Preservation group propagates rose varieties found, in some cases, nowhere else
Barbara's Pasture Rose is named for the late Barbara Oliva, who discovered it. Photo courtesy Anita Clevenger
These old roses need new homes.
The former volunteers of the Sacramento Historic Rose Garden (formerly at Sacramento's Old City Cemetery) are still trying to preserve rare and historic roses, including varieties found nowhere else. Now, they have dozens of bushes, grown on their own roots and ready for transplanting.
Saturday, June 8, the group is hosting a rose sale at the home of Anita Clevenger, 877 53rd St., Sacramento. From 9 a.m to 2 p.m., shop for roses that you’ll likely not find anywhere else.
“Some varieties are small, such as ‘Serna House,’ a miniature China rose that blooms continuously,” Clevenger says. “Plants are $15 each, first come first served, cash only. We don’t ship.”
Funds raised will go towards rose preservation and … more roses.
“Proceeds cover our expenses and will also be passed along to other heritage rose gardens/groups,” Clevenger says.
Some varieties are in very limited quantities. For the best selection, shop early.
“Most of these (varieties) are listed in Helpmefind.com/roses if you’d like more details,” Clevenger notes.
Each of these roses has a compelling back story to go along with their beauty and fragrance. Among the roses expected to be available:
‘Abbott & Burns’: A miniature China rose brought to California by wagon train in 1857.
‘Adorable Pink Polly’: A cemetery seedling, this grows into a 4-foot arching bush; pink, fragrant and adorable!
‘Arnold’: A rare Rugosa hybrid; large, single, scarlet red.
‘Barbara's Pasture Rose’: Named for heritage rose expert Barbara Oliva, this renowned pink Hybrid Perpetual looks similar to ‘La Reine.’
‘Belle Story’: A newcomer compared to other varieties, this English-style shrub rose was developed by David Austin; its heavy 4-inch blooms are peachy pink.
‘Celsiana’: An old Damask rose dating from 1750, it bears intensely fragrant clusters of light pink blooms in spring.
‘Dora’s Farmhouse Rose’: Discovered in the garden of a Modesto farmhouse, this is a dark pink Hybrid Perpetual, similar to ‘Health Food.’
‘Fiddletown Cherry’: A ‘found’ Tea rose discovered in Amador County, this light pink gem is very fragrant.
‘G. Nabonnand’: With a strong, sweet fragrance, this light apricot Tea rose was named for the 19th century French rose breeder Gilbert Nabonnand who created it.
‘Health Food’: A dark pink Hybrid Perpetual, this charming and carefree rose got its name because it was found “Across From the Health Food Store” in a Sierra foothills town.
‘Oneto Home Saffron’: Discovered by Fred Boutin, this small Tea or China rose stays small – under 3 feet tall – with golden yellow, fragrant blooms fading to creamy white.
‘Over the Fence’: A pink large-flowered climber of unknown parentage, this vigorous rose lives up to its name.
‘Perle d’Or’: Introduced in France in 1883, this fragrant Polyantha bears clusters of little apricot and yellow blooms.
‘Serna House’: A miniature China rose, this dark pink beauty looks very similar to ‘Rouletti’ or a miniature ‘Old Blush.’
For more details and photos: https://www.facebook.com/historicrosegarden.
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Garden Checklist for week of Nov. 3
November still offers good weather for fall planting:
* If you haven't already, it's time to clean up the remains of summer. Pull faded annuals and vegetables. Prune dead or broken branches from trees.
* Now is the best time to plant most trees and shrubs. This gives them plenty of time for root development before spring growth. They also benefit from fall and winter rains.
* Set out cool-weather annuals such as pansies and snapdragons.
* Lettuce, cabbage and broccoli also can be planted now.
* Plant garlic and onions.
* Keep planting bulbs to spread out your spring bloom. Some possible suggestions: daffodils, crocuses, hyacinths, tulips, anemones and scillas.
* This is also a good time to seed wildflowers and plant such spring bloomers as sweet pea, sweet alyssum and bachelor buttons.
* Rake and compost leaves, but dispose of any diseased plant material. For example, if peach and nectarine trees showed signs of leaf curl this year, clean up under trees and dispose of those leaves instead of composting.
* Save dry stalks and seedpods from poppies and coneflowers for fall bouquets and holiday decorating.
* For holiday blooms indoors, plant paperwhite narcissus bulbs now. Fill a shallow bowl or dish with 2 inches of rocks or pebbles. Place bulbs in the dish with the root end nestled in the rocks. Add water until it just touches the bottom of the bulbs. Place the dish in a sunny window. Add water as needed.
* Give your azaleas, gardenias and camellias a boost with chelated iron.
* For larger blooms, pinch off some camellia buds.
* Prune non-flowering trees and shrubs while dormant.
* To help prevent leaf curl, apply a copper fungicide spray to peach and nectarine trees after they lose their leaves this month. Leaf curl, which shows up in the spring, is caused by a fungus that winters as spores on the limbs and around the tree in fallen leaves. Sprays are most effective now.
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