I have MONEY

Now that I have MOST people's attention. I again am pruning at our Mudgee Small Farm Field Days. We have a new Distsict Horticulturalist. She has been given the job to run the hort section. You say so what, in less than a months of talking to her (we) recieved funds to buy some PERMANENT roses. I have been doing this work for 11 years now with borrowed roses in pots/ branches of them. So in 2011 there is going to be ROSE PLANTS in the ground. What I need with an open mind from members. There is some limit on money. SO WHAT classes would plant as the people that come to the field days DO have a cross section of roses. I also will question the people that come over the 2 days. Answers will be given due consideration as time is on my side, Please give this some thought and PLEASE answer with some classes, Thank you in advance Regards David as always.

Aus-breds! Modern, Riethmullers, Clarks.
I'm all for Teas, Tea-noisettes and Chinas but they're not much use at a pruning demo since they need little pruning... Or maybe you could use them to make the point that modern HT-type pruning is only for modern HTs, IF you're aiming for the show-bench AND/OR you have an English-style winter.

I think Margaret's adivce here is spot on You could not expect better. There is a huge range of Aus-breds (I'll send you a book I have on Aus-bred roses to help you chase particular ones you like). If I can manage to get some of the cuttings of 'Australian Beauty' going I will donate one for your cause to do the climbing rose demonstrations You would want to use a wide cross section of rose classes if you are doing pruning demonstrations so make sure your money stretches to buying/building supports for climbers etc... some of Gary's DIY plans would be great for field day demonstrations to also show people you can build great structures with non-fancy material that is a million times better than anything you can buy. How much space do yo uhave available? Some of the Alister Clark roses get huge.

Can I ask you something else Can we hand out Rose Talk paraphernalia at the field day so that people know where to come to join an online rose community for ongoing support?

Umm. I asked Wal for cuttings of Aus Beauty too, for the Renmark Collection, and he said "I don't know why people would want to grow it - prone to black spot". Maybe settle for something less historic!

LOL... he said the same to me but it was mildew instead

Can I have more suggestions from members please, 16 "lookers" yesterday(Thursday) not many replies, so can you contribute please.

Thank you Margaret for your contribution of six for thought, I will also "test" the people on some of those you mentioned to see if they know of them.

Simon I will take some pictures today and show "roughly" what area I/we can use. It might not be big enough for Gary's structures.
As for mentioning "Rosetalk Australia" it gets plugged every demo, some take it and may only look. This idea maybe to late this year, I will try and find a laptop and show people what is on there. This could be the way to encourage new members.

The main object from this point is to get "real" roses in the ground then expand bit by bit. As this is run as a field day I thought a cross section as the visitors to it have a diverse range of roses. It does not have a fulltime gardener, so I am going to "steptoe" all the add on infrastructure, irrigation, timer, mulch, fertilizer and anything else one can borrow(pinch). Even to the point of one exhibitor of roses to donate some and I will place a plaque with their name on it.

Meilland's 'Maggie' is a bloom machine here, but needs a good prune each winter.
Austin's 'Graham Stuart Thomas' is a good one too for the same reasons,

Why don't you put in a Tea or two to show how little pruning they need!
Comtesse de Labarth and/or Mrs BR Cant for a bigger grower.

Congrats on the grant - and have fun!

Read your post yeasterday but them had tofind out where Mudgee is. I'm not sure what normally grows well in your area but I would suggest a mix. Some small climbers, couple of Teas if you have the room and some smaller polyanthas for the edge.

If it was near my place I would suggest Pinkie (cause my wife loves it), Comtesse de Labarth and G.Nabonand (cause I love them) and Boarder for the edge (cause I don't think it gets the good press it deserves).

Throw in some purples and white perenials and you have a great disply.

David, my suggestions include Alister Clarke roses as well, specifically
Marjory Palmer and Mary Guthrie,,both strong pink,the latter being single,indestructible,can be chopped anyway and are low growing spreading shrubs.
Also love Sunlit,an apricot small hybrid tea with flowers in small multiples,disease free.
Continuing this theme of small floriferous and disease free floribunda/ shrubs include Gruss an aachen, lil marlene,,,the most vibrant red,and Bonica.
And as an aside a few rugosas,which while they are little pruned,they look great in a group and provide an interesting contrast to the above roses.Must haves include Fru Dagmar Hartopp, and the larger Scabrosa.
cheers

Ah to live without humidity and Black Spot would be bliss.

Marjory Palmer and Mary Guthrie are both nice roses. We get a bit of BS on them. You could throw in several other of AC roses with some of his climbers if you have the room. Can't beat Squatters Dream and Lady Huntingfield if you want yellow.

Those above plus Ceccily Lascelles, Sunny South and Loraine Lee if you want pinks.

Daydream and Gwen Nash if you want a mix.

Black Boy and Restless if Reds are more your style.

We have all of these and apart for the Black Spot they are good roses.

David I know you have no Blackspot up there worth mentioning so would like to see an Australian HT collection. Bush and Climbing HT's bred by Aussies and not those come by chance sports from European roses.

Also a collection of Tea's, Noisettes and China's.

Save the money for Pergolas, Arches and seats with a good focal point.

I have a lot of baby HT's and Tea's I would donate because my Mother's family were graziers up there. Bill Cox was my first cousin and still have relatives there. My Mum and Dad were married in Mudgee and my sister christened there. I had a cattle property east of Mudgee so sometimes feel like a local.

Yep! I recon we should make it an Aussie Garden.

I have a lot of Aussies that are listed under Glenorie Roses on Help Me Find
and possibly 12 to list.

Regarding Australian Beauty, I am going to test it for myself.

We're collecting Aus-bred polyanthas for Renmark; looks like we can get hold of most of those that are still around in major gardens, even if not in commerce, so eventually they'll be available more widely.
Riethmullers too, but it's disappointing that many have been lost. Carabella, Honeyflow, Gay Vista, Claret Cup, Titian, Spring Song are good floriferous roses and are still available. If anyone has any of the rarities, we'd love cuttings! Eg Esmeralda, Lady Woodward, others I don't know about.

Margaret... have you got Mrs Alston's Rose? I can strike some of this when it gets larger.

With the Clarks, we've mainly made it a token presence, because they're looked after elsewhere, and the big singles blow very quickly in Renmark's heat. Borderer is the token poly. So I'll hold off on Mrs Alston's rose for the time being, thanks.
It's complicated with some of the polys - where's the borderline with floribundas. Does anyone have Gordon Drake or Windlass?

Margaret

You picked the good one to be the token poly. Its a great little rose and cuttings strike like a wharfie.

Gary