Gardens, Pools & Spas
Coming Up Roses
A lifelong love of roses translates into prize-winning bouquets.
BY
Lucyann Boston
PHOTOGRAPHY
Michael Jacob

J.R.’s Top Rose Tips:

• Roses grow best in raised beds with exceptional drainage.

• A soil mix of one-third quality topsoil, one-third  compost and one-third playground gravel will
 provide the drainage they need.

• Establish a regular feeding, spraying and watering program.

• Water roses in a way that provides a good soaking a few times a week to let the soil dry out between soakings and get a proper oxygen exchange into the root zone.
 
• Roses are heavy feeders. Once a week, feed them with a water-soluble fertilizer like Jack’s
 Professional Plant Food or Miracle-Gro.

• To minimize the work, it often pays to invest in professional spray and fertilizing equipment. “I
 can spray 500 roses in 35 minutes and provide superior coverage,” he says.

• Roses need quality winterization. After the first  hard frost (20-22˚ F), mulch with 18 inches
 of compost, chopped oak bark or 24 inches of chopped oak leaves.
     
Simply maintaining his rose garden requires at least 20 hours per week, Regnier estimates. Additional rose activities add up to “too many hours to count,” he jokes. But not everything is work. “My greatest joy is when people come by unannounced and simply walk through the garden, sharing the beauty of the roses. I give people the tour the first time they come. After that, I don’t have time to give tours.  He smiles, “Someone has to maintain the estate.”

Everything will be coming up roses this September 13-17 when St. Louis hosts the American Rose Society National Convention at downtown’s Millennium Hotel. On Saturday, September 15 from 2-5 p.m. the convention’s rose show will be open to the public for a $2 charge. “Roses from all over the United States will be on display; the best roses in America,” says John (J.R.) Regnier of Chesterfield. “It’s the opportunity of a lifetime.” Regnier should know. For the past 16 years he has been growing exhibition roses in his sun-filled garden, which will be one of the private gardens the convention delegates will tour while they are in St. Louis.
Regnier estimates that he has between 400 and 500 rose bushes on display in his fully landscaped backyard. Climbers and shrub roses line the fences and patio stairs. Hybrid teas stretch across the ample lawn in a series of raised beds. A residential real estate agent by trade, Regnier is also working free of charge with the University of Costa Rica greenhouses, florists and rose growers to share his knowledge of growing techniques and introduce them to the latest varieties of exhibition and garden roses. “I’m doing this to give something back,” says Regnier, who hopes eventually to have homes both in St. Louis and in Costa Rica. “I’m hoping to help Costa Rica develop an industry growing roses for the home and florist markets.”

Roses have been a fascination for Regnier as long as he can remember. “I grew up in Mehville. My mother was a gardener and the man across the street grew Jackson & Perkins roses. I’ve always loved the rose flower. It’s used more in art and literature than any other flower. The key thing is the fragrance and the variety of forms and styles.” Although Regnier has always loved roses he has not always been a successful grower of what can often be a finicky flower. “I always tried to grow roses wherever I lived,” he explained. “When I purchased this home 16 years ago, I decided at that time I wanted to learn how to grow roses rather than kill roses.”

Regnier explains, “You have to have people who know how to grow roses teach you. So I joined the Rose Society of Greater St. Louis and started going to meetings. So many people who were experts at growing roses shared their knowledge with me. They came out to my yard and worked with me on what I needed to do to grow superior roses. It’s a free service they provide.”
Regnier also took classes at the Missouri Botanical Garden. “At the botanical garden I learned that the secret to having beautiful plants is to garden the soil first. All the work goes into soil and bed preparation for the variety of plant you want to grow. When you pull on a weed, it should come out easily.”

Become a Member of the American Rose Society
Information about becoming a member of the American Rose Society is available at www.ars.org. There are four local rose societies in the greater St. Louis area. Links to all four societies are available on the American Rose Society website.

You do not need to be a member of the American Rose Society to attend many of the September 13-17 national convention events. Members of the general public who pay a $75 registration fee can attend several convention sessions featuring nationally and internationally known speakers. Those who are not members of the American Rose Society but have paid the initial registration fee  can also register for other convention events for an additional fee.

A complete schedule of convention events, fees and a registration form are available at www.arsconventionstl.org