Monday, September 24, 2007

Early Autumn Showings And Pink Roses


Well, it's officially autumn, but around here it still feels more like summer than fall. The dogwoods, however, are lovely already, and the lowly sumac is once again transforming into a fall beauty, with it's blood red leaves. All the other trees are still mostly green, and I'm surprised the leaves haven't turned brown and fallen off altogether from the scorching hot, dry summer.
Autumn usually puts me in the mood for beautiful poetry. One of my favorite autumn poems is a more lighthearted look at this season of "fruitfulness."


Autumn
By Emily Dickinson

The morns are meeker than they were,
The nuts are getting brown;
The berry's cheek is plumper,
The rose is out of town.
The maple wears a gayer scarf,
The field a scarlet gown.
Lest I should be old-fashioned,
I'll put a trinket on.

Because autumn has just begun, my pale pink rose with the blush in the center is still very much "in town" and doing well, even with the hot, dry summer we've had. Most things in the garden have bitten the dust by now, but not so my rose bush, because I watered it generously mornings and evenings throughout the summer heat. I couldn't bear to let it die.

My grandfather was the gardener in our family, and he especially loved to grow roses. (And I say 'our family' because I was raised by my grandparents.) His favorite rose was a pale pink one, with the blush in the center. My grandmother told me that when she married Grandfather in 1916, he brought her a bouquet of those pale pink roses with the blush in the center, to carry as her bridal bouquet, because they reminded him of the color of her cheeks!
"He was so romantic, my dear, and stayed that way all his life," Grandma often lamented wistfully.

After we fled our war-torn country in the fall of 1947, our only possessions were the clothes on our backs. But four years later, good fortune smiled on us when we were able to immigrate to the United States, where they both soon found jobs. And only two years after that, they had the down payment for a home of their own. After having lost everything because of the war, they were so grateful that such things were possible in their wonderful new country!

The house was an older white colonial, with a picket fence and a nice sized back and side yard. Of course, the first thing Grandfather did once they were moved in was to create a beautiful garden. He grew all kinds of flowers, in every nook and cranny of that yard, and tomatoes and Hungarian peppers galore. But his pride and joy was the Heirloom rose bush with the pale pink roses sporting a blush in the center. And his garden soon became the attraction of the neighborhood, with people often stopping by to admire it.

A year after he passed away, and the house was sold, Grandma picked a bouquet of those pale pink roses and laid them on his grave lovingly, while tears trickled down her cheeks.

So, you can see why I treasure the rose bush in my yard. And once autumn gets more serious and brings some killing frosts, and my rose will be out of town for the winter, I will look forward to seeing those pale pink blooms again, next spring, when they will once again remind me of a very special love.

25 comments:

Deborah Wilson said...

That's a great story, Renie. I'm sure that it was a terrible time in your country and a very hard decision for your family to have to flee, although a necessary one. But I'm glad that you all came here and are now a part of America, an American. And I'm going to be looking forward to seeing a pic of that rose bush next spring.

..There were some things that Hitler could never destroy - the spirt and love that families and humanitity has for one another.

Michele | aka Raw Juice Girl said...

Renie, you have outdone yourself! This was a fantabulous post, so touching and warm!!

Thanks so much for allowing a peek into your past. Your Grandparents sound like such special folks, but they must have been to raise such a special lady as yourself!


Smiles,
Michele

Renie Burghardt said...

Deborah,

Thank you very much for the nice comment. It's greatly appreciated. And I promise to have a picture of my rose bush by next spring.


Renie


Hi Michele,

Well, thank you very much for the sweet comment. I appreciate it. I was gone again today for some time, but decided to write something after I caught up with the usual chores.

I hope you're having a nice day.

Always,

Renie

Mary said...

Renie,

How romantic your grandfather was. I'm sure he and your grandmother loved each other very much. Thanks for sharing this wonderful story. There's some things that just cannot ever be taken away from us. Our memories are one of them.

Hope all is well with you.
Mary

Renie Burghardt said...

Mary,

Yes, my grandparents loved each other deeply. They were married almost 50 years, when he passed away. And you are right, memories can never be taken away from us.

Thank you for your lovely comment. It feels like old times to see your name here. Have you heard from Jerri at all?

Doing well here, Mary. Hope all is well with you and yours, too.

Renie

PS. And I hope the beautiful Meeko is doing great, too!

Jmkdreak said...

Very nice!
xoxox

Renie Burghardt said...

Oh, what a nice surprise! Thank you for coming by.


xoxo

Merle said...

Hi Renie ~~ A lovely story about your grandparents and the love they shared. The rose is a lovely reminder. Thank you for your nice words on my blog. Take care, Love, Merle.

Nancy said...

Hi Renie,

Loved this retelling of the story about your grandparents and the roses. So nice that every time you see roses, it brings back a sweet memory. I, too, like Emily Dickinson poetry, also Sara Teasdale.
Nancy

Renie Burghardt said...

Hi Merle,

It's always nice to see your smiling face, and read your nice comments. Thank you for coming by.

Renie




Nancy,

And it's always a nice surprise to hear from you! Thank you very much. I hope all is well in your world.

Renie

Tossing Pebbles in the Stream said...

What nice memories and associations. I am always impressed with how well immigrants do. They bring such new energy, drive and vison to a country.
I Canada, as well as in the US, this has been the case. The thousands of US draft doggers have done very well here fitting into and contributing to our culture. Also, the thousands of Vietmanese boat people, with even more of a stuggle have done very well. Canadians efforts to help them is something of which we have reason to be proud.

When I hear derogatory remarks about immigrants I cut the speaker off short. Shame!

Renie Burghardt said...

I will always be grateful to the US, and have been happy here. We have friends who immigrated to Canada, when we came here, (Oshawa, Ontario) and have been happy there. I've been a proud American for many years now! Most Americans have been more than generous to immigrants.

2 LMZ FARMS said...

Ms.Renie, I was really touched by your post about your Grandparents. I too am looking forward to seeing your rose bush. Hope you and yours have a blessed day.
Laura

Renie Burghardt said...

Dear Laura,

Thank you for the lovely comment. I promise to get some good photos of my rose bush by next spring.

Warm regards,

Renie

Merle said...

Hi again Renie ~~ Thank you so much for your nice words on my blog and
I am so glad you enjoy it. Looking forward to tomorrow with three bloggers and a sister of one of them, come for lunch. We should all enjoy the visit. Take care, Love, Merle.

Leann said...

hi just stopped to say hello and to thank you for stopping on my blog.its always nice to see new people.Ill make this short cause I am behind on my blogging so I will be back to read your blog.it looks like we have alot in common.you love some of the same things I do.
God bless :)

Renie Burghardt said...

Hi Merle,

Can't wait to read about your meeting with the bloggers. And I always look forward to your nice visits. Thank you, Merle!

Warmly

Renie


Hi Leann,

So nice of you to come by. I love your blog. Your trip was so inviting. That cabin is beautiful, as is the area there.

I hope you visit again.

Blessings to you!

Renie

audrey` said...

Hi Renie

How are you?
Take care =)

Renie Burghardt said...

Hi Audrey!

So nice of you to come by and say Hi. Thank you. Hope you visit again.

Blessings,

Renie

Susie said...

What a lovely and touching story of love and a long lasting marriage. I enjoyed every word.
:)

Renie Burghardt said...

Hi Susie,

I'm glad you enjoyed the story. Thank you so much for reading and commenting.

God bless!

Renie

Leann said...

I came back to read cause the other day I didnt have time to.this is a awesome story.and Iam glad your keeping the rose alive as a memorie of your grandparents love.its so cool.it reminds me of my grandpa and grandma.they had a love like that.
he passed on when I was only 2 1/2.
she aways told me story,s of him and how he loved me.he called me his little smoky.I never knew why.
she said she would never get married again.even thow she was a young woman.
she said "once you have had the best,why mess with the rest".and its true why bother.she is with him now in heaven and I know she is glad she waited.
I like your blog..

Renie Burghardt said...

Leann,

And I love the story of your grandma and grandpa. Very sweet. I'm glad your grandma told you stories about him, and how much he loved you and she loved him, and at least you got to know things about him, and knew about their special love for each other.

And know what Leann? I like your blog, too! Thank you for reading and commenting. Enjoy your treasured memories.

Renie

Tina Coruth said...

Renie,

Thank you for sharing this lovely story about your grandparents, especially your grandfather's roses. I can surely see why you love your roses.

It is so good to be reading your writing again! :-)

Hugs,
Tina

Renie Burghardt said...

Hi Tina,

And it's good to be reading you again as well, my old "suite'e" friend. :-)

Hugs,

Renie