Roses are enjoyed by everyone. Not only are they beautiful in June, but they continue to flower throughout the entire summer into the cool autumn days.
These are some reasons why it was decided to plant roses when a memorial garden was planned in Cahoon Park, Bay Village, Ohio.
The 100 acres which make up Cahoon Park were given to the village by the late Miss Ida Marie Cahoon.
Originally it was called Rose Hill, another reason why roses would be the likely choice for this particular memorial garden-and was the homestead of her parents, who in 1810 were the first settlers of Bay Village, a suburb of Cleveland.
The rose garden is not only a memorial to the Cahoon family but has also been dedicated to commemorating the 24 Bay Village boys who gave their lives during the last world war.
A planting of 48 Peace roses surrounds a sundial hearing a bronze plaque with each soldier’s name. The variety Peace was chosen to perpetuate and symbolize the peace for which these young men died.
Development of a Rose Garden
As chairman of the Cahoon Park Board, I have been interested in developing a rose garden and preserving the spot’s natural beauty. Many of the trees and shrubs in the area, no doubt, were planted by the Cahoon family.
The site chosen for the rose garden was south of the old house, now a library, and west of the former barn, which has been converted into a beautiful community house for tile used by the village organizations, including the garden club.
The home’s antiquity, its history as the first residence, and the many large oaks surrounding the grounds all add interest and beauty to the setting.
Since the soil of the park is heavy clay, we realized that it presented a drainage problem. Several years before planting, the garden club took the matter in hand and financed installing a tile drainage system under the area.
Garden Preparation
The first preparation for the garden was excavating the soil down to the tile level. Good topsoil, rotted manure, bone meal, and complete fertilizer were then mixed with the excavated soil, and the area was graded.
A design for the planting was prepared, and silica pebbles were brought in for the walks as this would ensure dry feet for visitors even in rainy weather.
Planting was done in the fall of 1945. As is often encountered in late autumn, the weather was cold and damp, making planting difficult and disagreeable.
The plants were set with the budded point about 1 inch below the surface, and the soil was then filled up about the plants.
Our first winter’s experience was the most discouraging. The winter was cold, and the early spring was so wet that water was often found standing in some garden areas. When the plants were uncovered in the spring, the winter casualties were found to be heavy.
We believe the trouble was caused by insufficient drainage of the heavy soil and planting too late in tile fall.
To improve the drainage, our village engineer suggested excavating narrow trenches around each border down to the tile depth and filling the trenches with the same silica pebbles as were used for the walks.
When the trenches were filled, it seemed only to have made the walks slightly wider, and the drainage has proven so effective that we can recommend it to any others having difficulties.
Trellis for Climbers
An 8-foot iron trellis had been constructed along the cast side of the garden, separating it from the parking lot of the community house.
Climbers had been planted two years before planting the garden proper, so they were well established by the time the rest of the roses went in.
Many climbers soon reached the top of the trellis, even though carefully trimmed each year. They make a very attractive background.
Properly Labeled Plantings of Roses
We believe that all plantings of roses, especially in municipal gardens, are better enjoyed and of greater value when properly labeled.
By labeling each variety, the tiled garden serves as a trial garden in which gardeners may judge the merits of each variety.
We use stainless steel labels attached to substantial iron rods at an angle, making it possible to read it without stooping down.
Mulch to Keep Roses Healthy
To keep the roses healthy, they are mulched with peat moss. Not only does this reduce the watering chore, but it also lessens the danger of blackspot and improves the garden’s appearance.
Each spring, before growth starts, they are sprayed with lime sulfur at a rate of 1 pound in 4 gallons of water.
During the slimmer weather, we prefer spraying to dusting, as there is a constant breeze in front of the lake which carries off the dust.
Sprays containing fermate are the choice, and this year we have a new powerful sprayer, thanks to the garden club and the Village Council.
Around the outside of the garden, an ibolium privet hedge was planted to serve as a windbreak, but it is too small to be efficient.
Faded roses are picked at intervals and removed from the area to maintain a neat appearance, and dead leaves are also removed to prevent black spots.
Time-Tested Varieties Planted
Mostly well-known and time-tested varieties have been planted, some of the theta All-America Award winners. In all, there are a total of 51 varieties, about two dozen plants of each. Hybrid teas predominate. Several floribundas were also used.
Peace is easily the favorite of almost all visitors, and the park hoard as well. Brandywine and Dainty Bess are also well-liked.
To satisfy that nostalgia for some of the old-fashioned varieties and to perpetuate the sentiment surrounding antiquity, we planted a few hybrid perpetual and moss roses, which we thought might have been grown on Rose Hill during the lives of the Cahoon family.
Winter Protection
Winter protection has been one of our most serious problems. Nearly everyone in this area expects to lose some plants each year as a result of winter kill.
Billing up with soil is the usual method of protection, with or without the addition of sonic straw, but we feel we have found a better way.
The method used in the winter of 1918 was to place cylinders of sheet roofing about a foot high around each plant, trim the plant’s hack and fill the cylinders with soil. This method, however, was not too favorable.
We followed the same method in 1919, except that a row of 3/4-inch holes was punched clear around each cylinder about 6 inches from the bottom to permit more air entrance and allow the soil to dry out.
After the cylinders were removed this spring, we found that the plants had come through with very little loss despite the very wet weather during the early spring.
We feel that the use of these perforated cylinders filled with soil may prove to be our best method, and we suggest that others try it.
Garden Maintenance
The garden is maintained through funds derived from rentals of a few cottages in the park, and the Public Service Department pays a rental for the use of the basement of the community house.
Donations by organizations and individuals also help defray expenses. The care of the garden consumes the greater time of one employee who also cares for other park plants.
Our experience seems to warrant recommending a rose garden as one of the most worthy and enjoyable developments for park plantings.
While our garden is not large, about 6,670 square feet, it presents a considerable mass of bloom in many colors during the blooming season.
44659 by Dr. Norman C. Yarian