2010 SOCIETY DATES AND CONTACT DETAILS.                

 

DATE EVENT VENUE   11 March      42nd Annual General Meeting Park Hall, Walsall 15 April Talk by Ray Martin on his visit to the American Rose Convention   Pelsall Church Hall, Pelsall   7 – 9 May RNRS Spring Competition   Three Counties Ground, Malvern 13 May Talk by John Baxter – Heritage  Rose Miscellany   Park Hall, Walsall 16 June Visit to Country Garden Plant Centre 5.30pm for 6.00pm.  Names to John please if you would like to join us. 19 – 20 June R N R S Summer Show Squires Garden Centre, Bagshot Lea,   Nr  Farnham, Surrey 20 June  10 am – 6pm Open Day at Winterbourne Botanic Gardens   Edgbaston, Birmingham   3 – 4 July WMRS Summer Show (Cancelled) Shugborough 10 – 11 July R  N R S  Mid Summer Show Lakeland Show Ground 1 August           Gardeners Day at Middleton Hall Middleton, Nr Sutton Coldfield 4 – 5 Sept WMRS Autumn Show Kings Heath Park, Birmingham 29 Sept No September Meeting at Park Hall.  See below W M R S Day of Roses   David Austin Roses, Albrighton 14 Oct Talk by Ann Bird, Past Pres. RNRS, The History of the R N R S Park Hall, Walsall      Nov WMRS Annual Dinner Terrace Restaurant, Brownhills 11 Nov Talk by Ian Lancaster   Park Hall, Walsall   9 December WMRS Social Evening Park Hall, Walsall We trust members will find our programme varied and give it their full support. I t may be altered or added to but is correct at the time of printing.  Full details will be published in the Quarterly Newsletter. Meetings are held at Park Hall Community Association, Park Hall Junior School, Park Hall Road, Walsall.  A-Z 34 - 4C or 49 - 4G commencing at 7.30 pm.

West Midlands Rose Society

DAY  OF  ROSES

29 September 2010

at  David  Austin  Roses, Albrighton

The West Midlands Rose Society held its first ‘Day of Roses’ on September 29 th in this lovely setting.

^{Friends of the rose were able to meet up to listen to illustrated talks and join in cheerful discussion about roses, despite the rather doubtful weather.}

The event attracted professionals and amateurs alike. Members of the West Midlands Society were joined by new friends from Southampton, from RHS Wisley, and from Spetchley Park in Worcestershire.  Guests enjoyed a varied and interesting day.  The morning session consisted of two lectures, both illustrated with wonderful pictures of roses in a variety of settings.  An excellent lunch was followed by a tour of the David Austin display gardens and then an extremely lively discussion session with a panel of experts.

Michael Marriott from David Austin roses was the first speaker with a presentation about how to use roses in the garden.  He indicated his own preference for roses with companion planting, with large groups of closely planted roses within mixed borders.  Suggestions included using alchemillia, penstemon, purple filbert, salvias, alium, verbascum and lavender.  The examples in his excellent photos were from the David Austin display gardens, his own private garden, Shropshire’s Wollerton Old Hall, borders he had designed at Trentham Gardens, David Austin Junior’s former private garden and new borders at RHS Harlow Carr.

Michael also showed us examples of rose hedges, spectacular ramblers (with photos from National Trust Mottisfont), the use of rugosas in Northumberland (at Howick Hall) and Queen Mary’s rose garden as an example of an excellent formal rose garden. 

The second presentation was from David Kenny, the amateur rose breeder from Ireland, who provided a wide-ranging talk about “the greatest” roses which had played a significant part in the development of the rose and had reached the highest standards in their particular era.  Examples illustrated were hybrid teas Peace, Elina, Silver Jubilee and Warm Wishes; floribundas Anisley Dickson, Trumpeter (still very popular in Ireland) Arthur Bell, Fellowship and Tickled Pink.  He also spoke about current breeding developments such as attempts to breed stable-striped roses, such as Art Nouveau; roses with eyes, roses with ruffled petals, and purple climbers.

After a relaxed tour of the display gardens, in an unexpectedly dry bit of the day, the audience was given an afternoon opportunity to put questions and comments to our expert panel John Anthony of the WMRS, breeder Chris Warner, our two speakers, former RNRS president Ann Bird and Keith Jones of C and K Jones.  Some topics caused lively debate, especially soil deficiencies/rose sickness and the relative importance of scent, good health and novelty in rose-breeding programmes.

Our thanks to David Austins for hosting this event and to the members of the panel for taking part.  I went home having had a thoroughly enjoyable day in good company discussing and learning more about my favourite flower.  What a glorious and varied plant is the rose!

                                                                                      Ian Lancaster      October 2010   

Society Membership

If you would like to become a member of the West Midlands Rose Society please contact us on westmidrosesociety@yahoo.com when we will send you an Application for Membership Form.
Subscription is £6.00 per year for single membership and £7.00 per year for double membership at same address.

Meetings are held once a month, usually on the second Thursday, commencing at 7.30 PM at Park Hall Community Centre, Park Hall Road, Walsall, just off the A34 Walsall Road, A-Z ref page 34 4C or  49 4G on the No. 51 Bus route.

SOCIETY BADGES

These metal badges are available from Roy Evans price £3.00. Our embroidered badge can be put onto any suitable item of clothing e.g. shirt, waistcoat, jacket at a cost of £8.50 plus £2.50 postage. Alison will collect items when completed thus saving return postage. Let me know if you would like to have either of these to help advertise the Society.

SOCIETY SWEATSHIRTS

These are still available, price now £25.00. They are always admired when seen at the Shows. Why not treat yourself to one.
Sizes medium, large and extra large