Saturday, May 22, 2010

Roses



When I first bought my own house ten years ago, I was so overjoyed I practically danced instead of walked every day.

One of the first things I did was look for a climbing rose bush. I wanted one that had big, fat, pale pink cabbage roses. I wanted one that would have a scent. I wanted it to be old fashioned and beautiful. I would cut it's blooms to crowd into a vase on my nightstand and they would infuse my room with their perfume.



I found what I wanted at our local nursery. And the name was perfect: Eden. Corny, I know, but that is how I felt about my sweet little house. I dug a hole in a sunny spot against the fence on the edge of my patio and planted it myself. I was so happy I actually cried.



Things have changed a lot in ten years. The job I loved is gone, the entire department eliminated in New Jersey and relocated to another state. My girls have grown up and have moved out, leaving me with four bedrooms and three bathrooms to myself and a basketball hoop that now has a branch of the maple tree starting to grow into it. Friendships have grown and others have vanished. MS has made it impossible to take care of my home anymore by myself, never mind dig a hole and plant a shrub.



And my climbing rose? It towers over 8 feet high now and spreads about four feet to either side. One thing that will never change is the joy I feel every time it blooms. Every time I fill a vase with it's flowers. When I no longer live here and it is blooming for someone else, some of me will still be there where my happy tears fell as I planted it. And I will hold fast the memory of falling asleep enveloped in it's scent.




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14 comments:

Babs-beetle said...

Thanks for popping in to comment on my blog.

What a lovely post. My mum didn't think, when she planted her favourite daisies, that after her passing, the whole family would take a cutting. They are now thriving in all of our gardens, in many parts of England.

brokenteepee said...

It's a beautiful rose bush.
You can take part of it with you if you decide to move and it will stay with you.

Anonymous said...

This reminds me of my own nameless beauty. My grandmother planted it over 30 years ago and it's still climbing. We bought the cottage she used to summer in and I am lucky to have inherited the roses.
I keep them trimmed back, but every year they keep (trying to) spread. I wish I knew how to divide them, so I could share with the fam. Maybe I'll do a little research.
Your pics are gorgeous...I love summer!

Lawyer Mom said...

Those roses are gorgeous. Absolutely gorgeous.

Jen said...

It is beautiful and this story made me cry. The whole thing. Lovely! I may go and find a rose bush to plant.

Marie said...

Babs: Thanks for stopping by. That is wonderful about your Mum's daisies!

Pricilla: I don't know if I will end up moving to somewhere I could plant it, but the idea makes me feel better. :)

Christine: Hi! You are so lucky to have your grandmother's cottage and roses. What a gift. There is good information on the web about cutting roses.

Amy: Hi! Thanks so much for your comment. Good luck on reaching your goal!

Lawyer Mom: Thanks! You're so sweet. :)

Jen: I'm sorry I made you cry! Oh, do go buy yourself a rose bush. Check the labels if you want one that has a scent and that blooms all summer. Not all do. Plant it in a sunny spot. You will be so happy with your roses!!

Thanks everyone for stopping by and especially for your lovely comments!!

Shiloah Baker said...

beautiful!

Marie said...

Hi Shiloah! Thanks very much. :)

injaynesworld said...

It's beautiful, Marie, and what a lovely post. Popping in to visit from Tribal Blogs.

Marie said...

Hi Jayne! Thanks for stopping by and for your kind words! :)

~ValianEfforts~ said...

Thank you for this post, I love roses, if only I had a fence to have climbing roses, My fiance and I just bought a house, and I felt so much joy the first time I saw the flowers that were planted by the previous owner, thank you for this post!

Jane Turley said...

Those are beautiful roses Marie:) We can't have roses in our garden; too many thorns = some very squashy footballs:) I'll just look at yours and dream about retirement....

Marie said...

Oh Jane, thank God your still speaking to me!! lol Thank you for not giving up!

Retirement will be here before you know it and you too will be luxuriating in the scent of roses. :)

Nancy/BLissed-Out Grandma said...

Beautiful rose bush, beautiful post!