Grandmother's Rose...the sequel!

Yesterday, I wrote about a lovely pink rose called the "New Dawn".  I had received a cutting of this years ago.  It was from a large bush that Granddaddy planted way back in the day.  The blooms were prolific and with each spring came the announcement that "Grandmother's Rose" was blooming.  Keep in mind that this grandmother hardly ever did yardwork!  She was a very dainty, little lady who arranged flowers..not planted them.

Today, I will talk of a different rose..and a different grandmother.  This rose grows with wild abandon on the same fence that the more cultured rose calls home.  Unlike the New Dawn with its single stemmed blooms, this rose is a cluster rose.  It is definitely a dark, "rosy" pink and stands out against the pale pink of the aforementioned New Dawn.  This is one of the unnamed roses in my garden.  It was given to me by my Uncle Jim. He told me that it was one of his mom's favorite.  That would make this another Grandmother Rose!  The New Dawn was from my maternal grandmother..the unnamed rose was from my paternal grandmother.  The canes from these two rose bushes intertwine with each other as they attempt to overtake the entire fence row.  The two colors compliment each other nicely!  The blooms of the New Dawn are much larger than that of this unnamed rose but I love them both!  The size matters not!

While the "New Dawn" Grandmother did little to ensure the growth of the New Dawn rose bush, the other bush was tended by a hardworking lady!  Although she did a remarkable job caring for her seven children and husband, she still found time to work the gardens as well.  She loved her flowers!  I did not have the good fortune to ever meet this grandmother as she died before I was born but through her flowers, I can almost "feel" that I know her.

Now, I am in the process of rooting some cuttings of both of these rose bushes.  These cuttings will be shared with my siblings and cousins.  It is sort of nice to raise heirloom plants..especially those that have family ties.  I find it curious that both grandmother's loved flowers as much as they did considering their different lifestyles.  Maybe..just maybe.. both knew the magic of flowers!