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Bexrose Bulletin September 2004
Published by the Bexleyheath & District Rose Society.
Patron:- Dr. David G. Hessayon President:- Mr. F.H. Boardman Vice President:- Mr. W. Skinner Chairman:- Mr. S. Burch Vice Chairman:- Mr. B. Rainsbury Hon. Secretary:- Mrs. J.Newton Hon Treasurer:- Mrs. Z.Neale Show Secretary:- Mr. A. Neale Membership Secretary:- Mrs.D.Taylor
Other Committee members:- Mr. R. Jones, Mr. R. Pulling, Mrs. D. Carr, Miss V. Rochester, Mrs. D. Lemon, Mrs. M. Cornell, Mrs. J. Dyer.
Web Site:- http://home.btconnect.com/cadoss/bexrose Email:- cadoss@btconnect.com
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Next meeting Tuesday 21st September 2004 at St. John Fisher Hall, Thanet Rd, Bexley.
Our meeting this month will be held on the 3rd Tuesday due to the church needing the hall for religious seminars all week. They apologise for any inconvenience. Our speaker will be Mrs. Sue Hartfree who will be helping us to find plants for difficult places. Hopefully she will bring some plants for us to buy. Do try and enter our Rose table show and also the Floral Art where the subject this month will be "Harvest Festival", all proceeds go to Prickles Hedgehog Haven. If you have any spare produce from your garden or allotment do bring it along, we can sell it for Prickles. We still have trading items at reduced prices and also back copies of gardening magazines. The hall will be open at 7-15pm and the meeting starts at 8 pm. Don't forget to buy your raffle tickets from Ron who will draw the raffle after our break for tea and a chat.
Welcome to new members
Mr. & Mrs. P. Youell Mr. R. Booth Mrs. O Brookes V. Bamber & H Baisch Mrs. P Lloyd Mrs. I Gormall Mrs. R.P. Gates Mr. & Mrs. G. Treadwell Mrs. E. Sylvester Mrs. S Ely
Rose Growers Calendar for September by kind permission of Don Charlton
1. Continue with the general housekeeping of the rose beds and if necessary spray for insects and disease early in the month. Usually it is advisable to spray 10 - 14 days before the flush of flowers is expected, this avoids the need to spray and spoil blooms when they are opening. Unless the growing season is prolonged for some reason this is probably going to be the last spray treatment needed for this year, so do this one well. 2. Complete any outstanding budding this month. 3. Complete orders for new rose bushes as early as possible. 4. Start the preparations of new rose beds when the weather is kind and other jobs allow.
Mick Andrews Open Garden Day
Mick and Brenda Andrews would like to thank everyone who came to their open garden day. £106 was raised for the Prickles Hedgehog Haven. A big thank you also to Vanessa and Dora, who kept us all supplied with refreshments.
Rose Table show for August
Experienced
HT 1st B. Rainsbury 2nd D. Lemon Floribunda 1st D. Lemon Miniatures 1st D. Lemon 2nd B. Rainsbury Points awarded D. Lemon 10 B. Rainsbury 6 Points so far B. Rainsbury 18 D. Lemon 10
Novice HT 1st V. Pulling Floribunda 1st V. Pulling Points awarded V. Pulling 8 Points so far V. Pulling 14 Mrs. Purnell 5 R. Dowdall 5 T. Cox 4 D. Cox 4 J. Miller 2
Results of Floral Art for August
1st Les Pride 50 coins 2ns Janet Newton 46 coins 3rd Dora Lemon 43 coins Money collected for Prickles Hedgehog Haven £ 4- 11p Money collected from the dale of plants, magazines and produce £4-70p Total collected £8-81p.
Obituary
We were sorry to hear of the death of long time member Phyllis Miller who had moved to a nursing home in Wales. Our condolences to her family.
Society's 6 day trip to Dorset (part 2 )
Where were we, oh yes, Monday morning, that meant the short drive to Compton Acres. This 10 acre site has spectacular views over Poole Harbour, Brownsea Island and the Purbeck Hills, and at each view point there was a cafe so we could enjoy a coffee or later an ice cream and drink in the wonderful views. The first garden on entering was the Italian Water Garden with its water spouts and fountains, very impressive and full of bright red geraniums. Unfortunately we couldn't go into the Deer Sanctuary as they had an infection but they came to the fence to say hello to us. We wandered up and down the paths full of Rhododendrons and Azaleas, ( must remember to visit again in the spring) and then came to the Japanese Garden. This type of garden always fascinates me as they always seem to be so tranquil. There were the usual selection of Acres, water pools with stepping stones through the middle, and enormous koi carp which we sat and watched for some time. Of course some of us bought plants from the garden centre and we spent quite some time in the shops as the gift items were lovely and very enticing. There was a small model railway exhibition for the men. After lunch we boarded the coach for Poole Harbour were we had hoped to visit the Pottery but apparently this has now ceased trading here although they still do demonstrations. The whole building is now a shop. It was quite a disappointment We wandered along the front and after being side-tracked a few times into shops we found the town's museum where we learnt about the history of Poole, from smuggling to the local trades people. When we had finished there we were directed around the corner to a garden behind the shops which had been restored, it had lots of herbs and medicinal plants. Another walk along the front the other way took us passed lots of expensive yachts and motor boats in the marina and at the end we sat and watched children catch crabs on fishing lines. They told us they didn't eat them but threw them back. Well that was another interesting day and not much travelling this time but we were still ready for our evening meal which held a surprise of Kangaroo meat on the menu. Well I just had to try that. It was ok, a cross between beef and venison.
Tuesday we were off to Sherbourne where we found the Abbey and admired the beautiful designs of the ectched glass panel honouring St Mary the Virgin. We found a little cafe where we had a welcome cup of coffee and admired a rather rude clock there depicting the Cerne Giant. The town Museum here was very interesting especially the section dealing with the towns police and two cases of people convicted of Murder and condemned to death, one was reprieved the other wasn't. We had a wander through the town and then it was time to get back on the coach and make our way to Dorchester, Dorset's county town. We were unable to visit Sherbourne Castle as it was quite a way from the town across fields, another disappointment was that the Butterfly and Lullingstone Silk Farm at Chard had closed so Bob drove us through the countryside and took us to see the Cerne Giant cut into the hillside. This is one of the few cuttings that is ancient, thought to date back 2000 years. Dorchester was the town of Casterbridge in Thomas Hardy's novel and the Museum had a large section on his life and they had his study there. There was also lots of exhibits to do with farming and nature. Some of our party also went to the Tutenkamen Exhibition and also the Terracotta Warriors Exhibition.
Unfortunately our time in Bournemouth had come to an end and Wednesday saw us packing the coach and making our way to Mottisfont Abbey and Gardens. We were a little late to see the best of the gardens as most of the roses are the old fashioned type which only bloom once, but nether the less there was plenty to see although I didn't think the gardens were as well tended as National Trust usually is. The restaurant was a disappointment too with very little choice. We looked over the house and were quite fascinated with the room painted by Rex Whistler and the little personal whimsical touches he left such as a paint pot and brushes on the corner of a pillar. More plants were bought, thankfully Bob doesn't have an aversion to plants like Gerry and was quite happy to store them in a side locker. We were soon on our way again and made Bexleyheath in good time. Those members who did not come on this trip certainly missed a good holiday and some wonderful meals. The hotel staff were all very kind, even down to charging up Mary's buggy every night for her and bringing it out to the coach in the morning. Bob was good company and didn't mind driving us around the countryside instead of going down the main roads. Thanks to everyone for their good company and we look forward to the next trip to Norfolk in September.
Gardening Tips for September
There is still plenty of tidying up and cutting back to be done. Buy your spring bulbs either from the DIY stores where you will get a good bargain or from the many catalogues that are about these days. Try some species bulbs or some exotics that can be grown in tubs to brighten up your patio in the early part of the year. Order your summer bedding plants from Vanessa. She also has winter flowering Polyanthus and Pansies. Now is the time to re seed your lawns, the DIY stores are doing good offers on large packs of seed at the moment. Penstamens seem to be a bit late this year giving off their side shoots but they are coming through now. Take cuttings now to build up your stock or give to friends. You can split up the Crocosmia once it has finished flowering. Keep dead heading your dahlias and they will keep flowering late into the year.
Dates for your Diary
14th- 15th September Great Autumn Show Vincent Square, Members free others £5 17th- 19th September RNRS Great Autumn Show Harrogate 25th- 26th September Malvern Autumn Show. 5th- 6th October London Flower Show, Vincent Square, members free others £5
Secretary's report on the August meeting
The meeting was well attended for August which usually has a smaller turn out due to holidays. Our speaker this month was Robert Wiseman who spoke to us last year on Miniature Roses but he also grows Daffodils, Freesias, Miniature Gladioli and other exotic bulbs. He told us that there are over 300 varieties of Gladioli in the world with about 30 endangered due to land being turned over to farming. 80 to 100 varieties can be seen every weekend of the year within a 100 mile radius of Cape Town South Africa. There are 6 Species , 500 or Giants with florets of 5 1/2 ins in diameter which grow up to 6 feet tall, 400 whose florets are 4 1/2 ins, in diameter, 300 are mediums, 200 are small, 100 who's florets are under 2 1/2 ins and Primuleanus or early season. A good plant should have 25 to 27 buds on a stem with 1/3 of florets open. The stem should be straight, if not pierce with a cocktail stick and hang upside down in the garage over night. Feed with Growmore and when the first flower spike shows feed with tomato feed. Plant corms from May to July, flowering takes between 60 and 90 days. Robert told us that after flowering has finished it takes 4 to 6 weeks for the plant to produce cormlets then they should be lifted and over wintered in dry conditions at 35 to 40 degrees. Before re planting, allow corms to sprout and then chit them as you do seed potatoes. Take off the coat as this is toxic and will cause rotting. Plant on grit between 2 ins and 6 ins deep, the bigger the corm the deeper the hole. If the corm has suffered mould or has a blue tinge, de scale and wash in a mild solution of Armillotox. They like plenty of water and feed and to be baked in the summer. Gladioli's have lost their scent through breeding but there are some with a lemon scent that can only be smelt at night, this is to attract the moths that pollinate them. Robert had brought several examples of bulbs that he grew and passed examples of bulbs and corms around the audience together with plants showing the size of the root system. After tea there was a question and answer session. I am sure we all learnt a few things we didn't know about Gladioli and exotic bulbs and will have a go at growing some next year now we know what to do.
If you can get hold of a copy of The Garden for September there is an article in it about East Ruston, the garden we are visiting on our Norfolk trip. Vanassa and Janet will try to remember to bring their copies to pass round the coach. It looks a very interesting garden with a wide variety of planting and garden styles.
Winter and Summer Bedding Plants
Vanessa has Polyanthus at 30p each and winter flowering Pansies at 25p each already potted up and growing on. She will bring them to the next meeting for sale. Ring her if you wish to put in an order or can't make the meeting. The order forms for summer bedding plants are also available and must be returned by the end of September for us to get the full discount.The selection of plants this year are :- Begonia Organdy Mixed £1-60 x 10 £16 x 100 £34-50 x 230 Begonia Non Stop Mixed 35p each £3-50 x 10 Gazania Kiss Mixed £1-60 x 10 £16 x 100 £34-50 x 230 Geranium Maverick Mixed or Appleblossom, Orange, Cherry Red, White all at 31p each or £3-10 x 10 £31-00 x 100 Impatiens Accent Mixed, Mimulus Magic Mixed, Petunia Express Mixed, Nicotiana Saratoga Mixed all at £1-60 x 10 £16-00 x 100 £34-50 x 230 Impatiens Semi Double Tropical Mix £2-05 x10 £20-50 x 100 £47-15 x 230 Hanging Basket plants :- Petunia Surfinia Rose Vein or Purple 45p each £4-50 x 10 Scavolia Fandancer Purple 45p each £4-50 x 10 Bacopa Giant White Showers 36p each £3-60 x 10 Diascia Sun Chimes Blush or Red 36p each £3-60 x 10. All these plants are in plug form and are cheaper than you can buy at the DIY stores. If you wish to make an order either obtain a form from Vanessa or give her your order over the phone.
The origin of the Bexleyheath & District Rose Society from our President Frank Boardman
Prior to the introduction of the 5 day week most offices were open on Saturday mornings to mid day. I was working to 12 noon and just as I was about to leave the office in Westminster I was approached by a senior colleague. He asked me if I liked roses and went on to explain that he was a member of the (then) National Rose Society which was holding the annual summer show at the Old and New Royal Horticultural Society Halls at Vincent Square, Westminster. I accepted the ticket he offered and on leaving the building I was struck by the shimmering heat, reminiscent of the tropics. Ten minutes or so later, walking briskly I entered the old RHS Halls. The combination of the fragrance of the roses, accentuated by the heat of a crowded hall, captivated me. After visiting trade exhibits I saw the amateur exhibits and flower arrangements. Before leaving I joined the National Rose Society and learned that their offices were in Victoria Street. Subsequently I passed many happy hours in their library reading Rose Annuals of past years , books on culture and disease of roses and autobiographies of celebrated rose nurserymen. I paid frequent visits to Queen Mary's Rose Gardens, Regents Park and continued reading library books during the winter months. I moved into a house and garden in 1953, Coronation Year, and despite restricted space I was able to choose a selection of roses, two rambling roses which remained on my occupation, Albertine and Alberic Barbier, respectively a coppery pink and a yellow, changing to white, are still popular. In 1956 I acquired transport and was able to visit rose nurseries within reasonable distance and see the new varieties in flower and meet the nurserymen. An event occurred in the late fifties when a rose publication entitled The Rose, published by Whitefriars Press appeared on the bookstalls, similar to the Rose Bulletin in format and contributions both amateur and professional. One of the early issues contained an article "How to form a Rose Society" by the then Secretary of the Manx Rose Society. My parents were Manx by birth or descent and the island was like a second home to me. I contacted the writer, as I was due for a family reunion and I found myself meeting the Secretary at Greeba Castle, formerly the home of a famous Manx novelist Hall Caine. During a fascinating and wide ranging evenings discussion we exchanged views. To those who are not familiar I will give a brief summary of the Island. It is approximately 37 miles long by 12 miles wide, with a rugged coastline. It is served by air and sea but in winter, gales and fog can bring travel to a standstill, thence the need for news bulletins so that whether through infirmity or weather conditions, members can keep in touch. Whilst there are no rose nurseries on the Island it is equidistant from England and Ireland. Sam McGredy moved to New Zealand but Pat Dickson remained in Northern Ireland. Some years ago Pat Dickson staged a rose show with the winning entry in a competition to be named by the competitor. It was named Manx Queen. Curiously enough the Countess of Granville, the wife of the Lieutenant Governor in the years of world war 2 was the elder sister of her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother. To return to home ground, I arranged for the printing of 500 leaflets, which I pushed through letterboxes in Bexleyheath and Welling. The foundation meeting took place on 11th May 1960, to my dismay there were 12 of us and it was apparent that whilst those present were interested, domestic or business commitments, or other reasons precluded their devoting the necessary time to put the Society on a firm footing. Those present agreed on the Society's present title and an annual subscription of 5 shillings. A chairman was elected, a Treasurer, and I doubled as Hon Secretary and Hon Show Secretary and the remainder as Committee members. One further obstacle remained in that two foundation Committee members, the late George Turley and the late Harry Walder offered their services at any time or place but unfortunately neither was a driver. As the membership swelled it was necessary to attract experienced rose exhibitors. The Society's first President Dr. E Mc P Watts was followed by the late Bill Holmes and Bill Bowpitt and numerous other exhibitors in the intervening years. In the early years Mother Nature mischievously interfered. Show day would dawn but not a single postal entry and scarcely a rose to be seen. On such occasions the ladies sprung to our aid with floral arrangements, whilst rose exhibitors are required to raise roses in their own gardens. The Borough of Bexley staged an annual flower and horticultural show in a marquee in Danson Park. It was held in Summer on a Saturday and Sunday I obtained permission from Mr. Eul, the Park Superintendent, to site a table in the marquee with the assistance of George Turley and Harry Walder. We had the table covered with rose catalogues, rose annuals, rose books etc. There was an excellent response and both Bert and Pat Powell and Bill Holmes were enrolled. During the season there were coach trips to National Trust properties, rose nurseries etc. The late Jack Harkness of Harkness Nurseries, Hitchin, Herts was a visiting rose judge and Sam McGredy provided valuable assistance. However in the fullness of time I was posted to Surrey for a period of 3 years in the summer of 1967. In addition to his establishment of a trading post and involvement with the Greenwich and Bexley Hospice, Bert was mastermind behind the journey to New York, coach trips with hotel stays throughout the UK and visits to the continent. Those who were privileged to know him were aware of his boundless energy and on the occasional visits by my wife and myself he was always so busy that it almost seemed that a prior appointment was necessary. My wife and I became aware of his death on receipt of the Newsletter, which over the years has become as invaluable as a national newspaper. Inevitably the earliest members of the Society have diminished in number but the efforts of all have contributed to the Society's success.
More news about the Blue Rose
In June we reported that scientists were working on producing a true blue rose after accidentally stumbling on a live liver enzyme that turned bacteria blue. In this month's RHS Garden magazine I read that the Japanese firm Suntory have been working for 14 years with the Australian firm Florigene on the blue rose project. They have found that the gene of the enzyme that produces the blue pigment delphinidin can be extracted from pansies and put into the roses. The resulting plants have nearly 100% blue pigment. Testing shows there is perhaps another 2 years work adding chemical compounds to perfect a bright sky blue colour acceptable to the retail market. These two companies have had some success recently with the first blue Carnation.
Wallflowers
Wallflowers seem to be making a come back. A popular plant in the 30s, 40s and 50s, they seemed to fall from favour but they add plenty of complimentary colour to the Daffodils and Tulips when not much else is in flower in the border. They can be grown from seed, there is still time to sow the variety Erysimum x marshallii in seed trays or in the vegetable patch but avoid areas that have clubroot infection. Thin out and in October or November transplant the seedlings to areas of full sun or dappled shade. Pinch out any plants that look like flowering too early. If you don't want the bother of growing your own, bunches of plants can be bought quite cheaply. Leave them in a bucket of water for a few hours before planting as they tend to be dry when bought. A new dwarf variety is on sale this year, good for pots and containers or the borders and with a good colour range and they claim to flower from autumn to spring. Don't dig the plants up after they have finished flowering, cut them back below the seed pods and they will give you another year of service. Pests and Diseases. Slugs may damage the seedlings, control in the usual way. Flea Beetles can be a problem in spring, if the plants don't seem to be coping spray with Bug Clear or Sprayday. They can also suffer from turnip mosaic virus, clubroot, white blister, downy mildew and black rot, all diseases that attack brassica crops but these rarely cause problems in wallflowers. Don't be put off they are easy to grow and have a long flowering period. Well worth the effort.
Bulletin Distribution
Urgently required. Members who would be willing to deliver a small number of Bulletins in their area once a month. Areas most in need of your help are Bexley, Chislehurst, Sidcup, Abbey Wood and Crayford. It is becoming increasingly more expensive to post Bulletins so if you receive yours by that means, ask if there is anyone else living near you and we could post several in one envelope. Better still if you have a computer you can get your Bulletin before everyone else as it goes on the web site before it is printed.
Valkenburg 29th November to 2nd December 2004
Your final payment for this trip is now required, that is £160 per person if sharing and £200 per person if single occupancy (this allows for the £25 deposit already paid) If paying by cheque, please make it payable to Bexleyheath & District Rose Society. Please send your remittance by 25th September 2004 to either Mrs. J. Newton or Miss V. Rochester, addresses at the head of this Bulletin. A newsletter detailing this trip will be coming your way shortly.
Next year's pot grown rose
Information for newer members:-
Each year a patio rose is chosen for members to buy and look after during the year and then show in a special class for this one rose at the annual summer show. It is easy to do, just prune, water and feed your rose and then present it, in its pot, on the show bench. Ben Rainsbury has once again agreed to order and take delivery of the bare rooted plants and he and Vanessa will pot them up. Several members will look after a few each over the winter and in March these will be put on sale at the monthly meeting. This years rose that we have selected has an orange bloom and is scented. We will have 40 bushes for sale, last years cost was £3 ( may be slightly more this year, we don't know the final cost yet) Do have a go, especially if you have not put anything on the show bench before. You can then enter this rose again the following year in the pot grown rose class and also that years new rose, you have then doubled your entries in one year. Good luck!!
A poem for Harvest. The silver rain, the shining sun, The fields where scarlet poppies run, And all the ripples of the wheat, Are in the bread that I do eat.
So when I sit for every meal And say a grace, I always feel That I am eating rain and sun, And fields where scarlet poppies run.
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