Rose Flower History

Once upon a time, there was a beautiful maiden named Rhodanthe.  According to the Roman myth, she hid in Diana's temple to avoid relentless hoards of suitors.   The goddess Diana, whose job it was to protect maidens, was infuriated at the whole scene.  She turned Rhodanthe into a rose and her pursuers into thorns.

Throughout time, the rose has been the ultimate symbol of love, beauty and gracefulness.   The Romans, in fact, used roses to indulgently that the flowers were disallowed in many churches.  The blooms also came to represent religious martyrs and those who persecuted them.  

Today, however, a red rose is the ultimate symbol of love and romance.  White roses still characterize innocence, purity and charm.   They have are also given as gestures of sympathy. Pink roses symbolize happiness and joy, and other colors have various individual meanings.   The yellow rose is the rose of friendship.  It is, ironically, traditionally associated with jealousy and infidelity too.   Nowadays, however, roses are given and accepted as the ultimate gesture of love and thoughtfulness.

Because there are now hardy hybrid roses, these plants are suitable for virtually any gardening zone.   Harsh winter climates might require canes to be cut back, buried, and blanketed with straw or branches for protection from high winds and hard freezing.  No matter where you live, roses will appreciate well-drained, neutral or acidic soil in sunny locations. Arrange your roses in odd numbers, like groups of three, five or seven.   Pair them with contrasting colors for maximum impact, but don't discount the power of a single rose to convey the emotion of a thousand words.