Doris Day

A couple of weeks ago I walked past a house where a woman was digging a trench near the sidewalk and planting several somethings. I couldn’t tell for sure what they were. Yesterday I walked past there again and she was outside, pruning what had turned into beautiful rosebushes now in full bloom. I stopped to compliment her on her green thumb. She showed me the incredible yellow rose she had in her hand and informed me the variety was called “Doris Day”, I suspect for the color. I asked if I could sniff it and of course, she said yes. I was blown away by the scent. I remember several years ago a client of mine who was a rose fanatic brought me a bouquet of roses. Each one was a different color and each one had a different smell. Before that, I had had no idea that roses came with different scents, depending on the variety. This new acquaintance told me her name is Jodie and though I don’t have the gift for remembering names that I used to have, I told her that one I would be able to remember because it had been the name of a friend I grew up with from kindergarten all the way through high school. Anyway, she asked if I’d like to take “Doris” with me but I was at the start of my walk and it was a warm day. I didn’t think Doris would survive. “Tell you what,” she said. “I’ll put her in a little jar of water and you can pick her up on your way back home.” I loved that this rose was now officially “her”. I agreed and hoped she would remember. Sure enough, on the way back, there was not one but three yellow Dorises waiting for me in a small jelly jar on the grass near the sidewalk.

Photo of actual “Doris” courtesy of me, Mary Kunkel