| Rose of the Month | We Encourage | Newsletter for May, 2008
7:00 PM - Refreshments and Rose Display • • • • • • • • • • • • Program For Thursday, May 8, 7:30 p.m. ANITA CLEVENGER Guides Us Through The Historic Rose Garden Of The Sacramento City Cemetery In the mid-19th Century, a new concept arose in design of public cemeteries. The "Garden Cemetery" originated with the famous Pere-Lachaise, in Paris. The concept reached the United States 1n 1831. In 1850, John Sutter donated 10 acres to the City of Sacramento, establishing a much-needed burial ground for the hurly-burly settlement. The cemetery was built on one of the highest spots in low-lying Sacramento, safely above the flood-plain of the Sacramento River, and it quickly became a place of recreation. Trees and flowers, and a hilltop breeze tempted Sacramentans to linger, to rest, and to tend gardens in individual family plots. Time Passes, and Can Be Brutal
By the mid-20th -Century, many of Sacramento's original families were gone. Neglect left once-beautiful gardens choking in trash and weeds. A few original, historic roses hung on amid the ruin, but even those struggled to survive. The Cemetery was an eyesore. A handful of volunteers believed that what had once been beautiful, could be beautiful again. And so began the rehabilitation of the Old Sacramento City Cemetery. The creation of the present Historic Rose Garden here began in the early 1990's. The few remaining roses were augmented by "found" treasures, many donated by botanist and rosarian, Fred Boutin. From his collection came roses discovered in deserted gardens, other old cemeteries, and along lanes and roads - where they'd grown un-tended for 100 or more years. Others have continued the work, and the garden today covers several acres, and includes more than 400 roses. Here, tended by a dedicated group of volunteers, roses reach their natural, healthy size and development. They're studied - and many have been identified. This garden functions as a genetic "bank," from which many worthy "lost" roses have been returned to commerce. Anita Clevenger, Maintenance Manager of the Historic Rose Garden, knows these roses, intimately. A Master Gardener, and garden writer, she'll share them with us on the evening of May 8. This is a unique and special opportunity to learn more about one of the finest rose gardens in California. * * * * * * The April meeting was a celebration of roses. Everyone took time to smell the roses and to enjoy the vibrant colors and beauty of blooms brought from our gardens. The pluses and minuses of the various varieties displayed were discussed.
Save the date! * * * * * *
'Sheer Bliss' (Hybrid Tea, 1985) Holly Hagy I used to read a magazine which, each month, featured a different business. They called it "The Business of Bliss" because the businesses were always one where the owner/operator was happy to have their business, and it was the business of their dreams. That pretty much sums up this rose, one could say it is the rose of one's dreams...and it's in the business of making their gardener quite blissful. You could say it's the color; the palest of a true, clear pink, or the size; it's got big, full, curvy blooms, or the fragrance; a heavenly rose and citrus with a bit of headiness thrown in, you could also say it's the stamens; a gorgeous deep, deep pink, not often seen in many roses...or all of the above. In fact this rose has so many fabulous qualities that it won the AARS Selection in 1987. And to add to all of those great things to say about it, on "helpmefind.com" in every category it has been rated "Excellent." I have been growing this lovely and delicate looking hybrid tea beauty for about six years now and don't let her delicate blooms fool you, she is a tough survivor and quite disease resistant! Every year in my garden she is blooming her head off, I can always count on a bloom from this bush. The scent often fills my rooms up with JUST A SINGLE ROSE! Just yesterday, I was watering all my plants and I good smell a luscious scent and sure enough, it was from 'Sheer Bliss' . The foliage is shiny dark green, tinged with burgundy and almost leathery. And another interesting fact about this rose, since I moved to the beach about 4 and 1/2 years ago, she now blooms white with tinges of pink most of the time and then in the heat of the summer (August and September) she is back to he true pale pink. I read in the Ultimate Rose Book that this rose is "a lovely rose for cutting and arranging in a silver vase" and I quite agree. She would look great in ANY vase actually but she is a bit too elegant for my mayonaise jars, so when I have her in the house, out comes the crystal (but now I am going to give the silver a try...sounds wonderful) This rose was bred by Bill Warriner, and has 'Grand Masterpiece' and 'White Masterpiece' as her parents and of course, from there the list goes on. She is easily found at most local nurseries and through the majority of mail order catalogues. I really love this rose and think that anyone who would like to give her a try will love her too. Especially if you are like me and are always looking for great, cut roses to bring into the house. 'Sheer Bliss' will give to you exactly what her name states. The plant's height is 5 to 7 feet (mine is about five feet and gets taller thru the season) spread-about 3 feet (mine is about 3 1/2 feet wide) bloom size-5 1/2 inches (always) Scent-strong and sweet (always). Mine grows in an oak, red wine half-barrel and is quite happy there, in a bit of morning shade. (Many thanks to Cliff Orent, for the use of this photographic image.)
Kissing Cousins: Roses and Fruit Trees The blooms of many rosaceae fruit trees are gorgeous, fragrant and so similar to species roses. They look delightful in the spring, especially when paired with nearby single-petaled beauties like the Lady Banks roses. And as the fruit ripens, they continue to appeal to our eyes as well as our culinary and gustatory imaginations. In our home garden we cherish two "found" trees that are members of the Rosaceae family. The 'Monterey' pear was discovered in the original orchard at San Juan Bautista Mission, which dates back to 1805. According to Garden Valley Ranch in Sebastopol (which sells Gregg Lowrey's wonderful old and new roses as well as many other excellent plants including espaliered fruit trees), the mission orchard contained one lone surviving pear tree, which was cloned and named for the area where it was found. Any rose gardener who has a few foundies in his or her collection won't be surprised to learn that the 'Monterey' is extremely vigorous and a hardy survivor, in addition to producing * * * * * * Rose Checklist… * * * * * *
A.C. Postel Memorial Rose Garden News As this letter is being written, the rose garden is filled with the sound, and color , of roses popping open. One may also hear a quiet sigh of relief as the spring bloom begins in earnest. Tens of thousands of buds are beginning to open with the deep rich colors of the year's first bloom. Favorable weather conditions have brought us what looks like another great year. Due to the mostly dry sunny weather, the roses are covered with shiny disease free foliage which means full steam ahead for pushing out new blooms. Look for the new 2009 AARS winners on display in the triangular shaped new introduction beds to the left and right of the main garden entrance. The All American Rose Selections committee has chosen 'Pink Promise', 'Carefree Spirit', and 'Cinco de Mayo' as winners of this year's trials. The A.C. Postel Memorial Rose Garden is an officially accredited demonstration garden and receives 10 each of these roses for presentation to the public in rose gardens across the country. Look for them to go on the market in early 2009. Hope you can come by and view the over 240 varieties Hybrid Tea, Floribunda, Shrub, David Austin, Tea, Climber, Hybrid Musk, and Old Garden Roses now on display. Don't forget to visit the 30 new sets of miniature roses scheduled to be planted April 17.
After the first bloom is finished, if it ever stops, it's time to begin opening your bushes for better air circulation which helps prevent the moist conditions that encourage the formation and spread of disease. Remove crossing interior branches, blind growth, and low growing twiggy branches to improve air flow through the bushes. This can be done throughout the summer months as needed. PS: The garden still needs a few new volunteers for the 2009 season. Call Robert at 682-1160 for more information on this rewarding and educational experience. Thanks! Entire contents © 2008 by the Santa Barbara Rose Society - all rights reserved |
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nondeciduous loquats are members of the same family as roses: the Rosaceae (ro-Zay-see-ay). This large and wonderful family of plants also includes berries such as strawberries, blackberries and raspberries. The Rosaceae provide us with color, scent, visual beauty and wonderful fruit to eat. Our lives would be much poorer of there were no Rosaceae in our gardens and orchards. 
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And, you’ll enjoy attending the monthly meetings to hear renowned speakers and have access to expert advice from fellow members and consulting rosarians. Go to 
