The rose garden is starting to break out. Every bush has buds.
Scott and Fred lived a house down from us. They were a fun couple and had the best interior decorating taste of anyone, gay or straight, I've ever met (and that's saying a *lot* I have some friends that EXCEL at interior decorating). We'd go over for parties and I'd take some time to just walk around the rooms and make mental notes and drool.
They collected roses. Their front, side and back yards were like one huge, incredible rose garden. During the bloom seasons, it was like their house was on the Garden Club tour. People stopped to take pictures, talk to Scott or Fred (whoever happened to be outside tending) about the roses.
They could tell you the name and history of each rose. It was incredible.
I got hooked, but not because I particularly liked roses - I really do not care for the fragrance associated with most roses (I prefer the way Carnations smell), and most rose gardens I'd seen seemed scraggly, ill tended affairs that looked thorny and prissy.
What turned the corner for me was the way Scott and Fred enjoyed their roses. The blooms were not left to die on the stem - (well, quite a few did live a healthy life on the stem for all who drove or walked by to enjoy) - but they cut them and FILLED their home with them. Lovely silver, lead crystal, porcelain or glass - bowls, vases, pitchers were filled (stuffed) with blooms either of the same color or varying colors - all over the house. It was glorious!
I realized that the flowers didn't have to be stuffy, thorny, raggedy bushes to bloom and then die on the vine (like my grandmothers garden roses), I could cut them! arrange them! fill my house with flowers!
My garden isn't near big enough to do that - yet. I do let some bloom and die on the vine, but I don't hesitate to bring some inside, give them to friends, stop and smell them where ever they are.
Scott and Fred moved away and took most of their roses with them. They also gave some to the Garden club, left some for the people who bought their house (I think it was in the contract!), and gave some to friends.
Mary Rose (see photo above and previous post) was my gift from Scott and Fred.
Thanks again you guys. We miss you.
This is "Blue Girl", A hybrid tea.
Isn't she beautiful?
