Colorful Roses Dazzle Garden Club Members

Spring was in the air as Bill Kozemchak, Levittown resident and gardener, elaborated on his love of roses at the Martha Washington Garden Club’s monthly meeting.

The members learned about rose care, low maintenance roses, and some of the newer varieties hitting the market during the meeting last week.

 "I always enjoy talking with groups about roses and hopefully, inspire some of the group to try or retry growing roses in their gardens," Kozemchak said.

Kozemchak's garden is usually open several times each year for rose societies and local garden clubs.

Kozemchak’s passion for roses began innocently enough 23 years ago. He first planted about a dozen roses, then a few more each year until 1000 rose bushes (700 different varieties) graced his quarter-acre suburban lot in Levittown’s Violetwood section (not in the Red Rose Gate section). He grows various types of roses such as hybrid teas (traditional cutting roses), floribundas (bears fragrant floriferous flowers clusters), shrub and old garden roses, climbers and miniatures in all colors.

What is Kozemchak’s attraction to roses?

"I love the beauty of the rose and the joy it gives people when I take vases of roses to them. I also enjoy the competitive aspects of the rose shows and trying to grow the best specimens of each rose possible," Kozemchak said.

Kozemchak has earned the title and highest honor of Master Rosarian, which means he is a Consulting Rosarian -- the most knowledgeable in the American Rose Society (ARS). Consulting Rosarians have made outstanding contributions over a significant period of time, volunteering significant time in the ARS, sharing knowledge with the Society and with the public, and are deemed "a model of the ethical behavior exemplified in the Consulting Rosarian program." Kozemchak served as former president of the Philadelphia Rose Society.

If you are new to growing roses, or just want to grow those that don’t require a lot of time spraying and fussing over, then you’ll want to try the following roses, according to Kozemchak.

Knock Out Roses. This group of roses is very vigorous, winter hard, and blooms well without deadheading (cutting off the old blossoms). They do not get the dreaded black spot fungal disease like many roses do. There is a variety of colors to try.

Climbing Roses (from breeder, William Radler). The creator of Knock Out roses, Bill Radler, has developed several great climbing roses such as Brite Eyes, Can Can, Morning Magic, and Winner's Circle.

Meilland Roses. This group of carefree landscape roses may get some blackspot, but they don’t defoliate and keep on blooming. Examples include: Alba, Fuchsia, Magic, Pink, Ruby, Scarlet, and White Meidiland. (www.meilland.com/en/index.html)

Romantic Series. This group of fragrant, vigorous roses from growers Star-Conard-Pyle is similar to the David Austin English roses, but they are much more disease resistant. Examples include: Colette, Francois Rabelais, Frederic Mistral, Peter Mayle, Sweet Promise , Traviata and Yves Piaget.

Rugosa Roses. These hardy, disease-resistant roses are happy growing along the shore since they are tolerant of salty air and cold temperatures. If you leave them alone after blossoming, they will form colorful hips (rounded seed heads or fruit). Some rugosa roses include: Rosa rugosa, Rosa rugosa alba, Rosa rugosa rubra, Blanc Double de Coubert, Frau Dagmar Hartopp, Hansa, and Pink Grootendoorst.

When asked for his list of Top Five roses to grow Kozemchak responded, "Double Delight, a red and white bi-color, fragrant hybrid tea, is my favorite if I had to pick only one. But others on my list include floriferous Fourth of July, red or pink/white bi-colored Priscilla Burton, yellow/pink Bee’s Knees, and dark purple Night Owl." Kozemchak mentioned the red and white striped climber, Fourth of July a few times during his talk.

What does a rosarian give his wife on Valentine’s Day?

"Roses are way too expensive this time of year. So, I found some Tweety Bird items to add to her collection, and some Valentine's candy this year."

Follow the Martha Washington Garden Club on Facebook or check out their website. For more information on roses click here.