From Eula's Kitchen Window

Looking out my kitchen window this morning, there is a beautiful sunrise, and because of the clouds, we are getting lots of pinks, lavenders, and other lovely colors in the morning sky. Across the street is a very colorful tree. It seems the colors have been quite pretty this year. Oh yes, the mocking birds are still picking the berries from my calicarpia shrub…I hope they eat all of them.

The little birds are still feeding on the bugs they are finding on the miniature roses. Speaking of miniatures, there are several in bloom yet, “Old Glory”, “Cup Cake”, “Pink Porcelain”, and “Wild Plum”. The floribunda “French Lace” and grandiflora “Fame” are still holding a few blooms as well. “Ingrid Bergman”, a stunning, red hybrid tea, is showing off at this time. The foliage on the roses still looks good, but I am always happy to prune and clean everything up to begin a new year. Also, there is a climber on a trellis by my back door, “Berries and Cream”, and it seems that almost every time I go in or out the door, I stop, and while holding a bloom in my hand, sniff the fragrance of that marvelous rose. It reminds me of when I was a child growing up in the Midwest. We had soft pink roses that grew wild in the ditches along the road that had a scent that was delicious. “Blueberry Hill”, a single grown in our area, has a very similar scent. Yum, yum! 

Well, it is that time again folks…pruning season in southern California is upon us! The first demonstration of the season will be on Saturday, January 7th, at the home of my husband, Del, and I, and we look forward to seeing all of you! The event is from 12:00 noon to 3:00 P.M., and as our newsletter editor pointed out in another article in this publication, we are going to need at least a dozen people to help with demonstrating, manning the registration and sales table, as well as helping with refreshments and door prizes. Please email me and let me know in what way you would like to help…your participation will be very much appreciated.

For those of you who will be helping with the actual pruning, you will need to bring your pruners, gloves, diamond files, and whatever else you need to work with. (By the way, ladies, don’t forget to wear your yellow tee shirts and navy aprons…and you fellas, your navy tee shirts. We want to make a good impression to the public.) Remember that this demonstration is not a contest to see how many roses you can prune in the fastest amount of time. Rather, it is an opportunity for you to take time with each person (and the bush) and explain why you prune the way you do, as well as answer any questions you might be asked. Don’t rush the demonstration. Instead, give as much information as you can so as to educate your “students”. If you don't know the answer, say so, then tell them you will try to find the answer. You will not be alone, so please don’t feel intimidated about taking part in the demonstration. Join in…it’s fun! In fact, when people begin asking questions, that’s when the learning – and fun – really begins. There’s so much to share.
 
I also want to mention that our society will be needing some "door prizes" for the seven demonstrations we will be holding this month, so members, if you can, please pick up one or two items at a nursery or discount store that you think someone might like to get as a door prize. It will be greatly appreciated. Some suggestions are: small, colorful flower pots, ornamental stakes, stepping stones, potting soil, diamond files, small garden tools, gardening gloves, etc. The items that are not given away as door prizes at this event will be inventoried and kept to be given away at one of our six, subsequent demonstrations. In addition, I will be picking up some gift certificates and bare root roses from our Parkview Nurseries on Jackson and Chicago, which are being donated by these fine businesses. Every Saturday this month (and the first Saturday in February) is scheduled for RRS pruning demonstrations, so mark your calendars and get ready for a very exciting time…and several new members no doubt!

Well, I better get on with the morning. There is a batch of pomegranate jelly to be made, which makes a great gift to special people.  See you next year (just around the corner)!