More National Recognition for FSJRG - Serve.gov

A few weeks ago I was contacted by a Public Affairs Specialist from the Corporation for National and Community Service, who asked me to write an article on FSJRG for President's Obama's website Serve.gov. Here it is:

Volunteers have the power to transform their community. As Co-Founder of Friends of the San Jose Rose Garden, I have witnessed how people of all ages and abilities can come together to make a difference, transform neglect into beauty, and inspire change in other communities. In less than two years volunteers took a historic landmark park from probation to elation. This is our story.

Due to budget and staff cuts the San Jose California Municipal Rose Garden fell into serious disrepair. Built in the 1930’s, the 11-acre park features expansive lawns and a 5-acre rose garden containing 4,000 rosebushes. Sadly, severe cutbacks led to poor horticultural practices such as using herbicides in the rose beds to control weeds – which also killed the roses. In 2005 the Municipal Rose Garden was at risk of losing national accreditation by the All America Rose Selections and placed on “probation.” City officials ignored the letter of probation, and in January of 2007 a crisis point was reached. Roses were dead and dying, beds choked with weeds, and only 20% of the Rose Garden was pruned.

Rosarians and community advocates (Beverly Rose Hopper and Terry Reilly) decided something drastic had to be done. We built public awareness and support through television and newspaper interviews along with rallying support at City Hall, and used slogans such as “Free the Roses” (after all the roses were on probation) and other catchy sound bites. Using tools such as Google Mashup, we discovered people from all over had sentimental connections to the Rose Garden. What started as a neighborhood issue became a regional campaign. In addition we promoted the idea that volunteers could help with park maintenance – at the time the City of San Jose had no framework for such a program.

In the fall of 2007, Friends of the San Jose Rose Garden was officially launched as a nonprofit volunteer organization in public/private partnership with the City of San Jose. A combination of marketing, improved horticulture and a two-tiered volunteer program were core to our success, leading to such achievements as pruning 4,000 roses in only 2 hours.

Besides mass volunteer events which attract all ages and abilities, we offer a “Master Volunteer” program – after participating in a training program volunteers receive a distinctive vest emblazoned with our logo, which permits them to clip or weed whenever they choose. Master Volunteers also serve as docents and garden ambassadors.

With 1,000 volunteers in our database, and over 150 “Master Volunteers” what is the secret to our support? Fresh and innovative marketing, community outreach, an interactive website filled with photos/training videos/news, a companion blog, a Fan page on Facebook and the cultivation of our volunteers.

We value our volunteers and value the power of recognition. The green vests which distinguish Master Volunteers (MV’s) in the garden are key. Volunteers are easily identifiable as someone who belongs. MV’s log their hours on our website (6,000 hours in 2009) and for every 10 hours receive a gold star for their vest, and for 100 hours receive a framed Commendation from the City Council. We also know the importance of fun – pizza parties, movie nights, tickets in the City’s box for a hockey game or concert, and get-togethers like our “We’re Thankful for Our Volunteers” event. In fostering teamwork many new friendships have been formed.

The renovation of the garden (835 new roses planted) was completed in less than 2 years. We implemented new horticultural techniques specifically for public gardens to create masses of blooms. The transformation has been spectacular. In May of 2009 the San Jose Municipal Rose Garden received full re-accreditation and was elevated to “Test Garden” status by the All-America Rose Selections – one of only 23 Test Gardens in the USA and the only one in Northern California.

Our program has been developed into a “Case Study” and is being used as a model in other communities, including Oakland CA (Friends of the Morcom Rose Garden) and Sacramento CA (Friends of the McKinley Parks Rose Garden.)

The San Jose Municipal Rose Garden is attracting visitors from across America, the site of picnics and celebrations, a peaceful oasis in a hectic world. In these economic times, the importance of parks cannot be understated. Parks serve all the people, providing a place of beauty to lift the spirit and renew the soul.

What Friends of the San Jose Rose Garden achieved is an example of people power: the rescue, restoration and revitalization of the San Jose Municipal Rose Garden, who took it from “probation to elation” and the shear power of volunteers.


For more info www.FriendsSJRoseGarden.org

Hot Off the Press - December FSJRG Newsletter

Check out the latest newsletter from Friends of the San Jose Rose Garden. Read how to receive a FREE BARE ROOT ROSE from Star Roses and FREE ADMISSION TO DISNEYLAND by volunteering at our Annual Pruning event Jan 9. FSJRG is participating in the "Give a Day, Get a Disney Day" promotion to celebrate volunteerism. Lots of other exciting info including: Our Quick & Easy Pruning Method, Show 'Em Way to Rose Garden, Update on AARS Test Beds, Gifts for the Gardener, Soils Dead or Alive and of course articles on Pruning and Planting.

Click here for newsletter or our website www.FriendsSJRoseGarden.org

Spooktacular Roses for Halloween

Halloween is lurking around the corner. While you're considering your costume, get in the spirit of things by dressing up the garden too. I used to put gobs of spider webs on the tree roses leading to the front door. It was festive and fun. Of course it led to jokes that my roses had a really bad case of spider mites!

If you don't want to go the web route (or even if you do) perhaps you might want to add some Halloween themed roses to the garden. Here's a list to get you started - click on name for more info:

Drop Dead Red Fl 2010
Pumpkin Patch, Fl 2010
Bewitched HT 1967
Spellbound HT 2007
Black Magic HT 2007
Raven S 1999
Sorcerer Min 1994
Love Potion F 1993
Taboo HT 1993
Phantom S 1992
Magic Lantern Gr 1995

A couple of oldies
Halloween, HT 1969
Talisman HT 1929 (one of the original roses in the San Jose Municipal Rose Garden, if you have this I want a cutting!)
Merry Widow, Gr 1958
Deuil de Paul Fontaine M 1873

Of course the spookiest roses are the ones that haunt us every year: the must-haves that transform into must-nots, roses that give up the ghost for no apparent reason, or the ones we hastily shovel pruned but wish we had back. Boo!

-BRH

A Glimpse Into the Past

As we move into the future with the San Jose Municipal Rose Garden, we want to remember to honor the past. Old scrapbooks brimming with clippings have provided a wealth of information on this historic landmark, and I'm thrilled to have come across something to add to the collection. Grande dame and friend of the rose world for over 60 years, Muriel Humenick, gave me a map she had documented of varieties in the San Jose Municipal Rose Garden back in 1969. At first glance, old-time names like Ma Perkins, Jimeny Cricket and Gay Time leapt out. It seemed none of the varieties listed were still there, though it was nice to see the general layout of the garden remained the same. How much had changed in 40 years! I wondered, are any of these roses still in the garden today? And were any of the roses in place in 1969 there when the garden was first dedicated in the 30's?

Looking at a current map of the garden (click here) only four varieties from 1969 managed to hold their same place today - Duet, Montezuma, Oklahoma and Miss All American Beauty. Whether or not they are indeed the original bushes is not possible to know, but it's nice to think at least some of these plants have provided 40 years of beauty.

Could any of the roses shown on the 1969 map been part of the original plantings? From the archives I dug out the hand-drawn map of the original hybrid tea bed to do a comparison. Only two varieties from the original planting of the garden - Talisman and President Herbert Hoover - still existed in the garden in 1969, but sadly they are long gone from the garden today.

The loss of many of these historic roses was the inspiration in the 80's for the Heritage Rose Garden, which serves as an important botanical collection of roses of note. Though the San Jose Municipal Rose Garden is primarily modern roses, we recognize the importance of roses past and roses future. As part of the FSJRG restoration project a broader range of roses were included as a tribute to its past, and we embrace the future with the exciting honor of becoming the only All-America Rose Selections Test Garden in Northern California.

-BRH

Our Master Volunteers Have More Fun

Besides the clip, clip in the SJ Muni Rose Garden, some of our lucky Master Volunteers will be going chomp, chomp at an upcoming Sharks game. Councilmember Pierluigi Oliverio has given FSJRG use of the City's Luxury Box for the Sep 25th Sharks game. There are limited seats, and MV's can register for a drawing of tickets.

Our volunteers report they like Friends of the San Jose Rose Garden because not only are they making the garden a more beautiful place, they have a good time while doing it. There's more growing and blooming in the garden besides roses (and I'm not talking about the occasional weeds either!) Friendships have been made while working together in the garden, chatting with visitors, relaxing at one of our pizza parties, movie nights, field trips, etc. Did you know a group of MV's even went on a trip to Africa together?

Though we can't promise you Africa, we can promise you that helping to create beauty feels good - good for the soil, and good for the soul. If you're not a Master Volunteer but interested in becoming one, check out the FSJRG website for more info. All ages and abilities welcome. Volunteers may have diverse backgrounds, but we all speak a common language - roses.


-BRH

FSJRG Inspires New Group Dedicated Deadheaders

Friends of the San Jose Rose Garden (FSJRG) is a model for other communities across the USA, and the inspiration behind the newly formed "Friends of the Morcom Rose Garden" and Dedicated Deadheaders based on the FSJRG Master Volunteer program.

Tora Rocha, Gardener Crew Leader for the City of Oakland, has spearheaded the development of a volunteer organization to help maintain the Mocom Rose Garden. Their first event (you are invited!) Sat Sep 12: From Woodstock to Rootstalk, 9:00am - 1:00pm, Morcom Rose Garden, 700 Jean Street, Oakland. The event will feature the unveiling of their master volunteer program "Dedicated Deadheaders" complete with tie-dye vests. The morning work party will be followed by a Kickoff Celebration 1:30 - 4:00 pm at the Grand Avenue Tavern for wine and munchies.

FSJRG is thrilled to see other similar volunteer organizations take root. And thank you Terry for meeting with Tora to help them get off the ground on this worthwhile project. FSJRG wishes Friends of the Morcom Rose Garden all the best and shear success!

For more info/website: Friends of the Morcom Rose Garden click here.


-BRH

Deer Diner

My doze in dreamland was interrupted at dawn by the distinctive sounds of deer leaping through the dry underbrush. In the early light peering over the balcony at the roses below, I surveyed the missing buds. Not too bad it seemed, maybe a bush or two. But with deer damage, you don't see it all at once. Deer nibble at buds, chomp on blooms, and chew on foliage; leaving the stems stripped. Sure enough upon closer inspection discovered the deer made an early morning buffet of seven of my roses, starting at two bushes of Moonstone and working their way through Gemini, Paradise Found, Over the Moon, Elle and St Patrick which was hit especially hard. Somewhere over the hill I imagine deer sharing tasting notes, "the yellow had such substance, and the bouquet on the pink was heavenly!"

Speaking of bouquet, guess there's no avoiding it now. With cooler night-time temperatures deer are returning from higher elevations. It's time to apply Liquid Deer Fence again and hope that the horrendous odor keeps the deer out of the roses. Too bad the stench keeps me out of the roses too. Maybe time to get going on plans for a higher fence.

Special Event Sat Sep 5 - First 75 Get a Free Rosebush!

Fall Fun in the San Jose Municipal Rose Garden, Sat Sep 5th at 9:00 AM. First 75 volunteers to arrive receive a FREE ROSEBUSH from Regan Nursery. Activities include deadheading, weeding, various rose care and VOTING on your favorite road sign. In addition, Master Volunteer Training will be conducted by Beverly Rose Hopper at 9:30 AM.

Bring clippers if have them, some will be provided. All ages and abilities.

San Jose Municipal Rose Garden located at corner of Naglee and Dana Avenue, San Jose. Visit Friends of the San Jose Rose Garden website for more info including our fall newsletter, click here.

The Gift of Roses

While watering the roses this morning, my mind was wandering over future triumphs and past tragedies, when suddenly I was snapped to my senses by a strong rose scent. Hose in hand, stretching over the front row of roses to reach the ones in back - too deep in thought to notice my nose was practically buried in a bloom of Fragrant Cloud until the spicy fragrance jolted me awake.

Not only did the rich rose aroma hit me but the realization, there I was, so engrossed in reviewing events which happened 10, 20, 30 years ago, that I almost missed the gift of the moment. A beautiful rose filled with fragrance. I stepped back and opened my eyes . . . and admired the deep green leathery foliage of Pink Promise. . . The pure white blooms of Secret's Out. . . . I took a deep breath and thought what a gift roses are. They are presents wrapped in petals, beautiful reminders to celebrate this moment. Each one special in its own way. This is why I love them so.


-BRH

Got Heat? Get Over the Moon

After two weeks of sizzling temps over 100 degrees, most of my roses have succumbed to wilt, melt, sunburn, shrunkened size, or simply shut down. Only a few hardy souls have survived the searing heat, and still manage to look good under extreme conditions.

OVER THE MOON, a new apricot hybrid tea, has been absolutely stellar. When other roses shrink in the heat, Over the Moon has kept its size. When others have melted petals, Over the Moon is full of fresh and full of substance. When others have brown crispy foliage, Over the Moon has leaves that are lush and green.

Check out the photo above. In hot weather it keeps its cool and looks fabulous even when fully open.

If you are looking for a new heat-tolerant rose for your garden, add Over the Moon to your list. Introduced in 2009, it will be available from Regan's
Nursery this fall for 2010 season.


-BRH