National Rose Month -Postcard Friendship Friday #170

June is National Rose Month.  In Oregon, Portland is known as the Rose City.  There are roses everywhere.  Portland is home to the International Rose Test Garden, which was founded in 1917, making it the oldest continuously operated public rose test garden in the U.S.  I've visited there and it is beautiful.  This week is Portland's Rose Festival Week.  It is a great time to visit!

Roses have a long tradition in the United States.  In fact, George Washington was the first rose breeder in the United States.  85 percent of all Americans say their favorite flower is the rose.  I am numbered among those.

I have my own special rose story to share.  Years ago, while searching for a new home, we stayed in my darling Grandmother's basement.  I look back and realize it was one of the happiest times of our lives--we had the privilege of living there for two whole years.  Even with all five of us squashed into 450 square feet, it was a wonderful place for children to grow and play.

I remember the day my small daughter wanted to help in the garden.  While my back was turned, she happily whacked Grandma's favorite red rose bush down to the quick.  Not knowing what else to do, I found some gauze and we bound it back together.  Every morning, we placed used coffee grounds upon its roots and hoped for the best.

Our family moved mid-summer.  I'll never forget the letter I received a few months later.  

Grammie wrote:  I wanted you to  know that the rose that dear Joybells cut back has been a blessing to  me.  A lesson.  I really thought it was a goner.  Then you bound it up, gave it special care and now it is more beautiful than ever.  It’s like life.  God knows the root is there, but sometimes He needs to prune it severely to bring forth beauty--then with loving care, He brings it to fulfillment.  All my love, I miss you, Grammie

May the fragrance of Roses fill your lives, dear Friends.

NOTE:  Recently I've had two different people put in linky links which are suspect.  I report each one and have alerted Linky to this problem.

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