a rose is a rose is a rose…..

I knew they’d be waiting for me.  All filled out, fully extended, backlit by the late afternoon sunshine which had finally broken through the persistent cloud cover.  Colors pure, scents intoxicating.  Why did it immediately make me hungry?  Of course, I’d arrived empty handed with nothing more than my inedible cell phone camera in hand.  My original intention was to photograph, not to eat.  So short-sighted.

Julia Child floribunda rose

My eyes soon fell on the small groups of picnickers who had more foresight.  There were a few couples with dogs, but they mainly appeared to bring only dog treats. Maybe they eat the treats as well? That’s how dog people can be.  There were also a few small groups of female friends. Much to my disappointment, the group that looked most promising, the one I was gearing up to approach and be invited to join, upon closer inspection, were sporting only several liter coke bottles and large bags of tortilla chips.  An appalling lack of imagination.

The food snob in me recoiled. Was that the BEST they could do?  I had a delicate frosted cake in mind. Ideally served on a china plate, but an attractive paper one would do.  With some bubbly. Should be in crystal glasses, don’t you think? After all, there’s only ONE first bloom a year, and after this past year, it seemed worth celebrating wholeheartedly.. I’d bring an empty vase too, and secretly cut one perfect bloom to sit in the middle of the charming quilt blanket that would serve as a festive tablecloth.

After that heartbreaking investigation of someone else’s loser picnic, I lost momentum to be a charming intruder.  Really, who wanted such junk food?  I went back to taking photos of the flamboyant roses that caught my eye.  They weren’t holding back. “Summer is coming,” they seemed to shout.  They don’t withhold their enthusiasm.

The cake will have to wait for another day.  I could probably talk my granddaughter into making one for our family.  She’s become very adept and seems to really enjoy baking.  I’ll let her choose which kind, , but might offer a few suggestions.  Next year, I’ll be ready.

#1:  How about a perfect strawberry shortcake?

#2 Or a white cake with vanilla frosting?  very wedding cake, but also very delicious.

#3 There’s always room for a lemon flavored cake!

“Love is a rose.
Every petal is an illusion,
Every thorn is a reality.”
– Charles Baudelaire