A Rose is a Rose ...

It's fall in the garden and the roses are shining! It's their final splash of color before the cold seeps in and their energy returns to the roots for a winter's rest. The deciduous trees are doing the same dance, as leaves turn gold against an autumn sky. It's beautiful in the garden,especially as the roses bloom to catalog perfection. Big buds burst open in bright colors, no longer faded by summer heat. And the fragrance,my oh my, it's spectacular! My nose moves from flower to flower, each perfume stronger than the last. There are even a few late season bumblebees enjoying the bouquet! Buried in pollen, they lap up the last nectar of the season. All too soon winter's cold will fade the flowers and the bustling insect activity will quiet until spring. In the meantime we'll enjoy the bold colors and heady perfume of the "queens of the garden". A rose is a rose...and aren't we lucky enough to live among them?