

            Same or Different – Separate Vases

            Judges 3 Mini/MiniF                    Nancy Jean                  Richard and Linda Wickett

            Same or Different – Separate Vases