Question:
I have about thirty large rose bushes, was out trimming some this morning. Lot more to go, but they are not blooming yet, not time. A few have several different colors on one bush, interesting. I keep forgetting the fertilizer.

Answer:
Originally Posted by castorpollux wow very nice pictures!
I personally love white roses, if they're intensely scented, all the better.
just a bit unrelated to roses (i think): is there a flower that has more than 2 or 3 colors? i'd like to see one that has 7 or 8 colors! I really can't think of a single flower that has a rainbow of colors. But! I'm sure they're working on it.
--------------------------------------
Originally Posted by TDDanae I have about thirty large rose bushes, was out trimming some this morning. Lot more to go, but they are not blooming yet, not time. A few have several different colors on one bush, interesting. I keep forgetting the fertilizer. Yes! I had about thirty bushes at the house. I grew a gradiflora with red petals that were white on the inside, with no overlap red or white in the flower, no pink. It was planted in front of the house and grew to about 9 feet tall. I had pink grandifloras in the back that got to six feet.
Neighbors used to come over and ask about the 9 footer and I told them it was a freak.
This story I believe is true. there was a miracle ferilizer sold that instructed you to add a tablespoon to a gallon of water per rose. Folks were joyous at the improvement in their bushes. Turns out the fertilizer was water, the gallon of water a day was keeping them healthy. Roses like direct sunlight, except for some of the whites, and they drink a whole lot of water.
from Kew Gardens in London:
and a Swiss stamp
the rose on the stamp is called Papa Meilland

Answer:
For those of you on East side of the nation, what do you do about Japanese Beetles? I just about gave up on roses - almost blinded myself with Sevin one day, and the little buggers just eat the blooms down to nothing without the major poison.

Answer:
we used Beetle bags
http://www.saferbrand.com/landscape/japanesebeetle.htm
I had two on my property. 30 plants were spared the nonsense of seeing a bud opening in the morning and find when you came home at supper time the whole thing had been eaten.
They work very well. The beetles think it's either "george clooney' or 'scarlett johannson' beetle waiting for just them and pow!
They work and they're simple and little kids love watching beetles die in the bottom of the bag.
--------------------------------------
a rose thread needs roses to stay alive.


Answer:

another pink rose and time to prune up here in NJ

Answer:
Originally Posted by fredricktoo
another pink rose and time to prune up here in NJ That's beautiful. It's delicate. Strong. Alive.
I don't have a green thumb but once planted about five or six types of flowers as a scientific experiment. Conclusion: marigolds are INDESTRUCTIBLE! I could relieve myself into the pot after a night of hard drinking and they'd only grow taller.

Answer:
Any suggestions for fungicides for this humid climate? Something not too hazardous to the gardener's health?

Answer:
I found the best growing tips from the rose sellers I went to. Not Sears or Home depot but the Mom & Pop places. If I remember clearly mulching with sphagnum moss kept a lot of fungal diseases at bay because there was less splash when watering. Blck spot affets certain breeds and I removed leaves as soon as I saw them.
Also if there's a city or county rose garden nearby it helps to get to know the person responsible for their care.

Answer:
For anybody that lives in KC, there's a mom and pop place on about 82nd and Metcalf. It seems that they bought their house before it was a big business area, so they just converted their home into their place of business. It's quite cute actually, a quaint little home next to a gas station and a car dealership, with a grease monkey car shop across the street. I haven't been there in a while, but if I remember correctly, they've got about 50 rose plants, and assorted breeds of other flowers, and the usual fertilizers.
- Rich

Answer:
We do have quite a deer problem in our area, and I have found a solution that works as well as anything and better than most (expensive bitter sprays, stinky coyote pee, etc.): Garlic powder. Cheap and effective. Of course, it tends to cover up the fragrance, but so do the other remedies. Works on tulips and other deer delights, as well.