Things That Bang

What's in a Rose? I never much cared for Roses. As a Delhi-ite I used to cry off visits to the President's Rose Garden which continue to remain popular for Delhi visitor, nor did I care for the loving attention with which our old neighbor tried to cultivate a 'Black Rose' and after years of trying when she finally managed to have a 'dark maroon rose' I was dragged to see it and saw half the neighborhood oohing and ahhing over it.

I snorted and returned home. Who cared? There were better ways of entertaining oneself than paying homage to a shoddy little flower.

But my attitude came to bite me when I bought my first rose bush and it died on me. Disease-ridden and not getting proper nutrition the roses on it shriveled and its death jeered my sensibilities - I sucked at gardening.

I bought books and read up on roses and spoke to as many Rose lovers as I could. I had joined community of rose admirers. Part of being a Rose lover is trying to lay one's hands on different types of Roses but unfortunately most nurseries, despite their promises, are unable to offer wide varieties of roses.

My roses are the run of the mill kind but I am quite proud of them. Given the right weather conditions, plenty of sun, healthy soil and right kind of nutrition the bushes are blooming quite well but like any hobbyist I want more variety and seem to have been bitten by the bug to produce a Rose so dark that I would have my entire village come and gawk at my pride and joy.