All roses report for duty!

New Dawn rose: Thank you for finally blooming. You are a climber and I was tired of your long limbs falling into the garden instead of growing upward. I think we’ve finally come to an agreement. With the addition of some fabric strips, I have tied your lovely branches to the downspout and to the porch railings.

I must mention here, New Dawn, that I did not appreciate your thorns and their intrusion into my skin.

But, once again, your beauty has saved you. I would be tougher on a wild rose. But your pale pink perfection gives me pause. Just try to be less painful in the future.

You’re looking good. I like the way your tendrils are oh-so-gracefully trailing downward. You might want to clean that railing, however.

I’m impressed with the way you are peeking through the railing just behind the rusty glider. I can catch your scent on the breeze. Well done.

And now for Lady Elsie May.

Lady Elsie May: After several years of growth and expansion, you have managed to do what I wanted you to do. But you’ve done it naturally. Big points for artfully poking your way through the porch railing. I like the contrast between your green leaves and rosebuds with the porch railing and rusty glider. Excellent work.

Yes, well done, indeed. You’ve earned a commendation.

And now for you, little bumblebee that I spent long periods of time trying to capture with my camera. You could have stayed still a bit longer than you did. The constant flitting between flowers is enough to drive a girl crazy. But then again, who stands in one place for half an hour, camera in hand, trying to capture your elusive beauty? (I suspect there are a lot of us.)

You are invaluable, bumble bee. You pollinate. Your presence in the spirea, catmint and anything else that is blooming is appreciated. And you don’t get angry with me and attack me, though you could – unlike your friend the New Dawn rose.

Happy Father’s Day to my dad, who is just 3 months short of his 90th birthday. And Happy Father’s Day to the father of Winston, Scout and Riley, my sweet husband.

Happy Sunday.