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The Modern Butlers’ Journal, March 2016, International Institute of Modern Butlers


BlueLogo2011web The Modern Butlers’ Journal for Service Professionals Worldwide, July, 2012

The Modern Butlers’ Journal volume 12, issue 3

International Institute of Modern Butlers

Teaching Right Mindset, People Skills, & Superior-service Expertise

IIMB Chairman Steven Ferry The Modern Butlers’ Journal for Service Professionals Worldwide, July, 2012

Message from the Chairman

As the story below, about the young butler being sued illustrates, one can sometimes run afoul of house rules for the managing of work-issued credit cards—where the lines are to be drawn. Another example of exactly this trap crossed my desk(top) yesterday, whereby a young lady, fresh on a household manager position and eagerly awaited by the employer to take control of the estate management, was fired for this exact same transgression within days of being hired. A lose-lose for all concerned.

There is no substitute for making sure that clear instructions are given and received on the subject of what purchases are permitted on a company credit card—and it is ultimately the butler’s responsibility to make sure that the rules are made known and clear to everyone in a staff manual: employer, family office, butler, and other employees.

While the employer will presumably find other employees after further search, we sincerely hope that the household managers/butlers who fell short will pick themselves up and learn from their mistakes.

Bevvy of Butlers, Ireland, 1904
Reportedly, a bevy of butlers congregated in a castle in Ireland 112 years ago.

Letters to the Editor

I am serving afternoon tea to Lord and Lady […] this coming weekend. In the 20+ years I worked with [employer name], his mother and I had a pot of tea every afternoon when she was in residence. She always served, so I have never served tea myself! I have reviewed Chapter 9 in Butlers & Household Managers, 21st Century Professionals. I had planned on wearing a long coat with a black vest and long tie with a batwing shirt. What do you suggest? AS

Ed: It sounds like you will have fun creating a wonderful experience for Lord and Lady […]. There is not much to add to the English Afternoon Tea section of the 2008 edition of Butlers & Household Managers, 21st Century Professionals.

I suggest dummy running (practicing) by serving tea to a friend following the procedure (and checklist) in the book, and so polishing your presentation while also making sure that all the proper items are in supply. If possible, do so in the exact spaces where you will be serving the guests, so that problem areas will make themselves apparent and you can pre-empt them in a timely fashion. Here’s to a flawless presentation and smiling guests (and host, no doubt).

How does my uniform sound? I decided not to wear white tie and vest (English translation: “waistcoat”) because that outfit appears to be too formal for 4:00 pm. Am I correct? AS

Ed: To be frank, the uniform is a bit over the top for afternoon tea. Probably what the Lord and Lady would expect of butlers in America, though! One would normally wear day dress for afternoon tea rather than evening wear: lose the tails and instead don a black waistcoat, normal-collared shirt, grey or black tie, black or grey/black-striped trousers, Oxfords. 

People tend to think of butlers as wearing tails and white gloves all the time, but the fact is these are evening wear and for formal occasions. If you want to ham it up, go ahead and wear the black tails, etc., but I am pretty sure the guests would think you were trying to attract attention and had it wrong.

Thank you, Sir. My final question: should I wear white gloves? AS

Ed: No—real butlers never did and don’t. They are for formal occasions, or possibly for laying silver and crystal on a table so as to avoid smearing oils from the hand on them that would spoil their polished look.

Thank you so much. I never wore gloves when serving anything to [employer]. He didn’t trust the laundry to kill all the germs. When I worked for [earlier employer], I believe we wore them to set table as you suggested, to keep the oil from our hands off the flatware, which were made of gold and silver. Those were the days, but that is a story for another day. AS

Ed: Indeed!

As a follow-up, [the event] went very smoothly and I was magnificent! AS 

Butlers in the Media

To the long list of goods and services including the word “butler” in their name, we can now add “Pocket Butler” (unclear what it is); a “Boot Butler” to organize one’s boots; a Battery Butler—a Sheraton employee who recharges various electronic devices for hotel guests; and lastly, a new twist on “Dog Butler” in that it is not someone who walks the dogs, but who merely cleans up after them—which says something about dog owners these days.

And as we drop down the scale of propriety, we have topless (male) “butlers” doing their thing, and finally, a “butler” who is currently being sued for using a co-worker’s credit card (for business-related expenses) for a meal for himself; when fired, he used the work credit cards assigned to four other staff to make further personal purchases in protest of his firing. The fired butler’s lawyer is claiming the butler had been “having trouble recently as he is bipolar and off his medication;” also that he comes from ‘a family of means’ who live in an ‘affluent suburb’ and are prepared to pay full restitution.

If these are all accurate statements of fact, then one can only shake one’s head at the lack of responsibility and low ethics level exhibited by this young man, who took it upon himself to join the profession with an obvious lack of understanding of how to execute his duties faithfully—if indeed he were ever trained in the duties in the first place—and having perhaps too much of a sense of entitlement and an idea of the need for status over substance. We hope he can can find  guidance that will help disentangle him from this morass he has wandered into, and that he can start to make something of his life.

As for the bigger picture, since the young man was in the position only one month, hopefully employers reading this sad story will not feel compelled to tar all butlers and household managers with the same brush.

Amer1x1inch The Modern Butlers’ Journal for Service Professionals Worldwide, July, 2012

Let’s Talk about Mixology, Part 10

by Amer Vargas 

Of Grasshoppers

Especially for those who like to laugh at the exploits of the geeks in Big Bang Theory, today we will discover the recipe that may have awoken the ability of shy-with-the-ladies Rajesh Koothrappali to talk to them.

Grasshopper by Cindy H PhotographyIt starts when Raj attends a blind date set up by his parents with Penny, who is keen to practice her mixology skills so that she can perform more professionally during her barkeeper shifts. After preparing a Tequila Sunrise for Leonard, a mutual colleague, Penny asks Raj what he would like. Since he finds it uncomfortable to talk to her, he whispers in Leonard’s ear to tell her he would like whatever she suggests; to which she replies, “What about a grasshopper? I make a mean grasshopper.” And so ends the episode.

Let’s see how this soft and sweet cocktail is made. The Grasshopper has a distinctive green color (the reason for its name), as a consequence of having crème de menthe among its ingredients—the others being fresh cream and crème de cacao.

The preparation is really simple: the ingredients are poured in equal parts, generally 1 oz/3 cl each, into a shaker with ice. Once the mix is shaken and chilled, it is served strained in a classic cocktail glass and decorated with a two or three leaves of mint.

Enjoy responsibly and have fun with the drink (and the TV show, if it suits you).

Mr. Vargas is the Institute’s President and can be contacted via AmerVargas @ modernbutlers.com

Personalized Amenities

A new example from Mr. Gutman of that extra creative touch in personalizing an amenity for a guest.IMG-20160207-01390

 

 

Of Butlers and Roses, Part 23 of 25

by GJ dePillis

A Rose by Any Other Name can be Delicious

While the chef is focused on creating attractive, nutritious, and delectable dishes for the family and guests, it might be a good idea to augment the service with roses from the garden.

A large centerpiece with delightfully arranged roses, for instance, could be a talking point during the meal. Rose petals can be placed in finger bowls when guests need to use their fingers for a particular dish. Rose boutonnières can be provided for the gentlemen when the occasion calls for it. Or maybe for the ladies, a single long stem rose by which to remember the evening. Bowls of rose potpourri could be used to scent the air.

All of these are excellent uses of the rose, but how about eating one?

Rosa Gallica Officinalis, photo by David Austin Roses
Rosa Gallica Officinalis, photo (c) by David Austin Roses

Rose (Rosa Rugosa or Gallica Officinalis) petals have been described as having a mild sweet taste (once the bitter, white parts have been removed). The stronger the fragrance of the rose, the more intense the flavor. The rose bud (Cercis Canadensis) is also edible. Rose hips, or the little pill-sized red fruits left behind after the rose bloom has faded and fallen off, has medicinal properties and contains high amounts of vitamin C. The rose hip has been described as fruity yet spicy, like a cranberry. The Rosa Rugosa variety is considered one of the most flavorful.

To harvest rose hips, wait until the first frost and pick soon before the rose hips become overripe, as characterized by becoming soft and wrinkled. If the chef is not familiar with cooking rose hips, you may want to remind him to remove the hairy seeds inside and avoid using metal pans and utensils during preparation (other than stainless steel).

Next month, we will discuss some recipes using roses. Until then, happy rose-menu planning

Ms. dePillis is a freelance contributor to the Journal who is based on the West Coast of the United States. She can be reached via depillis @ gmail.com

Jeff Herman Consulting the Silver Expert

 by Jeffrey Herman

Q: Should I lacquer my silver?

A: Lacquering silver and silverplate is generally not recommended for a number of reasons:

  1. The individual may not properly prepare the object’s surface to accept the lacquer.
  2. It’s very difficult to obtain a uniform coating, even when applied by a professional.
  3. If the coating is not applied well, it may have streaks and small holes, allowing tarnish to form.
  4. Lacquer will eventually yellow and crack, allowing tarnish to form within the fissures and eventually under the protective coating. Strong solvents must then be used to remove the lacquer and the piece refinished. Take a look at these pieces that were once lacquered.

6c0e539d-a6f5-467a-b64d-fc5adf82fb78Because of the above issues, Renaissance wax – an archival micro-crystalline product – is recommended for those wanting to lacquer their silver.

Renaissance will not yellow or crack and will last for years if handled properly. Renaissance wax is not as durable as lacquer, so the object should be handled with heavyweight natural cotton jersey inspection gloves as acid from fingers may eventually remove it. Since dust can be acidic and eventually wear through the wax, placing your silver in a closed display will help insure that particulate matter will not fall on the object’s surface. Whether inside or outside a display case, every few months gently wipe the object with a Selvyt* cloth or soft cotton cloth. This will keep the wax or silver polish with tarnish protectant from breaking down prematurely.

Renaissance wax should not be used on flatware or other objects that will be used to eat from. When applying Renaissance, do so in small areas at a time (no larger than a 3″ square). Buff immediately with a soft cotton cloth, cotton ball, or make-up pad. Overlap each area to insure the entire surface is coated.

* [A trade name for a microfiber cloth available in England for £11 each. Terga cloths from Sweden were the originals and are about the same price. Cheaper Chinese knock-offs can be found in stores that have, so far, not been found to be as reliable in performance or as long lasting by the editor].

Mr. Herman continues to offer his services to our readers for any questions you may have about the care of silver. Either call him at (800) 339-0417 (USA) or email jeff @ hermansilver.com

The Institute is dedicated to raising service standards by broadly disseminating the mindset and superior service expertise of that time-honored, quintessential service provider, the British Butler, updated with modern people skills, and adapted to the needs of modern employers and guests in staffed homes, luxury hotels, resorts, spas, retirement communities, jets, yachts & cruise ships around the world.

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The Modern Butlers’ Journal, February 2016, International Institute of Modern Butlers

 BlueLogo2011web The Modern Butlers’ Journal for Service Professionals Worldwide, July, 2012

The Modern Butlers’ Journal volume 12, issue 2

International Institute of Modern Butlers

Teaching Right Mindset, People Skills, & Superior-service Expertise

IIMB Chairman Steven Ferry The Modern Butlers’ Journal for Service Professionals Worldwide, July, 2012

Message from the Chairman

Being in the Moment 

Professor Albert Einstein reportedly claimed, “If a cluttered desk is a sign of a cluttered mind, of what, then, is an empty desk a sign?”

Professor Einstein obviously considered it important to have a cluttered desk and mind, and that a calm mind must, *perforce, be **vacuous (*inevitably be **lacking in intelligence).

Einstein’s desk the day after he died

His cluttered mind produced the world’s most famous equation (E=MC2), which in layman’s terms means that mass (M) can be converted to energy (E), and energy into mass; and the speed limit for energy or matter in a vacuum (outer space has a few particles in it, but is essentially a vacuum) is 186,282.397 miles per second, to be precise, which is the speed of light (the “C” in the equation).

There is much information embedded in these five symbols, and the technologies that resulted from them even more numerous, including satellites and nuclear energy—to which one must add, unfortunately, nuclear weapons. In fact, the tangle in Professor Einstein’s mind resulted in his suggesting to President Roosevelt in 1942 that, per his research, an atomic bomb was possible—after which President Roosevelt wrote a large check for The Manhattan Project and the result was Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Professor Einstein later signed a manifesto drawing attention to the dangers of nuclear weapons and pleading for peaceful solutions to international conflicts; by then, however, the genie was out of the bottle and the tangle in his mind all the greater—he died just days after signing that manifesto.

The good professor’s E=MC2 equation and Theory of Relativity contains errors, the advances made in the sciences as a result of its formulation notwithstanding. From a scientific perspective, it is not necessarily true, for instance, that light always travels at the same speed in a vacuum, nor that something cannot travel faster. In a nutshell, his Theory of Relativity is only relatively true, and particularly so from the Humanities perspective (philosophy, ethics, religion, etc.), because Professor Einstein was referring in his formula to the physical universe and was missing the fact that there are other universes—yours, for instance. Your world is not the same as the physical universe, and the laws of the physical universe do not apply to your world.

If “mad scientists” are to have fun inventing atomic bombs, then as one small group within humanity, they are overlooking the concerns and interests of the majority of their fellow humans, and for that matter, all life forms. That is why the good professor had a change of heart just before he died and was finally facing up to the greater truth that there is more to life than atoms and molecules, and splitting them into smaller parts.

So how does this subject relate to butling? We rarely move at the speed of light, so worrying about whether we might be able to move even faster might be seen, quite correctly, as a waste of time.

The answer is simple: had Professor Einstein’s mind not been so cluttered, he might have connected with himself, his own world, and calmed down sufficiently to see and think clearly. He might not have suggested the atomic bomb to the President, because he would have seen clearly that you cannot create a weapon like that and give it to other people whose minds are similarly cluttered; and one cannot release upon the world something as destructive as the atomic bomb without  offering an antidote or cure for the damage it can do. He might have predicted the need to sign that manifesto in 1955 with the English philosopher, Bertrand Russell, in an effort to roll back the inevitable Cold War that was in full swing ten years after Nagasaki—and therefore not written to the President in the first place. The skill missing was the ability to predict consequences.

All of which is to say, if you are centered as a butler, in the moment, calm and collected, your mind will be still, or empty, and as any Zen warrior or practitioner will tell you, only then will you be able to act and cause great things; only then will you be able to communicate clearly and effectively with your principals, staff, vendors, and whomsoever else you meet, day to day.

To conclude with Professor Einstein, he also said, “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.” While this is an inadequate definition of insanity, it is nevertheless true that one has to be missing either powers of observation or adequate intelligence to keep doing something in the same way, even when it is obvious it is not working.

What tends to happen then, especially if someone is making money from these inadequate solutions or ideas, is sights or goals are lowered until even laws are passed forbidding anyone to improve conditions—for instance, it is illegal in many Western countries to cure cancer or to say that one can, even when they can. This lack of success could trace back to the same issue Einstein was struggling with: the notion that life only consists of molecules and atoms.

The solution?

Be curious and observant enough to see whether or not something one does, or someone else does, improves conditions; and if not, look for a better solution. If it does work, see if it can be made to work even better.

There is no substitute for having a calm mind, observing what is in front of you, having the courage and intelligence to say what you see and act on it appropriately, and the humility to backtrack and remedy any less-than-optimum result—which for me, would include far too many of the current situations in our world. One could say there are rather too many wrong solutions in effect, all generated by individuals with cluttered minds and desks.

Letters to the Editor

“Last time we conversed, you strongly supported the idea of setting up a website to promote my activity. Do you think that, from a marketing point of view, a website would be really useful? I am positioned at the very high-end of the market in terms of estate management and members of staff to manage; the jobs in that range of the market are extremely rare, and when they exist, it is not a given that they will pay my current salary level. In addition, my market today can be Arab, Russian, or Chinese owners buying in my country (extremely few today), or international buyers based in Switzerland, Monaco, and perhaps Gulf countries. I don’t see Russians anymore, nor reaches from the UK, where salaries are stuck ten years behind.

“The way the industry is heading makes me wonder about staying in the profession: we are dealing with too many unprofessional, unqualified, and inexperienced operators trying to obtain any work on any terms. Now that I am at the peak of my career, which agents could benefit from, they show no interest. In conclusion, the cost of web design is fairly affordable but the most important part of having a website is to link it to search engines so that every time someone searches for property managers and similar key words, they find me. But who is going to search for a property director of my status on the Internet? What is your view?” GL

Ed: Understood. Remember, it is often not the principals themselves who looking for an estates manager, but their staff. A web site would be one way they find you. Through agencies is another (which you say is not so good). And word-of-mouth the third, networking, who you know.

“The website would be mainly made for the principals’ staffs (who generally know very little about our job). Normally the staff calls the agency. Yet, would you strongly support the project?” GL

Ed: As much as I would a stool with three legs rather than two.

###

“I’m one of the writers for an international magazine that goes to the captains, crews and other professionals in the yachting industry.  I’ve been asked to write a story on a delicate subject and thought I might step outside the traditional industry for a professional take on it.

“The question is this: Aboard a yacht, the captain and crew work for the owner and his wife. What should they do, if anything, when the owner brings his mistress or girlfriend aboard?  There seem to be two schools of thought from the captains that I’ve contacted.

“One is to do nothing. What happens in Las Vegas stays in Las Vegas. They work for the owner and their loyalty, even if they like the wife, is to the job and not to personal relationships.  They carry on as though the owner had brought a business associate aboard.

“The second, and one which was apparently used by one captain, is to tell the owner not to put the crew in such a difficult situation again.  If he did, they would depart en masse and he could run his own boat.

“Since your Institute deals with the mindset and attitude of service professionals, I’d be interested in your thoughts and would love to use them, with your permission of course.” CC

Ed: In our profession, we always remain neutral and non-judgmental, whether or not we approve personally of what we see.

A crusty ship’s captain can stand on his high horse (sorry about the mixed metaphor) and make demands, and that may well be the ethical thing to do, but he would be making the basic error of taking sides in a dispute between principals. And if we are to face the simple facts, he would also be guilty of threatening mutiny, for which the employer would be quite justified in keelhauling the captain (figuratively). I would suggest this particular captain’s background does not include any training on, nor understanding of, private service—just running tight ships. Nothing wrong with this, of course, unless you happen to be captaining a private yacht!

The rule is, “do not take sides in a dispute between Mr. and Mrs.” This only becomes tricky if the Mrs. asks you, particularly in the presence of the Mr., whether he was philandering on his last trip out. One does not say “Yes” (taking her side) nor “No,” which would be a lie and taking his side (never lie to employers). They are, after all, both your employers and you cannot lose the trust of either, or you may as well walk (the gang plank, if we are to be consistent in our setting).

So how does one handle this delicate situation? 

Simply say something along the lines that you are very sorry there is such discord, and you hope they can sort it out amicably between them. And if she presses you, or decides that this noncommittal response is tantamount to an admission of guilt on her husband’s part, you make it plain that you are not saying he did nor did not, but simply that it is not for you to become involved in a fracas between two employers, or to talk to one about the other like some gossip; and then repeat your wish that they can sort it out between them before excusing yourself.

Of course, if the employer is the one who wants to know, and the significant other is not your employer but the flavor of the month, then there is no restriction on allowing what you have witnessed, to see the light of day.

” Thank you for such a stunningly quick response!  A journalist’s dream.” CC

###

“I’ve wondered about something that I’d like to ask you. Did they bring up to you the issue that I was too familiar, or was it in response to a direct inquiry that you made?  The Mrs. continues to talk to me quite a lot about things and is interested in some of my personal life. I try to keep it simple and short, but I just don’t sense a need to be really formal. Frankly, it’s just not my nature. VN

Ed: On the “being too familiar” question, I brought it up: it was something they had their attention on but were unsure how to proceed or whether they should bring it up. In any closed community, it is important to make sure one does not “get up the nose of” employers. I understand that the Mrs. wants to talk, even about you, and it is correct for you to keep it short with her (meaning in terms of how long your talk about yourself, not meaning being unfriendly). Being formal is not the goal, but being very friendly when replying, and very alert for the Mrs.’  interest level dropping and switching off about yourself immediately should you notice that occurring, is the important skill to have in these less-formal private-service settings.

Need to Break Away but the Boss Needs You to Stay?

If you are in private service and need to take time off for family or health reasons, or for a holiday or vacation getaway and need someone to cover for you during your absence, then the Institute has a roster of butlers willing and able to fill temporary slots.

Butlers in the Media

Mr. Paul Burrell continues to garner news about his contact with the media concerning his former employer. What the former butler has trouble appreciating is that media contacts and publicity gurus should not be in any butler’s rolodex in the first place—unless their employer is a public figure and one is assisting them in their own publicity.

One has to suppose that, just like the verb “to google,” the “butler app” and “digital butler” are descriptive nouns that have entered the world’s lexicon, with the meaning “smartphone apps and assistive services, all built upon the notion of taking errands off the hands of otherwise busy individuals.” One such product was created this month in the US, and another in New Zealand. One cannot fault marketers for drawing the butler analogy to help people understand their product better and quickly.

The concept of rent-a-butlers that we launched years ago has had a new wrinkle over the last few years, as entrepreneurs see an opportunity in the same market mentioned in the prior paragraph. A recent Bloomberg review of the service confirmed my suspicions, although one of course does give the benefit of the doubt to any new idea: if a service is launched, even with $12.5 million raised from venture capital firms, and then executed by people with no experience, no loyalty, and who pay no attention to detail, then the results will be as expected. If one wants a low-end PA/housekeeper/gofer-type service, naming it after a butler is at best hopeful, and will certainly not result in the high level of service that an actual butler would bring to the endeavour. And without that, how useful is the service, actually?

Amer1x1inch The Modern Butlers’ Journal for Service Professionals Worldwide, July, 2012

Let’s Talk about Mixology, Part 9

by Amer Vargas 

The Sidecar

More than 20 years ago Bruce Willis, Melanie Griffith, and Tom Hanks starred in Brian de Palma’s Bonfire of the Vanities.

There is a moment in the movie when Bruce Willis’ character, Peter Fallow, meets with Mr. Ruskin, an old man whose health would benefit by abstaining from alcoholic drinks, but who prefers to challenge his fate:

“Jack [waiter], Courvoisier VSOP. Put it in a sidecar. I am not supposed to drink, but I always like a sidecar.”

This delicious cocktail makes the movie character talk and laugh a lot as he enjoys his last sips. While he may never be able to enjoy a sidecar again, the rest of us can take pleasure in this delicious and classy drink. Its origins are unknown, although they appear to be in the World War I timeframe, and either in London or Paris. One story pins its invention on an American army captain in Paris, who used to ride in a motorcycle sidecar to and from the bars and bistros where he drank.

Sidecar_Cocktail
Sidecar cocktail, photo (c) by Achim Schleuning

The sidecar can be made with any cognac or brandy and, as is always the case, the better the ingredients, the better the cocktail.

Its preparation is very simple. Apart from the cognac or brandy the other main ingredients are Triple Sec and fresh lemon juice. Mix 4.5 cl (1.5 oz) of cognac, 1.5 cl (1/2 oz) of Triple Sec (or any other orange liqueur, like Cointreau or Grand Marnier), and 1.5 cl (1/2 oz) of lemon juice in a shaker with ice. Strain and pour in a cocktail glass, then garnish with lemon peel. Some bartenders like to decorate the cocktail glass by sugaring the rim, but this is not the most common presentation.

Sip and enjoy!

Mr. Vargas is the Institute’s President and can be contacted via AmerVargas @ modernbutlers.com

Placement

Entry-level butler/chauffeur (Rolls Royce) position, Miami Beach, Florida; live-in with all costs covered; US citizen or green card holder. The job basically consists of looking after one employer, plus three other family members who are occasionally in residence; light entertainment demands; running errands for employer; basic household chores (changing light bulbs, policing the property, etc.). Clean driver’s license a must. 6-day week with frequent downtime, usual vacations and holidays; 3K a month. Please email resume if interested.

Of Butlers and Roses, Part 22 of 25

by GJ dePillis

Final Tips on Rose Bush Pruning and Sprays

Do not prune a rose bush that has just been planted, as it needs time to establish itself: wait at least one year before pruning so that the plant has time to establish its roots. And during that first year, the bush will need more frequent watering, preferably weekly.

When pruning a branch in preparation for winter, remove every leaf from it to prevent diseases from setting in on a rotting leaf and infecting the entire bush.

If small children or animals will not be near the rose bush, one can use a spray to prevent insects from setting up a home during the winter. One such spray is Bonide All Seasons Horticultural & Dormant Spray Oil (organic), Hi-Yield, Organics Rx Sea Kelp (which as the name suggests actually is organic), or Ortho Volck. Only use these sprays when the rose bush is dormant—meaning no leaf nor flower growth at all. If leaves are growing, it is too late to spray. Try to spray on a cool day (even in the summer), because some dormant sprays have a sulfur base that can “burn” the foliage when the sun heats them.

Organic gardeners can use horticultural oils to suffocate pest eggs to deter insects in gardens that suffer from aphids, sawfly, spider mites, thrips, spider mites, or other small flying bugs eager to make a meal out of the lovely flowers.

Black spots tend to grow when the PH balance of the leaves is too acidic. If it is too late to use the dormant oil and the plant already has leaves, some gardners use a foliar (leaf) spray such as X-treme Gardening CalCarb, Dutch Master Foliotech Grow, MaxiCrop Liquid Seaweed, or Spray-N-Grow Micronutrients. These are also fertilizers and make the bush more alkaline.

When to water: When a finger pushed about 2” into the soil  finds it to be dry. Infrequent, deep watering is better because it encourages the roots to grown down and deep. Shallow daily watering results in undesirable shallow roots.

Apply mulch about 4” deep and clear of the trunk out to a radius of 4”, ensuring the lower canes or stems of the rose bush are not buried in the mulch. If needed, prune off the lower branches so the mulch can be laid in sufficiently deep.

Lastly, when working on rose bushes with thorns, I recommend using heavy yet pliable gloves with gauntlets (long cuffs) to protect the wrist area. In warmer climates where people don’t wear long sleeves, denim sleeves can protect the arms against thorn scratches.

Ms. dePillis is a freelance contributor to the Journal who is based on the West Coast of the United States. She can be reached via depillis @ gmail.com

Jeff Herman Consulting the Silver Expert

 by Jeffrey Herman

Q: Silver-cleaning products are not particularly safe or environmentally friendly. Can you recommend any more-ecologically-friendly cleaning-supplies?

A: Yes! There now is a new 100% plant-based glass cleaner I use on silver, and, of course, on glass: It’s especially safe and effective if there are children in the home and around food products as well.

Mr. Herman continues to offer his services to our readers for any questions you may have about the care of silver. Either call him at (800) 339-0417 (USA) or email jeff @ hermansilver.com

The Institute is dedicated to raising service standards by broadly disseminating the mindset and superior service expertise of that time-honored, quintessential service provider, the British Butler, updated with modern people skills, and adapted to the needs of modern employers and guests in staffed homes, luxury hotels, resorts, spas, retirement communities, jets, yachts & cruise ships around the world.