Topic: Requirements for being an EarthKindTM Test Site

There are two different test sites that you can participate in: 1) An individual test site, basically your garden, where you need only grow one or two roses on the approved list of roses. You select the roses from the list of 47. Dr. Steven George, from Texas A & M or Dr. David Zlesak from University of Minnesota determine which roses you will grow in a test site. Please call 291-9651 and ask for Anita .Or phone 595-2199 to volunteer at Joslyn Castle. No matter which type of test site you would want to participate in the requirements are:

  • 1. 8 hours of sunlight a day
  • 2. Prepare the bed by integrating at least 3 inches of compost. Depending on your soil type you may need to add more than 3 inches of compost.
  • 3. Cover the bed with 3-4 inches of much at all times (usually one inch additional, annually). Basically, gardens have a one-time bed preparation.
  • 4. The roses are NEVER sprayed.
  • 5. The roses are NEVER fertilized.
  • 6. The first year the roses receive 1 inch of water a week. The irrigation is either by Mother Nature or watering. The second year, the roses receive 1 inch of water a month. Year three is the survival of the best genetics, with no additional watering except by Mother Nature.
  • 7. The first year the roses may be deadheaded. However, after year one DO NOT cut off the spent blooms.
  • 8. At the end of the first year please report to Joanne Langabee (jlangabee@cox.net). Such questions as: Did they grow? Did they thrive?

    • You may select whatever rose/roses you want to grow from the list of 47, if you are just growing roses for your garden. You DO have to purchase the roses yourself; they are NOT given to you. The combined list of Cold Weather Cultivars(Texas A&M)& Northern Cultivars(Texas A&M and the University of Minnesota):

  • Amiga Mia* Pearlie Mae* New Dawn Polar Joy
  • April Moon* Penelope Winter Sunset* Frontenac
  • Barn Dance* Pink Knock Out Folk Singer* Prairie Joy
  • Belinda’s Dream Polonaise* Summer Wind* Morden Blush
  • Blushing Knock Out Prairie Breeze* Prairie Harvest*
  • Carefree Beauty* Prairie Princess* George Vancover
  • Chuckles Princess Verona* John Cabot Quadra
  • Country Dancer* Quietness* John Davis A.Mackenzie
  • Dublin Bay Sea Foam Lena(Northern Ed.) Ramblin’ Red
  • Earth Song* Seminole Wind Sven(Northern Ed.) Sunrise/Sunset**
  • Flora Dora Square Dancer* Ole(Northern Ed.)
  • Yellow Submarine**
  • * (Buck Roses) **(Easy Elegance)
    • The following is a list of nurseries and some of the EarthKind(TM) roses they carry:

    Trees, Shrubs & More of Bellevue is carrying New Dawn, Knock Out, Blushing Knock Out, Pink Knock Out , Chuckles, Carefree Beauty, Polonaise, Summer Wind, and Winter Sunset.

    Moore’s Nursery on 120th is carrying Yellow Submarine**(Easy Elegance) and all Knock Outs.

    Sherbondy Nursery in Council Bluffs is carrying Carefree Beauty, Country Dancer, Knock Out, Pink Knock Out, and Prairie Harvest.

    Moffet Nursery in St. Joe, MO. is carrying Belinda’s Dream, Carefree Beauty, Carefree Wonder, Country Dancer, Earth Song, Prairie Harvest, and Winter Sunset.

    Omaha Rose Society will be selling EarthKindTM Roses during “Spring into Spring” at Lauritzen Garden on May 16,17,18 and on June 8 during their Spring Rose Show at Lauritzen Garden Society . Moffett Nursery will be providing the roses. Roses may be ordered at the “Spring into Spring” and picked up at the ORS Spring Rose Show on June 8th.

    Hy-Vee has carried varieties. The roses carried vary by individual managers. The store nearest the Douglas/Sarpy Extension on West Center has carried several own-root Buck roses. The Bucks are marked with a single asterisk on our list. Bailey’s Nursery has supplied most of the Northern Test Roses. They have two test roses that are called “Easy Elegance” that have been marked with a double asterisk. A development from the University of Minnesota that has been called “Northern Edition” is the triad of polyanthas—Ole, Sven, and Lena. Bailey’s provides roses to HyVee and the retail industry.

    Mulhull’s is carrying Knock Out, Carefree Beauty, Sea Foam, and The Fairy.

    Stoltenberg Nurseries, 15303 So. 36th St, Bellevue, NE 68123 is carrying Barn Dance, Carefree Beauty, Knock Out, and Pink Knock Out.

    Canoyers in Papillion is carrying New Dawn, Pink Knock Out, Blushing Knock Out, Knock Out, and The Fairy.

    You may also order any of them from: Chamblee’s Rose Nursery Antique Rose Emporium Roses Unlimited www.chambleeroses.com www.weAreroses.com www.rosesunlimited.com

    Please let Anita or Joanne know if you are interested in being a test site, and which roses you decide to grow. If you are interested in helping to maintain one of the display gardens, please call 291-9651 and ask for Anita.
    Joslyn Castle: 595-2199. Any questions? You can always find one of us through the Omaha Rose Society, Douglas/Sarpy Extension, or on the gardening website Omaha Garden Clubs


    Sincerely,
    Anita Eckley
    President of Omaha Rose Society
    EarthKind(TM) Rose Specialist
    Mjeckley53@cox.net
    291-9651

    Joanne Langabee
    EarthKind(TM) Rose Specialist
    jlangabee@cox.net