| Directions to Veterans' Park | |||
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The
Ted and Mary Alice
Mills Rose Garden
at
Veterans’
Park Soddy Daisy
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Theodore W. and Mary Alice Mills are natives of Soddy Daisy, Tennessee. They grew up and attended school there. They now live in nearby Chattanooga, but are proud of their heritage and speak fondly of their early days and the extended family and many friends who live in Soddy Daisy today.
Ted graduated from high school in 1940. Like most of his male classmates, he soon became a part of World War II. During his service in the Army, he survived the bloody Battle of the Bulge and other famous encounters. Soon after his discharge, he was named plant manager of the Soddy Hosiery Mill.
Mary Alice Clift also served during World War II as a Chief Petty Officer in the Navy.
In June 1950, she asked Ted to accompany her to a dance at the Fairyland Club on Lookout Mountain. The dance was cancelled, so they went to a show at the Chattanooga Little Theatre. The rest, as they say, is history. They were married at the First Presbyterian Church in Soddy on June 30, 1951.
The Mills moved into Chattanooga where Ted worked for American National Bank (now Suntrust), first as manager in the Brainerd branch and later downtown as Senior Vice-President for Business Development. Mary Alice worked for Provident Life Insurance Company, retiring from a position as Assistant VicePresident for Personnel.
Ted "fell in love" a second time when he saw the rose "Double Delight" on the nightstand beside Lester Smith’s hospital bed. After Lester recuperated, he taught Ted the art of growing beautiful, healthy roses. Since that time, Ted and Mary Alice have been very active on the local and national level, promoting the rose, participating as exhibitors and judges at rose shows across the country. Ted has served on the Executive Committee of the American Rose Society. Ted and Mary Alice and their personal rose garden have been featured on numerous TV shows including Home and Garden and PBS productions.
Clayton Beaty, of Beaty Fertilizer Company in Cleveland, Tennessee, worked with Ted to produce an organic fertilizer combination, Mills Mix, for roses that included the best nutrients in one product instead of all the separate applications required in the "old" way of rose growing. The nationwide distribution of this product has made culture of prize-winning roses within the reach of every gardener. Mills Easy Feed was developed as a companion to Mills Mix.
Ted and Mary Alice have lovingly nurtured scores of rosarians across the country. Therefore, it is most appropriate that some of their "rose children" should honor them with an exhibition rose garden on the soil from which they came.
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Mills Rose Garden
Maintenance Schedule
NOTE: I use Indicate 5 with the sprays to improve adhesion.
| Concern | Treatment | Schedule | Safety | Comments |
| Pruning | Bypass pruners, pruning saw, glue or shellac to seal cut canes | 1.
3rd or 4th week of March 2. Shaping and pruning with deadheading all season. 3. Cut back to 3' around Thanksgiving |
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| Fertilization | Mills Mix granular organic - 2 cups/bush at the drip line | 1.
March 2. Late June or early July |
None | Work into the soil around the bush |
| Epsom
salts: Granular/liquid 1 cup/bush |
1.
March with Mills Mix 2. With Mills Easy Feed alternate weeks |
None | For stimulating more canes, more blooms | |
| Fish emulsion liquid | With 20-20-20 fertilizer alternate weeks | None | ||
| Peters or other 20-20-20 water soluble | With fish emulsion alternate weeks | None | Dissolve in hot water | |
| Soil acidity | Dolomitic lime | Nov and/or in early spring | Protect skin and avoid breathing dust | Measure pH with Kelway meter. Work lime into soil and water. Best pH ~6.5 |
| Aphids/thrips | Soil drench with Merit | March May |
Caution* | Decreases or eliminates need for spraying with other insecticides |
| Thrips | Conserve spray | As needed for thrips | Caution | Doesn't hurt good insects |
| Rose Rosette Disease "Witch's Broom of Roses" | Cygon-2E spray | Weekly in late April and May | Warning | This
is to kill the mites that have blown in on the spring winds and carry
the viral disease to deform and kill any rose infected.
Eliminate any wild multiflora roses in the vicinity. |
| Spider mites | Avid spray | Every 3 weeks starting early May. For infestations, spray every 3 days 3 times. | Warning** | |
| Hexygon | Early spring ovicide and miticide - use only once or twice a season | Caution | ||
| Forbid 4F | ovicide and miticide - use every 4-8 weeks | Caution | controls mites at all life stages and offers an excellent residual of four to eight weeks | |
| Japanese Beetles | Liquid Sevin | Spraying every 48 hours during June and July will give total control | Caution | |
| Merit spray | Weekly use may decrease Japanese beetle population but won't keep them totally controlled | Caution | ||
| Water | 1 inch weekly; preferably daily during hot weather | |||
| Fungus: Blackspot, anthracnose | Daconil spray | When temperatures are <80 deg. This is the best overall fungicide. | Toxic:
Use respirator with vapor cartridges, gloves, face protection and
immediately wash off skin. Change clothing immediately after
spraying. Danger: causes irreversible eye damage |
Best choice for preventing botrytis during cool, wet weather |
| Cleary's 3336 sprays | General fungicide and preventive | Caution | Good for botrytis when temperatures are too hot for Daconil. | |
| Manzate spray | Use weekly when not spraying with Daconil | Caution | This is a topical to kill existing spores | |
| Banner Maxx, Compass | Alternate weekly for systemic control | Banner
Maxx: Warning** Compass: Caution |
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| Decree | Two applications two weeks apart, then alternate with Daconil at weekly intervals x 2 | Warning | Good for botrytis | |
| Fungus: Powdery mildew | Rubigan | Weekly during cool weather - until about May 1 | Caution | |
| Fungus: Downey mildew | Subdue and Aliette | Weekly when disease is present | Subdue:
Caution Aliette: Caution |
Can be mixed with other chemicals, but not Indicate 5 or other acid surfactant. |
| Fungus | Lime sulfur - plant and soil drench | Nov and late Feb to kill overwintering spores. | Will burn leaves, so use only in cool temperatures | |
| Weeds | Treflan (same as Preen) | Lasts 90 days to prevent seed germination. Nov, Feb, May, Aug | Caution | This can be purchased in bags from Green Thumb less expensive than Preen |
| Winter Protection | Cut
plants back to 36" Spray entire plants with Wilt-Pruf. 1:5 dilution |
Mid-Nov and Mid-Jan | This will seal the surfaces to prevent dehydration and cold damage | |
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Caution: Harmful if swallowed,
inhaled, or absorbed through skin. Causes eye irritation.
Avoid contact with skin, eyes, or clothing. Avoid breathing dust
or vapor. Wash thoroughly with soap and water after
handling. Remove contaminated clothing and wash before
reuse. Keep children or pets off treated area until spray is dry.
** Warning: Harmful if swallowed, inhaled, or absorbed through skin. Causes eye irritation. Avoid contact with skin, eyes, or clothing. Avoid breathing dust or vapor. Wash thoroughly with soap and water after handling. Remove contaminated clothing and wash before reuse. Keep children or pets off treated area until spray is dry. Substantial but temporary eye injury. Danger: Hazards to humans and domestic animals. DO NOT get in eyes or on clothing. Harmful if inhaled. Avoid breathing dust or spray mist. Avoid prolonged contact with skin. Prolonged or frequently repeated skin contact may cause allergic reactions in some individuals. |
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| Contributors to Garden | |
| Ken Rayburn | Jackson & Perkins Roses |
| Scott Probasco | Green Thumb Nursery |
| J. Frank Harrison | Harvest Farms Agricultural Products |
| Charles Coolidge | McGill Supply Unlimited |
| Charles & Marie Casey | Chattanooga Brick & Tile |
| J. D. Bonner MD | Billy T's Signs |
| Beasley Distributing | Weeks Roses |
| Rachel E. Penney | Beaty Fertilizer |
| The Kennedy Foundation | 4 Rent |
| Dorothy Dean Shelton | City of Soddy Daisy |
| B. F. Richardson, Jr. | Middle Valley Lawn & Garden |
| Mrs. Steve McMorrow | Lowell Lewis Masonry |
| Frances Underwood | Acme Engraving - David Cox |
| Mrs. J. M. "Teedie" Rogers | |
| M/M Thomas A. Barrow | |
| Robbie & Marsha Tucker | |
| Bob and Carolyn Watson | |
| Brenda S. Craig | |
| Casandra L. Cansler |
Directions to
Veterans' Park from downtown
Chattanooga:
Take Hwy 27 North to Thrasher Pike exit,
about 13 miles North of downtown Chattanooga, ~1.5 miles north of
Hwy 153/Hwy 27 junction. Left on Thrasher Pike ~3/4 mile to Dayton
Pike. Right on Dayton Pike ~1.5 mi. Past Kay's Kastle, then Williamson
Funeral Home on the Right. The Park is on the left a few hundred
yards past the Funeral Home. Can be easily recognized by flag
pole and Vietnam helicopter in addition to the roses.
From Hixson:
From Northgate Mall, continue north on Highway 153. After going under
Highway 27, 153 becomes Dayton Pike (this will be at 4.2 miles). Go an
additional 3.7 miles from the 153/27 intersection and you will see the park on
your left. Total mileage from Northgate Mall is 7.9 miles.