Polk County Itemizer-Observer • June 3, 2015 9A
Polk County Living
Easy ways to fight the ‘big four’ foes of roses ANNIVERSARIES
Vesper — 75th
Charmingly warm weath-
er coaxed roses into bloom
early this year, which means
dealing with the usual dis-
eases and pests earlier, too.
When it comes to one of
the county’s most popular
perennial plants, the “big
four” vexations are powdery
mildew, black spot, rust and
aphids, according to Jay W.
Pscheidt, a plant pathology
specialist with Oregon State
University’s Extension Serv-
ice. More recently, downy
mildew, which looks strik-
ingly similar to black spot,
has become an increasing
problem.
“People are confusing
them,” he said. “It’s difficult
to tell the two apart.”
However, the black spots
made by downy mildew
spores are not as dark and
can have an angular appear-
ance. Under moist condi-
tions, you might see a gray,
downy-looking growth on
the undersides of the leaves.
After the relatively dry
weather this year, black spot
will be less of an issue,
Pscheidt said, while the inci-
dence of rust may be greater
than normal. Rust, which
begins in spring and peaks
in early summer, appears as
orange pustules that can
blanket the foliage in worst-
case scenarios.
K YM
P OKORNY
Your
Garden
As the name suggests,
powdery mildew shows up
as a white powder covering
the leaves, but without the
black blotches typical of
downy mildew and black
spot, he said. It usually hits
roses during the transition
into summer’s driest time,
particularly when dry days
are followed by nights with
high humidity.
Insects are less of an issue
with roses. Aphids are about
all gardeners have to worry
about in Oregon and are
fairly easy to control, ac-
cording to Gail Langellotto,
Master Gardener coordina-
tor for Oregon State Univer-
sity’s Extension Service. Her
first line of defense would be
to squish some with her fin-
gers to release a chemical
signal that attracts natural
enemies like lacewings, la-
dybird beetles and para-
sitoid wasps. Follow that
with a strong spray of water
from the hose to wash the
remaining aphids to the
ground.
In addition to careful selection, prevention is the next
best strategy and Pscheidt has some recommendations:
• Don’t crowd plants. Space adequately so sun will pen-
etrate and air will circulate to dry foliage quickly after rain or
watering.
• When pruning roses in late winter, clean up foliage
thoroughly with a rake or leaf blower and remove diseased
stems.
• Use soaker hoses to water when possible. If using an
overhead sprinkler, irrigate so that foliage has time to dry
out before evening.
• If desired, spray early with an organic or chemical
fungicide or pesticide. Always follow label instructions.
• For more information, refer to the OSU Extension pub-
lication Controlling Diseases and Aphids on Your Roses or
get help from a Master Gardener in your area.
“Aphids are poor climbers,”
she said, “and are less likely
reestablish because they run
a high risk of getting eaten by
ground-roving predators,
such as spiders and beetles.”
Since aphid numbers can
explode on nitrogen-rich
plants, it’s a good idea to use
an organic fertilizer, or a slow-
release synthetic fertilizer that
will give them less readily
available nitrogen.
As for diseases, the best
strategy is to start with dis-
ease-resistant cultivars.
“Buy fisherman roses,”
Pscheidt said. “The types that
you can plant and then go
fishing. Breeders are always
coming up with new plants
that resist pests. Local retail
nurseries will generally have a
good list for you.”
But just because a rose is
an older variety doesn’t mean
they don’t fight off disease.
OSU Extension’s Pacific
Northwest Plant Disease
Control Handbook offers a
list of classics that fight the
good fight against black spot,
rust and powdery mildew.
Longtime favorite hybrid teas
“Just Joey,” “Chicago Peace”
and “Mr. Lincoln” are on the
roster. “Gold Medal” and
“Queen Elizabeth” grandiflo-
ras made the cut, as did the
well-known floribunda roses
“Playboy,” “Sexy Rexy” and
“Iceberg.”
MI TOWN
A brand spanking-new
month brings us closer to
summertime in MI Town,
where we can almost taste
the buttery corn on the cob,
and look forward to baked
beans and potato salad as
we wait for the burgers or
hot dogs or ribs to finish
grilling. It’s time to think
about concerts in Main
Street Park and movies by
the river, to put away the
coats and jackets and to
bring out beach blankets
and swim suits.
—
Summer programs for
readers of all ages are begin-
ning at both Independence
and Monmouth libraries,
and everyone is invited to
participate. Be sure to stop
P ATTY
T AYLOR
D UTCHER
Columnist
by your nearest library to
get all the information you
need to begin a great sum-
mer adventure.
A library card can take
you to faraway places and
even back in time. You don’t
need to make a reservation
or pack a bag, you don’t
have to pay fees for travel or
fill the car with gas. Pick out
a country to visit and learn
about the people, weather,
cities and towns, and you’ll
discover so many fun and
interesting things you never
knew before.
Summer is a great time
to begin such a journey, and
all you need is a library
card.
—
Another sure sign of sum-
mer is the sights and sounds
of trucks, trailers and auto-
mobiles as many of our
WOU students will be re-
turning to their home
towns, heading off for sum-
mer travel and seeking new
opportunities after gradua-
tion.
There’s a definite change
in our communities when
so many students leave for
the summer, but with sum-
mer classes going on, we
have the presence of youth
— which keeps us from be-
coming old and stodgy and
set in our ways. Come Sep-
tember, it’ll be fun to wel-
come new students and fac-
ulty members for a new aca-
demic year.
—
Be sure to mark your cal-
endars for this Saturday so
you won’t forget the month-
ly community breakfast at
the Monmouth Senior Cen-
ter. Bring the entire family
to start the day off right with
pancakes, sausage, scram-
bled eggs, biscuits and
gravy. Portions are generous
and prices are reasonable
($6 for adults, $3 for chil-
dren younger than 12). See
you there.
PEDEE NEWS
Pedee Church is going to
publish a new community
cookbook in time for
Christmas and wants, not
only recipes from commu-
nity members and friends,
but any Pedee history you
might know, to add to the
book.
Send both to me, Arlene,
at kovasha@gmail.com, or
drop your contributions in
the mail to me. I know we
all get most of our recipes
online, but there’s nothing
A RLENE
K OVASH
Columnist
like having a collection of
favorite recipes from friends
and neighbors. The goal is
to help fund a new kitchen
for the church since the cur-
rent one is the original, built
Warren and Virginia
Vesper of Dallas celebrat-
ed their 75th wedding an-
niversary with family and
friends at the Dallas Re-
tirement Village.
Warren Buell Vesper and
Virginia Mae Scooley were
married May 4, 1940, in
Yuma, Ariz. The justice of
the peace in Yuma per-
formed the ceremony.
The couple has lived in
California, Nevada and
Oregon throughout their
lives and the last year in
Tips to Prevent Disease
in 1959. Let’s see, selling
30,000 copies ought to do it.
—
Playing catchup here,
since there was no column
last week: on the morning of
May 15, Rob Zarfas, hus-
band of church secretary
Lyndsey Zarfas, delivered
his son, Derek Solomon,
after Lyndsey woke up in
labor. A home delivery was
planned, but Rob hadn’t
signed up to be doing it, es-
pecially with no help or
preparation. He thought it
was a very exciting thing to
do, though.
—
Allison Barnhart is sub-
bing as church secretary for
Lyndsey, but as she was
driving to work on her sec-
ond day on the job, on May
15, she slid off the road and
rolled her car several times,
coming away with only a
scratch on the palm of her
hand. The car wasn’t so
lucky, as it was totaled.
Polk County.
Warren retired in 1974 as an electrical engineer from
Locke Aircraft in Burbank, Calif. Virginia is a homemaker.
Warren and Virginia enjoy living at Dallas Retirement
Village and visiting with friends and family.
Their family includes Linda and George Potsic of
Woodland Hills, Calif., and Karen and Paul Box of Salem.
The couple has 11 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchil-
dren.
Graham — 65th
Albert and
Wanda Graham
of Monmouth
will celebrate
their 65th wed-
ding anniver-
sary with their
family at home.
Albert Gra-
ham
and
Wanda Quiring
were married
June 9, 1950, in
Dallas at Grace Mennonite Church. Rev. Regier performed
the ceremony.
The couple has lived in Polk County throughout their
marriage.
Albert retired in 1984 as the powerhouse operator at the
mill in Valsetz. Wanda is a homemaker.
Albert and Wanda enjoy gardening, genealogy, bird
watching, family gatherings, watercolor painting and
quilting.
Their family includes Cheryl Black of Corvallis, Audrey
and Ron Warkentin of Monmouth, Linda and Mickey Tay-
lor of Monmouth, Floyd Graham of Monmouth, and
Laura Iwanaga of Los Gatos, Calif. The couple has seven
grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
COMMUNITY CALENDAR
Continued from page 8A
—
MONDAY, JUNE 8
• Central Lions Club — Noon, Independence Elks Lodge
1950 Dining Room, 289 S. Main St., Independence. 503-606-
2150.
• Willamette Valley New Horizons Orchestra — 6:30 to 8:30
p.m., Faith Lutheran Church, on the S-curve between Mon-
mouth and Independence. Local orchestra for beginning
through intermediate musicians. Meets every Monday. Players
of all levels welcome. $25 monthly fee to cover expenses. 503-
838-4884.
—
TUESDAY, JUNE 9
• James2 Community Kitchen Meal — 4:30 to 6 p.m., St.
Philip Catholic Church, 825 SW Mill St., Dallas. Free; everyone
welcome. 503-623-8429.
• Polk County Bounty Market-Monmouth — 10 a.m. to 3
p.m., Main Street Park, 120 E. Main St., Monmouth. 503-623-
2564.
—
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 10
• Willamette Valley Food Assistance Program Food Bank
— 1:30 to 6:30 p.m., 888 Monmouth Cutoff Road, Building E,
Dallas. Weekly distribution for eligible community members.
503-831-5634.
• Helping Hands Emergency Food Bank — 10 a.m. to noon,
Monmouth Christian Church, 959 Church St. W., Monmouth. For
eligible community members; available every Wednesday. 541-
404-6517.
• Polk County Republican Women — 11:30 a.m., Oak Knoll
Golf Course, 6335 Highway 22, Independence. No-host lunch
available; everyone welcome. 503-623-5759.
• Monmouth-Independence Chamber of Commerce Lunch
Forum — Noon to 1:30 p.m., Elkay Wood Products, 625 Hoff-
man Road, Independence. Lunch by Three Legged Dog for $12.
The forum includes a tour of Elkay. 503-838-4268, or www.micc-
or.org.
• Free Blood Pressure Check Clinic — 2 to 3 p.m., West Val-
ley Hospital (surgery admitting area), 525 SE Washington St.,
Dallas. 503-623-7323.
• Monmouth Senior Center Music Jam — 6:30 p.m., Mon-
mouth Senior Center, 180 S. Warren St., Monmouth. Open to the
public; musicians of all types welcome. 503-838-5678.
• Dallas American Legion Post No. 20 — 7 p.m., Academy
Building, Room 108, 182 SW Academy St., Dallas. 503-831-3971.
RECYCLE
A little effort.
A big difference.
Rabbits is Giving Cancer the Boot!
Silent & Oral Auction, Sunday, June 14
3:00 - 5:00 pm, 186 SW Court St, Dallas
Fantastic Items for Bidding You Won’t Want to Miss!
Barbeque Grill ■ Golf Bag ■ Patio Umbrellas
Gift Baskets ■ T-shirt
Fire Pits and Much More!
Come and enjoy BBQ burgers!
All proceeds go to Relay for Life of Polk County
For more information, call Ryan @ 541-805-1206
Recycle this newspaper.
Ben Meyer, AAMS ®
Bob Timmerman
Financial Advisor
Financial Advisor
503-606-3048
503-623-5584
193 E. Main Street Mon-
mouth, OR 97361
159 SW Court Street
Dallas, OR 97338
Kelly K. Denney
Financial Advisor
503-623-2146
244 E. Ellendale, Suite 2
Dallas, OR 97338