In Greensboro, Sunday was glorious. The sun was shining; the air was warm and breezy. Many business were closed; families were together and the streets were noticeably still.  After the Easter services, picnic shelters were filled with large, extended families enjoying a day at the park together. As parents prepared picnic food, children were playing tag and riding bikes. How can you top such a beautiful day? 

Late afternoon, we went for a walk through Fisher Park, happening upon a lovely rose bush. The sun was perfect for photographing its blooms. First, we took pictures of its fresh rosebuds and roses at peak. Then, we noticed the stem above, with just two petals hanging on and a dried center.  L.H. Bailey in his 1925 “Manual of Gardening,” reminds us, “The satisfaction of a garden does not depend on the area, nor, happily, on the cost or rarity of the plants. It depends on the temper of the person. One must first seek to love plants and nature, and then to cultivate the happy peace of mind that is satisfied with little” (p. 1).

For our friends at Mellow Yellow Monday, is this rose half alive or half dead?