While cleaning up my husband’s papers, I came across this piece of ethos amongst his notes while a student at a Dale Carnegie class. That must be at least 40 years ago. It applied then and it still very much applies today. What it means to be an American.
Warm, sunny days and cool nights make our roses bloom larger and more brilliantly colored. However, we still have to do our part to make it happen.
The summer heat typically continues into the month of September in the Charleston area. Up north where I came from, the temperature usually cools off after Labor Day weekend. Regardless of where you are, to prepare your roses for the coming winter, if rain does not come, you have to supplement the rain. Your roses will need daily watering in order to avoid stress. Water deeply, often and well. If you plan to exhibit or showcase your roses in any of the fall rose shows, you have to water daily as this will increase the substance of your blooms. Deep watering is needed, or the little feeder roots on the plant will grow toward the surface seeking moisture. Well-hydrated roses fare better during the winter months.
To get your roses growing for the fall flush, a variety of fertilizers can be used. Granular fertilizers, if used, should be discontinued after early Sept. A balanced water-soluble fertilizer should be applied every two weeks through the end of September. Fish emulsion can be used along with the water-soluble fertilizer. After the initial growth spurt, the roses will benefit from the reduction of nitrogen with the use of a bloom booster formulation, one with the high middle number to get larger blooms of intense color. Discontinue fertilizers from October through mid-March.
The fall “pruning” is better described as a cutback because the bushes are not taken down as far as the spring pruning. The growth should be reduced by ¼ to 1/3 depending on whether it is a very large established bush or a new bush planted in the previous spring. Do remove any spindly stems, blind eye clusters and dead stems or canes. The cutback should be done in late Aug. or early Sept. for gorgeous fall blooms. It will take about 6 weeks for the large roses to recycle and between four to five weeks for minis and minifloras.
Continue the spray program through the entire fall to keep leaves free of disease. Choices of spray material should include a systemic and a contact material used together. The systemic should be alternated. In order to treat blackspot, spray every other day for three or four times and then go back to your regular spray program. If insects become a problem, a spray program will need to be initiated for control. Premixed Bayer Advanced Garden Rose and Insect Killer is an excellent choice for control of aphids, leafhoppers, scale and thrip.
Continue to cut roses for bouquets through the end of October. Some growers prefer to let rose hips form by removing only the petals of spent roses. This signal the plants that the dormant season is coming. The plants sense this as the days become cooler and shorter.
Fall is a good time to test your soil in order to be sure that your soil pH has not been changed in a negative way before winter and its challenges to your roses begins. Directions for testing: Take samples from several spots in the garden using clean plastic shovel and bucket. Combine the samples, mixing well. Send a sandwich bag of the composite sample to your extension agent’s office. Be sure to tell them that the test is for roses and request recommendations with your test.
Start thinking about new roses for the coming year. Check the rose catalogs and order your roses now to get the best selection.
Prepare your Christmas wish list. For the special person on your Christmas wish list who loves roses, give that special person “Stop and Smell the Roses”, a beautiful book full of roses in full color, over 80 photos with 101 motivational tips for a happy and healthy lifestyle. You can order the hard copy at Barnes and Noble. Paperback and Kindle are available at Amazon. Order “Stop and Smell the Roses” today.
Until next time. Stop and smell the roses.
Starting Monday, July 16, 2018 at 8:00 a.m. PDT and ends on Sunday, July 22, 2018 at 8:00 a.m. PDT when it goes back to its regular price of $4.99. you can order the kindle copy of Stop and Smell the Roses for $1.99 at Amazon.com. Click here to buy now.
Feeling stressed out? Stop and smell the roses and 100 other tips in a new motivational book to help you get inspired to make positive changes in your lives to make you happy, healthy and successful. In a frenetic world we live in, we find ourselves overwhelmed, overworked and stressed out. Isn’t it time to change our bad habits? Most of our health problems are due to our unhealthy lifestyle. Studies show that stressful living causes health problems.
Inspire yourself into a healthy lifestyle! Stop and Smell the Roses!
Do you know that roses have curative powers? In the olden days, roses were used to make all sorts of medicinal potions to cure maladies and drive away bad spirits. A bouquet of roses uplifts the spirits any day of the year. Even a single rose in a room will liven it up on dreary days. When we are in distress, a rose will cheer us up.
“Stop and Smell the Roses” includes some of the roses I grow in my garden. There are 33 roses featured in the book in full color. If you are unable to visit a rose garden, this is the next best thing.
Find out how you can improve your well-being by following simple tips for stress-free living. I invite you to my garden. So take a break and stop and smell the roses.
Take advantage of the Limited Time Offer. Get your copy today!
Until next time. Stop and smell the roses.
Rosalinda Morgan
Class: Rose Species
Syns: R. banksiana, Banksian rose, Banks’ Rose, Lady Banks’
Cultivated since 1796
Rosa banksiae is one of the best shrubs for a wall and in a few years will reach the top of most houses. It produces an abundance of pretty small roses with the sweetest fragrance you can imagine. The flowers are borne on last year’s wood and so it is well-advised not to prune in the spring. Only dead or useless branches have to be trimmed. The date of introduction is not known but the double white form was first described in the Botanical Magazine for 1818 as Lady Banks’ Rose and one of the sweetest of roses. It has also been known as a native of China and had been introduced in 1807 by William Kerr. The double yellow was introduced in 1824.
Definitely not for the small property, this vigorous species rose offers a spectacular spring show in warm-climate gardens that can accommodate its rampant growth habit. There are four different forms of R. banksiae, varying by flower color and flower form.
· R. banksiae normalis is considered to be the “wild” form, with single white flowers.
· R. banksiae banksiae (also known as ‘Banksiae Alba’, R. banksiae alba, R.banksiae alba-plena, White Banksia, or White Lady Banks’ Rose) offers exceptionally fragrant, double white flowers.
· R. banksiae lutea (R. banksiae lutea-plena, Yellow Lady Banks’ Rose) is the most well-known form of Rosa banksiae in cultivation with small, fully double, bright yellow flowers that come in clusters. They are only slightly fragrant.
· R. Banksiae lutescens has single light yellow blooms.
All four have small, oval buds that open to clustered, 1-inch wide, rosette-form flowers, usually blooming in early or midspring to late spring. Slender, thornless canes carry semi-evergreen to evergreen, shiny, dark green leaves with narrow leaflets. They are rarely bothered by diseases.
All four forms of this specie rose have a vigorous, rambling habit and can grow up to 30 ft, so they’re usually used as 20 to 30-foot climbers. They need a sturdy support, such as a well-built pergola or arbor; they also like to scramble into trees. It is a great rose for zone 8 to 10.
I saw Rosa banksiae in Charleston, SC on my first visit there in 1989. We went on a House and Garden Tour and at one of the gardens we visited, ‘Yellow Lady Banks’ was growing almost to the roof of the house against the wall. We wandered along some tiny street and I saw ‘Yellow Lady Banks’ rose by the gate and I took the above photo. Fast forward to 2011 – when I joined the Charleston Lowcountry Rose Society, I discovered the owner of that rose is one of our members.
Tip of the Day – Learn to be cheerful even if you don’t feel like it.
Until next time. Stop and smell the roses.
Rosalinda
Two years ago to the day, Feb. 1, 2016, my husband was diagnosed with Chronic Kidney Disease. He was not feeling well for months and his doctors could not figure out why. He was so sick that day, that I insisted I take him to emergency.
Within half an hour after he was wheeled to emergency, I was told he had to go to ICU. All his numbers at all tests were out of whack. That’s how bad he was. Long story short, he has been on dialysis ever since. I opted for home dialysis because I could not take it going to the clinic three times a week. This way, I can hook him up to his machine at night for 12 hours straight and I can still have my day free.
There are five stages of chronic kidney disease and unfortunately, he has Stage 5 End Stage Renal Disease. It sounds terrible but it’s the fact. He has no kidney function whatsoever. Death is such a morbid topic but I’m realistic. I told him he cannot go yet. I’m not ready. I stay positive. We used to joke about it. He said he did not think this was part of the deal when we got married. Well, for better, or for worst, in sickness and in health. . .
Here are some facts about Chronic Kidney Disease per the National Kidney Foundation:
When we go to the clinic for his monthly check up, I’m amazed at how many people are undergoing treatment. Help us battle kidney disease. Many Americans know nothing about kidney disease until it is too late.
Stay healthy, eat the right food (stay away from salty food), exercise and have a positive mental attitude.
Until next time. Stop and Smell the Roses.
Rosalinda
My son went to Florida and so I was taking care of his dog in his absence. I was walking Skipper yesterday and someone across the street waved and said,”Hi Rosalinda.” She looked familiar but I could not remember her name. It was embarrassing so I just waved back and said “Hi.” I must have met her in one of the neighborhood events.
I remember when I got married, I had a tough time remembering my husband’s friends’ names But they always remember my name. Easy for them. I was the only Oriental in the crowd. I stuck out. Even now, people remember my name.
The first time, I had a garden party at my home for the ladies of my church, I extended the invitation to my pastor. When I introduced myself, he said he would always remember my name. I asked how. He said, “My favorite opera, ‘Die Fledermaus”’. People associate things with names so they can remember them. I did that during my early years in the states since most Americans to me at that time looked alike and I could not remember all their names.
Coming back to my name, people always remember Rosalinda. Is it because it is easy to remember or because it is something unusual. I have no clue. Most of my old friends called me Linda. But now, most people called me Rosalinda. People asked me why I didn’t use Rosalinda since it is such a pretty name. I said it is too long. Some people called me Rose, Rosie, Roslyn, Rosalind or worst yet Rosa. I hate Rosa. Please don’t call me Rosa. Ever!
Since Rosalinda is my official name, I use that name more often now. My signature is Rosalinda. I’m so involved in the rose society I have to use Rosalinda, more appropriate for a flower-related club. Don’t you think?
Talking of Rosalinda, some people asked me about Billy Joel’s Rosalinda’s Eyes. I love the song for obvious reason. It has my name on it. Billy Joel also happens to live in Oyster Bay across the bay from where I used to live. Sad to say, I never bumped into Billy Joel while I was there although some people see him in town most of the time. It will be nice to meet him in person but I am not about to seek him out. He has a motorcycle museum in town. Few people asked me if I was the Rosalinda in his song. Of course not, not in a million years! I have never seen or met the man in person. I have never been to his concert either.
The inspiration for his song was his mother whose name is also Rosalinda.
Here is the lyric to the song from Billy Joel’s website – https://www.billyjoel.com/song/rosalindas-eyes-2/
I play nights in the Spanish part of town
I’ve got music in my hands
The work is hard to find
But that don’t get me down
Rosalinda understands
Crazy Latin dancing solo down in Herald Square
Oh Havana I’ve been searching for you everywhere
And though I’ll never be there
I know what I would see there
I can always find my Cuban skies
In Rosalinda’s eyes
When she smiles she gives everything to me
When she’s all alone she cries
And I’d do anything to take away her tears
Because they’re Rosalinda’s eyes
Senorita don’t be lonely, I will soon be there
Oh Havana I’ve been searching for you everywhere
I’ve got a chance to make it
It’s time for me to take it
I’ll return before the fire dies
In Rosalinda’s eyes
All alone in a Puerto Rican band
Union wages, wedding clothes
Hardly anyone has seen how good I am
But Rosalinda says she knows
Crazy Latin dancing solo down in Herald Square
Oh Havana I’ve been searching for you everywhere
And though I’ll never be there
I know what I would see there
I can always find my Cuban skies
In Rosalinda’s eyes
How do you remember names? I presume if you associate my name with Billy Joel’s song, you’ll remember my name. Won’t you?
Until next time. Stop and smell the roses.
Rosalinda
I did it! I am a 2015 NANOWRIMO WINNER.
I finished the NANOWRIMO (National Novel Writing Month) Challenge for 2015 in spite of all the distractions in November. It is the third book in the series “Journey to Freedom”. I’m proud of myself having achieved my goal. I knew if I put my mind into it and focused with the determination to finish, I could do it and I did. I worked hard every day, thinking about my story and putting it all on paper. I woke up an hour earlier than usual and worked steadily putting word after word as I brought the story to life. I made the required word count of 50,000 on Nov. 23. I finished yesterday with 57,632 words.
I saved my draft in two places in my computer and made a hard copy and will take a break in December. The easy part is over. The next step is harder when I start editing.
So stay tuned.
Until next time, stop and smell the roses.
Rosalinda
Get your copy today at www.amazon.com/author/rosalindarmorgan.
Rosalinda R Morgan 