As a kid, I remember being regularly nuked by my mother whenever she sprayed her roses with a full arsenal of toxic chemicals. That was what you did to have beautiful roses.

Luckily, times have changed and even rose growing has gone green.

On Saturday, the NY Botanical Garden is hosting a special series on sustainable rose gardening.

William Radler, the developer of the Knock Out brand of no-fuss roses, will be one of the afternoon speakers.

Here are a couple of Knock Out roses I shot last spring at the Wave Hill public garden.

I love the mix of reds and pinks on a single plant.

Here’s email from Melinda Manning of NYBG about what’s happening on Saturday:

“The New York Botanical Garden Hosts Lecture Series for
The Great Rosarians of the World VIII

“Ideas on “Green” and Sustainable Rose Gardening to be Presented
Saturday, April 5, 2008

“For the first time in its eight-year history, the Great Rosarians of the World (GROW) lecture series is being presented as a bicoastal event and The New York Botanical Garden, will host the all-day east coast segment on Saturday, April 5. The lectures explore the emerging world of no-spray, sustainable rose gardening beginning with essential topics such as understanding soil, an “all-green” rose garden, and selecting easy-care rose varieties that maintain their beauty without chemical pesticides.

“Peter Kukielski, who as Curator of Roses and Rose Collections at the Botanical Garden oversees the award-winning Peggy Rockefeller Rose Garden, which celebrates its 20th anniversary this June, will participate on a panel of national rose authorities during day. Mr. Kukielski and his colleagues will discuss suitable existing varieties and new roses being developed that will make chemical-free growing viable during The Sustainable Rose Garden: An Experts’ Forum.

“The morning session of the lecture series, from 10 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., includes:

“Soil: The Basis for Growing Roses Naturally
James Sottilo, co-owner of “Treewise: The Organic Experts in New York is considered one of the pioneers of organic landscape care in New York. He will discuss how soil affects the overall productivity of plants through the release of water, minerals, and other nutrients; invite discover of soil from a biological view, its properties and its role in nutrient cycling and plant defense; and teach how to create a healthy, pesticide-free landscape that encourages natural integration of indigenous beneficial insects and natural fertilization.

“Just Say No to Chemicals: The Way to an “All-Green” Rose Garden
Paul Zimmerman, owner of Ashdown Roses Nursery, will take participants on his journey of developing a natural-care program for roses and explain how home gardeners can successfully grow roses naturally in a low-cost and practical way.

“The Sustainable Rose Garden: An Experts’ Forum
A panel of national authorities on roses will discuss varieties suitable for a sustainable rose garden and the development of new roses that promise to make growing without chemicals even more viable. The panel will be composed of:
• Peter Kukielski, Curator of Roses and Rose Collections, The New York Botanical Garden
• Steve Jones, President, American Rose Society
• Clair Martin III, Shannon Curator of the Rose and Perennial Gardens, The Huntington Botanical Garden, San Marion, CA
• Anne O’Neill, Curator, Cranford Rose Garden, Brooklyn Botanic Garden
• Stephen Scanniello, President, Heritage Rose Foundation
• Marilyn Wellan, Immediate Past President, the American Rose Society

“The afternoon session, taking place from 2:30 p.m. until 4:30 p.m., will be a lecture by The Great Rosarians of the World 2008 Honoree, William J. Radler. Beginning with his 2000 All-American Rose Selection winner ‘Knock Out ™’, Mr. Radler has been leading the revolution to develop new disease-resistant shrublike roses for American gardeners. This ‘Knock Out ™’ rose family consists of roses that bloom repeatedly and abundantly and display healthy foliage with a “no-spray regimen.” Following the lecture, there will be a reception held in Mr. Radler’s honor.

“The Great Rosarians of the World lecture series will take place in the Arthur and Janet Ross Lecture Hall at the Botanical Garden. The registration fee for the program is $80 for Members of The New York Botanical Garden, Heritage Rose Foundation, Manhattan Rose Society, and American Rose Society and $89 for non-members. To register or for additional information, call 718.817.8747 or visit www.nybg.org/edu.”