By Ginger Broomes

The Orange Leader

Orange County Master Gardeners Association will be conducting a rose training session from 8:30 to 11:30, Saturday, February 3, at Cormier Park, 8235 FM 1442 in Orangefield (between the railroad tracks and the Catholic church).  The cost will be $10, and includes materials and two cuttings from the EarthKind rose collection, with the option to purchase additional cuttings.

According to Sheri Bethard with the OCMG, there will be several speakers from the Golden Triangle Rose Society.

“Becky Davis will talk about the types of roses,” Bethard said. “Mike Jones will discuss the pruning and care of roses and Clyde Davis, the President of the Golden Triangle Rose Society, will demonstrate how to propagate – taking the cuttings from an existing rose to plant another.”

The training session will also cover the prevention and management of common rose diseases and insect management.  It will not just focus specifically on the EarthKind Roses, but will provide information on the propagation and care of all types of roses, and is open to either beginning or advanced gardeners.

EarthKind roses are plants that have received a specialized designation from the Texas AgriLife Extension Service for their ability to utilize organic and traditional methods to grow hardy, drought- and heat-tolerant plants with little water, fertilizer and pesticides as possible.

Not every rose can receive an EarthKind designation.

Orange County Master Gardeners Association is a volunteer program offered by Texas AgriLife Extension Service.

They work with the public and local schools to offer horticultural information and educational sessions for the community throughout the year, with the next session scheduled for March 24 – a “Texas Superstars” class showcasing plants that are ideal for the southeast Texas climate.

This will be a free course and will take place one week before their annual plant sale.

To enroll in the EarthKind Rose Propagation Class, go to Orange.agrilife.org and click on the link for EarthKind Roses Propagation Class or call 409-882-7010.  Those interested may also sign up at the class location.

Membership in the Orange County Master Gardeners Association is open to the public pending certain educational requirements and a background check, and information about joining is also available online at txmg.org/orange, or by calling the above number.