The Beauty of the Rose - Part 2
Plant focus: Rosa, common name Rose
Of all the plants growing at the Sanctuary Garden, I have found the Rose to be the most spoken about. It seems to have a commonality among visitors of all ages. Is this because it is familiar? Is it because is it so striking in its beautiful soft pastel colours? Is it because of its delicate, sweet smell?
Before gardening here at the Sanctuary, I was mostly indifferent to the rose and didn’t understand its popularity. However, seeing the joy they bring to so many people and spending more time giving it my attention, I have also been won over by the rose.
The most abundant rose in the garden is the native dog rose, Rosa canina. It is commonly found in hedgerows across Ireland, and it is intentionally planted here around the boundary of the field to invite a diversity of wildlife. I find it fascinating how it has evolved alongside native animals to be interdependent. It trades nectar with a range of insects to spread their pollen. It provides small birds with a safe place to nest and perch, with its thorns offering shelter and in exchange, the birds eat the rose hips and spread their seeds.
I mostly forget to pay attention to all roses during my working day. I rush by them in my habitual busyness. However, when my task is deadheading the roses, I am reminded of how much I delight in smelling a rose. Taking a deep breath in, filling my nose with its sweet smell, this reminds me of slowly eating a Turkish Delight bar, remembering how delicious it tastes and each time I smile. I then remember to savour this experience; the mind rests and I take another full breath in and am fully in the experience of stopping to smell the roses.
Now, at the start of July, the rose flowers are fading, reminding me of their impermanence. I am grateful this year that I spent more time giving them my attention, taking in their scent and beauty when it was here. When I take the time to slow down and give my full attention to the present moment happenings in the garden, I am always rewarded and feel renewed. In her book, Gardening the Soul, Sister Stan reminds us of the opportunities available to us if we continuously pay attention to the beauty of nature, “Beauty is never lacking in this world of ours, what is lacking often is our ability to notice it. If we were really looking at and attentive to this world we would be touched many, many time seach day by the stunning beauty all around us, in nature, in people and in all the things that offer us glimpses of beauty, every moment of every day. We can learn to relish the beauty of everything when we open our hearts to the wonder of it.”
