Monday, June 11, 2007

Summer Appreciation: Roses

Surely one of the loveliest things about summer, even in the South, is roses. They and magnolia blossoms can pull me off a sidewalk, can interrupt a conversation, can convince me to get my shoes wet—whatever it takes to get to them for a close encounter of the scentillating sort.


My friend Joyce and I can spend quite a lot of time in the Rose Garden of the Botanic Garden, like little bees, going from flower to flower. I wonder if the bees have a way of saying to each other, “Oh, man! You’ve got to come try this one!”



The photos are of the cutting from Grandmother’s “sweetheart” rosebush, taken a couple of years ago. Sadly, it died last summer in the drought. I was very sad about that. I hope to get another cutting for next year, couldn’t manage it for this year.



So, here’s to roses—and to the wonderful ability of plants to survive (for the most part) these summers in the South.

5 comments:

Lawrence Underwood said...

I, too, can be pulled aside by a rose, magnolia, and other flowers. Pure beauty.

Anonymous said...

In the backyard of my new house, I think I've discovered a rose bush. I think this because it has thorns like a rose bush, but no blooms and is in a very odd place. I've always seen rose bushes up against a house or fence and this one is growing in the wind. It looks very healthy. I was mad this morning, however, when I came outside and noticed that the top limb had been snapped off. How this may have happened is a mystery to me as I don't think anyone's been in my backyard, but I don't think the dog would've snapped it off (due to the thorns). Also, I've a lock on the gate to the fence that it's nearest to. I would luv seeing it bloom before early fall.

Sheila said...

Carolinagirl,

I bet you anything the squirrels are behind this!

Lawrence Underwood said...

Those tree climbing rodents have in interstate conspiracy at work. I would hate to tell you how many dollars of calladium bulbs they have devoured in our yard over the past few years.

Anonymous said...

I hate to admit it, but my dog is the culprit of the broken branches on the rose/sticker bush. I've since caught her in the act.