My friend, Laura LaFlamme, is the Director of the Suffield High School Agriscience Program. I was introduced to her at the 2018 Connecticut Flower and Garden Show by a mutual friend. I was feeling pretty frustrated. The person CT Rose Society paid for ‘forcing’ our roses for display at the show really left us high and dry. All we had were tiny, tight buds and no blooming roses. The Flower and Garden Show takes place the third weekend in February, so it is necessary to ‘force’ the roses into bloom in early winter. Having none in bloom at a flower show is a travesty!

Laura suggested, “Why don’t you come grow your roses in my greenhouse next year?” I replied, “How could I ever repay you?” Laura said, “Just teach us about roses!” I was happy to do just that, and I’ve been sharing the joy of roses ever since!

Working Together

Usually, my Weeks Roses rep, Jerry Amoroso, brings me potted roses in the Fall. When that happens, I keep them watered until the last week of October. Roses need about six weeks of dormancy in order to be ‘forced’ for the February show. I then cut them back and strip off the leaves just before Halloween. Stripping off the leaves puts them to sleep — no more photosynthesis. Once the roses are in our dark, cold barn they go to rest until the second week of December.

At that point, I load them into the trailer and bring them to Laura’s beautiful greenhouse. The students help bring the sleepy roses into the barn and place them onto the benches. They are watered and the great wake-up begins. When the students return from holiday break in January, we really begin the ‘forcing’ process. I  work with the students in the greenhouse and occasionally in the classroom. We had gorgeous blooming roses for our displays in 2019 and 2020. Then, Covid hit.

There was no flower show in 2021. This year, the show was on but the Covid numbers were so high that I didn’t feel comfortable bringing people into an environment where 10K people visit each day. I decided to cancel the display in February and called Laura to let her know I wouldn’t be bringing the roses over to the greenhouse.

All Is Not Lost

Laura let me know that she had a new teacher named Katie Davis, and that she was teaching a plant propagation course. She asked,
“Could we grow SOME roses? There are 13 students in the class.” I was thrilled to share the joy of roses and brought the roses over at the beginning of February.

Each student had a rose to water and care for. We ‘forced’ them with water, Osmocote, and Miracle-Gro for roses, and tender loving care. Students put their names on their pots and watched their roses recover in a spirit of gentle competition. When the roses bloomed end of March, I transferred the students’ plants because I needed them for the Yankee District Convention fund raiser April 1-3.

The students participated by carrying their roses to the truck, some with tears in their eyes. It was if I was taking their pets away from them. The students’ 13 beautiful roses brought in over $400 for the Yankee District! I stood in the front of the room and explained how these beauties came to be and the society’s members were thrilled that we may have some budding rosarians in our future!

New Roses For The Kids

CT Rose Society has a rose sale every year as a member benefit. We usually have a few roses left over, so I called my Rose Sale partner and asked if we could donate 13 of these to the 13 kids who worked so hard on their project. She said yes, so Bob and I brought them over to the high school and potted them up for the students. They brought their roses home around Mother’s Day.

I spoke with Katie and Laura about bringing the kids over to my garden for a tour of my gardens and rose stories and donuts! Today, June 1, was the day they came. Over half the students are graduating this month, so I made sure I let them know they were always welcome to visit me and my gardens. Our time together passed so quickly that before long it was time for them to load into the big white Suffield Agriscience Bus!

I am so thankful to Laura, Katie, and all the kids for giving me the opportunity to share my knowledge with them. Congratulations to those graduating, and I’m hoping I’m fortunate enough to get to work with the others again. We parted with hugs and kisses and a promise for more roses in December. I wish them all a wonderful summer! And, thanks from the bottom of my heart for allowing me to share the joy of roses.  And the picture?  Laura in front, Katie to the right, and kids are all behind them!