White Swan
Interesting bits for Rose Lovers:
- To stop powdery mildew, mix together:
-one gallon of water
-tablespoons of baking soda
-a dash of liquid dish detergent
At the first sign of powdery mildew, spray on affected area twice a week.
- To make your roses unpalatable to aphids and other pests, spray them
with a ˝ and ˝ solution of Listerine and water.
- Closest botanical relatives of the rose include the peach, apple and
apricot, hawthorne, almond, strawberry and raspberry.
- Would you like to try your hand at rooting your own rose cuttings? Why not
make your own rooting hormone? Simply cut willow stems into 1-inch
pieces and soak them in 2 inches of warm water for 24 hours. Discard
the stems and soak your rose cuttings in the solution for 12 hours
before you plant them. Store your willow water in the refrigerator
and it will stay fresh for up to 2 months.
- Are you thinking of growing roses, but are unsure of what would look
nice in your garden? One of the best ways to begin selecting roses
is to visit public gardens and city parks in your area. You will see
the specific color and mature size of the rose. This is especially
important with antique or old roses, as they can grow to be very
large shrubs. It will also give you an idea about which varieties
are the most healthy and vigorous and which can be grown
successfully in your climate
- Planting roses in groups of three will give a mass of showy blooms and
accentuate the fragrance.
- To extend the blooming period of once flowering climbers or ramblers,
plant a clematis vine with the rose and train it to climb along the
canes.
- Rose fanciers are the largest organized group of flower growers in North
America.
- When looking at beautiful photos of roses in catalogs and books the sheer
number of varieties to choose from may overwhelm you. Some
considerations should be kept in mind when choosing the best
varieties to suit your particular needs and desires. Winter
hardiness for your climate, disease resistance (spraying is not for
everyone), mature size, once blooming or repeat blooming, colour of
bloom and staking (some roses are very floppy) are some of the
points to keep in mind when making the final decision.
- Florists sell more roses than all other flowers put together. The rose is
truly the Queen of Flowers.
- Have you ever wondered what gives the rose its delicious scent? Tiny
perfume glands on the petals of highly scented roses can be seen
under the lens of a powerful microscope. Roses that have thick
petals, such as Damask or Centifolia, produce a stronger scent than
those of thinner petals.
- I found an interesting use for roses. They are used as "bellringers" for vineyards. At the huge vineyards, a rosebush is planted at the end of each row of vines.
As long as the roses stay healthy, the growers know that their vines are getting the right nutrients. Neat, hey?
(Tip from Sandy Huff)
