Miniature Roses as Cut Flowers

I have greatly underestimated miniature roses.  They seem dainty, delicate and for use only in the landscape.  I was pleasantly surprised when I noticed that the make GREAT cut flowers for arrangements.  Now my arrangement skills are sorely lacking but flowers are still pretty.  Above is green ice paired with black baccara.  I found this to be quite elegant looking.

While pruning my many roses, I forgot why I grew them in the first place.  To have cut flowers....how could I forget.  My mother asked me if I was burned out from gardens...I said years ago!  When I tell her I haven't been working in the gardens...I mean I don't put in 6 to 8 hours into it.  But on a given day I work one to two hours in the gardens.  In any event, I opted to cut flowers.  When I look for roses, I look for ones partially open.   The great thing about the miniatures is that I don't wait for that.

 Peach drift was another great miniature that blooms in abundance.

 Green ice has become a delight!

Just other roses I opted to use

I had a random lily blooming so I opted to pair it with ivy.

JFK and Mister Lincoln I believe

Today, I will continue to prune the rose bushes.

 You can see green ice blooms in abundance

Peach Drift.

Arrangement I put in the foyer.  I used bottled lemonade as the mixture but I don't care for the color like I do mountain dew and sprite.

I used bottlebrush in some of them.  Again, not the greatest in arrangements but I'll learn.

I did like the ivy with the lily in an old milk bottle.  I thought it looked artistic.

Using Soda for Flower Arrangements & Christmas Trees....

I love flower arrangements but I don't have flower packs, generally.  So instead I use lemon lime soda.  What I usually use,is Sprite or Mountain Dew.   Do NOT use Diet!   It is suppose to feed plants & keep the water clean.  Sometimes I'll throw in an aspirin.    I am not sure the exact formula to use but I usually use whatever I have about 70/30 soda to water.  The Xmas tree is so thirsty I am not sure the sprite helps a whole bunch but every couple of  days.  What do you use?

Leland Cypress Xmas tree....almost a shame it was cut...

Mountain dew is green but some people don't like the color because they think the water looks dirty.  I like it.

My two liter I use to feed the tree. 

My First Rose Show

I attended my first rose show and my first impression was that I could not believe how incredibly friendly everyone was.  I am used to meeting nice people but these people were incredibly amiable.

When I sheepishly mentioned I had over 100 hundred roses I had learned this was a feat... For once I felt proud.  The roses here were gorgeous beyond words.  This extremely nice lady ( I believe here name is Sally Menk)was very forthcoming in any questions I had.   This was run by the Pensacola Rose Society. 

You will have to forgive my modest camera work.  My camera cost $25 and I do not complain but appreciate my images are on par with the price of the camera & the experience of the photographer.  The roses were unbelievable.

 

They were set up in sections by category.  Given that this was my first rose show, I had no idea, what to expect.  

They set them up on tables for display.  

I believe the society host 2 a year.  I am a CPA ( in all that, that implies so spring might be out for me) but I know I will attempt my humble entry next year.

Just outstanding masterpieces of nature on display!

I loved this peach rose.  I had them explain repeatedly at what stage to display roses.  I have more degrees than a thermometer..but to someone who does not know me..I am certain, I seemed a bit slow.  I asked seemingly "simple" questions about how to exhibit roses.  I have no defensiveness to my "slow" demeanor so I tend to ask away...kind of like dancing if no one is watching.  I am confident in my general intelligence...& more importantly admitting that I do not know something...except I know taxes very well.

Blue girl

Arrangements

Memphis Music..I have three of these that I bought from Two Sisters

 The tags they use for the rose shows.

They have very separate types of entries.  For more specifics, click HERE

They had one type of entry that showed different stages of blooms.

This is the Rosie O'Donnell that looks like a large version of the Ketchup & Mustard I have.

They have different categories

I use a quarter a lot to give perspective to the size of the rose.

This looks like a Fire & Ice rose but forgive me for not getting the name.

Arrangement displays 

Miniatures 

This nice gentleman, named Glenn, is a top winner of the  district & essentially of the show, was very forthcoming on what he uses in rose care.

Marlin's Day is his entry & wins a great deal of his show entries.  It's a ruffled version of Moonstone.  I asked him what he fed roses he said rabbit manure, milorganite, & something else that escapes me...but will be sure to ask write down, next time.

This huge yellow rose is called Elina.

I bought this because my grandfather's  name is Bienvenidos Villegas & coincidentally there is a famous hybridizer named Baldo Villegas...out of sentiment I bought it & will call it Pipo...after my grandfather.  Not to insult the rosarian but I am sure he will understand. 

 They gave me this wonderful arrangement for joining.

Who knows maybe one day one of my roses will win.