Tuesday 16 March 2010

The Rose Bush

So I thought I'd plant a mini rose bush in memory of my tough ol girl. I want a red one for her because her velvet red collar always looked good on her and she always liked munching on leaves so I thought, yes, a red rose bush.

I visit one of the only two independent local florists in town.

Because of Mother's Day last Sunday I find that there are a glut of mini-rose bushes, pretty primulas, budding daffs and dwarf hyacinths.
But only one mini-rose with red buds.

I'm not as green-fingered as I'd like to be yet I do know that this bush with its dying buds had plenty of new shoots, was fat with newly sprouting stems covered in not quite opened leaves and its roots were bursting out of the pot. Perfect for planting on.

And did I say it was the only rose with red buds? And all for £2.99!

So I take it the counter to buy.

There is this sweet-looking elderly lady - hair like cotton wool, face like cream cake - a bit shakey, a bit tremulous - wearing a pink floral apron standing by the cash till.

She is weilding a huge pair of scissors.

She takes my rose bush and we start chatting. She's telling me how to plant the bush, what to feed it etc etc.

In the meantime I watch horrified as she snips, snips, snips away at the rose bush.

Snip, snip, snip.

By the time she is done talking my previously bushy rose-bush is reduced to a stump.

"Here," she says wrapping the pot triumphantly in plastic and holding it out to me, "all ready for potting up!"

She must have seen my shock because she then hesitates and adds, "Let's call it 90p, shall we?"


Today, the first bumble bee came visiting my lavender plant. Spring has arrived.
And so will Charlie very soon!

34 comments:

Karen Jones Gowen said...

What a good idea to plant a rose in honor of your kitty! I'm sure it will bloom like mad. Roses have to be cut back to survive. That sweet little old lady knew what she was doing!

wildcatwoods said...

My God - she certainly sheared the heck out of your rose bush!!! Hopefully they willcome back in beautiful bloom in a few months.

Carolina Mountains

Ann said...

Well at least you have the lavender! The roses will come back. And when they bud you will have your memento.

Jacqueline said...

That is a lovely memorial to your baby...I've got a white rose bush planted for Nikki in my back yard.

fairyhedgehog said...

Oh my goodness! I think if you trim back a rose bush it does grow better but what a shock!

I like the idea of planting a rose bush in honour of your lovely kitty.

K M Kelly said...

That's such a lovely thing to do - and fantastic news about Charlie. I'm so happy for both of you :-)

Brian's Home Blog said...

She ate your plant! I would complain! It is a wonderful tribute though. Can't wait to meet Charlie.

Kea said...

That's a lovely way to pay tribute to and remember your Cat.

But why did this lady cut the rose bush back? I know nothing about roses, so perhaps that's what you are supposed to do, but still...!

Anyway, I'm sure it will bloom like crazy once it has taken and sprouted. Do roses need special plant food? I douse my perennials with Miracle Grow a few times in the spring and then let them do their thing. I should amend that to what perennials are left, after two summers with the boys.

Theresa Milstein said...

Spring brings hope and new beginnings and so does the rose bush and Charlie.

When my sister-in-law had a miscarriage, I bought her a mini rose bush, which she planted and still lives in her front yard, which must be about fourteen years old now. I think it's a perfect reminder for you too.

I know there are certain times that it's important to drastically prune bushes. Maybe it's fitting because you feel pruned right now, but by next spring the rose bush will be beautiful and I hope you'll look back and realize how much you've bloomed.

SuziQCat said...

That's a great idea to remember your kitty. I'll bet your roses will come out when it gets closer to summer...can't wait to see new pictures with pretty blooms :)

ANGEL ABBYGRACE said...

A rose for a beautiful rose. What a lovely gesture and tribute to a beauty and you will watch it grow and blossom and it will help ease your mind. We can't wait to meet Charlie!

purrs
Abby

Talli Roland said...

What a nice idea. Hope Charlie arrives safe and sound!

lupie said...

Yes, it will bloom beautifully in memory for your kitty - just as as sweet as the memories you have of kitty ... :)

Love Meow said...

What a great idea to plant a mini rose bush in memory of your girl. That's very sweet :).

I would have been shocked too seeing the lady cut off a rose bush like that. I wonder why she did that. I know very little about roses.

I love lavenders. :) They smell so lovely!

Old Kitty said...

Hi KarenG

Yes, you and that layd are so right - the plant now has these shoots coming out and that's just after a day of re-potting!

:-)

Yay!

Take care
x

Old Kitty said...

Hi Cheri

It's started to spring back! It's really amazing!! I'm so glad I got that plant now!

:-)

Take care
x

Old Kitty said...

Hi Ann

Oh I hope so, (green) fingers crossed!

:-)

Take care
x

Old Kitty said...

Hi Jacqueline

Oh that's really lovely! A beautiful memorial for a lovely cat!

Take care
x

Old Kitty said...

hi fairyhedgehog

My jaw fell so low it was all I could do to scrape it off the floor! It was like she was possessed..

:-)

Take care
x

Old Kitty said...

Hi Kate

Yay!!! Charlie's coming to me soon...!!

:-)

Take care
x

Old Kitty said...

Hi Brian!

Oh she certainly gave the plant a good haircut! What a shocker!!

:-)

I really must get me a digital camera... I so want to capture that first day with Charlie!

Take care
x

Old Kitty said...

Hi Kim

Awww your lovely boys!! It's their unique way of enjoying your plants! :-)

I think that the old lady was doing the right thing but it was the way she just weilded that scissors and snipped away like a demon possessed... very bizarre..!

:-)

Take care
x

Old Kitty said...

Awww Theresa Milstein

What lovely words. Thank you. I'm so sorry to hear about your sister in law! I like that the rose bush you gave is still going strong...

Thank you so much for being so wonderful!!!

Take care
x

Old Kitty said...

Hi SuziQCat

Oh me too, me too!

:-)

Take care
x

Old Kitty said...

Hi Abby

Awww! I can't wait too - two more days and counting..!

:-)

Take care
x

Old Kitty said...

Hi Talli Roland

Me too!

:-)

take care
x

Old Kitty said...

Hi Lupie

Aww thank you! I do have sweet memories of my ol girl - she was very precious to me!

Thank you

Take care
x

Old Kitty said...

Hi Love Meow

Apparently the nice old lady did the rose bush a favour by pruning it back really hard like she did! I just wasn't expecting her to be so... harsh!

LOL!

Lavenders are lovely aren't they?

Take care
x

Anonymous said...

I would have been shocked too but I know *nothing* about plants - not even the ones with 'very easy' on the label are safe round here...

Btw, the book is here!

Old Kitty said...

Hi hampshireflyer!

Yay!!! So glad it's arrived all safe and sound!

:-)

Oh I really was so shocked when she started snipping like some mad snipping person! At least she only charged me 90p tho! :-)

Take care
x

Amy & the house of cats said...

As we are not gardencats we would have freaked out if she started to do that. But we are sure she knows what she was doing. And we think it isi a wonderful idea to plant a rose bush in her honor - it is perfect!

TARguy said...

What a lovely thought to plant a rose bush for Boldy. I'm sure she would have loved that...

Gx

Old Kitty said...

Hi Amy and the House of Cats

:-) It was so unexpected, really! She was this sweet ol thing weilding these pair of scissors!

I can laugh now!

Take care
x

Old Kitty said...

Hi altguy3

I think so too, thank you!

take care
x