Extending the rose season
AUTUMN GARDEN SHOW: THESE POPULAR BLOOMS PLAY A STARRING ROLE AT THIS EVENT
Visit the largest garden planting of exclusively fragrant roses – 500 of them.
The roses have come alive after the drenching rains, which has extended the rose flowering season and the expectation of good blooms for the next two months.
The timing couldn’t be better for The Autumn Garden Show, from Friday, April 20 to Sunday, April 22 at The Herb Farm in Midrand, where roses play a starring role.
The Scented Rose Garden, which is one of a series of inter-linked gardens, is planted entirely with fragrant roses in harmonising colours. It is a circular garden, divided into four formal sections with pathways radiating from a central gazebo, making it easy to experience the 500 fragrant roses (120 different varieties) and inhale their perfume.
To my knowledge it is the largest garden planting of exclusively fragrant roses, and besides the well-known favourites include lesser known roses like “Germania Africana”, “Gülilah”, “L’Aimant”, “Lemonessence”, “New Zealand” and “My Anniversary”.
Plant boards will make it easy to identify the roses.
Organic roses
This strictly organic rose garden was created three years ago by Doug Watson and Louis van Aswegen, owners of the Herb Farm and the growers of Healthy Living Herbs, who worked with Ludwig’s Roses to select the roses.
Being herb growers, they are organic gardeners, who use companion planting with chives instead of insecticides, feed the roses with organic fertilisers in spring and autumn and conserve water by mulching around the roses and watering deeply only once a week.
The positioning of the rose garden is based on organic principles too. The wind blows through the area, quickly drying the leaves after watering or rain, which reduces the chance of fungus disease.
Calming roses
Roses also feature in the educational herb garden, as well as the sensory Spiral herb garden that is at the heart of the herb farm. The Spiral can be walked as a labyrinth, with herb experts leading guided walks during the show.
The path of the spiral takes one from the busy “outer” world, past vibrant red, orange and yellow flowering plants (including roses) to the inner one of stillness and calm, where white “Iceberg” roses and silvery-leaved herbs are planted.
Did you know that roses are regarded as herbs? That is because Rose hips are a valuable source of vitamin C as well as vitamins A, D and E and antioxidants.
Dried rose hips can be used to make rose hip tea and drunk to prevent colds and flu, sore throats and stress.
Rose petals can also be used to make a soothing tea that helps to relieve coughs and colds, calms and eases tension. The most flavourful teas are usually made from fragrant rose petals. Don't spray the roses if you plan to use the hips or petals.
Rose care for April
This is the last month to fertilise with Vigorosa.
Keep on spraying to prevent black spot, especially after the rain. Chronos mixed with Ludwig’s Insect Spray will protect leaves and keep the pest load down. Alternatively, spray with rose protector.
On bushes that are defoliated at the base and are sprouting, pinch out the very tips of the new high up shoots.
This will encourage new sprouting lower down. Water well (but don’t fertilise) to boost new growth.
Reduce watering to once a week.
Cut off dead blooms to keep bushes looking neat.
Find out more about roses: Ludwig Taschner talks at the Autumn Garden Show on Saturday, April 21 at 10am.
Tickets for the show, from 9am to 5pm daily, are available at the gate – R65 for adults, R45 for pensioners – and include talks and guided tours. The Herb Farm is at 264 Summit Road (R 562), Bridle Park, Midrand (GPS: -25.930122, 28.062888). Visit www.gardenshow.co.za