The tiny words on the calendar read “Mother’s Day” – two simple words that have great meaning to us. I am blessed with one great mother. I can’t even count the number of times that she has helped me and my family through the years. She has been doing it longer than anyone else on this earth. Long before I took my first breath, and she will continue until the day she takes her last. She was there when I couldn’t even walk – I mere baby with my whole life ahead of me. My mom was there when I took my first steps at the ready to catch me when I fell down. She was there when I got my first set of glasses. When we moved from the city to the country and went to a new school, she was there with me. She went to my band concerts (and oboe lessons), and she even handed me my diploma when I graduated high school. My mom was there as my hobby and interests changed from music to cars, and then from cars to letterpress printing, then from printing to roses, along with the writing that accompanies the roses. She was at my wedding and when my children were born. We held each other’s hands as we watched my father die. She’s a mother of three, and a grandmother of seven. Her nickname since she was a child is “Bunny.” There isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t think about her and what she has meant to us all. Yes, I have a pretty good mother, and I’m proud that I can call her mine.

When I first started hybridizing roses, I struggled. My first success came through a Hybrid Multiflora rose, ‘Abigail Adams Rose,’ bred by Malcom (Mike) Lowe from New Hampshire, which was given to my son. ‘Abigail’ gave me a half dozen seedlings that were pure white, and I rejected them as to not what I was looking for in my hybridizing program. But, I didn’t have the heart to throw them away. I did create them, but there was no way that I was going to kill them without good reason.

I planted four of them in my garden and one at Roger Williams Park. One fall, I noticed that one of these seedlings had hips on it, and I decided, why not plant the seeds from this rose as well and see what develops? That spring, I had another half dozen seedlings from my white seedling that germinated. When these seedlings bloomed, something interesting happened – they were not white but were pink in color – and, a pleasing pink color as well. I figured that maybe the color skipped a generation to express itself. I went back to the white seedling and took as many hips that I could. Also, I took any from the pink seedlings as well. What ensued was some 250+ seedlings that I had to sort through to find which ones were best and should be kept.

Funny thing was, that most of the seedlings were highly disease-resistant, vigourous growers and quite a few were keepers. Many showed that great flower power that I was looking for, but almost all of them were white or white/pink blends. Interesting, I thought. I was never able to recreate the pink color I had before, but what I had created was a line of hybrid roses that can be traced back to that original white seedling growing in my garden. Among her descendants I have introduced five roses, but I hadn’t done anything with the original white seedling that was responsible for it all. She remained neglected. Seemingly not wanted – only taking up space where a more interesting rose could be placed.

Looking at the seedling again one day I asked myself, what was wrong with the seedling? Why hadn’t I done something with it before? The rose is a very disease-resistant, highly floriferous, full-sustainable, and winter-hardy – just the type of rose that I was now looking for in my seedlings. One day back in 2016, I wanted to do something with the rose that was the cornerstone for many of the hybrid roses I had created. I was thinking of my mother, what she meant to me, and I wanted to let her know how much so, while I still able to do it. I decided to name this white rose in her honour. Of course, I chose the name “Grandma Bunny.” She is after all, Grandma Bunny to each and every one of her grandchildren. The name is unique to her, and now she will have her own unique rose named in her honour. I remember the day I told her about the rose, and how pleased she was. I vowed to get her a plant of it for her house, but my dad got sick and started to have problems. My parents moved to an independent living apartment before I was able to get a ‘Grandma Bunny’ rose for my mom to grow. I have since bought her old house, and have planted ‘Grandma Bunny’ right next to the steps as you enter. It is the first rose you see as you go in the house. The rose has yet to bloom since I planted it here, but she has leafed out quite nicely, and I expect by June, they’ll be plenty of blooms to see.

Those tiny words on the calendar need to be shouted out every chance we can. I know that things aren’t what they should be during these difficult times. When the roses bloom this year, we’ll be sure to send along something for you so that you can enjoy them too. We miss you, and hope that things will get back to normal soon.

This story was originally composed with a Waterman’s Emblem pen that was made during the 1930’s. I original bought this pen at an antique shop as a group lot and put in a new bladder. It is larger than most of the pens I own during this era, and fits my hand very well. I use it daily to write job tickets. I love the thin text that is created from the 14K nib, and consider her a great purchase.