Anyone want to handle that topic? Joanne, you're already thinking of writing two articles (Gertrude Jekyll and epsom salts). Do you want to do three? They don't all have to be long. You probably can process the epsom salts one in the "tip" format.

@zuzu ........

I actually don't think of myself as much of a writer, but I can use that post as a starting point. I'll ask Kim if I can plagiarize some of the info he posted to the same thread.

Thanks for suggesting that I just work with something I've already written. If I had to start from scratch I'd be a lot more hesitant. For me to write, I need to be answering a question and then the writing flows. Otherwise, just getting the first sentence written is overwhelming.

Smiles,
Lyn

Thanks so much, Lyn. This is great! Our list of confirmed articles is growing.

Nope, not suggesting that I do the plant biology/dormancy article. I'm hoping there are some folks that would be more experienced & educated on that topic.

Zuzu ... No, I don't want to write about the dormancy topic because that would be starting an article from scratch but there is an incredibly well written explanation of the process in a book called Hardy Roses written by Robert Osborne published in 1991. On the jacket cover it says he is the "president of Corn Hill Nursery in New Brunswick" ... I think that's in Canada.

A suggestion for another topic, again .. I don't want to write it ... is how to plant a band. Since the rose industry is moving from budded roses to bands and most of the nursery "How To" info really is not correct on many websites, it would be great if someone could address that issue. On other forums, many people write about planting bands directly into the ground and then complain about the young plant dying. People don't know that they have to grow the root mass to size to have a better chance of success with the rose they have purchased.

On the same note, an article or tip about how to save and plant a body bag rose could be useful.

Smiles,
Lyn

Zuzu ... have you read Kim's articles in the HMF Ezine ? HMF does not have copyright to the articles, but Kim does. If you want to use one of them, I am fairly certain he would be more than willing to let you have an article for the ATP rose week.

He really knows roses in a different way than most of us, but is able to write in such a way that people are always able learn something new. He's out of town right now, but I suggest you contact him and ask permission if there is a particular article you want to use.

btw ... a couple nurseries with larger distribution are picking up his roses.

Smiles,
Lyn

Yes, Lyn. I agree that tips on planting bands and body bag roses would be quite useful. Does anyone want to tackle those topics?

Speaking of bands, the new owners of Heirloom Roses said in a recent e-mail that they'll be selling some of their roses in one-gallon containers instead of bands. That's good news, isn't it? I'm cautiously optimistic about the change of ownership.

Because of certain rules, our site can't publish anything that's also published elsewhere on the Web, so we'll have to continue reading Kim's wonderful articles on HMF.com.

Zuzu, have you asked Rita? @Newyorkrita She pampers hers, spraying every two weeks in Summer and all kinds of things, whereas I do absolutely nothing to mine. I'm thinking maybe the two writings would showcase the differences in bloom output, foliage health, and overall sturdiness given the differences in care and climate. I can't think of any other topic on which I would write.

Oh, I didn't even see this thread until Debra called me over. It is true, I have quite the spray routine. Do you think anyone wants to read an article about my spray and fertilizer routine? I could write one if so.

You guys in dryer locations don't need to fuss as much but here if I don't spray my roses I would end up with bare naked sticks with no leaves. Not a sight I am wanting to see.

I also have a pruning routine I follow each year. Strong pruning, most people are shocked at how much I prune my roses down to. Probably should include my pruning too.

Yes, I will come up with something. Let me go do some research and I will come up with a subject.

Good. Rita, Sue, and Debra, I have you down for one article apiece. We have 11 articles and a possible 12th. Woohoo!

How many articles do you need? I remember at Daylily week it was really hopping. There were two garden ideas running each day instead of the usual only one. Lots of great articles.

We had two a day during Roses Week last February. We had 13 articles, but we also had Dave's podcast and the raffle, so one day there were three items.

Well, I know there are always the podcast and raffle to count on. So really the more articles the better!

I guess I'm the possible 12th. Okay, I'll write about David Austin. I should learn a lot in the process!

Zuzu, when do you want the drafts treemailed to you?

Debra, do your work in the Garden Ideas Section. Much easier to work that way. You can save your work and go back to it as often as you want.

Rita's right, Debra. You should work on it in the Ideas section. Last year most of the articles were sent to me by mail, and I then edited them before adding them to the Ideas section, but we can eliminate the middleman this year. Click on "Ideas" in the left column of any page on the site, click on "Submit one here," and then click on "Advanced form." It's very easy to work with the advanced form and you can make all of the corrections you want. You can drag and drop images to any part of your text. If you keep a blog, you'll find it very similar to the blog format. Don't forget that you can use any images (your own or other people's) from the database or anywhere else on the site without attribution. If you get your photos from any other site, you'll have to include attribution.

If you run into any problems, come back to this thread and ask your questions here.

I was already counting on you, Porkpal. I'm the possible 12th. I can't think of an interesting topic.

Zuzu and Rita, thank you. Back to the original question, now. What is the deadline for submission/completion?