ROSES

Roses speak to our emotions. Roses can take one back in time to an experience that represents many memories. They represent love; passion, friendship, sorrow, joy and history that continue to bring forth our past and present feelings. Roses have been in my life as far back as I can remember. When I was young we had a white picket fence along our driveway. Each year around the middle of May people would come to my house and pick so many of the red roses that hung out on the fence. They would put them on the floats for the annual Rose Parade and it was always fun to watch them, with smiles on their faces, as they picked all of the red roses. I liked that our roses would be a part of these beautiful floats that had people say ÒAhhÓ in glee, as we would watch the floats from the curb at the parade. As an adult I became the midnight gardener and would go through the neighborhoods and prune the rose bushes so that they would continue to flourish in each yard. I would spend hours cutting the thorns and trimming the stems as I placed them in various vases. It was a time in my life, after both of my parents died that created healing for myself. We always had at least 8 vases of luscious sweet smelling roses throughout our home. My affinity with roses continue and about 3 years ago, when I got a digital camera, I would go out in the early mornings or just before dusk and connect with roses in another way. I am awe struck by the evolution of roses and how the camera captured the beauty of what they offer us. To me they represent the miracle of life. Watching them go from a bud to full bloom tells a story of how we continue to bloom in areas of our lives and relationships. Roses connect us to each other with passion and love. Roses express what we feel through color and scent. Pick the rose that you are drawn to and provide you the gift of connection to our planet and each other. Enjoy.