Rose Bud hosts gardeners

Region 12 clubs hold open meeting, dinner

By ESTHER MCCOY, staff writer
DILLONVALE?— The Mount Pleasant and Woodland garden clubs were guests at the Rosebud Garden Club Region 12 open meeting and dinner at the Dillonvale City Building.

Nina Cleaver, president and program director, gave the welcome and Linda O’Bradovich, first vice president, gave the invocation.

Cleaver recognized club member Ann Marie Grayzar as the OAGC Region 12 outstanding gardener. She resides on state Route 152 and has an extensive flower garden.

Members were reminded of the June 28, design clinic; July 7-9, OAGC Convention; July 30-Aug. 10, Ohio State Fair; Aug. 14-15, Jefferson County Fair Flower Show; Aug. 20, Gardener’s Day Out; Sept. 22-23, exhibitors and judges school #4; Oct. 2, regional board meeting; and Oct. 1, fall regional meeting.

Dawna Kale held a fundraiser, with a living wreath won by Mary Frances Krulcik. This brought in over $95 for the club. Riesbecks Pharmacy provided prescription dispensers as favors.

O’Bradovich and Postlethwait spoke on the care of roses.

Postlethwait, who calls each of her more than 30 rose bushes by a chosen name, said she has a bush that is over 80 years old, coming from the roots of a family member’s bush long ago.

O’Bradovich said there are five types of roses and the easiest to grow are miniature roses. The tea rose takes the most care.

“Roses love the sun and the soil needs to be rather sandy with cow manure and/or epsom salts used for fertilizer,” O’Bradovich, who operates a nursery business near Adena, said.

“My soil is clay. I dig a hole but don’t put good soil into it. I cover it up with the original soil and put cow manure or compost around the plant. The earthworms will take the good soil down,” Postlethwait said.

Any manure can be used for fertilizer, such as cow, sheep or horse, but make sure it is aged and dried out or it can burn up the plant, it was noted.

Regarding the cutting back of a bush or plant, O’Bradovich said “In the spring, prune off the dead portions, take some thickness out of the center and shake the bush well.”

O’Bradovich said to check if rose bushes purchased are grown up north, such around Lake Erie, as these are the best for our growing conditions.

“If you buy one from Wal-Mart, look to see if it is a Canadian-grown bush. It will last over the winter while some of the others will not,” Postlethwait, who gets rid of Japanese beetles by putting them in bleach water, said.

For watering the roses after planting, both agreed that a gallon of water should be put on the bush even if it has rained. “You don’t know how much rain came down,” Postelthwait said.

O’Bradovich agreed that the bushes should be watered at least one time a week.

Gloria Bartyzel, Caroline Williams and O’Bradovich were in charge of door prizes.