story by Doug Smith
This time of year is my absolute favorite. Signs of new beginnings are all around. Flowers and colors are blooming left and right. My favorite new beginning is the rose. Nothing can be more exciting than to see a rose bush come to life. This is the simple pleasure that I look forward to each spring. For me, rosebuds act as a reminder of the empowering ladies in my life, especially my mother. Mother loved roses and shared this passion with me. We both understood that the bush itself has a deep meaning which begins with its beauty. It is a delicate flower full of vibrant color that completely captures our hearts.
Upon a closer glance, the rose is supported by a strong stem that is covered by thorns. Some consider it an ugly feature yet I see it to be a symbol of strength and protection to the flower. We should remember that moms are like roses. They are beautifully made, capture our hearts, possess the unmatched strength to stand tall and have a built-in thorn of protection.
I tend to a small garden of long stem roses in my backyard. Each bush has a different color and can tell its own story. Each color rose has an associated symbol. It’s worth noting each meaning.
The red rose is universally known for love and passion. White roses equate to purity, innocence, spirituality, and true love. They are sometimes even called the wedding flower. Pink roses symbolize elegance, refinement, grace, gentleness, and happiness. Yellow roses stand for appreciation, delight, joy, and a friend’s love. Orange roses are a blend of the yellow and red roses: blending the two together means a bridge between friendship and love. Lavender, or purple roses, represent enchantment, love at first sight. Royalty!
My mother’s favorite rose, as well as mine, was the red rose. It holds a special place in my heart. Each May, we would pluck a few from the backyard and display them around the house. At the same time, we would have freshly picked strawberries to enjoy. Roses and strawberries are both plentiful in May, so I often associate them very close together in memory.
Strawberries N Cream
- 1 qt fresh local strawberries
- 1 c of fresh whipping cream
- 2 tbsp confections sugar
Directions:
• Wash strawberries – “don’t remove the top”
• Place a metal mixing bowl and metal whisk into the freezer for 10 minutes.
• Add sugar to the cold mixing bowl and slowly pour in the whipping cream.
• Whisk just until the cream reaches stiff peaks.
• Let the strawberries be the star of the show with their natural flavor. Using the leaves as a handle, dip the strawberry into the fresh cream and enjoy.
• To kick it up a notch, add a slice of pound cake.
Get more from Doug Smith by following him on Facebook and Instagram at “Doug the Food Guy”.