brs vol 4 - 5 feb 7th 2014 - roses in...

THE BERMUDA ROSE SOCIETY VOL 4 - 5 FEB 7TH 2014

THE BERMUDA ROSE SOCIETY P O Box PG 162, Paget PG BX, Bermuda! PAGE 1

Bench Newsletter

Diana Antonition President

Our next meeting is:

Friday February 7th 2014Horticultural Hall - 7-30 am Hall open 11am MeetingBench & HospitalityArrangement Title‘Weave a Magic Web’ Class E Title – “Using two or more containers”Program60th Anniversary of the Bermuda Rose SocietySpeaker - Mrs Sheenagh Harris, a South African, Director and Immediate Past President of the WFRS, will present Rose Gardens of South Africa

Photographs in January’s news letter were taken by John Howells,Peter Holmes and Gerry Ardis. They also feature in the Bermuda Rose Society Face Book page, please enjoy.

Our eminent panel of judges hard at workat our January meeting



Officers 2013 – 2014 President Diana Antonition [email protected]

Vice President - Programs - NewsletterPeter J.Holmes [email protected]

TreasurerMarijke Peterich [email protected]

Immediate Past PresidentEugene Rayner [email protected]

Recording Secretary and PublicityJudy Howells [email protected]

Tulo Valley Coordinator & Team Leader Book SalesEssie Hans Past President [email protected]

Bench ChairClare Russell [email protected]

Rose Sales Coordinator Pat Thomas [email protected]

Waterville CoordinatorLisa Marshall [email protected]

Volunteers Coordinator Alison Masters [email protected]

mailto:[email protected]






















Friday February 7th 2014Horticultural Hall7-30 am Hall open 11am MeetingBench & HospitalityArrangement Title‘Weave a Magic Web’Program60th Anniversary of the Bermuda Rose SocietySpeaker Mrs Sheenagh Harris, Director and Immediate Past President of the WFRS Sunday 9th February 201460th Anniversary of The Bermuda Rose SocietyVenue: The Fairmont Southampton Prin-cess HotelTime: 12 noon - welcome drink; lunch will be served at 12.30 pmKeynote Speaker: Mrs Sheenagh M Har-ris, Director and Past President The World Federation of Rose SocietiesVisit to 3 Rose Gardens after lunch(Booking deadline is 30th January)

Friday March 7th 2014Horticultural Hall7-30 am Hall open 11am MeetingBench & HospitalityArrangement Title - ‘East meets West’

ProgramTalk on Judging

Friday April 4th 2014Tea Meeting to be held at Diana Antonition’s house

Friday May 2nd 2014Horticultural Hall7-30 am Hall open 3 pm MeetingBench & HospitalityArrangement Title1) ‘Rhythm and Dance’ – 24” x 24”, no height restriction2) ‘Into Orbit’ - no size restriction3) ‘Summer Sunrise’- 15” x 15” x 15”ProgramAGM award Ceremony

(PLEASE SEE FLOWER ARRANGING SCHEDULE FOR CLASS E TITLES)

Schedule for 2013 - 2014

Rachel Louise Carson writer, scientist & ecologist was an American marine biologist and conser-vationist whose book Silent Spring and other writings are credited with advancing the global envi-ronmental movement. She died in 1964. Here is one her profound quotes. “In every outthrust headland, in every curving beach, in every grain of sand there is the story of the earth.”



Exhibitors may bring in bench exhibits and competitive flower arrangementsbetween 7-30 am and 9.15 am on the morning of the meeting. Exhibitors must vacate the area by 9.15 am so that judging may begin promptly at 9.30 am.

Meeting to begin at 11.00am.Coffee, tea and refreshments will be available before all meetings from 10.30 am.

February 17th 2014‘Weave a Magic Web’Class E Title – “Using two or more containers”

March 7th 2014‘East meets West’Class E Title – “All foliage”

April 4th 2014‘Monet’s Palette’Roses must predominate but other spring flowers may be used.Class E Title – “Easter Basket”

May 2nd 2014 Annual General Meeting1) ‘Rhythm and Dance’ – 24” x 24”, no height restriction2) ‘Into Orbit’ - no size restriction3) ‘Summer Sunrise’- 15” x 15” x 15”

Flower Arranging Schedule 2013 - 2014

Our wonderful Flower Arranging judges hard at work. All volunteers from the Gar-den Club, thank you ladies, for helping out the Bermuda Rose Society



Flower Arranging Schedule NotesFlower arranging class description:-Class A - 24’ wide x 24” deep, NO height restriction.Class B - 15” wide x 15” deep x 15” high.Class C - 9" wide x 9” deep x 9” high, design must be more than 4” high, wide and deep this does not apply to the diagonal dimension.Class D - Shadow Box – The aim is to create a ‘Picture’ within a frame and no titles are given. The plant material may extend forward out of the box but may not extend sideways across the frame to create a 3D effect but/and must NOT touch the Interior or Frame of the box. There are different size boxes available on first come-first served basis or reserve a box by calling Alison Masters at 236 8917. Shadow box sizes are:- 10”x13”, 18”x 22”, 10 1/2”x 13”, 10” x 7”, 11”x 15”, 11”x 23”, 15”x 19”.Class E- Open Category for all members just for fun. There will be a prize given every month at the meeting. There are NO restrictions on size or content in these arrangements.Titles for Class EDecember 6th 2013 – Arrangement with a candleJanuary 3rd 2014 – Arrangement with dried AND fresh plant materialFebruary 7th 2014 – Using two or more containersMarch 7th 2014 – All foliage April 4th – 2014 - Easter BasketInternationally accepted Rules for Floral Art 1) Plant material must predominate over all other components.2) Plant material must be in water or water retaining material, unless such plant material is known to remain turgid for the duration of the show.3) Artificial plant material must NOT be used.4) Painted and/or artificially coloured or treated plant material may be used unless otherwise stated in the schedule.5) An exhibit may include accessories such as bases, drapes, backgrounds and title cards un-

less otherwise stated.The Bermuda Rose Society requires that locally grown Roses and /or plant material from the Rosaceae family must predominate in all arrangements. Some examples are apple, cotoneaster, loquat, peach, pear, potentilla, pyracantha, spirea, strawberry, dewberry, yeddo-hawthorne.

Roses of any classification grown in Bermuda may be used and need NOT have been grown by the Exhibitor. Other locally grown flowers and foliage may be included.Plant materials are living plant, flowers, grasses, branches of bushes or trees. All plant material should be in scale with the roses used and must be appropriate in size, colour and texture to complement the roses and be subordinate in the design. Classes A, B, and C should be in scale within the space allotted. Internationally accepted Rules for Floral Art

Continued Page 6



1) Plant material must predominate over all other components.

2) Plant material must be in water or water retaining material, unless such plant material is known to remain turgid for the duration of the show.

3) Artificial plant material must NOT be used.

4) Painted and/or artificially coloured or treated plant material may be used unless oth-erwise stated in the schedule.

5) An exhibit may include accessories such as bases, drapes, backgrounds and title cards unless otherwise stated.

Flower Arranging Schedule Notes continued from page 5

Talbot RoseHybrid MultifloraMystery Climber

Page 59 Roses in Bermuda Revisted



Guess the Rose Competition

If you think you know what this rose is, please email your bench team.

In our January newsletter the rose was Cecil Brunner see below. Nobody guessed it



CONTINUED FROM JANUARY”S NEWS LETTERSaturday morning was the start of the Conference in the large Alumni Room at the Florida Southern College (FSC) with registration followed by a continental breakfast laid on in the hall.I must say it was a very informal gathering and when Millicent, Miranda Fountain, Eugene Rayner and myself arrived at the hall we found Liesbeth Cooper and Diana Hindess already there wearing their Bermuda Rose Society aprons busily working on three shadow boxes us-ing local roses. Before the conference officially opened Eugene had sold the full box (thirty books) of our Roses in Bermuda Revisited books that he and Miranda had brought with them and I think when he had sold his supply he received orders for more copies.The Conference was opened by Stephen Scanniello, President of the Heritage Rose Founda-tion, who was introduced by Dr. Malcolm Manners, a professor of horticulture at the Florida Southern College, and a world renowned rosarian himself. Malcolm is a charter member of the Central Florida Heritage Rose Society and was the “Great Rosarian of the World” awar-dee for 2013. The first speaker was Dr. Nancy Morvillo, Professor of Life Studies and chair of the Biology Department at the Florida Southern College.Dr. Morvillo has collaborated with Dr. Manners for many years researching the relationships of various roses using DNA analysis.Dr. Morvillo described the various DNA identification techniques in a way that most of us could understand. She explained how her students, as part of their course work, had looked closely at the rose we know as the Bermuda Mystery Rose “Pacific”, pre 1867; “Maggie” in the U.S as a found rose in 1990 and another rose from India called “Kakinada Red” which is thought to be centuries old. As a result of the DNA analysis carried out by Dr. Morvillo and her students, they concluded that the three roses are identical. There may be another rose “Eugenie E. Marlitt” found in Austria in the late 19th. century, which has many spellings, and could also be the same rose. However, no definitive conclusion could be reached regarding “Eugenie E. Marlitt” because they couldn’t obtain a specimen to carry out the DNA analysis for comparison purposes. From the available DNA evidence Dr. Morvillo hypothesized that the rose (“Pacific”, “Maggie” and “Kakinada Red”) probably originated in India, was taken to China and hence across the Pacific by our Captain Nelmes to Bermuda then to the United States, or by some other ship directly to North America. In any event it makes a good story and we can never know for certain. By this time Liesbeth and Diana had completed two shadow boxes, while the third shadow box was created by Pam Smith from the Dallas Area Heritage Rose Society. Pam was very keen to assist Diana and Liesbeth and asked if she could do the third box because she wants to introduce shadowbox arrangements to her society.

HERITAGE ROSE FOUNDATION CONFERENCE 14th to 18th NOVEMBER 2013 Lakeland Florida.

Written by Gerry Ardis



HERITAGE ROSE FOUNDATION CONFERENCE 14th to 18th NOVEMBER 2013 Lakeland Florida

The Bermuda Rose Society shadow box way of displaying rose ar-rangements attracted great interest from everyone. At times there were so many people round the shadow box arrangements it was difficult taking photographs and all of the ladies were kept busy answering questions about the arrangements.

We next had a presentation from Era Lame and Nuttha Siriwatanakul, two young ladies from the New York High School for Environmental Studies, who were with their teachers at the conference and told us about their genetic research with heritage roses. We enjoyed a picnic lunch under the Frank Lloyd Wright designed covered walkway look-ing out over the new, recently planted, formal rose garden with remarks from the designer of the garden, Stephen Scanniello (Heritage Rose Foundation President). There also were wel-coming remarks from the Florida Southern College President Dr. Anne Kerr.Even though it was raining we walked round the rose beds and even though the plants were young some of them were already in bloom. I understand that more pillars and trellises will be erected in the near future to finish the actual construction work. I have no doubt this gar-den will be well worth a visit in the years to come and it will certainly enhance the already beautiful campus at the College. After lunch we had an interesting talk from Connie Hilker who gave us a, sometimes amus-ing, presentation about locating, mapping and evaluating the old roses in the old Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond, Virginia. The Hollywood Cemetery dates back to the late eighteenth century so Connie was keen to save and nurture as many of the ancient roses as possible. Connie has completed considerable research into the area the cemetery covers and works closely with the grounds supervisor to identify, renovate and maintain these old heritage roses many of which survive despite being ignored, mutilated, poisoned and in many cases hacked down by generations of cemetery maintenance staff.Liesbeth Cooper mentioned that it may be of interest to record that some twenty odd years ago Bermuda Rose Society Past Presidents Margaret King and Rosemary Collier planted several Bermuda Mystery Roses, including a “Red Smith’s Parish” in the Hollywood Cemetery.

Liesbeth Cooper Pam Smith and Diana Hindess with their Shadow Boxes



Our next speaker was Peggy Cornett who gave a very interesting talk about preserving the historic roses at Tomas Jefferson’s famous home at Monticello in Virginia. Peggy has worked at Monticello since 1983 and in addition to her present position of Curator of Plants she lectures, writes and broadcasts throughout the United States. Peggy has visited the U.K. and Bermuda where she has given talks to our own Rose Society. Presently, Peggy is working to restore and maintain rose plantings documented and grown by Thomas Jeffer-son at Monticello. After a coffee break there was a rose sale of plants propagated at the Florida Southern Col-lege Horticultural facility and tours of the Frank Lloyd Wright buildings on the campus.

In the evening after a very enjoyable buffet dinner in the Alumni Room we had a talk by Etienne Bouret on “Ten Years of Rose Preservation in

France”.With the help of a few dedicated nurserymen Etienne is involved in the preservation of the old varieties of roses in Europe; trying to save many of those which have been lost to culti-vation and put back into commerce many of the ancient varieties. Etienne explained what is being done to save many of these beautiful old roses before they become extinct and fall into oblivion. Unfortunately, in France, and Europe as a whole, thousands of these old varieties have ceased to exist as a result of neglect or because they have simply been forgot-ten in the mists of time. Also, many became extinct because during times of war, revolution and economic depression growing roses was not high on people’s priority list and, of course, preferences and fashions change, even in the rose world. The last event of Saturday evening was a fun auction under the guidance of auctioneer Ste-phen Scanniello. The auction of rare roses, antique lithographs, old rose books, old rose prints to raise funds for the Heritage Rose Foundation was a big success and great fun as a result of audience participation and Stephen’s skill as an auctioneer. While the Bermuda contingent couldn’t bid on the rare roses on offer, Miranda Fountain represented us royally by her aggressive bidding and was successful in obtaining two old rose prints. We could see by the glint in her eye that Miranda was determined to get the prints despite serious compe-


Bermuda’s Kathleen growing in the gar-dens of the Frank Lloyd Wright campus




tition from two other ladies and, of course, Stephen was urging everyone on to bid an extra few dollars. I must say the auction was a fun ending to an enjoyable and a full day. Our talk first thing on Sunday morning was by Mike Shoup, who really needs no introduc-tion in the heritage rose community. In 1984 he opened the Antique Rose Emporium that specializes in the re-introduction and distribution of historic roses. Over the years Mike’s work has been recognized by the Smithsonian and National Geographic magazines and in many trade journals and magazines on the subject of using old garden roses in to-day’s gar-dens.Mike has also written three books and his latest Empress of the Garden was released in 2012. The subject of Mike’s talk was “Breeding Heritage Roses for the Future”. I thought Mike’s talk was very informative and the two main points I took away was that Mike doesn’t use any chemical fertilizer on his roses but uses an organic aerobic fertilizer based on a home produced compost tea that is aerated and a starter feeder, such as molasses, added to the mixture. It does not seem a complicated system and Mike reports that his roses have never looked better since he started using the method. Mike also described a simple method of rooting slips in plastic zip lock bags which he says results in excellent roots in two weeks. He stressed that most slips don’t succeed and rot because the medium is too wet; if you can squeeze water out then the medium is too wet. Mike recommends damp but not wet potting soil with lots of pearlite in the plastic bags with two or three slips that have recently sup-ported blooms. It is then a simple matter of placing the plastic bags in a shady location and periodically checking for root development. These two recommendations from one of the best known breeders of old garden roses in the United States could prove very useful in Bermuda for those of us who try to grow rose plants for our Society. What struck me most about the Conference was that everyone who attended seemed to know about our Bermuda Mystery Roses and showed a great interest. The conference finished just before noon on Sunday and I think everyone agreed it was a big success.Special thanks are due to Malcolm Manners and Stephen Scanniello; members of Central Florida Heritage Rose Society, especially Don and Jan Rogers for their kind hospitality; all the very informative speakers and not forgetting our own Diana and Liesbeth who with Pam Smith from Dallas, arranged the now famous Bermuda shadow boxes . We should also mention the President of the Southern Florida College Dr. Anne Kerr and all the staff at the college especially the lady who drove many of us to and from the college from the hotel in the college bus and whose day job is the college horticulturalist who, we understand, grew the plants for the new rose garden.




Once the actual conference finished Jennie Watlington still had work to do at the Founda-tion’s Board meeting which we understand went on until after two o’clock in the after-noon. As we had the afternoon free Millicent and I joined Miranda and Eugene for a drive to Tarpon Springs on the west coast of Florida a little north of Tampa. The inhabitants of Tarpon Springs are mainly of Greek decent and make a living from limited sponge div-ing but mainly tourism. We enjoyed lunch in one of the many Greek restaurants that line the waterfront and had a walk along the waterfront with the brightly painted sponge boats. Tarpon Springs is reputed to have more Americans of Greek decent that any other town in the U.S On Sunday evening the Bermudian contingent had an enjoyable dinner together in the Terrace Hotel Grill Room where we were joined by Lois Ann Helgeson from Minnesota. We had a leisurely breakfast at the hotel on Monday morning with Liesbeth before a close friend collected us for the second part of our Florida holiday in Venice, Sarasota and Sanibel Island where we enjoyed some truly amazing bird watching opportunities, learnt about orchids, enjoyed some excellent seafood and got in some serious retail therapy.Our trip home the following Friday was painless because we spent the night before we left in the Marriott Hotel at the Tampa Airport Terminal and it was a simple matter going down one floor and checking in for our 7 am flight to Newark and connecting flight to Bermuda. The information for this article was obtained from the Heritage Rose Foundation, mem-bers of the Central Florida Heritage Rose Society, speakers at the conference, our own Bermuda group (Liesbeth, Jennie, Diana, Millicent, Miranda and Eugene); the internet and my own recollection. Liesbeth and Diana were very helpful in making suggestions; verifying the accuracy of the draft text and ensuring that names were spelt correctly.

Miss Caroline



A selection of arrangements form our January show

Flower arrangements at our January show



The President, Diana Antonition welcomed everyone. Two guests introduced themselves, Maureen Moore and Quincy Burgess. Quincy, now living in Nairobi, Kenya, gave a short talk on his work in Kenya and said he will keep in touch with the BRS.

The President advised she had received Christmas wishes to the Bermuda Rose Society from Rose Societies worldwide. Orchard Society calendars available $10. National Trust plant sale February 15th, donations welcomed, contact David O’Neal.

TREASURER’S REPORTChequing a/c balance is $15,432.42 and Strata savings account balance is $36,403.86.

60TH ANNIVERSARYLuncheon being organised for Sunday February 9th. Sheenagh Harris to give a lecture after the luncheon. She will be here for a week and will do a special presentation. Need to know numbers attending before end of January. There will be some singing and a complementary glass of Prosceco before lunch. After lunch Elizabeth Wingate, Rosemary Talbot and Marijke Peterich invite members to tour their rose gardens. Marijke will provide tea and cookies. Elizabth Wingate told the members that her garden was the garden of Laura Patterson, a founding member of the Bermuda Roses Society.

WATERVILLELisa Marshall advised they are beginning plant replacement roses and are adding a Pacific rose. Volunteers always welcomed.

ANY OTHER BUSINESSThe Garden Club will have a speaker who will do a Sunday course on grooming for your bench. Check the Garden Club website for info. Debbie Burville is organising.

Liesbeth Cooper received a message from Doug Siddle after he was sent copy of our new book. He sent congratulations and said the book should become a classic. Rev. Siddle has aggressive cancer but still gets much enjoyment from roses.

Jennie Watlington advised that the next Heritage Rose Society AGM will be held in New Or-leans probably next November. Peggy Martin is on the organising committee.

Condolence letter was sent by BRS to the family of Mrs. Marquardt, a long time BRS mem-ber.

There being no further business the meeting closed.

Essie Hans gave a presentation on the History of the Bermuda Rose Society.

Minutes of the Monthly Meeting of the Bermuda Rose Society held at Botanical Gardens, Horticultural Hall on Friday January 3, 2014 at 11.00 a.m.



Flower Arrangement ReportDate: January 3, 2014Flower Arrangement Judges: Number of Exhibits: 9Number of Exhibitors: 5Title: “Masquerade”Class AFirst: - Judy Godfrey Second: - Mingo CookThird: - Molly White Class BFirst: - Felicity HolmesSecond: - Molly WhiteThird: - Mingo CookClass CFirst: - Second: - Third: - D Shadow BoxFirst: - Felicity HolmesSecond: - Third: - Overall Flower Arrangement PointsFirst: - Felicity Holmes 30Second: - Tied Mingo Cook, Molly White, Judy Godrey 15 Third: - Class E For Fun and TITLE : Using dry and fresh materialOverall Winner Diana Hindess

Cut Rose ReportDate:January 3, 2014 Cut Rose Judges: Molly white, Liesbeth Cooper, Peter Carpenter, Jeni SouthernApprentice Judges: Stewards: Godfrey, Vallis, Russell, Masters, HindessRecording: Holmes, Russell, HindessRibbons: Susan Conyers, Millicent ArdisNumber of Exhibits: 219Number of Exhibitors; 9

Best in ShowName: Peter HolmesRose: “Emmie Gray”





Cut Roses Total Points Name Points First: Gerry Ardis 355 Second: Susan Swift 235 Third: Peter Holmes 220 Fourth: Diana Antonition 90Fifth: Molly White 70Sixth: Mingo Cook 65Seventh: Nea Willits 45



Directions to Rosemary Talbot's house "Windy Fields", 15 Alton Hill. Coming from town on Middle Rd pass the junction of Middle and South Rd known as Evans Corner. Or coming from South Shore turn left at Evans Corner onto Middle Rd1/2 mile west left Alton Hill. Top of the hill white house with greenshutters . There is plenty of parking.

Directions to Elm LodgeGoing west on Harbour Road in Warwick; Pass Tamarind Vale entrance and Elm Lodge is the second drive way on the left [south] Coming from Somerset etc on Middle Road, turn left into Tamarind Vale, Opposite T N Tatem Sec-ondary School. Go right through Tamarind Vale to Harbour Road and turn left. Elm Lodge is the second drive way on the left [south] Drive in on driveway to the field at the back with lots of space. Those who find it difficult to walk back from the field can be dropped off on the way through to the field do not park on lawns and driveway. If that is impossible they can be given special permission to park on the roundabout (please contact Elizabeth) It really spoils looking at a garden if it is covered with cars.

Directions to "Woodlands", 9 Middle Rd., Paget PG01, 236-4578. Coming from Southamp-ton on Middle Rd., pass Fourways Inn and little Estate Rd., first house left, planter with Begonia's, parking on the right side of the house when facing the house on the grass just before you leave the half circle drive. Tea will be served

How to get to the 3 rose gardens after the 60th Luncheon on 9th February 2014

Message From Lisa Marshall Dead-headers needed to assist at the Waterville Rose GardensIf you have a spare hour or two Lisa could do with some help at Waterville to help dead head the roses there. Please contact Lisa at [email protected] many thanks.

BIG GUNS & BERMUDA ROSE TOUR TO BERMUDAAttached is a PFF document on the upcoming Big Guns & Bermuda Roses Tour be-ing organized for visitors to Bermuda in April, please forward on to your friends & contacts abroad to help our tourism industry.

Help needed at Weastmeath Residential & Nursing Home They require some assistance in their Rose Garden on Pitts Bay Rd. They need some kind folks to dead head and prune their roses, if you are able to assist please call Christine Corrado-Benn a call at 293-3126, I know she would appreciate any help you can give.





CalendarJanuary 3rd 2014

Horticultural Hall

February 7th 2014

Horticultural Hall

60th Anniversary

March 7th 2014

Horticultural Hall

April 4th 2014

TBA

April 24th 25th 26th 2014

Ag Show

May 2nd 2014

Horticultural Hall

AGM

Last hurrahMore pictures from our last show.Top: Judging the benchMiddle: Shadow boxBottom: This rose is called “Land of the Long White Cloud” New Zealand.

Our 60th Anniversary will be held the 9th February 2014 at the Southampton Princess. Mrs. Sheenagh Harris, Director and Past President of the WFRS, will be our keynote speaker. She will speak on Royal Roses – roses named for British Royalty from King Arthur to the present day

Rosy regardsYour Bench Team

brs vol 4 - 5 feb 7th 2014 - roses in...

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