ILLAWARRA REGIONAL

ROSE SOCIETY NEWSLETTER Elina

CONTACT DETAILS: Chair: Kristin Dawson M:0422157353 illawarrarosechair@gmail.com Secretary: Jennifer Swan Ph: 44642563 leith151@bigpond.com Treasurer: Robert Coady robert_coady2004@yahoo.com

POST: PO Box 3 Jamberoo NSW 2533

FEBRUARY MEETING Mulching our roses for summer – special guest speaker: Elizabeth Burnett. Rose Doctor – any rose growing problems – bring the problem along – some discussion about summer pruning.

FLORAL ART: “A long hot summer” Both women and men’s displays

Happy Valentines Day

Message from the Chair Dear Members

Welcome to the New Year, and I am so aware of how traumatic it has been for so many of our

members who live in the Shoalhaven, the South Coast and Highlands area during this very hot

and firey summer. We are so sorry to have heard that our member Max Atkins and his wife

Val lost everything they own in the fire on New Year’s Eve at Yatte Yattah. They are very much

in our thoughts as they deal with the aftermath of this terrible shock and ordeal. Max had

hundreds of roses and hopes to save some of them, especially those growing on their own

roots. His rose books and journals were also lost, and already there has been a promise from

Diane Rendel of many volumes of the journals from the past ten years, and Tracy Clarke a

member from Bathurst had a few rose books to send to him. There also is a promise of some

Miniature & miniflora rose bushes from Mark McGuire to help his garden back on its feet, and

some Eco Seaweed from OCP to help those that look saveable recover.

For the first time in memory the local shows at Albion Park, Berry and Kiama were cancelled

as the showgrounds were needed for the animals and livestock rescued from the fires. We at

homes where we thankfully did not have the same trauma have worked on keeping our roses

mulched and watered to withstand the onslaught of this long very hot summer.

We were also sad to hear of the passing of Shirley Stephenson, who had been a chair of the

Illawarra Rose Society during 1986-1988 and was the Vice President of the Rose Society of

NSW during the same period of time. I attended the funeral as a representative of the Rose

Society and heard how vibrant and amazing she was for her work in the community, including

running strong swimming programs for children and adults. We also were sad that the Legend-

Ben Swane also passed away during January. Colin Hollis attended the funeral.

Our first meeting of the year will take place in February, and we will also have our show bench.

Please bring along a rose from your garden to share. Looking forward to catching up again

over a cup of coffee - Kristin (Chair)

Meets on the fourth Saturday of each month at the North Kiama Neighbourhood Centre, Meehan Drive, North Kiama 1.30-3.30 p.m.

NEXT MEETING

22ND February 2020

1.30 p.m

If putting roses on the Show bench come at 12.45 p.m. Rose photo: Firefighter

FEB R U A RY 2 0 20

Drought proofing

your garden

BLACK SPOT AND OTHER PESTS AND DISEASES

With the rising humidity black spot will begin to emerge on the foliage.

We also will notice that lots of the leaves will begin turning yellow or brown because of heat stress. Leave them on if a hot day is approaching as they shade the canes and other foliage.

With more than 4 hours of 35 degrees in a day the black spot will be killed on your bush, but the leaves will still show evidence of the black spot. Clean up affected leaves from the ground and bin as with the next lot of moist and humid weather it will reappear from the spores left in the soil.

Be careful not to over-fertilise the roses at this time as there has been insufficient rain to wash through the fertiliser. Ensure the soil is moist before and after application. If it is too hot the roses will prefer water to fertiliser.

Red spider mite loves these hot dry days and can appear on the underside of the leaves. A miticide spray helps to eliminate them – spray under the foliage as well as above. If you are able a hose down with water under the leaves also helps to disturb them.

Summer pruning at this stage should be light. It encourages new growth which will require more water and also the tips are likely to burn. It may need to wait until later when it is cooler.

Shrub Roses These are usually tall, large bushes with spreading and arching canes. They usually have clusters of roses and make a colourful show in the garden. The David Austin roses which are bred hybridising heritage roses with the modern rose so that the perfume of the old is combined with the repeating flowering of the modern rose.

Sally Holmes David Austin- Skylark

Delbard – Alfred Sisley Heritage and Old Garden Roses These roses include a collection of historic and very old rose garden types, usually only spring flowering but very beautiful and often fragrant. Species are the original old roses and often have clusters of colourful hips. Roses at Old Parliament House: 1. Lady Hillingdon Hicks 1917

2. Champrey’s Pink Cluster Noisette cc 1811

3. Queen of Hearts Climbing Hybrid Tea – Alister Clark 1920

ROSES COME IN ALL SHAPES AND SIZES

Drought proofing your garden – Lorrie Zammit RSNSW Education officer

We live in a tough climate of extremes - droughts and flooding rains. We may not be able to do anything about those rains at a very personal level, but we can combat the drought. (We do note though with water restrictions hosing will be difficult unless a water tank is installed) Growing a beautiful garden in drought conditions is always going to be challenging but it can be made easier with:

• Healthy soil

• Choosing the right plants

• Water saving tips and tricks

Drought proofing your garden

A garden can be as fragile or robust as you choose. With the right plants, proper training and a few tips and tricks, you can create a beautiful garden that won’t wilt without water.

Healthy soil Drought proofing your garden starts with the soil.

• Improve its structure by adding bulk quantities of organics like compost and aged manures

• Work the soil by forking or digging it over, to improve air and water penetration

• Mulch to a depth of 7-10cm with an organic mulch to minimise water loss and keep the soil cool. Lucerne hay also helps

to nourish the soil when it breaks down. Remember to keep the mulch away from the trunk of the rose or it could cause rot with the heat generated and damage the canes.

NOURISHING THE SOIL IN YOUR ROSE GARDEN

NEUTROG SEAMUNGUS Suitable for year round application as a health tonic for all plants including natives, lawns and bare-rooted roses. Seamungus will hold up to 70% of its own weight in moisture – significantly increasing the soil's ability to retain water and nutrients.

• Water saving tips and tricks

• There are many ways to save water and still keep your garden growing well.

Teach your plants to search for water

• When you water the garden, do so for a longer period of time but less often - so water soaks deep down into the soil. This encourages plants to develop extensive root systems which are more drought tolerant.

• Short daily watering is an absolute 'no-no' if you want to teach your plants to be more self-sufficient and your garden to survive.

Mulch with an organic mulch

Reduce moisture loss from the soil (evaporation) and plants (transpiration) by adding an insulating mulch over the soil. It keeps the soil cooler and also reduces reflected heat from the soil surface, cooling the air around plants. Mulch also helps control weeds, so it's a win-win situation for your garden. NEUTROG - Whoflungdung is an absorbent mulch that helps retain moisture and warmth in the garden, which improves nutrient uptake. It adds nutrients to the soil for both the beneficial bacteria and plants to feed on – significantly reducing, if not eliminating, the nitrogen draw-down issues that are associated with most other mulches

https://neutrog.com.au/2019/08/20/whoflungdung/

Water the roots, not the leaves

• Plants take in water and nutrients from the soil through their roots. Make sure you water the soil around plants and apply enough to reach the entire root zone.

• Watering the foliage may cool the plants down briefly after a hot day but it also encourages fungal problems to develop. At least bucket watering at the moment helps prevent this problem.

• Water droplets on leaves may also cause burn spots - the heat of the sun is amplified through the water resulting in leaves being burned or scorched.

When water is scarce

• Focus on the areas that need it most. These could be those nearest the house.

• If choices must be made, think carefully about which plants to save.

• Generally. they should be the most established and/or expensive. Usually, if the garden is well prepared, a deep water once every two weeks is enough to keep plants alive during a drought.

Reference: https://www.scottsaustralia.com.au/diy-garden-guides-advice/gardens-trees-shrubs-flowers/maintenance-garden-care/#drought-proofing-yourgarden5217

How to Properly Water Roses

Roses love water. Water helps them grow and promotes large, long-lasting flowers with rich color and thick, sturdy petals. Water is the means by which the rose transports nutrients. Did you know that roses assimilate food either through their roots or leaves (foliar feeding)?

• Water roses early in the day, at ground level, to help prevent diseases like black spot. • Avoid routinely wetting the foliage, especially when overcast. This can encourage and

spread disease. • Once a week, on a sunny day, it is okay to spray your rose bush with water. A spray nozzle attached to the hose will

provide enough force to clear the leaves of dust, dirt, spider mites, and other insects.

Soil, temperature, and surrounding plants affect how much water a rose needs. In temperate climates, weekly watering is usually enough. Two inches of water a week (10 to 20 litres) may be all that is needed. If the soil is sandy or the garden is hot, dry, or windy, more frequent watering may be necessary. Care needs to be taken in areas where the soil holds a lot of moisture, as too much water can promote root rot.

Reference: https://www.heirloomroses.com/info/care/how-to/watering-roses/

FEBRUARY -

8 - INVITATION- LEARN HOW TO BE A STEWARD AT A SHOW – Graham Wright, Ted Morphett

At Macarthur Regional Meeting held at Elderslie Public School – Lodges Rd; Elderslie at 2.00 p.m

14-15 KANGAROO VALLEY SHOW – this show is demonstrating the resilience of the community

22 – ILLAWARRA MEETING - SPECIAL GUEST – ELIZABETH BURNETT ON MULCHING

1.30 p.m. Bring roses for Show bench and/ or try your hand at floral art

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MARCH –

NEUTROG ORDER FORMS WILL BE DISTRIBUTED AND TO BE PAID BY 28 MARCH FOR DELIVERY AT END OF APRIL this year delivery will be to the Hardware Man at Unanderra & will allow more flexibility with collection

28 - PICNIC MEETING AT HANS & LYN VAN DE HAARS – address details to follow later-

12.00 for 12.30 beginning – picnic lunch; summer rose pruning; special raffle; preparation for Kiama

Rose Conference in October. Details to follow on activities.

Invitation also to Southern Sydney, Southern Highlands and Macarthur Regional members

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APRIL-

Rose Days at the Easter Show- 5/6; 9/10 and 13/14

18 Macarthur Autumn Rose Show – At Ingleburn Community Centre

25 ****it’s ANZAC day and same day as our meeting – I suggest we move the meeting to 2nd May

And have two meetings in May, as there are five Saturdays (will discuss at meeting)

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MAY 3 - BARBECUE AT BUNNINGS AT ALBION PARK RAIL TO RAISE FUNDS FOR THE 2021 INTERNATIONAL ROSE CONVENTION

- PLEASE LET LORRIE ZAMMIT KNOW IF YOU CAN GIVE 2 HOURS TO HELP – M: 0409 669 149

BEV’S IDEAS CORNER- These are ideas that have been put forward to Bev for our meetings and enjoyment:

- short presentations each month on maintenance of roses - Please also bring along any problems you are having

with roses for our discussion with a Rose Doctor at the meeting.

THE FOLLOWING IDEAS ARE STILL TO BE FOLLOWED THROUGH:

- more information on different varieties of miniature/miniflora roses

-classification of roses and availability

-a visit to a garden to learn about summer pruning

- Merribee Gardens – Terera for an excursion

-Visit to Wollongong Botanic Gardens

-visits to members’ rose gardens

-another talk on mulching by Elizabeth Burnett

- how we can use the library better ------don’t forget if you want to use the pH tool as Phillip Sanders. Also give ideas

on the library to Phillip .

- Showbench & how it works, plus help for new exhibitors – an ongoing discussion

PLEASE SEE BEV FOR OTHER IDEAS & WE WILL WORK ON FOLLOWING THEM THROUGH

Beverly Irvine: Ph: 4257 9338

WHATS ON? FEBRUARY-APRIL 2020

PHOTOS OF EVENTS – DECEMBER 2019

Our Christmas Gathering

We had a most enjoyable Christmas gathering at Jamberoo Resort on 6th December –

Enjoying each other’s company Susan & Ken Wade’s last event before moving to Sydney

Awards presented by Colin Hollis and called by Jill Millburn – Showbench Steward : Bev & Laurie Irvine Showbench -large & miniature roses; Diane Westgate – 2nd large roses; Jill Millburn – 2nd Miniature Roses Special Encouragement Award to new exhibitors: Shirley Coady & Rosalind Walters. Joanne Fisher presented the Floral Art Awards – the photo shows presentation to Ian Roxby for men’s floral art. Robert Curll was second; Janet Bowden was first in floral art and Helen Curll second.

IMPORTANT EVENTS COMING UP: NATIONAL ROSE CHAMPIONSHIPS & CONVENTION AT KIAMA 2020

We will be hosting Rose Society members from across Australia, and NSW, to Kiama in

October. We will be very dependent on our Illawarra members to help make this an

enjoyable and successful event. We need help with:

• Welcoming our visitors at the Motel and Pavilion

• Promotion of the event in the community

• Assisting at the entry, membership and raffle tables

• Acting as a tour guide on the excursions

• Guiding members of the public to the lecture series

• Helping with the shuttle bus between the motel and pavilion

• Assisting Joanne Fisher as needed with the floral art arrangements

• Setting up the Pavilion for the Rose Show- National Rose Championships

• Clearing up the Pavilion after the Rose Show

• Selling roses after the show; assisting with prize cards etc.

WORLD FEDERATION OF ROSE SOCIETIES-(WFRS)- INTERNATIONAL ROSE CONVENTION HOSTED BY AUSTRALIAN ROSE SOCIETIES IN ADELAIDE OCTOBER 2021

Our event in Kiama will be a flag bearer for this event. It has not

always been easy for members to travel to one of these

Conventions overseas, but they are a wonderful experience. We

encourage you to join in and come, now that it is to be in our

own country. Some more information will be sent out soon.

We need your help in raising funds for this event- May 3- barbecue two hours of your time………

ILLAWARRA REGION OF THE ROSE SOCIETY OF NSW INC.

MINUTES OF MEETING HELD AT NORTH KIAMA NEIGHBOURHOOD CENTRE – 1.30 P.M. 24TH NOVEMBER 2019 Welcome: Chair Kristin Dawson welcomed members and expressed her appreciation for the way everyone worked so well together at the recent Rose Show. Apologies: Bruce Robertson, Colin Hollis, Diane & David Westgate, Maxine Hort, Robert Curll, Lorrie Zammit, Rosemary Singleton, Rhonda & Col Lawson. Passed H Curll/L Vost Minutes of Previous (September) Meeting: - as sent out previously. Susan Wade’s apology to be included. Passed B Irvine/J Bowden. Thanks to Bev and Laurie Irvine for hosting the informal October meeting. Correspondence: Inwards: Rose Society of NSW - Agenda & Minutes for 2019 AGM, Documentation for November State Council Meeting, Financial Reports for AGM, “Name the Rose” for 2021. Ikebana Society’s newsletter. Outwards: Thankyou letters to all donors, welcome letters to new members, request for key to North Kiama Neighbourhood Centre Passed J Swan/P Sanders Presentation on “Roses that grow well in the Illawarra”: Members gave a long list of hybrid teas, floribundas, shrubs roses, climbers & pillars, miniatures & minifloras, and heritage roses. Show Bench: conducted by Colin Hollis and Jill Millburn. Best in Show to Bev & Laurie Irvine. Best miniature to Ian Roxby. Floral Art “Christmas theme” 1st Janet Bowden 2nd Lorraine Vost Raffle: won by Paul Sheehy Treasurer’s Report: Balances are: Main account $3263.38, Rose Show $7363.58, TD $7800 Total approx. $17,000. Susan wondered if there were any plans to use funds eg the term deposit. Passed R Coady/J Oyston Audit of Rose Society Property: Much equipment, especially for the Show, is stored at the van der Haars - Jill and Lorrie will prepare an inventory. The soil tester is with Lyndal & Phillip Sanders and can be borrowed by members. The printer is to be moved to the Secretary’s home. The speakers are too heavy to be brought to each meeting so it was suggested that they be kept for use at the Show and a smaller more user friendly unit be purchased for use at general meetings. The large speakers to be stored at van der Haars. Social Activities: Members enjoyed a visit to the Highlands Rose Show which had a magnificent display of floral art, followed by a visit to Harpers Mansion to admire heritage roses. The Christmas lunch is to be held at Jamberoo Mountain Lodge on 8 December Pastoral Care Role-Suggested by Shirley Coady who agreed to take on the role. Let Shirley know of anyone who needs follow up. Future Meetings: Nil in December or January. (A reminder about the Berry Ag Show ) February - hints on mulching and watering. March - visit to van der Haars with Southern Sydney and Southern Highlands groups. Jim Cunningham has offered to demonstrate budding and grafting for those interested. Colin suggested a raffle of $100 worth of Neutrog products with proceeds going to the 2020 National Show. Passed C Hollis/I Roxby. Neutrog: Product of the month - Rooster Booster - Paul from Southern Sydney is to plant 2 Firefighters at the RFS grounds next to the Community Centre - planting the Roses into Rooster Booster. Hint: don’t spread Who Flung Dung too thickly and agitate it occasionally eg every 3 weeks. Rose Show: Kristin again thanked members for their support. Numbers were down possibly because of the change of date. Results will be published in the journal. Some felt there should have been more advertising and banners, eg on Terralong’s fence and at the entrance to Jamberoo - there were 6 banners in Jamberoo, Kiama, Wollongong and Berry. There was disappointment that Roses were not for sale this year - due to the change of date. It was suggested that we need EFTPOS at the Show - we could use the same card reader as the State body. The 2020 Show will be at the Kiama pavilion. As the 2021 International Show will clash with our usual date, there was discussion about the venue for our 2021 Show, whether it should be held in Autumn that year, or not at all. A decision needs to be made and if it is decided to hold it in Autumn a venue has to be booked. Overall it was considered a good show and Kristin thanked Colin for standing in as chief steward. 2020 Show: Julianne Faulks made suggestions about publicity eg the use of facebook and tourism sites. The schedule will include photography sections. Accommodation will be at Kiama Shores. A lot of help will be needed eg volunteers for help in overseeing catering ie morning and afternoon teas, cocktails and dinners, cleaning eg toilets and floors, etc. Other regions will be asked to help. A quilt has been donated as a raffle prize. Overseas and interstate speakers will need to be looked after. ”Roses by the Sea” has been printed and the photo on the cover will be blown up and framed for the foyer. Joanne Fisher will be responsible for Rose extravaganzas. This was Susan Wades’s last meeting due to her move to Sydney and Kristin acknowledged the very active role Susan had played in the Illawarra Rose Society and wished her well. The meeting closed at 4pm Secretary (Minutes) Jenny Swan