The saga of roses

Personally speaking, roses never topped my favourite flowers' list; they do very little to move me. That claustrophobic red bouquet I once got on a Valentine's Day from someone I was not too keen on, and that half dead rose stick I get on every Woman's Day has ruined the flower for me. Even visiting the rose village at Savar did little to change the situation.

But there are so many who love the flower. One of my cousins say that roses are 'formal flowers,' and perhaps, that is the reason for its worldwide admiration.

I know that roses stand for passion, true love, romance, and desire. It is the quintessential 'I Love You' flower, making it the go-to choice for anyone. It doesn't just stop there; the number of roses also have its significance — three roses mean 'I love you;' six roses for 'I want to be yours;' nine roses symbolise 'eternal love' or 'I want to be with you forever;' and finally, ten roses mean 'You are perfection!'

Photo: NB Mansoor

All these stats are just too sappy for my taste, but I will admit that growing them is something I hold quite dear in my heart, and as a result, I have collected a few rose plants for my small rooftop garden. 

Rather than poking around with all the attached meanings of roses, what truly impresses me is nature's play — prune the plants to just bare stalks and roots, and right after a week, the leaves sprout, and at the end of three weeks, the first rose of the season shows its head; in four to five weeks, the entire rose garden boasts its bloom. It's truly an amazing feeling, and winter is the time when they reach their full glory.

Roses are drama queens, and need proper care; they love bright and direct sunlight, more precisely the early-morning and late-afternoon sun. But they are not as fussy to grow as some might think. I mean, what's there to be afraid of if you plant your roses in a sunny location, with good drainage, and water them diligently?

Roses love water, but they do not like to sit in standing water, so keep in mind to water them evenly to keep the soil moist. Bangladeshi growers also need to watch out for diseases like powdery mildew or black spot, and use the right amount of mulch. But most importantly, do not overdo it, as few good plants in bloom are a thousand times prettier than numerous but lanky uncared for ones.

Photo: NB Mansoor

The Taj Mahal is my most prized rose plant; a magenta flower with a tint of red, the flowers are quite whopping in size, and their sweet yet mild scent gives me unmatched pride and pleasure.

Then there is the dark red Black Prince, the red and white Lancaster rose which, actually has its history entwined with England's War of the Roses; then there is the Double Delight, creamy inner layer, laced in circles with red; and of course, Miranda, the peach coloured rose.

I love to sit amid the roses bushes, and sip my morning tea, or late evening cuppa, and watch the rays of the sun play with them. This is the perfect time to enjoy the rose blooms; December is a month full of festivities, and the perfect time for tea parties, so, add a bit of colour to these, and call your friends over to enjoy your roses. Basically, if you have them, flaunt them this December.

Photo: NB Mansoor

Make sure to check out our bridal photoshoots for equally stunning beauty.