This summer I received a huge gift from my Instagram friend, Holly Hagy. I “mentioned” that I would love to have a start of a found rose–Barbara’s Pasture Rose–that I had heard about several times.
I’ll let Holly tell you her side of the story…
I got started on Instagram in December of 2014. I had been thinking of doing a blog, to find a way to connect with more folks, to talk roses, gardening, cooking decorating and just plain life! I found Instagram and boom, the blog became IG instead…which is still a blog, but in a snippet of a phrase and a photo.
It’s a great fun way to connect with people who have the same interests! I started following Teresa B. On IG and she started following me too…š
One day, I posted a photo of an old, found rose I had bought at the SCC (Sacramento City Cemetery) sale, many years ago…Barbara’s Pasture Rose, this is a rose Barbara Oliva, one of the founding caretakers of the Sacramento Cemetery found. One day she and friends were driving in the country and there in the middle of a field in the middle of nowhere, no farmhouse anywhere around, was this big beautiful blooming pink rose. Barbara said “stop the car” and braved a barbed wire fence to take cuttings of that rose. And it’s a good thing she did because the rose is now long gone from that field!
Anyway, Teresa posted she wanted thisĀ rose. I knew she could not get it easily in Indiana, so I Ā offered to root one for her! I was so nervous if my cuttings would even take, but a few did … and Teresa’s baby rose was sent to her.
It made me so happy to share a rose with her! To me, this is what gardening and roses are all about…making new friends and sharing roses! I try to offer cuttings at both the rose societies I belong to…and whenever anyone likes one of my roses that is a found rose or a hard to find rose.
Holly Hagy
THE ARRIVAL…
Well the California baby rose came to Indiana the first week of June and it was in perfect shape. If you ever wondered how to ship a rose, take a look at what Holly did.
She shipped Priority Mail and the baby rose arrived just like this…
Barbara this summer as she grew on my deck potting bench...
Barbara Today…
She is inside out of the cold and will be ready for a big pot next spring! Believe it or not this little rose bloomed this summer. One pretty pink bloom but it was during a rain storm and it was beat down before I took a picture. But, there will be more to come.
I cannot tell you what Holly’s gift means to me. Although we have never had the pleasure of meeting in person, I think of her every time I look of this rose.Ā I am hoping to say “thank you” in person some day. I will neverĀ meet Barbara in person this side of heaven, but her legacy lives on and I will never forget her. To read more about Barbara and her legacy, read on hereĀ and here.
Yes, Holly said it best, “this is what gardening and roses are all about…making new friends and sharing roses!!”Ā
To anyone who thinks that Instagram friends aren’t realĀ friends, you should “meet” Holly. She’s real and she is special.
You can follow Holly’s gardening adventuresĀ on Instagram @eatgrowlivelove and I recommend you do!
Teresa, love, love, love it! You made the story really connect with your editing! Thank you so much…I loved it! I can’t wait until we finally do meet in person! Thank you my friend!ššš Xoxo Holly
Sent from my iPad, please forgive my chicken scratch…
>
My pleasure! What a delight you are!
What a wonderful story! I love how the roses bring us all together!
Isn’t is a wonderful way to connect our worlds!!
That is a beautiful gift!
It sure is! Thanks for stopping by! ššš¹š š»
Hi Teresa,
What a wonderful story, it shows how special rose friends are! I have a rose in my garden we call “Ed.” Ed was given to me by an elderly gentlemen who lives in Florida. My husband was entrusted to bring Ed home to me, but he left the rose in his office for several days and when he FINALLY brought it home I was afraid Ed would not make it. However I watered him, put him in my garden and he flourished! Ed has had quite a challenging life, hurricanes, landscape remodels and a close encounter with a large garden statue. He is still alive today. I did find out later his real name is “Cherish.” To me he will always by Ed named after the gentleman who rooted him and gave him to me. From your Houston Friend
What a wonderful story! I love it and so glad you have Ed with you. These are just the best stories! Thanks for sharing!! Hugs!