Wednesday, February 3, 2016

Roses, roses, roses


Hi Folks ~ Hope you are all having a lovely start to this month of February. Today was a gorgeous day.  Yesterday was too and I was outside working up a small sweat.  The a.c. is on. Tomorrow it is supposed to get up to 80.


This morning my heart was tugged on for roses once again. This time by Connie's blog, Hartwood Roses, and by a new blog I'm following, les roses du jardin secret

Last year Connie offered up some of her baby roses for sale, and I asked her if she'd do a trade for one of my needleworked pieces, and she said yes.  The two roses below are the ones I got. They both are sweet and scented. They are just starting to really take off.

Click on photos for a larger view.

This first one is a seedling called 'Cemetery Rose'. 
From a cemetery in CA. It has a sweet, delicate scent.



This one is called 'Ruth's White Wavy leafed rose'. This has a bit heavier scent. Aaaahh!!!







Connie is a 'serious' rose grower, among other things. She inspires me in many ways.
Here's a link about her.

I went out into my humble cottage gardens the other day and took some pics of roses that are blooming right now.

'Crepuscule'






 
 
This next rose is 'Penelope'

  
 
This is an unkn.

 
After reading Connie's blog and the other blog on roses, I visited Rose Petal's Nursery, where I have had a wish list going. I went through my list, and also checked again the roses they have in stock. Since Valentine's Day is this month and my birthday is next month, I have treated myself to 4 new roses. :-)
They are:
Barnhouse Rose, Basye's Purple Rose,
Mozart and International Herald Tribune.
I will take photos when mine bloom.  You can check them out on the website, also on Help Me Find.
They should be here on Tuesday. :-)
 
***
I am reading a book called 'God Said It, Don't Sweat It ~ How to Keep Life's Petty Hassles from Overwhelming you' by Neil Clark Warren. 
 
Last night I read the following: 
 
"If you get your attitude right, your life will be a thousand times more enjoyable.  For, instance, if you wake up in the morning and focus on all the things that are exciting and meaningful in your life, your energy level will be high.  You will be eager to meet the day head on.
Focus on the positive in your life, and you will automatically become more appreciative, more joyful, more thankful.  Life will take on brighter colors.
The apostle Paul encourages us to see the positive and then to respond to God with thanksgiving.  When you do, you make an investment in your own contentment, you enrich yourself down deep in your soul, and you maximize every relationship you have."
 
It's been hard for me to focus on the positive the past three years, yet for my health, mentally, spiritually and physically that is what I need to do.
 
Growing roses is exciting, they make me feel joyful and thankful, so I need to think about them and look to God to take care of me in every aspect of my life.  He didn't promise us an easy life, but He did promise to never leave or forsake us.
 
Another saying I came across lately was this one:
 
"When you arise in the morning,
Think of what a precious privilege it is to be alive...
to breathe, 
to think,
to enjoy, 
to love."
~Marcus Aurelius~
 
(My dear husband was called Marcus Aurelius by his Mom and by me on occasion, because of his first name. Reading this was like a little message from him.)

God encourages me in many ways.  Sometimes I just need to be still and know that He IS, and trust Him completely.

Enjoy each day you are blessed with,
FlowerLady
 

24 comments:

Leslie Kimel said...

I love your new roses. White roses are so pretty, and I really like the "wild rose" look of the Cemetery rose.

Collecting roses is so addicting. The Tallahassee Rose Society is having its annual sale in a couple weeks and I'm really excited. I'm hoping to get Marchesa Boccella and Nastarana.

organicgardendreams said...

Dear Lorraine, I am so glad that you can get joy from growing roses. That is exactly how I feel. They just seem to make me happy or at least lift up my mood if I am in a bad one every time I look at them. I guess that is also part why I love growing them.
I am happy to read that Connie's roses are doing well for you. As far as I know, they are pretty rare and therefore very special.
How wonderful that you are gifting yourself with four new roses this year. You totally deserve it! I don't know all of them personally, but I know that 'International Herald Tribune' is a very beautiful rose. Hope it will do well for you in your climate. Can't wait until you post pictures of your new babies!
Warm regards,
Christina

Janice said...


I love all your roses, especially 'Crepuscle'. She's such a lovely apricot color!
The anticipation of a plant delivery is always fun, especially planning where you'll place them in the garden. I look forward to seeing your new 'little ones' blooming.
It's been beautiful weather to be outdoors, great time to get a jump start on tidying up before spring.
Have a great week.
_Janice

Ruth Hiebert said...

Roses do have a way of bringing smiles and contentment.I would love to walk through your yard and personally see all the growth and flowers.

Terra said...

To focus on roses can only be good, the way they look and their scent, and the wide array of colors. You chose wisely to add more roses to your garden.

Connie in Hartwood said...

Makes me feel like a proud grandma to see your former-Virginia roses doing so well in their new Florida home! Both of the ones that I sent to you are very rare and special, and I am very, very happy that YOU are happy with them.

About a week ago, I looked at Rose Petals' online catalog ... paying special attention to the section of Found and unknown roses. I saw Barnhouse Rose and was intrigued. Basye's Purple Rose is fabulous here for me. Stems are brown, leaves have a greenish-blue tint to them, and the wine-colored flowers are a perfect accent.

One of the reasons I love roses so much is because they have helped me meet so many new friends. I count you among them ... now I'm off to check out the other blog that you mentioned.

Kim said...

We are buried in many inches of snow. Your pretty roses are a welcome sight! :)

Jane said...

I'm so glad you are finding joy in your roses, Rainey! Only a few grow well in our climate, but that doesn't keep me from trying! I love that cemetery rose, it reminds me of apple blossoms.

Hugs
Jane

gld said...

Once again are giving us an inspiring and motivational message. I think we need to have this pointed out to us regularly, especially when we do have some health issues to contend with. You have inspired me to buy some roses even if we do have RRD in our area. If I can get 3 years of enjoyment from them, the price will be worth it. There is nothing that can compare to a scented rose!

Rebecca said...

What an amazing variety YOU have - you're an expert in your own right! And the quotes - very inspiring! Thanks for passing on the encouragement and beautiful photos ♥

Dixie @ Arranged Words said...

Wonderful roses. You are creating so much beauty in the world.
Also, I love the quotes ...very uplifting. Thank you.

sweetbay said...

I really like the Cemetery rose. It looks very sweet. You're going to love the color and fragrance of Bayse's Purple.

Debbie - Mountain Mama said...

I truly needed to read this today...I've been waking up on the wrong side of the bed for the past week or so - a lingering sinus headache is really getting me down. Thanks for the reminder to wake up thinking of our blessings!

Betsy Banks Adams said...

Well you know how I feel about ROSES... My hubby is the KING of Hybrid Teas and Grandiflora Roses. He/we grow some beauties.... The hardest part for us is getting through the long winters here and having to wait until SPRING for our roses to begin blooming again... Oh how I love our roses...

Yours are beautiful ---so I know how excited you are to get new ones and see them grow and bloom... Such a wonderful hobby.

Hugs,
Betsy

Susan said...

Thanks for sharing those positive readings. We all need to be reminded from time to time

Susan said...

Apparently I clicked published before I finished my comment. Anyway, I also wanted to say how lovely your roses are. I'm glad you're treating yourself to something you love that brings you so much joy.

Melanie said...

Beautiful roses...and a lovely reminder for us not to take our days for granted.

Joy Junktion said...

I'm so happy that you treated yourself to 4 new roses! That is a good thing to do and you will enjoy them so much! Have a wonderful weekend ahead. Cindy xoxo

susie @ persimmon moon cottage said...

How wonderful to be in a location where roses bloom in February! Your new white roses are gorgeous. Last week we had a beautiful warmish day and I took the opportunity to prune two of my roses. I am hoping that I pruned them correctly.

Your inspirational quotations and beautiful rose photos are very uplifting.

Jessica Jarrell said...

I love all the roses. My mom's yard back home in Oregon is full of roses, of every color and variety. I really miss them, all your pictures reminded me of home. I think I'm going to plant some rose bushes this year :-) I love the power that books can have on us, especially when it's a calming effect. I was just reading on another friends blog about a book that she was reading, and I just had to snatch it up. Hoping it inspires me :-)

Have a great weekend FlowerLady!

klaraau01 said...

Your roses are beautiful and I am looking forward seeing pictures of your new roses as well. Thank you for visiting my blog and your kind comments

Cathy @ My 1929 Charmer said...

Gosh you are so lucky to have rose blooming right now. All the roses are so beautiful, I only grown climbers since my garden is small and narrow. Rose do excite me too, I loved both sayings, and have copies them.

A Joyful Cottage said...

I'm glad to read this, Rainey, as it tells me you are in Good Hands. God is so faithful to encourage us and love us through the pain of loss. After my Jim passed I bought a house and in the front yard were two rose bushes in sad shape. I pruned them and wasn't sure what they would do the first year. One summer day I was feeling especially blue -- missing my late husband -- and when I went outside to work on my garden I saw the most perfect, beautiful pink rose (my favorite) blooming. I knew it was a gift of love from the Lord. A special love gift just for me. I felt so special, so cherished. Hugs sweet friend. Nancy

Unknown said...

I'm a little late getting to your posts Lorraine - so sorry. I was away and did not have my laptop with me. Im not very good at reading blogs on my phone as it makes it so difficult to see peoples lovely photos properly. I'm so glad you get so much joy from growing roses. There is just something special about them isn't there and when you smell that rose fragrance ....well there is nothing better!
Thank you for sharing your lovely blooms!
- Kate