dune seorNewsletter of the Southampton Rose Society,

An American Rose Society Affiliate

Southampton Rose SocietyP.O. Box 1022

Southampton, NY 11969-1022

Volume 32, Number 2

May 2008

Garden alchemy

a memoir by harvey Feinstein

by Harvey FeinsteinPresident Emeritus, SRS 1992-1997

My father was devoted to his garden. In early March he would be outside cutting arms full of forsythia, which he put into warm water, and then filled each room of the house with bowls of bare, uninteresting, brown sticks. After a week they took a turn for the better, and within a few days they opened into a cascade of yellow blossom, that cheered us through the remaining winter days, until the final f lowers dropped and we knew spring was on the way.

As a child I remember when the lilac was ready to bloom. The first crocus hidden under a surprise mid-April snow had already peaked with their show of purple and yellow. In the woods beyond the garden where he had planted daffodils, there was a field of green spikes, fat with buds, showing signs of color. In summer the scent of honeysuckle lay heavy on the air, and drifted in through open bedroom windows. On very hot summer nights, pre air-conditioning, my father would hose down the brick walls of our house, to cool the inside rooms. This seemed to bring out the fragrance of the garden, which lingered long after we all went to bed.

Mostly I remember the climbing roses knotted deep inside a tangle of honeysuckle, wrapped together around a long low fence, over the rabbit hutch. At that time I didn’t know roses had names; there were just pink ones and big red ones, and some smelled of lemons, while others smelled like apples. But

(Continued on page 3)

Garden Alchemy 1

President’s Corner 2

Ready, Set, Grow! 4

The Great Rosarians of the World Lecture Series 2008

5

A Moment in Rose History 7

Best in Show Competition 7

Member’s Breakfast Forum 7

Children’s Educational Program

7

Inside this issue:

This issue features:

Harvey Feinstein

Pat Shanley

Photos courtesy of:

Sally Stryker

In every Issue:

Dennis P. Sheahan

Rosalinda Morgan

Contributing Editors:

Lorraine & Bob Weitsen

Co–Editors:

— Tournament of Roses

Page 2 dune seorDear SRS Members:This is an exciting time of the year for Rosarians. There is so much going on in the garden and within the Southampton Rose Society. Our season got off to a great start with the annual Pruning/Rose Care session at the SRS Rose Garden. Peter Bertrand again led the demonstrations and Johnette de Frietas gave a wonderful lecture in Cooper Hall. Refreshments provided by Thyme and Again were served. In that this event is open to the public, I think it is a wonderful gift to the community and a wonderful way to begin our year. Thanks to Lee Packman, our Program Chair, for all the arrangements.You should have received this year’s edition of “The Green Book” membership directory. This is a great resource which provides the names, addresses, telephone numbers and e-mail addresses for our members and is a wonderful tool to facilitate communications within the SRS. We have a record number of new members whom I would like to welcome: Mildred Brinn, Pamela Rollins and Alex Camacho, Emoke and Ronald Forman, Cynthia Foster, Mary Ann Tighe Hidalgo, Susan and Gerald Hobbs, Chandler and Henry Ittleson, Shahrzad Khayami, Jerry Lynch,William Matters, Linda McLean, Stephen Scanniello, Eleanor Silverman, Barbara Slifka, and Paul Weltchek. We are thrilled to have each of you as members.Once again we have a double header coming up in May – the annual Breakfast Forum on May 10th and the Children’s Educational Program on May 24th. The Breakfast Forum is provided at no cost to members. This year our featured speaker is Gary Lawrance, author of “Houses of the Hamptons.” Bring your children/grandchildren to the May 24th Children’s Educational Program sponsored by Dermot Dolan (State Farm Agency) in the SRS Rose Garden. We have limited space for 40 children, so sign up early. At the end of the session a mini-rose plant will be given to each child along with a wonderful booklet on “How to Plant a Mini Rose Garden” written by our former President, Adeline Christie.

The SRS is very proud of our expanded web site which continues to provide updated information via the Internet. The new Articles page responds to the need for timely information to assist in the care of your rose garden. Presently it offers four valuable educational articles answering common questions we all have at the beginning of the season. The list will continue to grow and will be a quick and easy reference source. We’ve also added links to the American Rose Society and rose nurseries around the country to facilitate researching and ordering roses. We are committed to improving and expanding the Web site to meet our challenges going forward.Please keep in mind the July 19th Cocktail Party Fundraiser. In addition to providing the SRS and the East End with a festive evening, this event provides much needed funds for our Endowment Fund. This Fund is used for the maintenance and care of the Rose Garden, beautification projects within our community, and the educational programs that enhance the knowledge and use of the rose. There will be both a silent and live auction, so we need all of you to help us in getting items that will be included in these auctions.The SRS had been actively working with the Village of Southampton’s Beautification Committee to enhance the aesthetic beauty of the Village. Three walls have been identified within the Village where the SRS will install trellises and plant and maintain climbing roses. We are very excited about furthering our commitment to serving our community in this beautification effort and would like to thank Nancy McGann, Southampton Village Trustee, and the Beautification Committee for coordinating these efforts with us.Have a great time in the garden and we look forward to seeing you at our May events.Cheers,

Dennis P. Sheahan, President

President’s corner

Page 3dune seor

it was in late autumn that my father really prepared his garden magic. He would cut branches from the Japanese Catalpa trees which grew behind the garage. I followed along crushing fallen leaves under foot, as he searched the fading garden, looking for other pieces he needed to do his alchemy. During the summer months he had already cut long stems of roses which he dried in the attic. Now in autumn he’d cut an armload of Chinese Lanterns for me to carry, and then, deep inside the pine trees, he found the cocoons that would be the magic.He attached the Catalpa branches with their spade shaped leaves to the moldings of the ceiling around my mother’s music room. Next, he threaded the dried roses into them and also the still pliant canes of the Chinese lanterns, and in the folds of the hanging lanterns he nestled the slim twigs holding the cocoons. Then we waited.

All winter the garden slept. The house fell into a long silence. The carpets, which had been rolled during the summer around bamboo rods and filled with mothballs, were put back under the furniture. The smell of mothballs to this day reminds me of long early nights, of games of Monopoly, homework, and “The Lone Ranger” on the radio.

I spent many hours in the music room, ostensibly to practice the piano, but really, I was keeping an eye on the mystery that was hidden under the ceiling. My father was also watching. Then one morning he came into the bedroom where my brother and I were sleeping, and told us to get up, because something wonderful was about to happen. We ran into the music room where my mother was already seated in her chair.The room seemed to be moving. Slowly at first,

there was only a low scratching sound, then a sense of quivering in the leaves above us. The butterf lies were emerging from their long hibernation, and the room became alive with a kaleidoscope of f luttering wings. They swirled around the ceiling then dived into the Catalpa leaves, only to reappear again, as they brushed against the windows. Morning light streamed into the room. My mother became alarmed at the erratic f light of the butterf lies. She was afraid they might dash themselves into her much-prized piano. “Open the windows”, she cried, “They’ll dirty the tables. Open the windows.”My brother and I were laughing at the spectacle of the multi-colored wings spinning, and of mother waiving her arms in the air. She attempted to keep the insects from landing on the furniture. Finally, my father threw open the French doors which led to the garden. The butterf lies circled the room once more in some predisposed formation. Like a plume of chimney smoke they found their escape and disappeared in a great puff. That morning we were late for school. Mother decided to celebrate the event with a breakfast of pancakes, which was usually reserved for Sundays. Over the next few days there were a few laggards that emerged from their cocoons, and one could find a lost butterf ly occasionally sitting on a lampshade, or a table’s ledge. If I was careful I could get it to hop onto my finger. Finally the old Chinese Lanterns and the dried roses were brought down, the moldings were cleaned of leaves and branches, and we were ready to start a new season, and whatever magic my father would create for our summer garden. I have not seen butterf ly cocoons for years. Perhaps they’ve found a different music room.

Garden Alchemy(continued)

— Untersun

— Sally Holmes &Dortmund

Page 4 dune seorReAdy, Get Set, GRow! A StARt-Up GUide

Getting Ready for the Season

by Rosalinda Morgan, past editor of LI Rosarian, President Emeritus of LI Rose Society,ARS Certificate of Merit award winner, and author

Green movement, eco-friendly, sustainability, global warming, greenhouse effect – these are new terms that are cropping up lately in our vocabulary. Are we, the rosarians, going to contribute to the green movement sweeping the world? With all the talk of global warming and air pollution, the rosarians have to be concerned whether all the chemicals we use to keep our garden beautiful with perfect roses are making us sick or polluting our environment. Just recently, there was a lecture series at the New York Botanical Garden regarding the Sustainable Rose Garden sponsored by the Manhattan Rose Society together with OrganicPlantHealthCare.com and the Southampton Rose Society. It is a very timely topic. We do have a choice if we want to do our part.To grow beautiful and healthy roses, we have to start with the soil. Amending the soil is of utmost importance because if we have the right soil, any plant including the rose will be happy at their location. Our roses will be well-equipped to fight diseases if they are healthy. For insect control, sometimes a blast of water is sufficient to scurry them away.I highly recommend two kinds of roses that are easy to grow with very little maintenance and a surefire way to be successful rose gardeners – The Knock Out Roses series and the Earth Kind roses.Knock Out roses are roses hybridized by William J Radler from Wisconsin and are now one of the best selling roses worldwide. They are hardy, very f loriferous, very disease resistant and insect resistant and will tolerate partial shade. Carefree Sunshine is even fragrant. William J. Radler was honored with the 2008 Great Rosarian of the World Award early this month. His goal while hybridizing Knock Out was to find a rose that will survive the harsh winter of Wisconsin and be very disease and insect resistant. From the many crosses he did, he would pick up all the diseased leaves scattered around his rose beds, put them in the blender and then scattered them around his garden. Then he selected the parent, one that did not get diseases like blackspot. It is amazing that from this cross, only one hip came out with only one seed in it and

that’s how Knock Out roses originated.

KNOCK OUT ROSES:Knock Out ♦Blushing Knock Out ♦Pink Knock Out ♦Double Knock Out ♦Rainbow Knock Out ♦Carefree Sunshine ♦

Earth Kind roses are selected roses that Texas A&M University Agriculture program has given an important designation. The list continues to grow as new selections meet the rigorous criteria. So far, only 15 Earth Kind Roses have received the Earth Kind designation and evaluation by a team of horticultural experts. These roses have undergone rigorous testing for maximum gardening enjoyment while protecting our environment. These roses perform very well in almost any soil type and are disease and insect resistant. They rarely require the use of chemical pesticides.

EARTH KIND ROSES:

Belinda’s Dream ♦Caldwell Pink ♦Climbing Pinkie ♦Ducher ♦Duchesse de Brabant ♦Else Poulsen ♦Georgetown Tea ♦Katy Road Pink (Carefree Beauty) ♦Knock Out ♦Marie Daly ♦Mutabilis ♦Perl d’Or ♦Sea Foam ♦Spice ♦The Fairy ♦

I hope you will consider planting these roses and see how they fare in your garden. THINK GREEN!

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(Continued on page 6)

The Great Rosarians of the World Lecture Series 2008 – East Coast Event took place in New York City on April 4th & 5th. The theme of the event was “The Sustainable Rose Garden” and the 2008 recipient of the Great Rosarians Award was William J. (Bill) Radler. He was honored for his work in hybridizing disease resistant roses and in particular the ‘Knock Out’ family of roses.For many years Rosarians have accepted that in order to grow great roses with clean foliage and abundant blooms, they needed to spray chemicals to prevent disease. Roses were bred for form, specifically exhibition form and color. Disease resistance was not a prime objective. The hybridizers gave the rose loving public what they craved and that was a rose that would win on the show table.There is a growing awareness and concern that the chemicals used to protect our roses from the ravages of disease are polluting the environment. One by one, these chemicals are being banned by environmental protection agencies worldwide. The day may soon come when we will have to accept this as a reality in our own gardens.Is it possible to grow great roses without the use of chemicals? The answer is a resounding yes. Through the efforts of rose hybridizers, such as William J. Radler, the 2008 Great Rosarian of the World honoree, the dream of easy care roses has become a reality. “The Sustainable Rose Garden”, the program and the book, is dedicated to bringing the rose loving public the information necessary to transform their gardens into an oasis of beauty without the use of harsh chemicals.The Great Rosarians of the World Lecture series was originally conceived in 2001 by Clair G. Martin, III, Shannon Curator of the Rose & Perennial Gardens, The Huntington Botanical Garden, San Marino, CA. It was conceived as an annual lecture series to honor notable Rosarians from around the world and provide them with a forum to present their work to a broader American audience. We would like to thank Clair Martin and The Huntington Botanical Garden for offering the Manhattan Rose Society and The New York Metropolitan Rose Council, the opportunity to bring this prestigious event to New York.We are grateful to the Southampton Rose Society for their generous sponsorship of this event and for the continued support of their efforts of Manhattan Rose Society and the American Rose Society.The Conard-Pyle Company-Star Roses was the primary sponsor of The 3rd Annual New York Metropolitan Rose

Council Dinner. Star Roses is the primary distributor of the Radler roses in the US. www.starroses.comOrganic Plant Healthcare was the primary sponsor of The 2008 Great Rosarians of the World Lecture Series – East Coast. Organic Plant Healthcare is the manufacturer and distributor of Peter Beales Complete Natural Rose Care, a new organic product that addresses the health of your roses and the soil at every stage of their growth cycle, from early spring fertilization with “Good Morning Roses” to summer fertilization with “Good Afternoon Roses” to preparation for dormancy with “Good Night Roses” plus “Good Health Roses” an all natural fungicide and insecticide. www.organicplanthealthcare.com The event began on Friday, April 4th with an Art Exhibition of botanical watercolors by Maria Cecelia Freeman entitled, “Portraits of Roses – Species to ‘Knock Out”. These magnificent paintings were on exhibit at The Horticultural Society of New York which also hosted the Opening Reception on Friday afternoon. This important event visually documented the evolution of the rose from the appearance of species roses to today’s ‘Knock Out’ roses and underscored the beauty of this journey.On Friday evening The 3rd Annual New York Metropolitan Rose Council Dinner was held at Opia, in honor of William Radler. We had a wonderful turnout for this dinner which was also attended by many members of the surrounding local rose societies. We were most honored to have with us Ambassador Faith Whittlesey, Chairman Emeritus, American Swiss Foundation and the former US Ambassador to Switzerland. Peter Beales, president of Peter Beales Roses, former president of The Royal National Rose Society and the first recipient of the Great Rosarians of the World Award in 2001 and Richard Beales, Director of Peter Beales Roses, traveled from the United Kingdom to join us. Also present was Adeline Christie, Immediate Past President of the Southampton Rose Society & Alfred Christie; Stephen Scanniello, President of The Heritage Rose Foundation; Steve Jones, President of the American Rose Society & Sue Jones; Marilyn Wellan, Immediate Past President of the American Rose Society; Clair Martin, III, Shannon Curator of the Rose & Perennial Gardens, The Huntington Botanical Garden, San Marino, CA and Maria Cecelia Freeman, Botanical Artist documenting roses.Representing The Conard-Pyle Company-Star Roses at the dinner was Mr. & Mrs. Steve Hutton. Mr. Hutton is

the GReAt RoSARiAnS of the woRld lectUReS SeRieS 2008“The Sustainable Garden”

by Pat Shanley, ARS Master Rosarian & Horticultural Judge,President, Manhattan Rose Society

Page 6 dune seor

A moment in RoSe hiStoRy

by Lorraine Weitsen

Thirty two years ago in the living room of Dorothy Nigro (President Emeritus 1976–1979), the Southampton Rose Society was born. The original society was made up of a small, interested, and hardworking group of men and women.The purpose of the SRS then and now has been to emphasize the formation of an educational program based on sound horticultural principles with strict adherence to the standards set by the American Rose Society. The society has continued to grow and prosper inspiring more and more people to grow roses.As Mrs. Nigro said: “Perhaps the greatest satisfaction of rose growing is that roses respond in equal measure to the love and care we lavish on them.”

the President and CEO. He presented a numbered print of Ms Freeman’s painting of ‘Knock Out’ to Bill Radler at the dinner. Representing Organic Plant Healthcare at the dinner was Billy Styles, President and Alan Talbert, Vice President for Operations.Also joining us was Paul Zimmerman, President and owner, Ashdown Roses Nursery; Betty Vickers, Secretary of The Heritage Rose Foundation; Joyce Fleming, Canadian Rose Hybridizer; Sam and Nancy Jones from The Nashville Rose Society, Nashville, TN and George and Susy Meiling from The Central Ohio Rose Society. Continuing the trend towards sustainability, George recently installed an Earthkind Rose Garden at the Columbus Park Rose Garden in Columbus, OH.Representing The New York Botanical Garden was Peter Kukielski, Curator of The Peggy Rockefeller Rose Garden & Rose Collections and Sabine Stezenbach, Director of Continuing Education. Representing the Brooklyn Botanic Garden was Anne O’Neill, Curator of The Cranford Rose Garden; Patrick Cullina, Vice President for Horticulture and Facilities; Lois Carswell, Former Chairman of the Board; Dagni Senzel, member of the Board and Sue Feldbaum, Cranford Rose Garden Volunteer. Representing Planting Fields Arboretum State Historic Park was Vincent Simione, Director and Ellen Minet, Curator of The Rose Garden. Representing The Horticultural Society of New York was Barbara A. Margolis, Chairman of the Board; Anthony Smith, President; Kate Chura, Vice President; Katherine Powis, Librarian and Alex Feleppa, Director of Horticulture. Representing the City of New York was Ronnit Bendavid-Val, Acting Director of Horticulture, Department of Parks & Recreation. In all there were 75 in attendance.On Saturday The New York Botanical Garden hosted the first-ever Great Rosarians of the World program which explored the emerging world of no spray, sustainable rose gardening, beginning with basics such as soil and practices that are beneficial to the environment and gardeners’ health and extending into the selection of easy-care rose varieties that maintain their beauty with no chemical spraying.Morning speakers included Steve Jones, Peter Kukielski, Clair Martin III, Anne O’Neill, Stephen Scanniello, Marilyn Wellan, Paul Zimmerman and James Sotillo co-owner of Treewise: The Organic Experts. In the afternoon, William J. Radler delivered his Great Rosarians of the World 2008 Lecture. The lecture was fascinating and Bill recounted the story of how ‘Knock Out’ came to be. He revealed that just one seed was produced from the crosses he made in his attempt to hybridize a truly disease resistant rose and that seed

germinated into ‘Knock Out.’ In general, there is a 20% chance of any seed germinating, so imagine the significance of this seed surviving and producing a truly disease resistant –totally black spot resistant rose. It is this writer’s opinion that future generations of Rosarians will look back on this creation as a truly historic event.A wonderful reception in honor of Mr. Radler followed his program. Registered attendees received a complimentary copy of the book, “The Sustainable Rose Garden,” and a Great Rosarians of the World tote bag to take with them. The program was very well attended and enjoyed by all.

“The Sustainable Rose Garden” – the book – was published by Manhattan Rose Society and was made possible through the efforts of Gene Waering, Vice President and Program Chairman, Manhattan Rose Society. It is comprised of essays from all of the presenters plus essays from Ellen Spector Platt acclaimed Garden Writer, Billy Styles, President of Organic Plant Healthcare, Pat Henry of Roses Unlimited Nurseries and Robin Ross of Eden Bioscience -Messenger. Ambassador Faith Whittlesey wrote the foreword for our book. Maria Cecelia Freeman donated her beautiful artwork for the cover.All in all this was a historic and ground breaking event. It is our hope that this event will help pave the way towards growing great roses safely and easily, without harsh chemicals, to help preserve our environment for our children and all the generations to come.To order your copy of “The Sustainable Rose Garden” send $12 ($9 + $3 shipping) to Pat Shanley, PO Box 442, Locust Valley, NY 11560. Discount available for bulk orders for rose societies. For further information: pshanley@aol.com

the Great Rosarians of the world lecture Series 2008(continued)

Page 7dune seor

advisory board

Peter Bertrand Cynthia Brodsky

Adeline Christie Joy Cordery

Harvey Feinstein Carole Guest

Jane Indoe

oFFicers

President Dennis P. Sheahan

1st Vice President, Art Competition Chair Carol Kroupa

2nd Vice President, Membership Chair Nancy Rollins

3rd Vice President, Rose Show Chair Gloria Kaye

Financial Vice President, Treasurer Cornelia Bostwick

Secretary Joanne McEvoy-Samborn

Program Chairperson Lee Packman

SRS Rose Garden Chairperson Helga Dawn-Frohling

Dune Rose Editors Lorraine and Bob Weitsen

Publicity Chairperson Lyn Hamer

The Southampton Rose Society, established in 1976, is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization affiliated with the American Rose Society.

Dune Rose is the newsletter of the Southampton Rose Society, which is published March through November.

Editors: LorrainE and BoB WEitsEn

PuBLication dEsign & Layout: sErra yavuz

southamPton rose society

Po box 1022southamPton, ny 11969-1022

www.southampton-rose-society.org

The competition coincides with the SRS’s annual Rose Show Competition. More information about the Rose Show, written by Gloria Kaye, will be in our June issue.

You may pre-register for the event or register on the day of the competition. The art work may include paintings only. They may be any size and in any media, BUT must contain a rose theme.

Contestants may submit multiple entries and compete in one of three categories: Professional, Amateur, or Student.

The Art work will be judged by Michael and Kimberly Vierra and Terry Wallace between 11 AM and 1 PM. Winners will be announced at a 1 PM ceremony.

Prizes are as follows:Professional 1st — $500.00 2nd — $250.00Amateur 1st — $300.00 2nd — $150.00Student 1st — $200.00 2nd — $100.00

BeSt in Show competitionSaturday, June 21, 2008

by Carol Kroupa, 1st Vice President & Art Chair

HoW to PLant a Mini rosE

cHiLdrEn’s EducationaL PrograM

saturday, May 24, 10:30 aM

agEs 5-10

srs rosE gardEn

rogErs MEMoriaL LiBrary

rEPLy By May 12tH

Adults Children

Name

Please reply to: Ms. Nancy Rollins131 Herrick Road, Southampton, NY 11968chnarol@msn.com ♦ 631.287.4881

MEMBErs’ BrEakfast foruM

gary LaWrEncE, sPEakEr

“Houses of the Hamptons 1880-1930”

saturday, May 10, 9:30 – 11:30 aM

75 Main RestaurantSouthampton

rEPLy By May 6tH

I,

Plan to attend!

Please reply to: Ms. Nancy Rollins131 Herrick Road, Southampton, NY 11968chnarol@msn.com ♦ 631.287.4881

Dune Rose is printed by Madison Copy and Blueprint Center, Hampton Bays, NY 11946

Southampton Rose SocietyP.O. Box 1022

Southampton, NY 11969-1022SRS 2008 CALENDAR

May 10 — MEMBErs’ BrEakfast foruM

Guest Speaker Gary Lawrance “Houses of the Hamptons 1880-1930”

May 24 — cHiLdrEn’s EducationaL PrograM

Rogers Memorial Library/SRS Rose GardenJunE 21 — annuaL rosE sHoW/rosE art coMPEtition

Rogers Memorial Library

JunE 22 — MEMBErs’ gardEn tour

Southampton, NY

JuLy 19 — srs cocktaiL Party fund raisEr

sEPtEMBEr 14 — srs annuaL gardEn Party & PHotograPHy coMPEtition aWards

Home of Mrs. Cynthia BrodskyoctoBEr 11 — annuaL MEEting/LEcturE LuncHEon

Guest Speaker, Mme Odile Masquelier Lecturer, Author and Proprietor of “La Bonne Maison,” France