Buck Roses PRESENTATION by Kent Zwick August 27, 2014 Spokane Rose Society

Distant Drums ~ Buck 1985 Photo by Connie Gale at RR

Buck Roses ~ Opening Statement I just sort of fell into it No planning, just two roses that caught my eye – Quietness & Distant Drums And then the main reason: – I found them much more difficult to kill. After that they grew on me !

QUIETNESS ~ Buck 2003 Photo by Connie Gale at RR

Buck Roses Sometime after the second tier of block I began thinking about trying to acquire all of his roses still in commerce. – Depending on your source there are 104 varieties in commerce. Maybe! Name discrepancies New varieties popping up from the Buck family – There are 8 “lost Buck roses”

PRAIRIE SQUIRE ~ BUCK SHR 1984 Photo by Connie Gale at NR

GRIFFITH BUCK Pen Pal—Spanish Catalonian “Pedro Dot” Guessing this was pre high school DOT gave him rose growing tips and introduced him to hybridizing. The DOT family contact lasted for three generations.  This interest was just that of a home gardener, nothing compared to what followed. Prior to WWII he was a teacher for 5 years in one of the Iowa school districts and as far as I can tell, just that… a teacher. In WWII the served as a Paratrooper in the Golden Unicorn Division and saw combat in Europe.

PRAIRIE SQUIRE ~ BUCK SHR 1984 Photo by Connie Gale at NR

GRIFFITH BUCK After that he was no longer just a teacher – BS in June 1948 – MS in December 1949 – PHD in March 1953 – All dealing with Horticulture & Microbiology He became an assistant professor in ’53 but did not become a full professor until 1974 This can lead to rampant speculation, but I’ll get to that later.

LES SJULIN ~ BUCK 1981 Photo by Connie Gale at RR

GRIFFITH BUCK His post graduate work must have gained him a pretty sound reputation. Canadian’s Dr. Frank Skinner and Will Godfrey (Manitoba) asked him to hybridize the unique Siberian wild rose “Rosa Laxa Semipalantinsk” a repeat bloomer Buck worked with “Rosa Laxa” for 3-4 years with indifferent success—then in collaboration with Kordes of Germany he used “Josef Rothmund” as the seed parent: got 5 seeds from the cross. All germinated and four were like “Rosa Laxa” and one was the color of ‘Josef Rothmund, and that became the parent of all Bucks

Rural Rhythm ~ Buck 1984 Photo by Connie Gale at RR

GRIFFITH BUCK I would have loved to have met the man Tenacious, Maybe pugnacious Expert at academic infighting, Yet maybe not. Left a trail of bruised egos and no support following. Definitely UNCONVENTIONAL, INDEPENDENT & EXASPERATING

Pipe Dreams ~ Buck SH 1984 Photo by Connie Gale at RR

BUCK ROSES Hardiness and disease resistance were a result of budget restraints and not intent. – Seeding one year in greenhouse – Transplant to garden, then just add water First roses were huge 10-12H, 12-15W. One of the first early successes Apple Jack [1973] is still quite large but not the giant of its predecessors. Wandering Wind [1973] was the first of the smaller shrub roses.

DISTANT DRUMS ~ Buck 1985 Photo by Connie Gale at RR

THE NAME OF THE ROSE Not a marketing man Named for friends & whims Names and confusion

APPLE JACK ~ Buck 1973 Photo by Connie Gale at NR

THE SPIRIT OF THE MAN 12 Prairie 4 Country 20 Friends

Distant Drums ~ Buck 1985 Photo by Connie Gale at RR

RETRIBUTION Buck retired in 1985 The entire program and all breeding stock was destroyed shortly thereafter.

WINTER SUNSET ~ BUCK ROSE Photo by Connie Gale at NR

CREDITS & THANKS MY THANKS TO CONNIE GALE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE POWERPOINT PRESENTATION AND AS THE CAMERA ARTIST WHO CAPTURED THE BEAUTY OF BUCK’S ROSES

CREDITS & THANKS MY THANKS TO CONNIE GALE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE POWERPOINT PRESENTATION AND AS THE CAMERA ARTIST WHO CAPTURED THE BEAUTY OF BUCK’S ROSES NORTHLAND ROSARIUM IOWA STATE WEB SITE: JULIE GUSTAFSON: GRIFFITH BUCK( ) BOTANICA’S “ROSES” [PUBLISHED BY LAUREL GLEN 2000] “SNOW ROSES DESERT BLOOMS” J.E. ORMESHER PHD PLUM PUBLISHING

RR ~ PHOTOS TAKEN AT ZWICK’S ROCK RIDGE ROSE GARDEN NR ~ PHOTOS TAKEN AT NORTHLAND ROSARIUM ALL ROSE DESCRIPTIONS UNDER NOTES TAB PHOTOGRAPHY BY CONNIE GALE