Everything coming up roses at Evergreen Garden Club

Dianna Jones hosted the Evergreen Garden Club at The First Christian Church Parlor on February 7, for their monthly meeting.

Danny Armstrong, Horticulturist from the home and Garden Center in Longview, was our guest speaker. His topic of interest was the growing and caring of roses.

Danny emphasized several important points. Decide the place you want your roses. The perfect situation is, morning sun, and a few hours of sun in the afternoon.

It is extremely important to build up your soil. Add mulch (helps break down the clay), till it into your soil. Raise up your bed about one foot above ground level. Do not plant in a low area where water collects. Roses don't like to get wet, but water is very important. When you water, be sure to water the roots only. It is best to water through a drip or soaker hose. If you haven't tried a drip system, do so. It is economical and not difficult to install. Danny noted that they no longer grow roses in Tyler. Roses are now grown in Arizona and New Mexico. He also shared with us some roses to choose: Knock Out Roses, very hardy, easy to care for, very little disease, and the first rose to dead head itself. Belinda's Dream, fragrant and hardy, Jo Creeper, blooms May to frost, Medlin Roses, fragrant.

Roses are like azaleas. They want high acid soil, and they use lots of oxygen. Mulch with pine straw. It is the best and cheapest. Cedar mulch is good, and it detracts fire ants the first year you put it out.

When you cut a rose, it is best to cut it again under running water then quickly put it in water. Put an aspirin in the water, it will help it to last longer.

Cut back roses by one third or one half on Valentines Day.

Our guest then answered questions from the members.

Attending were, Sharon Ragel, Judy Geddie, Helen Padgett, Jean Laird, Billie Oliphant, Nita Beale, Kay McKinley, Gladys Crouch, Barbara Johnson, Glady Large, Virginia Wallace, Justine Stanley, Dorothy Watson, Kay Listen, Pat Sers, Charissa York and our hostess, Dianna Jones and those assisting her were Bobby Wylie, Virginia Wallace and Sharon Ragel.