Veterans Honor Roses

A veteran holding Veterans Honor roses, to be placed on a veteran's grave.

Veterans Honor roses look too big for their stems,
but no one complains.

A big fat earthworm on the driveway reminded me that the dreaming and buying seasons must now make way for the pruning and digging season.

Neighbors are removing their autumn leaves at last. I let the earthworms and mites do that, and I nab whatever neighbor leaves I can.

Springing Up - The Creation Garden

 Veterans Honor - the scientists change the menu, but the ingredients were there at Creation. John 1:3

Early spring makes the experienced gardener become gloomy about many failed efforts. The weeds always come up first, plus some cheerful daffodils and grape hyacinths. The late blooming plants look dead. Rose canes are not yet green.

Veterans Honor next to Pope John Paul - on a Lincoln Town Car hood. The roses look surreal.

Some days of warmth change that at once. Roses green up and sprouted leaves. Veterans Honor bare root roses arrive and get soaked in rain water.

In memory of Peter Ellenberger, decorated veteran.

Digging holes in a clay soil garden is work and fun at the same time. Years of adding organic matter as mulch increase the microbe and worm population: leaves, wood mulch, peat compost, pine needles. When the new roses sprout green leaves immediately, it looks like a good year.

The four veterans on our walk appreciate the flower honoring their service. Ranger Bob (veteran) joined in the garden renovation by borrowing our garden crew. He asked later, because he was sleeping while they worked and I paid them, "How much?"

I said, "I will put it this way, Bob. I now own your Isuzu truck." He burst out laughing with the crew.

A friend came by to join us in having pour-over coffee. Bob talked about living and working in Phoenix. He said, "I got a rich tan from the Phoenix sun." I said, "I got skin cancer." They laughed. In fact, all of us Jackson brothers caught that trait from our mother, who passed it on.

 I have a lot of bee balm now.

Monarda or Bee Balm is bursting out of the soil now. That was one sale I bought with many advantages later. The plant bloomed all over the garden last year, feeding bees and hummingbirds alike.

The annual weather patterns change a lot, but each aspect of Creation has its own preferences. The last few years have been hard on roses, killer years, but Easy Does It soldiers on, producing sunset-colored roses (variations in color) like a factory.

Self-portrait of a gardener - Easy Does It roses for the wedding.

Veterans' Day - Veterans' Honor Rose

Veterans' Honor rose has been called
the ultimate red rose, a good way to remember
and thank our military service members.

Veterans' Day reminds me of our friend in Columbus who ran out of the LST for each beach landing in the Pacific, carrying a smoke pot to disguise and protect his fellow soldiers. Norm Woehrle is still alive, in his 90s.

I think of classmates from Moline, living and dead, who served in Viet Nam.

At the reunion previous to the 50th, we had dinner with Dave and Linda Pearson. He had a previous health crisis and passed into eternal life not long after that.

Recently, cousin Peter Ellenberger was honored by his peers in the military, just weeks before he passed away. Phone calls to Pete and Helene were routinely fun, even though he had many health problems. We are so glad he was so pleasantly surprised and uplifted by those in uniform.

Someone - not I - won a trophy with
these Veterans' Honor roses.

Veterans Honor Rose - For a Veteran's Funeral

 Veterans Honor Rose

Our neighbor's stepfather died, so we attended his funeral yesterday. We know his step-sons better, and one is a former Army Ranger. They took care of their mother at home, and she passed away two years ago.

We knew he was a veteran but did not know his record. He was a Green Beret, who served five tours in Viet Nam, and was afterwards based around the world. He was MAC-SOG in Viet Nam - or "a cowboy in the Wild West," as his stepson said. He died 100% disabled.

Between the Green Beret and his Army Ranger stepson, we never heard tales or heroism. That is so typical of military heroes. They enjoy telling funny stories about their service, but they do not boast. My wife said, "Not many were there, but two were ministers." I said, "Three. A VA chaplain was sitting next to me, too."

I cut some roses for the family and found a beautiful Veterans Honor rose in perfect bloom. Wednesday was watering day, so Thursday I had many new blooms in the main rose garden. The vase was near the VA chaplain as he spoke and read the Scriptures. The colors of the vase of roses seemed lit from within, but the Veterans Honor rose, facing the podium outshone them all.

After the gathering at the family home, we walked home, just a few houses away. Another Veterans Honor rose was showing off its perfect bloom near our front door.

We like Mr. Lincoln for its growth and blooms, but there is nothing like a Veterans Honor rose. Mrs. Ichabod says, "They look like red velvet," and their form is perfect.

Besides the fragrance and long-lasting beauty when cut, the Veterans Honor rose reminds us of the sacrifices of all those in the military, past and present - and that includes their families.

 Another view of Veterans Honor

Someone won a prize at a rose show.
I like to distribute the blooms to friends and doctors,
so I never have three together like this.