There was a time between 1997 and 2002 when I had a great interest in growing and learning about roses. It was not a casual, half-hearted interest. I was possessed. I bought and planted roses, maintained roses, hybridized roses, purchased books about roses, wrote poems about roses, started a rose garden and an internet site about roses. Also, because Elko, Nevada has harsh winters I spent a great deal of effort in learning about winter hardy roses. It got to the point that my wife asked me to see a psychologist at the University of Utah about my compulsion. The doctor appointment was going well until he asked how many rose bushes I had in our yard. When I said about 200, I suppose he understood my wife's concern. At the end of the appointment, he wrote a prescription for lithium. When I got home and looked up the side effects of lithium, I decided that I would rather have a lot of pretty roses rather than side effects of lithium. I never filled the prescription.
In 2002, now 19 years ago, we closed our jewelry business and I went to work at a youth training center. I just did not have time to care for so many roses and the garden fell into decline. Now there are only a few hardy roses in our yard. It was a creative period in my life. I also learned a great deal about soil chemistry, different varieties of roses, how to plant and care for roses and even how to create an internet site. I have no regrets and admittedly I am glad I did not fill the prescription. It all worked itself out in the long run.
YOU ARE READING
Stories and Poems Written from the Garden
PoetryA friend of mine suggested that instead of organizing what I write chronologically that I do so by topic. This book contains short stories and poems written from the garden.