That Which We Call A Rose...
Flower of One Garden...
You know what I really love?
Roses...I really love roses...
The scent, the sight, the velvety touch, although perhaps not the thorns ;)
Perhaps my favourite-st quilt set, which has a splash of roses at the end...
Did you know there are about 150 different species (with over 30 000 varieties!) of roses in the world and that they were cultivated as garden plants since about 5 000 years ago?
Did you also know that legend has it that the word 'rose' came from the Greek God of Love, Eros (son of Aphrodite, Goddess of Love), whose name, when re-arranged, is Rose? It is probably because of this that roses are a symbol of love!
Eros also gave the rose to the God of Silence, Harpocrates, to bribe him to conceal the weaknesses of the gods...
It is postulated that this is the reason why the rose became a symbol of secrecy during the Roman Empire...In Rome, when confidential matters were discusses, a wild rose would be placed on the door of the room. The phrase sub rosa, or 'under the rose', means to keep a secret and it has its origins from this ancient Roman practice...
Hey, remember how Cleopatra once greeted Marc Anthony on a carpet of rose petals eighteen inches deep? Love it really is! =)
Of course, roses also play a very important role in the many religions of the world, which I won't go into here (too many lar)...That Shakespeare dude too made many references to the flower...
The posy of English-y roses in my bathroom...
But to me, the rose is symbolic of the human species...The rose comes with many layers (petals, sepals, ovary, hip etc), and isn't it a wonderful analogy of humankind? Don't we come in many shapes, sizes, colours and 'uses' (talents, professions, contributions etc)? And aren't we all more beautiful when we are together?
Just like the rose, we would not be as powerful or beautiful if we were isolated...
The rose is also very fragile, and not so tahan lasak...But if dried properly, it lasts for years...
Aren't we all like that too? With proper care, education, and support, don't we all grow old and age with wisdom too? But if unity isn't preserved, humankind would crumble too...
Part of my bathroom cabinet...
On a personal note, I dig rose-themed thingies...Quilt sets, hair-clips, pot pourri, writing-pads, and the list goes on...=)
My dad even recently gave me a bottle of Rose-Scented Bath Gel, while my mum gave me a bottle of Rose Perfume, and I absolutely love it!
Now all I don't have currently is a bouquet of fresh roses...
Mum says: "Get a boyfriend!"
Daphne says: "Boohoo...But nobody want!" ;)
Haha...
A lovely rose...
As a parting note, here's a virtual rose to all the readers of this blog, as a celebration of the wonderful friendship that has been cultivated just by sharing in each other's lives through this virtual thing called a blog...
*Hugs*
Comments
That was beautiful. I had my take on roses too some entries back but nothing as sweet as this. so you’re in one of those romantic mood huh? I have to agree with aunty molly…get a boyfriend!
Hey, that Marc Anthony, is he the singer, married to J-Lo fella? Kahkahh…
*beat aunty rita again!
Big hug to you also. That was very beautiful and cool new profile pic! I am surprised you're still single. I really are. You;re not joking? Anyway, I didn't know there was so much about the rose. Thank u.
*Kerp you beat me also!
I know what to get you liao .. ~hint~ ~hint~ ..when I do get to meet you!! :) :)
a ROSE a day keeps DOCTORS away
a rose scent round me keeps NAZRI foul waffling mouth out
DO I HAVE A PERSONAL VENDETTA?
When the night has been too lonely and the road has been too long
And you think that love is only for the lucky and the strong
Just remember, in the winter far beneath the bitter snow
Lies the seed, that with the suns love, in the spring becomes the ROSE
Why dont you buy yourself some roses.? Treat yourself, girl..you work hard enough. You deserve it.
That is the bright side of you, harum, wangi dan menyinar. Well, like coins, there's always two sides of things. Nice if you could tell the darker side of you, may be the thorny side.
Hugs.
... and for some reason, the brand name 'Laura Ashley' came to mind after seeing that arrangement of "the posy of English-y roses".
Thanks for the virtual rose *hugs*
hv a great weekend!
I guess this is a 'thorny' issue, eh Rosie? :)
Nah, not romantic mood...Always have loved roses...Hormores got nothing to do with it! I think...
Wah, everyone seems to think getting a bf is like buying gorceries, ah? I want to buy a tomato also I take sooo long to choose, imagine a bf! =)
And no lar, not that Marc Anthony...
Yes, really, no bf...Why so hard to believe? Keke...I didn't know there was so much about the rose too, till I googled it! Haha...
I knew somebody was going to say this! Thus the 'perhaps'...I know ideally (and symbolically and analogically etc) speaking, the thorns are necessary and they complete the rose...But the actual rose? The thorns kill my fingers!
As for me, still trying to figure out the thorns...=)
White roses are exquisite and it reminds me of very pure innocence =) Like a baby...I like them too actually...
Haha...No lar...After your wife jealous! ;)
Hi Adam and Eve,
You're right...Our weather can't support most roses (my late grandpa managed to grow one rose bush about 6 foot tall though!), and if they do grow, not that big flowers...Sad huh?
When I was in India during Spring, the flowers were growing so wonderfully...And the aroma was just breathtaking!
As for the vendetta, erm, perhaps?
Hehe...You thought I always dress so plainly, I macam lelaki ke? Keke ;) Hope not!
Hi KL_Gal,
Buy myself roses huh? Sad nya...I buy them for my mum, then I tumpang tengok ler ;) Keke...As for the song 'The Rose', it is lovely! I think there's quite a few versions of the song though...
Ala, I got tell you what my thorny side...Like when I yell at people for cutting my line, lose my temper when someone is 'too much', when I want to tie children to the chair when they don't stop whinning...Ada...
Anyway, I think you tersilap lar...
Not me yang harum, wangi and menyinar...
The one that harum, wangi and menyinar is the actual flower lar...;)
Yes! Think of me when you see the rose...Hehe...I memang Queen of Perasan one!
Laura Ashley is indeed lovely...And expensive...It reminds me of Crabtree&Evelyn, and also Somerset Bay...Lovely flowered-motived products...=)
Aya, if someone leaves a rose at my door, only two possible scenarios...
1) There is some (possible) psycho on the prowl who leaves people roses...
2) Someone is telling me to shut up! You know, sub rosa...
Haha...
No ler, not 'thorny' issue ar...I'm ok with the thorns bringing up, erm, about the thorns! Hehe...But yeah, you and Chegu are right, the rose won't be a rose if not for the thorns...
i'm wondering are you the write for the Star " Don't say that you care,show it", (Starmag, Sun 4 Nov 2007)???? Please do email me back.....
I can't email you because you didn't leave your email, otherwise I would have emailed you when you commented on the girl who threw the trucks ;) But yes, that was me who wrote the article...=)
I love roses too, and I prefer roses over any other kind, err, except orchids, for a bouquet.
I'm lucky my husband knows to get me at least 2 dozen roses on my birthday and on our anniversary. Also when he feels he needs to get back on my good side, he brings home a bouquet of red roses! Hehhe.
Thanks for coming by =)
As for the media, I really don't know lar...All I know is I like the flower ;)
Aiya, bf not something can buy off the shelf lar...=)
Not a bad idea...The more angry you are at your hubby, the more flowers you get...Good arrangement! Hehe...