Horizon Roses, published annually for almost forty years, is a collection of comments by the nation’s top exhibitors on the potential of the newest roses in all categories for exhibition.

The current edition contains 2,138 reports on 313 roses by 85 reporters. The reports include 67 new roses not mentioned in prior issues. All comments are candid and reported in the words of the reporter (with some abbreviation and condensation). The reports are presented alphabetically and include show statistics of reported varieties. In addition, information is provided on known sources for the reviewed varieties.

Horizon Roses is produced entirely by volunteers under the direction of Bob Martin, National Editor and nine regional editors. The regional editors solicit and compile the comments from selected top exhibitors in their region and forward them for final compilation.

Bob has been an Editor for Horizon Roses for 16 years and the National Editor for five years. He is the Executive Director of the American Rose Exhibitors Society, the Editor of Rose Exhibitors’ Quarterly, and the author of the book Showing Good Roses. Bob maintains a website covering U.S. rose shows at www.RoseShow.com. He was honored for his lifetime contribution to rose education as a 2009 recipient of the American Rose Societies’ Klima Medal.

Bob’s presentation is not only educational and of interest to all exhibitors, but filled with breath taking photographs of the many winners that might deserve some consideration for a place in your garden.

Bob has been growing roses for over forty years and is an active rose exhibitor at all levels and the 2007 recipient of the American Rose Societies’ Guy Blake Hedrick Jr. Award for lifetime achievement in rose exhibiting. He is also a hybridizer with nine registered varieties, including the show roses ‘‘Butter Cream’’, ‘’Peter Cottontail’’ and’ ‘Pasadena Star’’ as well as his newest rose, ‘Dona Martin’, a sport of the extraordinary new exhibition hybrid tea, ‘Randy Scott’. Bob also serves as the western regional director of the Rose Hybridizers Association.

He and his wife Dona live in Escondido, California, where they have a rose garden of more than 350 roses of all types. He is an ARS Master Rosarian, an Accredited Horticultural Judge, and an Accredited Arrangements Judge.

President’s Message

February in the low desert and soon to be in the high desert is like the frosting on the garden cake of life for me. The clean fresh air, crystal blue skies, and perfect gardening temperatures thrill my gardener’s heart.

The roses are showing signs growth from their annual hard pruning that promises a spectacular initial display. While I miss the blossoms, it is great to see everything cleaned up, fresh, renewed, and ready to receive the “new girls.” I find a certain Zen serenity and since of new beginnings after pruning and planting season every year.

Speaking of the “new girls,” while I promise myself every year that I will not add anymore (usually just after pruning I make this declaration) there are always some I know that I will not be able to live without especially after writing the article on fragrance for this issue of our newsletter. However, before I buy, I usually check out each candidate with HelpMeFind.com/roses to determine if is right for my garden. Sometimes I have found the new love of my life is heat sensitive, too tall, too short, does not repeat bloom, etc.

For some great tips on buying roses, do not miss Past President Hal Reynolds informative article in our Desert Rose Care Guide that is free to new members and just $5.00 otherwise. Few people know more about buying roses than Hal as he has over 400 in his garden and previously owned a nursery.

In addition, this month’s speaker, Bob Martin, National Editor of Horizon Roses, will present roses that promise to not only do well in the garden but also score well in exhibition.

As well, the Information/Membership table at our March meeting will offer lists of roses available from our local nurseries, these in addition to your favorite internet sites should provide you with a wide assortment of choices. An excellent list of nurseries, mail order sources, and web sites were listed in our January newsletter as well. However, roses in general will be in shorter supply this year than others, so whatever way you choose to make your selections, I would suggest that you shop and buy early.

February also brings us Valentine’s Day. I hope you will consider passing up the candy and other gifts and consider giving roses in bouquets, decorative containers, pots, or bare root.

In the rose garden…

Ideally, it is best to finish all of your pruning in January, but critical by the end of February to give your garden enough time to renew itself and give you the maximum number of bloom cycles before summer puts your plants to sleep.

• Wait to fertilize until you have about one-inch of growth unless you are using organics, then immediately after pruning is appropriate.

•  Continue to plant bare root and container roses this month, which is best done shortly after you bring them home. January and February are the best months to plant in our climate.

•  Do not forget to keep your bare root roses well hydrated until they are planted by opening them immediately and submerging them in a container of water for at least twenty-four hours and up to three days prior to planting. I have actually kept them submerged for longer periods and usually add just a drop of Superthrive.

• Keep in mind that our desert soil is almost devoid of any organic matter, so what you give your plant in the planting hole is all that will nourish it. I usually mix one-half planting mix with one-half garden soil to get good results.

•  Add soil amendments and three to four inches of mulch or compost on top and wait on the will of spring for your next bouquet.

Think Rosy Thoughts,

Sharon Radice Moore, President