The New Year got off to a great start when Mr. James Naylor, past president of the National Rose Society, was our speaker in January.
His talk, illustrated throughout with excellent slides, was entitled 'How to Grow Roses in Yorkshire'. Yes, occasionally we need to remind ourselves that there is more to gardening (and life) than growing fuchsias!
Judging by the frequently nodding heads in the audience, and the speed at which questions to the floor were answered, it proved that roses are a popular garden plant for many.  We were very pleased with the excellent turn-out of members, around 55 I reckon. Due perhaps to a break in the bad weather, it was only cold, freezing cold in fact, but at least dry and the roads were in good condition, but also, without a doubt, because people were quite interested in the subject matter. And, what a feast was in store.
We must compliment our learned friend from Leeds on a truly excellent lecture. Very instructive and presented with such a wonderful array of humorous anecdotes giving us all a very entertaining evening.
Though I was, as usual, furiously scribbling away, not much of my notes is actually legible, as it was all done in the dark while we were enjoying the quality slides. As James said, roses are very photogenic!
I can therefore not repeat all of the numerous hints on how to grow and care for our roses, but I will stress that it was obvious that James (and his wife) do get a lot of pleasure out of growing them, all the 3000(!!) in their garden. And that was, he said the whole purpose, growing for enjoyment.
Throughout the evening we were also treated to some wonderful quips regarding his 'head gardener' who was doing all the hard work. Like i.e. barrowing heaped up wheelbarrows of manure, which anyone can do, while he 'only' did the all important job of spreading it around the bushes. Ever so carefully, of course, without knocking off any of the shoots!

Important cultivation aspects to remember were:

PLANTING:

• Prepare the beds you intend to plant up in good time (Oct/Nov) by double digging and manuring to give it time to settle.
  
• Ordered roses (you'll get quality bushes from all members of the British Rosegrowers Association) should on arrival be labelled and heeled in individually.
  
• Make sure your planting holes are wide enough to contain the roots comfortably. As Geoffrey Smith always says 'spend as much time on the hole as you would on the plant.'
  
• Plant out at correct depth, which is with the union 1" below soil level, NOT on stilts. This avoids root rock and provides some insulation.
  
• Mulch. Roses love it. Use really well-rotted manure or compost etc.
  

• Tie-in new growth in Oct/Nov while it is still 'whippy' and pliable, using soft string and lead up and down. This will encourage shoots to break at each node and result in flowering from top to bottom. We should aim to avoid the 'tuft at the top' look!
  
• Cut out all fussy growth, avoid leaving snags and cut back diseased wood to white pith.       continued