Unfolding (Joseph’s Coat rose)
With the days getting noticeably shorter and our cool, wet season closing in, it’s lovely to still find some flowers in the garden. There’s something extra special about having a bouquet of homegrown roses on your dining table at this time of year.
Although they drop their petals quite quickly and their aroma might be less heady than the roses of summer, October roses are, as Linda Allen’s old folk song says, “the fairest of all”. They bring colour to an increasingly grey time of year, and, while you have to get your nose right up to them to know it, they still carry a lovely scent.
And gazing into the heart of a multi-hued, unfolding October rose, you can almost forget that the dreary days of winter are nearly upon us.
You can find the lyrics of Linda Allen’s wonderful song, “October Roses” – which is about a lot more than flowers – here.
Eye on Environment 
What an absolutely beautiful picture, Laurie! Love the colors and your composition on this one!
Thanks, Toad! Glad you like it.
That is a real beauty!
Thanks, Phil!
Beautiful! There is a surprising amount to look at here, and it seems almost scented too.
Thanks, ehpem. It’s great fun to think that I might have managed to convey the rose’s olfactory beauty!
Laurie, what a wonderful image and metaphor! Your title is perfect. I especially love the lyrics “But your strong roots still hold you, you still find the sun For you blossom with wisdom and courage and care”. Here’s to October roses!
Thanks, Sherry – and thanks also for your lovely hyacinth image that inspired me to capture this rose closeup!