The first roses of summer were blooming when we came outside this morning.
I’m always happy to greet these first fragrant opening blossoms.
It is a sign that we are entering the most flower filled season of the year when spring has not quite yet melted into summer.
We are still enjoying cool nights, and the occasional cool day. We made it to 90 in Williamsburg today, according to the thermometer in the car, as we drove out on afternoon errands.
Although it feels like “instant July,” we know more wonderfully cool days lie ahead before the heat settles in for high summer in late June.
Irises are in full bloom in many neighbors’ yards, and late blooming Azaleas are hitting their peak as the Rhododendron shrubs begin to bloom.
Our next door neighbors have a new Rhododendron growing near our Azaleas. We noticed its buds opening this morning, and noticed that our shrubs match perfectly in a lovely, deep rosy pink.
Roses always bloom in coastal Virginia for Mother’s Day.
Their blossoms lend an extra, fragrant, note of celebration during this special weekend. The College of William and Mary holds its commencement on Sunday, and our community is full of visitors.
The air is sweet with the smell of flowers, and ripe with the love of families celebrating their special days together. The aroma of freshly cut and trimmed grass wafts through our neighborhood.
But my attention is held, today, by the unfolding roses.
One May, nearly 20 years ago now, I was asked to choose what I would like to receive for Mother’s Day that year. I chose a climbing rose shrub to plant by the front door.
I knew that whatever else might be happening in my life, I would have a gift of fresh roses for Mother’s Day every year from then on.
That Mother’s Day gift was an “Eden” rose, still a favorite for its fragrance. I literally filled that garden with roses over the years.
Antique Bourbon roses climbed up into the nearby Crepe Myrtle tree, and pegged themselves to put down roots and grow new shrubs throughout a large border filled with herbs, Irises, and more roses.
That garden has passed on to other hands, now, and I hope they enjoy the roses (and care for them) as I did. That garden didn’t have deer visiting from time to time to graze on tasty flower buds.
This one does, and so each rose which blooms holds a special gift. Against all odds, it survived in this Forest Garden.
All of my partner’s work on fences to keep out the deer, and all my efforts to improve the soil, plant and prune come together in the fragrance and beauty of each opening bud.
Our shrubs are full of buds at the moment, so we may enjoy roses for many weeks to come.
Or not. I’ve learned to not count my roses before they bloom around here. But for today, they are lovely, and I hope you enjoy sharing them with me.
Happy Mother’s Day to everyone who has survived the joys and trials of parenthood.
Remember, especially if your children are still quite young: All of the effort, pain, hard work, sacrifice, and time will find their reward in those sweet moments when you, “Smell the roses.”
Whether at a kindergarten program, a first communion, an athletic triumph, a commencement ceremony, or a special weekend spent together; the fragrance of the rose allows us to overlook the thorns.
The magic of unfolding beauty is its own reward for the time and love invested in nurturing it.
Photos by Woodland Gnome 2014
Forest Garden 
Beautiful bloom
Yes, and so fragrant. A lovely tantalizing taste of what is to com e;-) Thank you for visiting Forest Garden today. Best wishes, WG