A rose by any other name ... A rose by any other name ... (January 13, 2006)

Lovely blooms have their roots in Pleasanton
by Sandy Christman

Every year, amateur gardeners throughout Alameda County hover over their roses, protecting them from winter frost, summer heat, aphids and rust, in the hopes that at the end of it all, they'll be able to enter a winning rose in the Amateur Gardening Rose Show at the Alameda County Fair.

Roses are especially popular in the gardens of Pleasanton. In fact, between 1946 and 1964, Jackson and Perkins, a popular source for mail-order, bare-root roses, had acres of growing fields located south of I-580 and east of Santa Rita Road.

In the growing fields, wild rose roots were used because of their hardiness, then the hybrid or patented varieties would be grafted to the wild rose root. This would ensure hardy roots and beautiful blooms. An offshoot of this method, so to speak, resulted in the need to cut back suckers (new growth from the root) from the root of your roses, to prevent the wild rose from taking dominance over the graft.

When Jackson and Perkins was bought by Harry and David--the nation's leading fruit gift company--the growing operation relocated from Pleasanton to the San Joaquin Valley north of Bakersfield. Despite the company's move, Pleasanton still has plenty of rose experts within its boundaries, such as residents Barry and Sue Hoffer who were big winners in the rose show at the most recent Alameda County Fair.

Barry is president of the Mount Diablo Rose Society and Sue is the vice president. The Society serves the Tri-Valley and holds monthly meetings to discuss rose care, including pruning, fertilizing and pest control.

Barry explained that the Society welcomes visitors, and encourages participation in the Alameda Country Fair Rose Show. He added that visitors could stop by the Mount Diablo Rose Society meetings with cuttings from troubled roses and members will help advise them, plus provide tips on getting roses ready for exhibit and preparing entries for the rose show. The Society is also hosting a rose pruning demonstration Saturday, Jan. 14 at Emerald Glen Park for those who want to improve their rose tending skills. After all, to grow roses good enough for the competition, gardeners need to start now. Winter tips

Barry offered the following suggestions for getting your roses ready for the 2006 Rose Show:

* In January, prune roses down to 12 inches from the ground and prune into a "V" shape. Remove dead stems and all leaves to prevent rust.

* In February and March, fertilize roses and then continue fertilizing every two weeks. Barry's favorite fertilizers are Schultz and Miracle Grow rose foods.

* Spray to kill rust and fungus. Barry suggests going to a garden center like Alden Lane, Western Garden Nursery or Armstrong garden center to help you get a program started.

* In March and April you will need to control aphids. Barry suggests spraying your rose with 7-Up in a squirt bottle, then placing some ladybugs purchased from your garden center on the plants. The ladybugs like the 7-Up, and if you spray the ladybugs once they are on your plant, they won't be able to easily fly away, so they will stick around and eat the aphids.

* In May you'll need to apply two to three inches of mulch around the base of your rose plants. During the heat of summer, roses require a minimum of one gallon a day, and on 100 degree-plus days, they may require up to two gallons a day to keep the rosebud fresh. Barry recommends drip watering systems.

For those who are concerned they won't be able to get their roses ready in time for the Fair, there is no need to worry because the rose show actually has two entry periods. Providing two show periods gives gardeners a second chance in case their roses haven't opened by the first show, or were past their prime. However, gardeners can submit entries in both events.

Roses are first categorized by type, such as hybrid teas, floribunda, miniatures and so on, and are then judged. Barbara Anderson, the coordinator of the rose show, explains that gardeners don't need to know the exact name or type of their rose to participate. Participants will receive feedback from the judges, which should help in future competitions. The rose show judges are required to be both certified rosarians (rose experts) and certified judges.
Join the competition

Visit the Alameda County Fair Web site at www.alamedacountyfair.com and select "Exhibit Catalogue" for more information about the rose show, including entry rules and entry dates. The entry fee for the 2005 Fair was $2 (which included two tickets to the Fair.) Individual entry awards include cash prizes ranging from $1-$15 and gift certificates ranging from $20-$50.
Rose pruning demonstration

The Mount Diablo Rose Society's rose pruning demonstration is from 9 a.m.-noon tomorrow at Emerald Glen Park on Tassajara Road between Gleason Drive and Central Parkway. Bring gloves, by-pass pruners, a long-sleeved outer garment and make sure your tetanus vaccination is up to date. Call 989-1748 for more information.

The Society meets at 7:30 p.m. on the second Wednesday of the month at the Emerald Glen Park Community building, 100 Civic Center Drive, Dublin. To receive a newsletter from the Mount Diablo Rose Society, call Ken Jones at 829-4929.

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