The red heirloom rose, blooming on the porch. Roses that can be traced back to a time before the Civil War are called heirlooms. They've been found growing beside old houses and in cemeteries and churchyards, and are propagated by collectors, sometimes called "rose rustlers." This one came from the Antique Rose Emporium many years ago. It never gets any extra water, is regularly nibbled by deer, and thrives in our long summer string of 100-degree days. An elegant survivor.
When I was on the Emporium's website a few days ago, I noticed this intriguing green rose (Rosa chinensis viridiflora) It's pre-1845. The blurb says: "Perfect for floral arrangements or dried in bouquets, this rose lends its unique texture and contrasting color of green and bronze. Fragrance is spicy with a hint of pepper." Another site says it may be one of the earliest roses, before petals evolved into the glorious range of colors we see today. If I were planting new roses, this would definitely be on my list.
But I'm not planting new roses, or doing any gardening at all. Like many Americans (maybe most?) I've been having back troubles. This isn't anything new--I've lived with a bad back since my middle forties. But this spring, it's gone from chronic to acute, and it's keeping me from book travel. This is a big change for me (remembering my four- and five-week book tours of earlier years), and always a disappointment to have to say no when libraries and book clubs ask if I'm available to speak.
But for all of us, getting older means living with limitations, doesn't it? And I'm fortunate indeed to live in a beautiful place, with something new and interesting here at Meadow Knoll every day. Like this spring's crop of Little Girls, already in their early teens and eager for life. I'm eager for their egg-laying careers to begin, which will happen in the fall. The two Big Girls (from the previous flock) have adapted nicely to the noisy, excitable young ones. There's always a little irritable discussion at roost time, as they all sort themselves out for the night. But otherwise, peace and harmony.
It's a big week in Pecan Springs, with the release of China's 27th adventure, A Plain Vanilla Murder. And a big week here, too, with the launch late in the week of my new Wordpress website. I'll let you know when that happens, so stay tuned!
Weather note. It's hurricane season, and the first Gulf tropical event of the year is gathering steam in the Bay of Campeche. It's not supposed to be a very "big" year for hurricanes (there's a persistent El Nino blowing west to east, which rips up storms before they can grow into hurricanes). But it's also been a big year for tornadoes, and friends up north have had a bad time of it. It pays to be watchful.
Reading note. To pay attention, this is our endless and proper work.--Mary Oliver