The Search is Over for the Rose of My Childhood

We moved in a 1940's wood siding house in Waynesboro, TN when I was about 6 years old.  I clearly remember every bush, flower and tree in the yard like it was yesterday.  I was the kid that came in, swallowed supper and went back outside with my friends to catch lightning bugs until I was made to come in on summer nights.  Our yard was my playground.  In the backyard was an old rose of the palest baby pink.  It had ruffled semi-double petals and a perfume like no other.  I don't know what happened to that rose only that it has been gone for many years and I have scoured catalogs, the internet and yards for one of my own.  It was my unicorn until today!  A family friend had this rose in her front yard (which I pass every day going to work).  I could not tell from the road that it was anything but a pink rose.  Today we caught Ms. Eileen standing out in her yard and stopped to ask for a cutting.  I could have cried as I got closer and saw the golden stamens on those familiar pink ruffled open petals.  The final sensory shocker was as I took the first smell.  Funny how smells are an important part of our memories we form through life. I was just feeling sad and missing mom on Mother's Day.  It was like a consolation from God to find this rose.

Ladies and Gentlemen I Introduce to You the First Rose Blossom of 2010!

First a little background about me and roses.  About 3 years ago I had an interest re-kindled in heirloom roses.  I say re-kindled because I have always loved roses-- even as a child I have memories of them.  I just didn't know the differences between the heirlooms and the hybrid teas till recently.  I had all but given up on roses until I stumbled upon some people on the garden web who were chatting away about finding them in old home places, cemeteries and even roadsides.  Then the fever hit.  I started propagating in a simple mist system and had whopping success.  Even Glen has been hooked!  Every spring we combine our beloved back road drives with my passion.  I swear Glen can spot a stem with briars on it at 1000 yards!  I am not someone who simply MUST have an ID for every rose although you are welcome to tell me what you think I have. I just name them according to where I found them.  So it is for this posting.  I just know this rose was found in Alabama at Wesley Chapel church and cemetery.  It re-blooms all summer and is white with pink edges.  The blooms are small and not fragrant, the leaves are healthy all season.  It was near a grave from the 1940's. 

Here is the mother bush:

I'll be glad when the other roses join in-- but until then I'll enjoy the sweetness of these first blooms.