My first memory of this pretty pink climber is when it lived in south Texas at Grandma and Grandpa’s house. Then, thanks to my parents, it moved 350 miles north and was cared for until I was ready for it … years later.
When the time came, Mom and Dad dug up my portion of this beauty and drove it almost 1000 miles northeast to Tennessee where Renaissance Man planted it along the fence line where its subtly soft flowers always brought sweet memories of Grandma.
But then we moved, and we left the rose behind. We said we’d bring it with us … but we got busy renovating an old house in town and planning a daughter’s out-of-state wedding … and the rose was forgotten until the following Spring. And my heart ached, for by then the rose had new caretakers … and this one had proved herself an unworthy keeper of the memories. I accepted the reality. Grandma’s rose was part of my Past.
Then one day while out driving in the country, Renaissance Man and I drove by our old house. We were stunned and saddened to see acres of waist-high weeds and a house that had succumbed to foreclosure. What wonderful memories we’d made there …
But then something in the fence line caught our eye. Grandma’s rose bush, it’s showy pinks blooming so profusely it seemed to have not a care in the world. We both felt it. Hope was reborn! Perhaps now we could resume our caretaker role.
As promised, Renaissance Man spoke with our former neighbor — the one whose fence line we’d shared — and asked if he could dig up a portion of the forgotten rose … and then he lovingly planted it here at My Place. Our place.
This year it’s twining and trailing and climbing … and weighed down by hundreds of pink blossoms … and I can see it from my kitchen window. My sweetheart thought it would make me smile to watch the old rose “come back to life.” He was right. Grandma’s probably smiling, too.
So in memory of Grandma and Grandpa (and in honor of the pretty pink climber … and the sweetheart … who make me smile), I put together this tablescape inspiration board. I couldn’t resist including a favorite picture of my grandparents. Seriously. Could you? Weren’t they snazzy in their younger days?
and Pink Saturday at How Sweet the Sound. Join me?
Love that story of the rose. My grandma’s rose still grows at my mom’s house. It’s better than ever this year as my brother had an old tree removed so it gets the sun it needs. Hoping to go see it this weekend. I dug up some shoots and they been expanding here at my house, but I somehow got the yellow roses instead of the red/orange. Time to dig up some more! Thanks for sharing your history.♥♫
Marilyn, I hope you get to go see your Grandma’s rose this weekend! It sounds like you prefer the red/orange one — but this Texas native has a “thing” for yellow!
This is a lovely story, Susan! I’m so happy you have your rose again.
There was a kitchen cabinet in my house when I was growing up. When Mother moved out of the house, we just didn’t have room for it in ours, so my husband knew someone who would take it. Some months later, my husband spotted it at this gentleman’s house sitting outside and with a little water damage on the doors. Plexiglass had replaced the damage, the cabinet had been stripped of its MANY coats of paint, and we bought it back from him! We have it now, and I hope one of our daughters is interested in having it some day.
Yea! I, too, hope one of your daughters wants it someday. Seems a shame to let it go again. 🙂
Susan, I am so glad those roses found their way back to you! They are so lush and full, they look like peonies! xo
Susan- I loved this post- How wonderful that you were able to have a part of your Gramma’s spirit growing right outside your door. God meant you to have that back, I think. xo Diana
I love a happy ending and I am glad you have reconnected with your grandma’s rose and it is happily blooming for you.
What a sweet story of the rose that almost got away! Love the photo of your grandparents, too.
Love this story! My parents decided to get married quickly, before my dad shipped off to Japan, so she and her sisters gathered wild roses to use for the ceremony. One anniversary, Dad surprised Mom by planting some wild roses in their yard, and every time I see them anywhere, I think of my parents. So glad you have Grandma’s roses again!
Oh, my gosh! what a sweet and sentimental story. I almost cried! I am so happy that you were able to get your Grandmother’s rose back. It is so beautiful and that husband…he’s definitely a keeper.
Beautiful story as well as the beautiful roses. Your story made me cry, but a nice cry not a sad one.
Love the story of your grandma’s rose. We have a yellow rose in our family that is generations old, and we’ve been passing down heirloom tomato seeds too. I t just gives you a very special feeling. So glad I found your post at pink Saturday
Anything to do with roses I enjoy. I loved hearing your story and so glad it ended up on a positive note.
What a lovely post from beginning to end. Oh my! God is a God of restoration isn’t He? Even restoring a rose back to the person it belonged to. Wonderful post
Beautiful moment spent in your garden. Love the beach shot of the grands! I just recently planted some iris plants that came from my grnadmother’s garden. I can hardly wait for next year to see if they’ve taken hold. Cherry Kay