Green Finger Gardening

Ask anyone who has a green thumb about rose gardening, and you may need a tape recorder to remember all the advice you’ll get! Almost anyone who has an interest in gardening flowers and plants will eventually mosey into rose territory. It’s almost irresistible because of the beauty and scent of one of the most popular plants on earth.

A rose is like no other. Rose gardening then will certainly open up grounds for controversy among fellow gardeners. It’s a subject like that of rearing children. To the rose gardening crowd, their plants often become like their own children. They must be fed and nourished and guided properly to bloom and flourish into their majestic beauty.

Gardeners have been known to talk to their plants to coax them into perfect health.

Rose gardening is sure to involve getting your hands dirty. If you want to truly enjoy the experience, you must dig in with gusto and heartily embrace your adventure. Well, there are gloves, you know; but the earth welcomes the hands-on experience. Some say it is quite gratifying to become like one with the soil.

There is surely an art to rose gardening. The experience can be as simple or as scientific as you so choose. You may want to stock up on things like mulch, a shovel, a hoe, weed-killer, a watering can or hose, and maybe something called Miracle Grow or “food” for your rose plants. Not to mention bandaids if your plants have thorns! You’re certain to get pricked at some point if you have the type of rose plant that produces thorns. It’s all part of the true rose gardening experience.
Roses have been known to contract diseases, so you want to know your plants well to be able to recognize unhealthy changes in their leaves, color, overall health. Any living thing is susceptible to such and must be monitored.

Certainly some research is recommended should you choose to begin rose gardening. It would be advisable to research your particular type of rose plant. The adorable miniature roses may need different care than another type of rose plant. Also, a rose that grows well in one area of the globe may struggle in another.

Unsure where to start? The internet has vast amounts of information for rose gardening. There are gardening clubs in many areas. You can search your local library or favored book store for the proper books or magazines. Maybe it would be a good way to meet that neighbor you never knew how to approach. There are also many elderly gardeners who would enjoy mentoring the right student in rose gardening.

Remember, when you choose your rose plant, you may want to share the beautiful blossoms with someone special, or many someones. A child’s teacher, some lonely person in a nursing home or hospital, someone who is unable to enjoy the rose gardening experience firsthand, a favored relative or friend. So make sure you choose carefully and choose enough to share! A rose just isn’t meant to enjoy alone.
Don

www.greenfingergardening.com

Because white is a symbol of purity, honor, and innocence, white roses are often the type of flower chosen for weddings. They seem to exude cleanliness, freshness, and sophistication. A bush loaded full with white roses is an outstanding sight to behold! One might think of them as having heavenly beauty.

The beginning of a new relationship, a fresh start, a baby’s birth, could be celebrated with a gift of breathtaking white roses. They can bring an air of importance to any event, or to your outdoor scenery. They can bring out the best in a formal setting and add a teasing glimpse of bright color and beauty to an informal setting.
White roses are used in garlands, as adornments for hair, decoration on hats, or in corsages and boutonnieres. When used fresh, they can only last a few hours.

Proper preparation for long use of fresh white roses includes:

1. Soak the stem in room-temperature water for a few hours prior to use.

2. Wrap the end of the stem or stems tightly in florist’s tape to contain the moisture.

3. Slip wires discreetly beneath the florist’s tape and pierce the calyx. [The calyx is the outer group of protective leaves of a flower.] The wire helps stiffen the stem.

There is such a thing as a glass lapel vase. When refilled, often it will keep the flowers strong for days.
White roses can be ordered and shipped overnight. It is possible to find them for about forty dollars a dozen. They can be mixed with other colored flowers to brighten an arrangement.

White on roses that aren’t mean to be white can signify downy mildew. This condition is brought on by hot days and cold nights; possibly there will not be enough air circulation. There is a fungicide available. Always read the labels to determine that it will be what is best for your particular climate and plant. As with any chemical, you should use a fungicide with care. Using mulch around the roots is helpful to protect against this condition.

An interesting white rose is a Cherokee rose. It comes from the Orient, made its way to Florida, and escaped to become the wild rose of the South. Soldiers during the Civil War planted this rose on the graves of fallen comrades. Indian legends have been made about this white rose. Also in the south, there is a leafy white rose native to North Central Texas. The most famous rose gardens are in Tyler, Texas, known for its field-grown roses. An autumn rose festival is held there each year. It is not unusual to see wild white roses running wild in south Texas, at a height of up to eight feet. White roses do indeed add a wild grace to an untamed countryside.

Early Christians used to shun the rose, believing it a symbol of pagan corruption. The belief was also that the rose grew thorn less in the Garden of Eden and acquired thorns to remind people of their sins. How ironic that the white rose, indeed that any rose used to be shunned and is now a welcome symbol in many ways.
Don

www.greenfingergardening.com

In the Greco-Roman culture, the rose represented beauty, love and the season of spring. It also spoke of the fleetness of time, and therefore implied death and the next world.

In Latin Christian iconography, the first use of the rose appears in the scenes representing the next world. Also used were the lily and other flowers. These flowers also became symbols of virtues and of categories of the elect. The red rose represented the martyrs, and the lily, for the virgins. The rose as the queen of flowers, was evidently a privileged symbol for Mary. She is called a rose among the thorns. The rose is also a symbol of Christ who is called the Rose of Sharon.
Wonderful examples of this symbolism are found in the gothic cathedrals and their rose windows. These circular stained glass windows enhance the three entrances of these churches. These immense roses symbolize the world of salvation offered and revealed by God to our lost human race through the old and New Testaments. Christ, at the center of these rose windows, appears usually as judge or in the mystery of his Incarnation. In the latter example we see Mary presenting the Child Jesus.
During the Middle Ages the theme of the rose garden developed from the symbolism of the rose in the literature of courtly love.

In the literature’s of these times the rose was the symbol of the beloved lady. Later the influence of the Song of Songs led to the rose symbolizing the mystical union between Christ and his Church or between God and each member of his people. Mary was honored as the model of our union with God. The rose then became a symbol of the union between Christ and Mary thus titled the Mystical Rose in many writings. Marian symbolism of the rose was later popularized by the devotion of the rosary. The structured prayer form of 150 Hail Mary’s was termed a “rosary.” Here, with the religious, the symbolism of the rosary stands as an anthology of spirituality.

Our Lady of the rosary is Our Lady of the roses. The roses are the symbols of greeting offered to the Mother of God. The religious greet her with spiritual flowers.

Another use of the rose as a spiritual symbol is symbolic. The rose became a moral emblem to illustrate various old sayings or rules of conduct. For example: “Life is a rose. Its beauty fades rapidly.” “As the rose blossoms under the sun, I shall blossom under the eyes of God.” “I am the rose of Sharon, and the lily of the valleys.”

The rose also symbolizes the trials and tribulations of life. There will be pain amongst the beauty, blooming even in the deserts of life and thorns within the trusting of the Vine. The rose, whether depicted through the Virgin Mary or The Christ, is a symbol of love, passion and perseverance throughout all the ages and the ages to come.
Don

www.greenfingergardening.com

Although some have the ability to grow quite large, there are shrub roses smaller than four feet. Many people like to use these shrubs for barriers as well as for ornamental purposes. Shrubs make beautiful hedges that have a touch of old-world class for your landscaping. The term ‘old-world’ is used because these shrubs have been around for such a long time.
Shrub roses work well for formal or informal landscaping. If you want to balance your scenery, you could plant shrub roses among herbs. Incidentally, roses have some of the same uses as herbs.

Shrub roses have a natural ability to resist disease. They’ll grow in various climates and require little maintenance. These qualities make it a friendlier choice for the person new to gardening.

You may want to plant shrub roses to hide an imperfection on your home or in your yard. If you have an eyesore that can’t be repaired or removed, it may be a good idea to hide it with the larger shrub roses. It should draw the eye more towards the plant and less towards the eyesore, or may even hide it completely.

You may not want to plant shrubs in an area where it will be accessible for passersby to pluck your favored blooms. If you are trying to win the title of “Yard of the Month”, or something similar, placement would definitely matter! These shrubs in bloom may make it irresistible to passing admirers. Besides taking the blooms, the flowers could be damaged carelessly by wandering hands. Bruised blooms would not be a welcome sight to a judge.

The more shrubs you plant, the more beautiful blooms you can enjoy. They would make it easier to decorate for an event you may want to hold. It would save the convenience and cost of ordering flowers from someone else. The added benefit would be the pride of showing something you would have produced yourself. The shrubs would not only provide beauty, but a fragrance as well, to share with your guests.

You could use the roses from your shrubs in many ways. Suppose you are crafty, you could use them in dried flower arrangements. Maybe you want to share them with your neighbor, or use them for romantic purposes for your spouse( such as covering the bed or floor with the petals from your very own shrubs). You could try selling the blooms from your shrubs for corsages. Even a blind friend or relative could benefit from the sweet, uplifting smell of the roses. Maybe you are an artist as well as a gardener. You could plant your own shrubs for your oil, watercolor, or acrylic paintings.
Roses have one of the more dominant scents used for commercial purposes. Planting your own shrubs would give you an outdoor air freshener that you could also bring inside to show off in vases placed around a room. The rose scent can be subtle rather than overpowering. Some roses do have a stronger fragrance than others.
Don

www.greenfingergardening.com

Just like the Nike ad says “Just Do It,” this is exactly the perspective one needs in getting good at garden designs. You can always move plants around your gardens and as your ideas and taste change, your gardens can grow with you. There are some simple elements of garden design. Think of designing your garden with living art in mind being creative and free to try whatever suits your taste. There are no limitations to the creativity that’s’ within, no comparison or fear of failure. Although gardening successfully requires learning certain skills, when all is said and done a garden’s beauty is truly in the eye of the beholder. Just go for it and let your gardens be the expression of you.

Garden design and its principles used may be called by different names. There are three basic concepts when combined together will bring about good garden design. Ultimately your gardens’ design is up to you and should reflect your own personality and flare.

Order, balance and proportion are the basic structure of the garden. Order is symmetrical through repeating plants or colors. Bold or bright additions bring balance as well as adding some texture. Texture is an important ingredient. Gardens come to life with different textured plants much like the human race. All different but flowing together and being brought together through unity and harmony creating comfort and peace.

When all of the parts of the garden are flowing together it is captivating and ones’ spirit is caught up in the beauty.
Using a limited color pattern, repetition of plants and a clear focal point creates this environment. Theme gardens are very soothing: all one color, butterfly gardens or cross gardens keep you flowing in like unity.You’ll also hear a lot of talk about starting your garden with good bones. That basically means creating an outlining foundation, with trees, structures, paths, etc. for the rest of the garden to build off of. Evergreen is a favorite of the good bones.
Having a focal point is a big benefit for every garden. With no focal point the eye starts to wonder here and there without every getting a grasp of a main feature. This is not creating the harmony you desire for your gardens or creating any curb appeal. Beginning gardeners seem to pick the same flowers or foliage over and over again which has no visual interest. Planting an architectural, bold leafed plant, can restore this visual interest instead of the monotony of likeness.

Last, but not least, is adding color to your gardens. Experimenting with your favorite colors is a good way to see what works best for you. The best advice to heed though is to start out with 2-3 colors to keep the artist palette limited. You can always add new colors to your gardens by eyeballing it along the way. This way you keep the living painting flowing in the harmony you wish to relate. You will then have a peaceful retreat that you have created and enable others to share that intimate part of you.

Don

www.greenfingergardening.com

Roses may be the traditional gift given on Valentines Day, but they are definitely well received any day of the year. Buyer beware before you buy roses, know what message you are sending in the color. Men as well as women, express that they love to get flowers and floral gifts. Remember color talks! Although it is a common acceptance that all roses convey warmth and affection, the person receiving them may know and understand the meaning of roses colors and the symbolic message conveyed. It would be nice to assure that you are communicating the right message to that special person sharing a special language between the two of you.

The color of a rose can certainly be interpreted than the thought you intended. To ensure that your love (or friend) understands what the roses you are sending mean, follow the guide below so you can be sure of no misinterpreted gestures.

Orange – enthusiasm, desire and fascination

Lavender – love at first sight

Coral – desire

Pale Peach – modesty

Peach – appreciation, closing of the deal, lets get together, sincerity

Red and Yellow – jovial and happy feelings

Red and White – given together these signify unity

Yellow with Red Tip – friendship, falling in love

Yellow – Joy, gladness, friendship, delight, promise of a new beginning, welcome back, remember me, jealousy

Light Pink – admiration, sympathy, gentleness, grace, gladness, joy, sweetness
Dark Pink – appreciation, gratitude, thank-you

Pink – appreciation, thank-you, grace, perfect happiness, admiration, gentleness, please believe me

White (Bridal) – happy love

White – purity, innocence, silence, secrecy, reverance,humilty, youthfulness, I am worthy of you, Heavenly

Deep Burgundy – unconscious beauty

Red (single) – I love you

Red Dark – unconscious beauty

Red – love, beauty, courage and respect, romantic love, congratulations, I love you, job well done, sincere love, respect, courage and passion

Single in any Color – simplicity, gratitude

Red Rosebud – symbolic of purity and loveliness

White Rosebud – symbolic of girlhood

Thornless Rose – love at first sight

There is also significance and meaning to the number of roses you send which is interesting also to note.

1 Rose – Love at first sight!
2 Roses – Mutual feelings
3 Roses – I Love You!
7 Roses – I’m infatuated with you
9 Roses – Together as long as we live
10 Roses – You’re Perfect!
11 Roses – You’re my treasured one
12 Roses – Be my steady
13 Roses – Forever friends
15 Roses – I’m really sorry
20 Roses – I’m sincere towards you
21 Roses – I’m committed to you
36 Roses – I’ll remember our romantic moments
40 Roses – My love is genuine
99 Roses – I’ll love you till the day I die
100 Roses – I’m totally devoted to you
101 Roses – You’re my one and only
108 Roses – Will you marry me?
999 Roses – My love will last till the end of time
Leaves – In general they are a symbol of hope

Rose talk is the language and trend setting is the game. It does not matter whether you are shy, trying to convey a suttle message or shouting it from the stems, saying it with a rose sends a special message. These “body language” blooms are the most popular of all cut flowers and nothing quite says it like a rose. Regardless of color, number or stage of growth, rose that are sent every month conveys “beauty ever new.” Regardless if your rose recipient is not familiar with the shades meaning or number of, one message shouts out loud and clear. The person that sends roses is a romantic and is saying something very special!
Don

www.greenfingergardening.com

When sending flowers, fragrant flowers are usually at the top of the list.  Fragrant flowers just keep on giving long after the initial flower gift is received.  Who can argue that flowers are so delightful and make our spirits rise for so many different reasons.  When considering sending flowers or planting a garden, choosing fragrant flowers will definitely be a nice addition.  Everyone has their favorite fragrant flower but the list below might offer you a good idea of  the most fragrant.

Roses: Roses are the irresistible fragrant flower.  Who can resist the temptation of the first thing being is to smell the intricate rose?  All roses are not the same so be sure to use your sniffer and find the fragrance you like best.
.Sweet Alyssum: If you do not readily think of sweet alyssum when you think of fragrant flowers, try putting some by your window or door. These dainty flowers can be planted as ground cover or potted in a plant and given as a gift. Wherever these fragrant flowers are, you will catch their delicate scent.  These are a lovely, fragrant addition to your garden.
Carnations: Carnations have a very distinctive fragrance that is spicy and sweet. It is a fragrance that once you have smelled you will always recognize it’s odor.  Carnations have a wonderful lingering that will fill your house.  Carnations also seem to last longer than other cut flowers.

Gardenias: Gardenias, what is there to say about such a beautifully fragrant, gorgeous flower?  Gardenias are all alike so a container full of these fragrant treasures are “oh so heavenly.”  This lovely flower is always a great choice!
Freesia: This very sweet flower is very pleasing to our senses and is used in room spray, candles and hair supplies.  Freesia is a very popular scent and always a safe choice.

Jasmine: Jasmine, oh how sweet it is!  This delicate flower packs a powerful punch. This adorable, tiny flower is filled with exquisite perfume and is used in candles, incense and many perfume products.  Needless to say, Jasmine is a thumbs up all the way around.

Lilies: The lilies make a beautiful, fragrant, large bouquet of flowers and are especially given at Easter. Entering a room where lilies are present, you are greeted with an aroma that is quite notable and lingering. Lilies make a beautiful centerpiece and have special memories attached to them within most families.
Sweet Peas: Sweet peas are a generational favorite and have graced many gardens with their powerful fragrance.  These delicate flowers are adored for their lovely pastels and the sweetness in the air.  A simple flower, with a simple name, with anything but a simple fragrance.

Lavender: Lavender flowers have been a long time favorite due to their powerful and recognizable fragrance. When planted along the front porch or in window boxes, the sweet and spicy fragrance will greet you in your coming and you’re going.  Add this lovely scented flower to a drawer, pillow or just wherever you long to smell this delectable fragrance.
Honeysuckle: The distinct fragrance of the honeysuckle is undeniably succulent.  Kick off your shoes and lie near a honey suckle bush and be caught up its fragrance.  Once planted, this hardy flowering bush needs little care and will take off in growth.  Year after year, it will produce the pretty, colorful, fragrant flowers and will be a country style addition to a down home bouquet.

Your favorite fragrant choices may not be the same as on this list but hopefully this will be a guide to inspire you to add the charming and fragrant flowers to your gardens or ideas of flowers to give.  Plant or give what you like and your choice will not only touch your heart but the hearts of others.
Don

www.greenfingergardening.com

Through fossil evidence, roses have existed since prehistoric times. In Asian gardens, more than 5,000 years ago, the first cultivated roses appeared. Roses were introduced to Europe during the Roman Empire where they were used for ornamental purposes. According to historians, Cleopatra is said to have scattered rose petals before Mark Anthony’s feet. Nero released roses from the ceiling during extravagant feasts and banquets that were held.

The rose is the flower emblem of England. According to English folklore, if the petals fall from a fresh-cut red rose then bad luck was sure to ensue. The red rose is the badge of the House of Lancaster and the flower of Eros and Cupid.
Exquisite and radiant in every way, the red rose is the principal messenger of love. A single rose denotes perpetual love. Two roses of any color taped or wired together signify a commitment or forthcoming marriage. Red Roses are the most popular flower in expressing love and have been the sentiment of young gents throughout the world. Making your heartfelt red roses last the longest is not always easy. After receiving your roses always remove any water vials that may have been shipped with your roses. These provide only a temporary water source during delivery and will not keep your roses but for a short period. However, is it not wise to remove floral wires that may have been attached to individual rose stems. These provide helpful support for some roses. Remove any leaves that will be below water, being careful not to scrape or cut through the green bark of the stems. Air can enter stems at such injuries blocking water uptake.

Leaves left under water will cause bacteria to develop and will significantly shorten the life of your roses not to mention the horrid odor that will come forth. When preparing your vase, always use lukewarm water and be sure to use a clean container. For best results, include floral preservative if at all possible. Mix the preservative with room temperature water, in the amount recommended on the package. Floral preservative provides sugars, balances pH, and limits bacterial growth.

When preparing your red roses for arrangement, fill a sink or wide container with several inches of warm water. While holding each stem under water, cut about one inch diagonally off the end with a sharp knife or shears. Make sure to place the roses in your container before the stems dry off. Gently remove any outermost petals that may have been bruised during shipping. Removing a few petals will not damage a blossom and will often help it open more fully. Just be careful not to force open or take off healthy petals.

Display your roses in a cool location, out of direct sunlight or drafts. Check your arrangement daily to make sure it has plenty of clear, fresh water. If the water appears dirty after a couple of days be sure to replace it completely.
If some roses should start to droop their heads prematurely, it could be due to air trapped in the stems. Recut the stems underwater as described previously. Then let the roses float on the water surface with the stem ends below water and the rose heads in an upright position. In many cases, the roses will revive and harden within about an hour. It is certainly worth a try to keep your roses lasting longer. With care, your red roses will bloom quickly and should stay open anywhere from 5 to 10 days for your enjoyment.
Don

www.greenfingergardening.com

Although some nurseries may specialize in certain plants, generally a nursery is incomplete without stocking roses. A nursery should offer a better selection of types and sizes of rose plants already started than any other store. Nurseries are placed worldwide. You can find nurseries almost anywhere in the United States, Australia, and Canada, for instance.

A bigger nursery would be a safer bet for ease of selection, featuring more stock, a bigger variety, and plants in different stages. You could have the nurseries order your roses should they not stock what you are searching for, or if they lack enough of your choice of rose plant. Ask about group discounts if you belong to a club or discounts for a senior citizen or even a veteran; maybe you are ordering in bulk and can get a discount for quantity.

Ask your local nursery if it ever has presentations to show you all about roses. Maybe they have a shop nearby where they sell things pertaining to roses, like souvenirs or items for the beginning gardener.

Someone who belongs to a garden club or who owns a farm may be able to provide input on nurseries operating in your area. You could call your local farm feed store for information on area nurseries. Some farm feed stores order plants from nurseries to sell at their own place of business.

A benefit of visiting your local nurseries would include seeing your plants already in various stages of growth, including flowering. You can see the condition of the plant before purchase. Buying a rose already started will save you time if you are in a hurry to begin your rose gardening.

A bigger, more established nursery involves more than just a greenhouse. Much is done to maintain a good nursery. There are workers who must be trained to plant, tend, handle, load, and unload. Roses must be harvested, graded, packed properly in strong boxes. The trucks that carry the roses should be climate-controlled. The flowers may have to be hand-pollinated. There are different types of mulch, fertilizers, insect control products, temperature settings, and disposal of plants or pruned parts.

A nursery differs slightly from a garden center. A garden center could be as simple as a small area in your local discount department store. A nursery is more involved in the specifics of the planting, harvesting, tending, and selling. What some stores call a garden center may also include tools or power equipment to maintain the garden. Nurseries are more beneficial to the economy in that they usually have huge greenhouses, plants help the quality of our air, nurseries provide jobs, taxes are paid from the sale of the plants, and items are bought to maintain the nurseries
One way to learn the most about growing roses is to get a job in a nursery or start your own. If you like the idea of owning your own nursery, do your homework. Research, research, research, so that your business will be successful and a place people will be proud to return to.
Don

www.greenfingergardening.com

Miniature roses are actual roses but bred to stay small in size. Most mini roses also have smaller flowers than standard rose bushes but they come in a variety of types and colors. Miniature roses are quite hardy plants despite their small size. In fact, they are more winter hardy than most tea roses. Miniature roses also tend to be repeat bloomers which is an advantage in adding them to your gardens. Listed below are a few of the more popular miniature roses.

Climbers: Minis with a vertical growth habit and can become trained to grow against supports.

Miniflora: An American Rose Society classification for newly developed mini roses that have a slightly larger plant and bloom size than miniature roses.

Micro-Mini: Term for the smallest mini roses.

Trailers: Minis with a cascading growth habit that are wonderful in baskets, window boxes and over walls.

In planting your miniature roses, you plant just like full size roses. Dig a hole the same depth as the pot the rose came in and about a foot wider. Carefully loosen the rose from the pot and remove while gently loosening the roots. If the plant seems to be tightly root bound, use a knife to slit the sides of the root ball and try again to loosen the roots. Place the rose bush in the center of the hole with roots spread out. Place soil in the hole and press firmly. Before applying a layer of mulch be sure to thoroughly water your rose bush. In feeding, regular fertilizing is necessary all season. Use general purpose fertilizer or commercial rose food and follow instructions on label. End feedings approximately six to eight weeks before first expected frost.

When watering your rose, bush the amount required depends on the local soil and weather. An inch or so of water per week should be sufficient unless there are dry spells wherein you will need to water more frequently. Water the rose bush deeply so the soil is wet a minimum of twelve to eighteen inches below the surface. Try not to wet the leaves during humid weather to omit fungal disease. Pruning is not a big issue with miniature roses. Prune before new growth starts in early spring. Just prune back around one third of the plant to maintain shape and encourage new growth.
Miniature roses are just as suspect to diseases as larger roses. Always keep an eye out for early signs of insect damage and treat quickly.

Miniature roses are great in the house too. Most are disappointed by their performance indoors and realize being roses they need lots of sun and good humidity. Most roses if given for gifts will be long lasting if transplanted outdoors. Miniature roses if properly cared for can give you years of enjoyment and bring color, fragrance and vibrancy to your yard. Whether adorning a seaside cottage trellis, adorning the stone at the Vanderbilt House or growing wildly along your fenced driveway, miniature roses are timeless and bring spectacular images to the most discriminate of gardeners.
Don

www.greenfingergardening.com