The LOVE of Roses

So, you made it through Mother's Day I am assuming. You did your due diligence and picked mom a special gift which made her smile. WHAT A WONDERFUL CHILD YOU ARE.

No one was smiling more than florists filling thousands of bouquet orders of flowers on Mother's Day. And the number one flower people wanted to give mom was the ROSE. Roses are not just the go-to flower to give to your mother, it is the go-to flower for most gift giving to a loved one or person of interest. The rose spans many occasions of celebration. Oh, by the way, Kenya is smiling too. Commercial rose growing in Kenya goes back decades. The country is famous for its vibrantly colored blooms. Rich soil and an abundance of sunlight give Kenya’s roses their natural, distinctive hues. 

The flower which represents love has been loved for centuries. Napoleon wife Josephine Bonaparte loved roses. Between 1804 and 1814 Empress Josephine built her rose collection. It was to become the greatest and largest rose collection in the world, unsurpassed until the creation of Sangerhausen in Germany and L’Hay outside Paris, one century later. The collection was made up of about 250 species and varieties. By 1830 some 2500 different rose varieties would be available to Parisian rose lovers, all influenced by Josephine’s zeal for rose collecting. It was also the first time that anyone had had thought to create a garden with only one type of plant.   

I am a Master Gardener, and my great love is the rose. At last count I have 165 roses (not species). That is actually a small number of roses for a rose enthusiast. I am slowly becoming comfortable calling myself a Rosarian. I am a member of several Rose Lovers Facebook groups. I love roses and I am not alone. 

People love roses for their beauty, symbolism, cultural significance, exclusivity, and association with special occasions. Roses have been around for over 35 million years and are a staple in the wedding world. Red roses are associated with love, passion, and longing, and have been used in romantic gestures and rituals since ancient times.

People have been giving roses to each other since the 17th century as a way to express love. Roses are the favorite flower of Venus, the Greek goddess of love, and are often used to represent strong emotions. The Victorians also used bouquets of flowers to communicate feelings through a messaging system called "floriography," and roses became a symbol of romantic affection.

Various religions have long used roses as symbols of religious belief. In ancient Greece, the rose was a symbol of Aphrodite. It was also part of the Egyptian myth of Isis. More modern religions still use the rose symbolically. The rose is a repeated leitmotif of Judaism that symbolizes both Israel and royalty. Jewish people are also compared with roses in the Bible. After the rise of Christianity, the rose became heavily linked with the image of the Virgin Mary. Some Catholic sects place crowns made of roses on statues of the Virgin Mary during different religious holidays. Islam also incorporates these flowers into its symbology.

Whether you realized it or not, the color of rose you chose to buy and give to your loved one has meaning. Roses are filled with meaning and superstition. Me personally, have made it a point when I was in the dating arena to tell men who showed interest in me that I preferred NOT to be gifted roses. For me, receiving roses was an intimate thing and I wanted to steer clear of possibly sending the wrong signal to a man whom I had not yet declared MY love to. Plus, I wanted him to be a little more thoughtful about the flowers he bought me as a gift. Roses were such an easy go to. Roses did all of the work for him. 

Let's look at what the color of roses means first.

For example, blue roses symbolize mystery. This is not a naturally occurring color for roses but rose growers remain on a quest to create a true blue rose. There are several roses named as a blue rose such as the rose named Blue Girl, Blue Moon rose, Blue Nile, Carding Mill rose, Rainy Blue, Rhapsody in Blue, Suntory Blue Rose Applause, and Shocking Blue. Yellow roses are ideal to give away to friends.  In the past, the yellow rose was associated with jealousy or infidelity. Yellow roses used to stand for unfaithfulness, so giving a bouquet of yellow roses to your romantic partner would lead to fights and eventual break up. Nowadays, we see this rose as meaning strength, friendship and cherishing. 

Orange roses are for joy. Green roses represent strength and fertility. Oddly, there are several true green roses: Green Tea, Mayra’s Green, Jade, Super Green, Lemonade. I don't like green roses. Leaves are green. Why would I want a flower bloom to be green?

The symbolism of the elegant white rose is trust, innocence, purity, loyalty, respect, and also a fitting gift for a fresh start or a farewell. The white rose is also a symbol of remembrance. The white rose is very popular in the bridal bouquet and also suits farewell and memories. In addition, a bouquet of white roses is perfect for new business customers, for a housewarming party or of course the beginning of a new love.

Red roses are known worldwide as the symbol of love and romance. With red roses, you really give a feeling or emotion to someone else. So red roses are ideal to give to your partner on, for example, a wedding day, Valentine's Day or other special occasion. The rose has many options for giving red roses to someone. So, you have bouquets of 100 red roses for a very impressive gift, but you can also order your number of roses in a bouquet of, say, 33 red roses, for a birthday or wedding anniversary.

The message that the purple rose wants to send out is 'Love at first sight'. So, it's not that only red roses do well on Valentine's Day, also purple roses fit perfectly with the feeling of enchantment and desire.

Pink roses also have multiple meanings. For instance, you can use these roses if you are grateful to someone for something and they want to show their gratitude with these roses. Furthermore, pink roses also represent desire and are for thanksgiving. 

Now for a few superstitions regarding flowers in general and gifting them. Hopefully, you didn't break any superstitions on Mother's Day or at any other time when gifting flowers.

• Red and white: Some say that sending a combination of red and white flowers to someone who is sick can bring misfortune or even death.
• Odd numbers: Some say that giving someone an odd number of flowers is lucky, while even numbers are for the dead and may bring bad luck.
• White carnations: In Russia, white carnations are said to take away talent and good luck.
• Withered flowers: Some say that flowers that fade in the house bring good news, so you should keep them for a few days.
• Before a performance: Some say that it is bad luck to give flowers to someone before they go out to perform on stage, and instead you should wait until after.

It is said that roses are planted near someone’s grave to protect their soul from evil spirits. 

Seeing a white rose bloom in autumn signifies an early marriage. 

Throwing rose leaves into a fire is said to bring good luck.

Where roses are concerned, different cultures have different beliefs about giving roses. Most people view a rose as innocent and just a very pretty flower. In certain countries, you can run into awkward situations if you are not up on you understanding of roses.

In America, more often than any other flower, we hold the rose dear as the symbol of life and love and devotion, of beauty and eternity. For the love of man and woman, for the love of mankind and God, for the love of country, Americans who would speak the language of the heart do so with a rose. We see proofs of this everywhere.

In Hungary, roses are actually a popular funeral flower. While they still retain the classic rose symbolism of love and even romance in that context, they tend to represent one’s undying love for a lost friend, spouse, or relative – so they may not be the most appropriate gift for a first date in Budapest.

Roses are also funeral flowers in Mexico, but here it’s a matter of choosing the color carefully. Yellow roses symbolize death in traditional Mexican culture, so it’s not a good idea to show up for a date or a fiesta with a yellow bouquet. This is just one of many rules of thumb for giving roses in Mexico. If you’re giving red roses in Mexico, you’d better be serious! These beauties are loaded with meaning – two, in fact. In terms of romance, they profess grand, undying love. They also stir up superstitions of magic and spell casting. Purple roses symbolize witchcraft and casting spells too, so there are plenty of ways to infuse rose-giving with some high drama.

South Koreans take rose-giving in a different direction by making these lovely blooms a coming-of-age symbol. Every May, on Coming-of-Age Day, South Koreans have a giant party celebrating all the young people turning 20 that year, at which the birthday boys and girls (men and women?) exchange gifts, including bouquets of roses – typically red.

The Finnish have also adopted the rose as a symbol of appreciation between friends. In fact, every February 14, the Finnish swap the traditional Valentine’s Day for the more inclusive Friend’s Day, a custom that started in the 1980s and hasn’t gone anywhere since. In that spirit, the Finnish celebrate Friend’s Day by exchanging cards, candy, and pink roses.

In Catalonia, Saint George Day is celebrated with roses. Legend has it that St. George, your typical knight in shining armor, saved both a town and a princess by slaying a dragon who’d taken up residence nearby. When the dragon fell, roses sprang up from where its blood had spilled – and now every April 23, Catalonians give each other red roses to symbolize St. George’s valiance and sacrifice.

Cut flowers are traditionally for funerals in China. In this case, both yellow and white roses represent death. White, furthermore, symbolizes bad luck. Numbers are highly symbolic in Chinese culture, and influence flower-giving in many ways. The number 14, for example, means imminent death, so a bouquet of 14 roses would not be well received. But recently a modern-day fairy tale and a magical number gave red roses renewed significance in Chinese romantic culture.

Taiwan’s Valentine’s Day rose traditions take that symbolism to the next level. When V Day rolls around, rose bouquets are bought in specific numbers to send particular messages to crushes and loved ones. A single rose symbolizes one-and-only love. 11 roses are given to a “special someone.” 99 roses are given to someone you’ll love for eternity. 108 roses = “Will you marry me?”

 I know my love affair with roses will only deepen as time marches on. It would be difficult for me to say which color of rose is my favorite. I just love roses. Now that I am married, I enjoy receiving roses and my husband doesn't have to be concerned about the color he chooses. But for the rose gift giver, taking the time to understand the meaning behind the flower and color of the flower can score you big points or lead to big misunderstandings.

Diary Of A Wannabe Gardener

Have you ever thought about the various ways that people judge one another and how a person may see others in their own mind? Could there be someone somewhere trying to decide whether you are a beautiful gracious rose or a defensive prickly pear? That is exactly how the main character in my book, Diary of a Wannabe Gardener, Samantha Black, judges people.

Samantha, a stay at home mom, is at war with the weeds in her flower garden. She has suffered yearly defeats, but knows that this is the year of her victory. Her thumb may not be green, but she is green with envy as she views breathtaking landscapes of various Mississippi gardens. She pinches money from the household funds behind her husband's back, to achieve her goal of a perfect garden. Sam's family become reluctant participants in her yearly war against the weeds. She will not allow herself to entertain the idea that she is actually a gardener until she has created the "perfect" flower garden. Even when the family omen of the death birds comes to her house, Sam keeps her focus on her garden; her soul. Sam chronicles the garden murders, the revolts and injustices of nature, and her determination to overcome old wives tales in her yearlong diary. Family and community bonds are formed and strengthened in the oddest way as Sam's "perfect" flower garden comes to life.

Dorothy Guyton, author.

PLEASE buy my book, Diary of a Wannabe Gardener, on amazon.com while you await the first signs of spring. Also, like, share, comment, and follow me on all my social media sites.

Roses on my Mind

 

This post was originally done in 2010 . It is amazing to know the cost of roses has almost tripled!

I have always had a love of roses and for the color purple. At this very time, I am prunning my roses which have already started to bud. To say I'm all scratched up is an understatement. The one thing which has changed since I made this post is that I live in a new place. I transplanted many plants, including roses from my country home garden to my new city garden which is two years old now.

Each winter I question why I continue to garden but as soon as the first signs of spring begin, I am on pins for my plants to come alive. I guess gardening is in the blood. It never dies. My favorite plant is roses but in my neck of the woods, it is humid which is the enemy of roses. Even if I buy blackspot resistant roses, the disease still shows up dropping the leaves of the roses. Will I ever stop planting roses? Never. I believe I have about 250 roses as of now and that total is sure to increase as I find (make) space for more roses.

One impediment to my love of gardening is my husband and children. Even my adult childrenwho no longer live at home made me promise wen we bought our new home to limit my DESTRUCTION of expansive yard to make flower beds. I did promise, but everyone knew I would be unable to keep my promise. I am willing to be labled a liar instead of not CREATING magic with flowers in my yard. They did not hesitate to LABEL me a liar. More plants. Don't care.

Anyway, my fellow gardeners understand the overwhelming feeling that comes over gardeners in the spring time. Only gardeners can relate. It's like the saying "Unleash the Kraken" when we know it is time to start the gardening season again. We can't and won't be held back. My book, Diary of a Wannabe Gardener, sums up the inner workings of a gardener's mind as the book journals the daily life of a gardener. She is always trying to create the PERFECT garden which gardeners will tell you there is no such thing, but every garden is PERFECT. So enjoy this section of post which was written years ago but still rings true for me.

Rhapsody in Blue shrub rose
Ebb Tide floribunda rose

On this first day of the new year 2010, my mind is on my flower garden and my love; the rose. Today I ordered the above pictured roses from Regan Nursery each costing $20.00. I have struggled to grow healthy plants protected from nut grass, I must say with failure. I never give up because that first spring flush of flowers is absolutely divine.

I am thinking about giving up my garden to neglect due to the fact that it is over run by large earthworms. I have a real fear of worms. My husband has been a doll for years hanging out in the garden with me as I scream and flee from the disturbed wriggling creature. It is ironic that the more worms in the soil the healthier it is. I don't know what I am going to do because I am a jittery mess when it comes time to plant a new choice plant I have fallen in love with at one of the numerous garden centers I visit.

I have a section of garden dedicated to the illusive purple color. I have a niece who is fond of the color purple so that section of my garden is named after her.

2009 saw my garden attacked by an evasive armidillo. He dug and dug uprooting many of my asiatic lilies in search of grubs. The deer pulled up pansies and snapdragons in late winter. And this fall they are eating bushes and everything else their hearts desire. I have a host of birds feeding on seeds. I am surrounded by nature and I find it fascinating each day.

Check out some of my ealiest posts which are pictures of my garden. I look forward to the flower catalogs arriving. I check the mail daily. I hope to post some pics from my 2024 garden.

Enjoy nature, enjoy life. Remember to purchase my book, Diary of a Wannabe Gardener, available on amazon.com and please like, share, comment and follow me on all social media sites.

The Perfect Garden

HAPPY CLEMATIS THURSDAY 

 

Is there such a thing as the perfect garden? If you ask me the answer is NO!

Each winter I move plants, pull out plants, and plan to buy plants all in an effort create the perfect garden for the next year. I never seem to be satisfied with the garden that I have. This year I added 6 clematis plants in hopes of having the flowers climb wherever they may. Clematis is a workhorse and announces spring is here.

Any gardener that you speak with will tell you that the garden they have has taken years of trials and errors and is always a work in progress. In my book "Diary of A Wannabe Gardener" Samantha learns there is no such thing as the perfect garden. But all gardens are beautiful and individual.

Below is what some famous people have had to say about gardening and gardeners:

DOROTHY FRANCES GURNEY:
The kiss of the sun for pardon,
The song of the birds for mirth,
One is nearer God's heart in a garden
Than anywhere else on earth. "Garden Thoughts"

ELIZABETH MURRAY:
Gardening is the art that uses flowers and plants as paint, and the soil and sky as canvas.

LEWIS GANNIT:
Gardening is a kind of disease. It infects you, you cannot escape it. When you go visiting, your eyes rove about the garden; you interrupt the serious cocktail drinking because of an irresistible impulse to get up and pull a weed.

THOMAS MOORE:
The many great gardens of the world, of literature and poetry, of painting and music, of religion and architecture, all make the point as clear as possible: The soul cannot thrive in the absence of a garden. If you don't want paradise, you are not human; and if you are not human, you don't have a soul.
God almighty first planted a garden: and, indeed, it is the purest of human pleasure.

FRANCIS BACON
The best place to seek God is in a garden. You can dig for him there.
George Bernard Shaw

So, it's gardening time 2024 and soon every gardener will be having gardening fever. Are you working on your perfect garden? What is your idea of a perfect garden? Is it a rose garden like mine or a perennial garden which I also strive to have? Are you the annual pop of pow type of gardener? Let's talk. WHAT IS YOUR FAMOUS QUOTE ABOUT GARDENING OR GARDENERS? Please share.

Don't forget to buy my book Diary of a Wanna Be Gardener to enjoy the life of an everyday gardener trying to create the perfect garden; available on amazon.com. Please like, share, follow, and comment. Invite your gardening friends to enjoy my blog posts about my gardening journey and gardening life. If you like my gardening topics, please let me know and I will write more about gardening on my blog. Remember, select the label garden, gardening, or gardener on the right side of the blog page.

Knockout #Rose or Brick House Rose?

I need your help #rose growers, #gardeners. If you grow the rose Brick House or the Knockout rose, let me know if the rose in the video is either one. 

This year I have #bought so many mislabeled #roses. Most are pretty but this one is a disappointment.

#Gardening always has challenges, but when you spend your #money, you do expect to get what you have paid for. RIGHT?

How many of you out there have been running into this same problem? I know I'm not the only one. At least I hope I'm not.

Please #share in the comments if you have had the wrong #flower #plant shipped, purchased, or given to you and it was not what it was supposed to be. 

Misery loves company, but I think you all can help me have a laugh about my rose surprises of 2023. Gardening is always suppose to be an enjoyable #journey. So, I might drink WINE, but, as a long time gardener, I choose not to WHINE.

Thanks for your help.

Adam and Eve Mural in Garden. #Garden #tour #July #project 2023

The beginning of my Garden of Eden with a mural. Follow me and come along for an interesting #gardening #journey.

Flowers and Tattoos OMG

 

    What is it about flowers that people love so much that they are willing to have them tattooed on themselves? I mean if you look at men and women with tattooes, you're going to see a flower somewhere on them. The flower of choice most times is the ROSE.

    I had the wondeful opportunity of going to a Tattoo Fest and I decided to interview people who were getting tattoos, who had tattoos, and the artists giving tattoos. My number one question was "Why do people get flower tattoos?"

    The first lady I interviewed while she was going under the ink was getting several flowers tattooed for each of her family members. She had looked up the flower for each of their birth months and was having them tattood in a carfully thought out pattern on her left shoulder. To her, flowers represented the people she loved most in her life.

    I remember back in the day when I first wanted a tattoo. It was the early 90's and people, especially men, would tell me, "Ladies don't have tattoos and you are a lady." I was discouraged at every point in getting a tattoo. But boy, did I want one.

    People look at people with tattoos and make judgements about them. At one time, you would not be able to get a job if you had a visible tattoo. Man, how times have changed. almost everyone has one and they are even on people's FACES. Yes. I ran into a young tattoo artist who had a rose tattooed on her left temple. I interviewed her and asked her why did she put it there? She said she just felt like it and roses are so beautiful. She said she was a little afraid of what her mother might say so she asked her if it was okay for her to put a tattoo on her face. Her mother's response was that she was grown and she could make that decision if she wanted to. Mom was okay with it.

    Tattoos are a way people express themselves. Their tattoos have meaning to them. And in that same vein, their FLOWER tattoos mean something to them. 

    The energy at the Tattoo Fest was so alive and vibrant. Everyone there was so happy to be there and tattoos were everywhere. It seemed to me, some people did not have anymore room on their body for another tattoo. But, just like people who have gardens, there is always room for another beloved plant and there is alway room for another beloved tattoo.

    When you think of the highly favored ROSE, you think of love and romance. People have rose tattoos for their loved ones such as their mother, girlfriend, child, spouse, and even a deceased family member, friend, or loved one. Rose tattoos seem to be very meaningful to people.

    The rose has a long history and meaning The red rose symbolizes romance, love, beauty, and courage. A red rosebud signifies beauty and purity. A thornless red rose means love at first sight. Yellow roses symbolize friendship and joy, and new beginnings. Orange roses symbolize fascination, desire, and sensuality. People may not know the meanings for the color of the rose they choose to have as a tattoo, they just know they want that particular flower. If you  have a rose tattoo, more than likely it's red. Here is the meaning for the colors of roses:

                                        RED: love, passion, romance, desire.

                                        PINK: femininty, elegance, grace, admiration, gentleness.

                                        PEACH: gratitude.

                                        PURPLE: enchantment, love at first sight, adoration.

                                        BLUE: (yes there are roses classified as blue) mystery,

                                        unattainability.

                                        GREEN: nature, rejuvenation, fertility.

                                        WHITE: new beginnings, hope, innocence, purity, loyalty.

                                        ORANGE: energy, enthusiasm.

                                        YELLOW: friendship, warmth, caring.

    In religious history, the rose became identified with the Virgin Mary and the rose symbol eventually led to the creation of the rosary. The rose is the national flower of England. In 1986 the rose was adopted as the national floral emblem of the United States. The rose is also the state flower of New York, adopted in 1955. Portland Oregon has the nickname as the "City of Roses," since 1888 and has held an annual Rose Festival since 1905.

    So why not have a flower tattoo? Flowers hold so much meaning. So much meaning until it would be impoosible for me to go into all of them in this one post. Maybe I'll do a series on tattoos and flowers and write about the signifigance of other flower tattoos. I ran into one lady who was planning on getting a lotus flower tattoo. I found her mysterious and intriguing just because she wanted a "lotus" tattoo.

    As I said earlier, men and women both enjoy and have flower tattoos. I know you are wondering whether or not I ever got a tattoo and the answer is yes. After I returned to the States, after serving in the First Gulf War, I decided if I was able to go to war I DESERVED a tattoo. Since then the stigma of women having tattoos has all but vanished. Women freely express themselves in all kinds of ways with tattoos in private and public areas of their body and are not seen as masculine or 'unlady like.'

    Flowers and tattoos go hand in hand beautifully. And just like in a garden, the flowers of choice has a story to tell. I enjoyed my day at the Tattoo Fest held in Jackson, MS at the TradeMart Center and look forward to attending next year and I will be prepared to get a new tattoo. 

    You can see all of the wonderful interviews I did on my Facebook page: Black People Garden Too in Mississippi. Please follow me here on my blog and on Facebook as well. I am available in the Mississippi area to give presentations about flowers. Leave a comment bellow to contact me or use the information to the right on this blog or contact me on Facebook to book an appointment for a presentation for you church, flower club,or local library.

    As always on my adventures I run into wonderful people and get to experience wonderful things. Here I am with a bearded dragon. Great fun.

    

Flower Show, The Garden Club of Jackson

     What can be better on a rainy dreary day than a Flower Show.

The Garden Club of Jackson hosted a flower show in Jackson, Mississippi at the Westin Hotel in downtown Jackson. Though it was raining, the flowers were shining. Guests were greeted by friendly smiling faces and creative exhibits to enjoy before entering the main area where floral displays were judged and awarded ribbons and certificates.

There were several categories of compitition but I was so busy being entralled with the flowers that I didn't even look at the catorgories or who actually won because they were all winners to me.

There were elaborate displays where I tried to figure out the name of the plants used. Which I could not. To simple bouquets of daffodils we all know and take for granted that made you just stop and stare.

I've always considered myself quite the romantic and the table scapes had me fighting back reaching out and touchibg them. I'm naughty by nature and it was difficult not to touch the tiny cake displayed to see if it was real.

I spent a wonderful hour surrounded by plant enthusiasts enjoying the beauty of nature. everyone was just in awe of the participants talent and green thumb. I met one of the members of the club and listened to all of the hard work that went into preparing for this event. Their work and attention to detail was evident and appreciated by all of the telling smiles of visitors.

If you ever have a chance to go to a Flower show, do it. It is an escape from all of the stress and pressures of daily life for a moment that may turn into an hour like it did for me. You will meet delightful friendly people amonst the flowers and plants and make a few connections as I did. I was told where a not too well known but glorious display of climbing roses is located and to bring my clippers and to wear long sleeves. If you know, you know (wink. wink).

Being a Garden Blogger is made easy when there are events to attend, gardens to visit, and gardeners willing to share their tips and gardening stories. It is a joy I hope I am relating to you in words and in pictures. Many people do not belive they can be a gardener, but a gardener will tell you, all you need is to love plants.

We all start with a somewhat brown thumb. In gardening you will have successes and you will have losses but through it all you gain happiness and experience.

All gardens have a beginning and the beginning is not where your garden ends. It grows and grows with time and before you know it, you have no more room for another plant. And in that magical place that has become a garden, you too will by chance or design have an award worthy, leaf, stem, flower, plant, or even a tree. It's up to you whether you are brave enough to take the chance and enter it into a Flower Show or your County Fair. I did once. I never thought about winning because it took all of my energy to muster up the courage to just enter the Attala County Fair. I was just consumed with doing that FIRST step. To my surprise I had several second and third place ribbons. The experience was electrifying. 

Sometimes in life, in so many areas, we consider what we do as less than or of no value when to others it is extraordinary. I have gardened over 20 years and have never considered my flower garden as beautiful as other people's gardens. But everytime a new person would pass by my garden they would tell me how beautiful it was.

So it's Spring time and gardeners thoughts are on adding those new plants they have always wanted to their garden. New gardeners are nervously eyeing the plants in the Garden Centers. And after experiencing this Flower Show, I say just go for it. Get your first plant or that plant you have been dying to have. Don't let people talk you out of buying it. THEY ARE NOT YOUR PEOPLE! Your people delight in the entire process of growing flowers and the best part is showing them off.

I am available for Garden Presentations in Mississippi

Contact me on my Facebook page: Black People Garden Too in Mississippi

or leave me a comment here and I will get back to you.

You can purchase my book: "Diary Of A Wannabe Gardener" on amazon.com

 

Gardener vs Flower Lover

[All pics from my garden] 

I've been gardening for over 20 years now, and I've come to notice something.

People see me in the garden center of the super stores buying plants. They will say, "What a pretty plant. Does it come back each year?" And if the answer is no, they quickly move on to what they were doing.

Once I make it to the check out line with plants I just could not resist, but have no idea where I can possibly squeeze into my already full garden, people in line say, "What beautiful plants. Do you have to water them?" When I say yes, I always here, "I don't have any time to be watering plants."

When someone comes to my home, I am shocked and pleased at how much they like my flower garden. But, it's not long before they say, "I wish I had time to have flowers. I just have so much to do."

Also while people tour my garden I hear, "You must spend a lot of money on your garden. I don't have any money for anything I can't eat."

I meet people everyday who want flowers at their home and that is as far as it goes. THEY WANT FLOWERS. They want their flowers to look like my flowers without anything I do for them to look like they do. People love FLOWERS but not GARDENS.

GARDENS are where flowers go to live. They are no longer a PLANT, but part of a family. THEY have a home. Families and homes require love and care to live and to thrive. BASIC needs must be met. When a person loves their family and home, meeting basic needs is not a chore, but actually a joy and expression of love.

Every gardener will tell you, one day they looked up and had hundreds of plants. Somehow, it just happened. That is because wherever their is LOVE there is GROWTH.

There are many plants that do come back each year and don't require a lot of watering. Some thrive on neglect. A person really interested in plants ask different questions.

When you meet a gardener they will say, "What a beuatiful plant. Where did you get that from?" When they see you with your buggy full of plants at the check out line they will say, "You know that plant is so easy to divide or can be rooted easy. I have given so many people pieces of that plant." When a gardener comes to my home and sees my flower garden they say, "I could sit out here all day just looking at the flowers, birds, and bees. Do you have hummingbirds?"

There is a DIFFERENT LANGUAGE spoken by flower lovers and gardeners. 

Through trial and error, gardeners have learned the plants that work for them in their garden. Some have gardens they water everyday filled with beautiful flowering annuals. Some gardeners ONLY have gardens filled with plants that come up every years and they never have to water them after the first year after they are planted. Their are gardens of only ornamental grasses and not one bloom. Water gardens, cactus gardens, you name it. But the common theme is that their plants have a home where they are home.

Advice is given to the single person all of the time, "If they want you, they will make time for you." The same holds true for flowers. If you love flowers enough, you will make time for them. 

I'm not disparaging flower lovers because we gardeners LOVE having flowers for you to enjoy. It gives us great pleasure seeing your reactions to our little beauties. Gardeners enjoy giving gardening tips and/or helping you start your own garden. I have just come to notice, gardeners are a different type of people and when we bump into each other in garden centers the reaction is like, "Yes. This is my tribe. My people."

So, which one are you, a gardener or a flower lover. We need both in this beautiful world of FLOWERS.