Since I was on the way to a fairly civilized gathering, I didn't stop ... even though I had boots and my rustling kit in the car with me. It was a ditch, after all, and I didn't to be filthy or wet when I arrived at Dennis's house. When I got to the party and I told Dennis what I saw, he scolded me for not stopping right then. (I should have known.) I promised that I would go back in a day or two, and that I would report my findings to soothe his (and my) curiosity.
Yesterday morning, I put Ruby in the Jeep, and we set out to see which rose this could be. The shoulder of the road is fairly wide at that point, fortunately, and I could get the Jeep all the way off the road with a bit of room to spare. Armed with pruners in my pocket, and my camera around my neck, I stepped into the ditch ... after doing a quick survey to check for poison ivy ... none found, thank goodness.
Turns out, this is a rose that I am very familiar with ... I know it as 'Shailer's Provence', and I have collected it at least four times in different locations. In fact, this rose holds the distinction of being the very first rose I ever rustled (along with 'Dr. W. Van Fleet' on the same property) in either 2004 or 2005.
While light traffic flew past my Jeep parked on the shoulder of the road, I worked quickly. I snapped these photos for documentation, pruned off two long stems that I could reach without climbing the embankment, tossed the stems into the car, and I drove away. The whole process lasted a maximum of two or three minutes.
A few miles up the road, I stopped in a parking lot so I could trim the stems and put them in some water (a peanut butter jar). I cut the stems into proper cuttings when I got home ... wrapped them in a damp paper towel, sealed in a plastic bag, and put the packet into the refrigerator. I will plant the cuttings in little milk jug/soda bottle greenhouses later this morning.
Two buds from my roadside rustle in an antique baby bottle on my kitchen windowsill this morning.
My original 'Shailer's Provence' on 5/20/2013 (tagged "Lansdowne Road Climber" because that's where I found it.)
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Please allow me to shift gears here for a second to thank each of you for your generous words of encouragement and comfort in response to Daniel's death last week. I am truly humbled by the volume of comments and email that I have received. Just to let you know, I'm okay. It helps to know that we had no choice but to let Daniel go when we did ... no doubts, no wondering ... it was time, and I am very grateful to have the ability and immense responsibility to do this for him.
One message I received will always stick with me ...
"Daniel is no longer where he was, he is where you are. He will live on in your heart and will always be a part of you."
Yes, he will. Thank you!!