A ROSARIAN REFLECTS ON HIS HOBBY
By: Ted W. Mills, ARS Consulting Rosarian and Judge
"True confessions are good for the soul"
As I pondered the subject of this rose article, my thoughts turned to the above quotation. In it are the answers as to why I became enamored over the hobby of growing roses. Let's review them for a moment.
Yes, confession brings a cleansing of the soul and reinforces the will to proceed toward a stated goal. With growing roses there is much hesitation on the part of people who are contemplating such a pastime. My first confession lies in the fact that I shied away from the hobby. Much fear of failure clouded my thinking. I felt the harvest was not worth the travail of work. That was my first mistake.
Rather than dwell on the demerits of growing God's most beautiful floral creation, it would serve better that the advantages that came my way would overshadow any negatives that appeared. I confess that my indwelling thoughts were just the opposite. But once I entered the environs of a rosarian friend's rose garden, my attitude changed for the better. His abundant success served to whet my appetite to emulate his achievement. I was on the road to a pleasing way of life.
Facing retirement, I longed for an activity that would provide both pleasure and a sense of accomplishment. In roses, I found that satisfaction. I knew that growing them could bring joy not only to myself but also to those individuals who came my way. To ensure success in my hobby I visited the libraries and pried the minds of rose experts that I considered friends. After much research, it was not long until blue-ribbon specimens graced my rose garden.
Through all the trials and difficulties that I experienced at the outset, many blessings were wrought. Lasting friendships were made and I discovered that rose people were among the best of citizens. After all, how can one possibly fault a person who grows flowers? All my industry became a labor of love as I shared God's creative beauty to the forlorn and ill among us.
The year 2002 has been declared the Year of the Rose. Had I not become interested in rose growing I would have missed all the pleasure that this celebration brought to the masses. The personal relationships have been as gold and the comradeship has refreshed my soul beyond belief.
Growing, exhibiting, and judging roses nationwide has opened a door for me that leads to a sense of "being worth your salt." The deeper my involvement became, the more I wanted to teach others this satisfying hobby. To grow roses well is an art as well as a science, and many crave such an accomplishment. This urge fueled my desire to teach others how to grow roses. Consequently, through the Internet and in person, thousands have gained knowledge on "how to grow" these wonderful flowers. I confess that this teaching venture has become a mission for me, and I will globally offer my expertise at the drop of a hat. In fact, it has reached the shores of distant ports such as Australia. I say this not as a braggart but as a servant to a hobby that I truly love.
Finally, the confession that strikes the strongest in my soul searching pertains to what rose growing has meant to me spiritually. To view God's greatest flower in all its beauty convinces me of His abiding love for all of us. After gazing into the petals of a Double Delight or a Touch of Class who could doubt His existence? He made life beautiful for us through His creations. We strongly confess His presence when beauty surrounds us so vividly. These are eternal benefits of our hobby. May God grant us the power and wisdom to continue our wonderful floral adventure.