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David Leach-A rose GardenerRecently I met David Leach-a rose gardener- through my website. David lives and gardens in Vancouver. His main focus is roses and like so many of the other gardeners I've met he has taught himself much about what he knows about growing roses. What's special about David is that he's gotten so good at what he does he now regularly show and wins prizes for beautiful roses. David also teaches classes about growing roses. I'm sure you'll enjoy reading about him so what follows is my interview with David Leach- a rose gardener.
Just Julie: “David, when did you first get interested in growing roses?” David Leach: I have always been a general gardener, even in high school where we looked after the plants in the school itself. I started growing roses about twelve years ago.
Just Julie: “What made you want to exhibit your roses?” David Leach: I went to a local rose show and was intrigued by the process and the challenge. It also showed me the range of blooms that was available in the Rosa family and the variety of bush sizes and shapes. I also found a wonderful club newsletter with practical information, and this became one of the best starting points. after that one thing just lead to another and here I am today. Just Julie: “Are you a horticulturist? Or a master gardener?” David: I don't really know what the definition of either of those words really is. I am a Rosarian and general gardener I suppose. I also do talks, when invited, at local garden clubs, but...it's really just a hobby. Just Julie: “Where did you receive your training?” David: In the U.K. and thru a Master Gardeners program locally: and losing now and then at the Rose Shows! Just Julie: “That's amazing! So where do you most often exhibit your roses? ” David: I exhibit my roses at the Vancouver Rose Show and the Fraser Valley Rose show in British Columbia. Just Julie: “I'm imagining a huge farm. How much land do you use for rose gardening?” David: No, actually I have very little: I have only two 50 by 30 feet areas packed with plants, but my 'Garden' has been on the local garden tour. Just Julie: “Do you have a green house?” David: Actually, no! Again because of space, but it would be useful as I grow some miniature roses that are quite tender and fussy! Just Julie: “So how many roses do you grow?” David: Right now I am down to 27 from 57, mainly because of going organic and removing the disease prone bushes. Just Julie: “Do you sell your roses?”
David: No, I don't, but I sure give away a lot of blooms each year, and I have requests for specific bouquets: this year for example, a C.D. Release Group has asked for groups of blooms for tables for an event they're organizing.
Just Julie: “You're very generous! Do you garden alone or with help?” David: It's all mine, but I have started hiring help locally for cleaning the beds and general weeding. Just Julie: “David, do you have a favorite supplier?” David: In fact I do. I have a great supplier: The Pacific North West and Brad Jalbert of Select Roses. He is a hybridizer and rose specialist and many of my roses, especially the miniatures have come from him. Just Julie: “I'm sure you get asked this a lot, but what is your current favorite rose?” David: Oh, there are so many! Royal William is a dramatic red tea rose that is both hardy and almost disease resistant. Hot Tamale is a fabulous red and yellow mix miniature that is great for sprays of perfectly shaped blooms. Elina is a beautiful show rose and Savoy Hotel is a lovely big bush rose that produces basket loads of blooms. Just Julie: “Do you grow any heirloom roses?” David: No, I don't, mainly because of lack of space, but I really would love to. Again, great choice for those with lots of space.
Just Julie: “Do you have any simple advice for new rose gardeners?”
David: Certainly! I have my own website so firstly, visit it regularly, and I also have a newsletter that will give you all the information you will ever need to grow healthy roses! Secondly, some things to be aware of: 1...Buy the rose to fit the space. Check the 'full' size before you buy it and make sure it's relatively disease resistant and that you are buying from a garden center that knows something about roses and not your local supermarket or big box store. 2...Plant your bushes in full light: at least six hours per day. Away from tree and bush roots and not where another rose has been removed! 3...Don't water the leaves, water the roots, usually twice a week. 4...Learn how to prune correctly (it's very easy!) for the type of rose you have planted. Again, the best way is to visit the website. 5...and the last suggestion, keep the label on the rose so that when you ask a question, you can remember the name of the rose: the answer will depend on it! Just Julie: “Thank you so much David! It's been a pleasure to talk to you. You can go to David Leach 's website through the link I've included below:” Growing Roses With Rose Works
Just Julie: “ Do you have anything else you'd like to add, David?"
David Leach: I mentioned earlier that I give talks about roses. The following is a talk I gave on Rose Garden Design if you'd like to share that with your readers.
Just Julie: “ That would be awesome, David!" David Leach: Roses are a unique flower, and a rose garden design can be turned into something truly stunning. There are a number of reasons why rose garden designs are preferred over other flowers, including the sheer number of different types and colors of roses. You are not limited to a single look or feel of your roses when planning a rose garden design, but instead can combine a number of natural color mixes, with vine roses, climbing roses, tall roses, bush roses and many other plants to create a varied idea. There are a number of considerations to make when it comes to your rose garden design. To design rose gardens, address the following concepts: The colors of roses that you choose for your rose garden design are going to play a large role in how you design your rose garden. There are a myriad of different styles of roses available for planting and growing in your rose garden design. You are not limited only to red and pink roses, because there are also yellow roses, white roses, purple roses and orange roses. Breeding roses together will produce an even wider spectrum of colors, allowing you to plant a virtual rainbow worth of roses in your rose garden design. Red roses are available as coral, vermilion, and scarlet, classic red and crimson. Pink roses are classic pink, rose, and cerise, candy pink and pale pink. The first steps to planning your rose garden design are to select the colors that will best work for you. The next step to planning the design of your rose garden is to select the different types of roses, because not all roses are created equally. Do you want to incorporate rose vines that climb intricate trellises, stretching tiny rose blooms up the side of your home or climbing about a favorite piece of landscaping? Do you want thick, full rose bushes that can be perfectly pruned into detailed shapes? Or is your favorite type of rose the traditional rose bush, growing in its own unique way that can be pruned similarly to a bonsai? The choices are up to you, and there is no end to the styles that you can create in your rose garden design. Now that you have chosen the styles of roses and their colors for your rose garden design, it is time to visualize something of a finished rose garden design. If you cannot simply visualize your design, or cannot sketch it on paper, then utilizing software dedicated to this purpose may be the best avenue for you to take. Most garden landscape design options were developed for professionals, but now even DIY beginners can make use of these unique software options to plan their rose garden designs. The possibilities are endless when it comes to rose garden design, simply because there are so many different options out there. With dozens of different colors to choose from, and numerous different rose plant styles, you can implement a seemingly endless variety of roses from seed, from bulb or adult plants and combine them in different configurations until you are satisfied with your rose garden design.
Just Julie: “ Thank you again, David!" And as always: Thanks for gardening with Julie
Related Articles: Other Interviews: Eileen Rudnick
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