Roses and Memories

As so many have had to deal with over the years, my brand new house came with a pile of dirt covering my property.

For the front of the house we had a professional landscaper design it but for the back...we just did it ourselves. I have always loved roses and I did put a few in the front of the house, both before the landscaper and after. There was no rhyme or reason to it.

When I put a few roses in just past the front gate, in the backyard area, I bought Mr. Lincoln (dark red), John Kennedy (white) and Blue Girl (sort of a purple blue color).

Yes, my patriotism was showing through and I recently read this same color combination was used by someone else. I guess I am not unique either. When we finally began landscaping the back yard for real, I was in bare root season and I bought several fruit trees. Just by chance, my husband's uncle passed away at the same time. So in his honor, I bought a older rose called Peace and planted it right next to the fruit trees.

Well, 6 months later my husband's mother died and on the day of her death, Peace had the most beautiful iridescent pink/yellow roses. It was so stunning that even the neighbors child made a comment about them being so beautiful. Did it know? I have no idea but that put into my head this idea of memorializing people with a rose.

So the years pass and I now have 22 roses planted around my property. I have not managed to plant a rose for everyone who has passed but I have remembered many. Some of the highlights include, famous people who have died and had a rose named after them. Princess Diana (a beautiful pink single bud rose) and Julia Child (a small yellow rose, that I planted by my kitchen). On the day of my parent's 50th wedding anniversary, in the drizzle (Mom had said that it rained on her wedding day and I thought it appropriate) I planted a 2 color rose that's red (the red color reminds me of my Mom's lipstick) and pure white (in honor of my Dad). My husband on that day said I should get one for myself...OK so I planted right behind them, a rose called angel face. Right around the same time, my Aunt Cookie died and I bought her a rose called Showbiz. She is right beside my rose, a mentor thing, if you will. My Mom's brother got Flirtatious, because he was always like that in real life. Mom's sister, who was like a 2nd mother to me, got double delight (which happens to be the only rose in my collection that has a wonderful scent).

In honor of my little boy, I bought Wild Blue Yonder (The rose named for the Air Force). The year that I was finally going to see Steely Dan tour, I planted Perfect Moment (a red and yellow colored rose, signifying the 2 parts of the duo), in their honor.

There are many others, but you get the idea. Some of my most peaceful/happy moments is walking around my yard, remembering where I come from and the people who have impacted my life.

It's a good thing.

*The roses in the picture above are: from the bottom, Perfect Moment, Julia Child and Wild Blue Yonder.