April 25, 2007

Pile of roses

Pile of roses

I love the way trees in a city will flower, pinks and whites against harsh grey buildings, or the way flowers in a country garden will crowd colour up against a rock wall, or the way a whole meadow will bloom with daisies and vetch and pasture roses. I grow flowers in my gardens, and I gather wildflowers sometimes to put in vases.

But on a dark rainy day like today, when it's still too cold for flowers to bloom, I love the flowers that appear on my doorstop in a long white box.

I untie the ribbon carefully, and lift the cardboard lid, releasing the scent of damp petals. The roses, half-opened, are lined up neatly and carefully inside the box, bundled with baby breath, perhaps, or some ferns. The twelve stems reach all the way to the end of the box, wearing the green plastic holders filled with water. My kids used to fight over these little holders when I would take them off: if you put them over your fingers, you can look like some kind of evil villain with green claws.

I know that some people prefer elaborate flower arrangements or a variety of flowers arranged carefully in a vase. But what seems most beautiful to me is simply a pile of roses, spilling from the box, rose after rose, long stems dangling. I lift them from the box and carry them in my arms, petals brushing against my skin, before finally reaching atop my cupboards for a vase.

17 comments:

Linda said...

Happy Occasion for Which Roses Are an Appropriate Gift (if there actually is such an occasion)! They're gorgeous.

BrightStar (B*) said...

absolutely beautiful.

susan said...

They are lovely! We have roses in our dining room now, and it's fun.

Happy Rose Day.

skatey katie said...

what linda said :o)

Mona Buonanotte said...

Those are beautiful! Special occasion? Or none at all?

BeachMama said...

Roses are so beautiful and they say so much. Happy Day!

YourFireAnt said...

Atop ???

I'm not lettin' you get away with THAT.


FA

zombieswan said...

When I first got married, I started buying myself flowers for the kitchen table. It needed it. Every time the old ones died, I'd get pretty new ones. One of my husband's co-worker's wives (that's a lot of descriptors) once said "Who the hell keeps buying you roses"-- jealously. I said I buy them for myself, and she gave me a look.

I don't do it as often anymore. Partly this is because where we live now, there isn't a good place to get good flowers.

But I love having cut flowers in the house. I wish I had the knack to grow the kind of garden where you can just go out and cut a vase. But so far, I can manage only one rose which appears to be being eaten by a slug or something.

Anyway. Pretty pink roses. I like all colors, but pink is one of my favorites. :) Enjoy them!

Yankee T said...

Happy Pile Of Roses Moment.
YT

AS said...

Thank-you for consistently reminding me about what is most important, moments of connection. Yours, E

Musey_Me said...

Very nice!

S. said...

Happy Rose Occasion!

Sue said...

Lovely.

Anonymous said...

Oooh, very nice. And a very springy color.

Kyla said...

Beautiful roses!

ccw said...

Absolutely beautiful!

Such a nice way to brighten a day.

jo(e) said...

My apologies for deleting so many sweet and thoughtful comments. I appreciated them -- but I don't like to give too much personal information out on my blog.