rose garden.....

A few years ago, my children gave me a rose garden for Mother's Day. They gave me several bushes and did the labor of preparing the garden. My rose garden is my favorite place to be in my yard. Especially in the spring- It is so exciting to see the new green leaves on bushes that are waking up from a deep winter's sleep.

Almost all of my roses are hybrid teas. I have several different colors. I cut many roses and took them to mom last year. She never went very long without a bouquet of fresh flowers. Her favorite flower was yellow roses, because those were what she wore when she married my dad.

Because we have such harsh winters here, I am always careful when protecting my garden in the late fall. Even though I take great care, sometimes I lose a bush, and have to replace it in the spring. Sadly, this year, my yellow bush was the one I lost.

However, one bush continues to amaze me, year after year...

I am living in the house that I grew up in. Mom planted a climbing red rose in the backyard shortly after dad and grandpa built the house. It had been dormant for several years. When we moved in here I gave it lots of TLC and it started blooming again.

Now, 38 years later, it too is covered with tiny new green leaves.
Even without blooms it is beautiful.
I can't help but think of mom each time I look at it, and I can't help but smile......