The Adams County Master Gardeners will host a program on roses this Thursday. 

The guest lecturer will be Betty Newman, Rankin County Master Gardener.

The tea rose is the most common rose. However, there are hundreds of species of roses. Roses do not have thorns. Well, technically speaking they do not.

Thorns have deep roots in a plant system. What we consider to be thorns on roses are actually prickles. The prickles are attached only at the surface of the stem.

The rose is the official flower of four states and was named the national flower in 1986. It is said that George Washington was the nation’s first rose breeder.

He named one of his roses after his mother, Mary Washington. We all know red roses signify love. According to Victorian dictionaries, pink signifies grace, peach signifies modesty and orange signifies frustration.

To grow roses successfully, keep them 2-3 feet apart and 2-3 feet away from other plants. They do not like intense competition. Also, keep them away from exposed, windy sites.

Always water at the base of the plant. Water established roses 1-2 times per week, making sure to keep the soil moist.

Water new roses every other day.
To learn more about roses join us for our program this Thursday, Nov. 7, at 10:30 a.m. at the extension office, 74A Carthage Point Road. It is free and open to the public.

Karen O’Neal is the reporter for the Adams County Master Gardeners.