Kathy,

I'm so sorry for your loss. Cherish the plant as a remberance of your friend.

Robert

Kathy, I'm so sorry to hear this. It is so hard to lose a friend.

Long may your rose thrive, and long may your friend live in your heart and your memory.

Rosefolly

I am so sorry. What a great way to remember your friend. That is a story that will stick with you always.

Oh, my. What a touching story. I was not expecting the his death, and neither were you. I am so glad you took that rose, but am very sorry that you have lost your friend.

Sammy

OGR are also the old gardens of our hearts. Maybe you should take a few more of his plants and create a garden for his soul to visit.

Very sorry you lost your friend. Enjoy the SdSA, I can't think of a better rose to honor your friend's memory. That's a difficult loss, but I hope every time you look at that special rose, it brings a happy memory.

Randy

That's a sad story. I'm sorry for your loss. Losing good friends is difficult. I hope Souv. de St. Anns and the clematis bring you a lot of joy and fond memories of your friend.

Wow Kathy what a story! It is unfortunate that you were the one that found him. I'm glad that you got the chance to give him the rose and he got to plant it and enjoy even though the time was so short.

I'm sorry. It must have been a great shock. I'm glad you have the rose. It's certainly one I would want to have associated with my memory.

Melissa

Kathy, I am so sorry to hear about your loss. SdSA is a wonderful rose and will always remind you about yor friendship.
((Hugs))
Olga

a touching story of friendship and roses--I have several rose bushes that are keepsakes in memory of friends and family-

It is so sad to lose a gardening friend.

I am so sorry. I expect you brought joy to his life and helped to make his last 4 years happy ones. Souvenir de St. Anne's should help to remind you of your friendship. I hope the rose will keep the memory alive for you. Best wishes.
Joanne

I hope that whoever moves into that home next deserves it, and becomes another very good friend.
Perhaps, if that is so, the rose could be returned to its place in the garden, to form a living link between the former owner, and the next.
A sort of ultimate form of Passalong.

Jeri

Kathy, I was very sad to read of the death of your friend. A terrible shock, I'm sure. How fine a thing it is that your gift to him has come back to you. I'm sure that's the way he would have wanted it.

Sherry

I'm really sorry to hear about your best friend... you have the memories and a beautiful tribute. Your story has touched me too.
Lori

I cannot express how much the sentiments posted here have helped sooth the ache in my chest. And to tap into Robert's post about cyber friends becoming real friends, those who I have met in person, I could feel your hugs around me. Thank you.

Yesterday was pretty tough. The adrenaline wore off about mid-morning and the lack of sleep hit in late afternoon. In the morning, I had a hard time distracting my thoughts. Through most of the year, I cannot see his house from my house, but now that the leaves are off the trees, I have a clear view. His bedroom window faces my house and I just stood in the yard staring at the window hoping that I am in a bad dream and I will wake up and none of it would have actually happened. My friend was a homebody and a loner, one of the things we had in common, and I was the only friend he had in the neighborhood. It made the emptiness that much larger to not have anyone with which to share it. I finally was able to busy myself planting out a few hundred spring bulbs in my front yard (I could not see the bedroom window from there).

His sisters could not take his chickens, so in the evening my BIL came over to help me move his chicken tractor into my yard. He built the chicken tractor himself and it was the source of some good-natured ribbing all summer long. I slept for 12 straight hours last night and the crow of the rooster made my heart happy when I woke up.

Kathy

Oh, that is so hard, and my heart goes out to you. I lost my dear friend and neighbor, who lived across the street, several years ago. I never will stop missing her. I didn't find her, but I will never forget coming home from working in the cemetery to find the police car in front of her house, and her youngest son and another dear friend and neighbor sitting, heartbroken, on the front step. At least there were other neighbors who shared the loss with me. Even though we haven't met, Kathy, I hope that you can feel my hug of sympathy.

The reason that we find roses in the old cemeteries is because they were planted in remembrance of loved ones. I ran across a chapter titled "Where They Sleep" in Georgia Drennan's book, Everblooming Roses, in which she described the best ones to choose, and what they symbolize. She writes of planting roses in memory of life, unlike cut flowers or other plants that don't last as long or bloom as sweetly. I think that Souv de St. Anne's is a wonderful symbol and memory of a dear friend.

Take care.
Anita

Anita,

Thanks for the tip on the book, I did a quick search on the web to see if I can buy it.

I have an idea running around in my brain which I hope that I can make work. My friend is to be buried in the cemetery of the old church where he grew up. He was recently gifted with the pump organ which this church used while he was growing up. Just a few weeks ago it was delivered and he was so excited to show it to me because he had so admired mine. We spent a very pleasant evening with me playing the organ and the two of us singing the hymns of our childhood. I am hoping that this cemetery will allow real flowers to be planted. If so, I will plant Souvenir de St. Anne there. I will also plant a peony which Robert so kindly dug for me from the family cemetery on the farm where my friend and I would walk our dogs. This farm has an incredible view of the blue ridge mountains and he and I spent many an evening walking and talking while watching a magnificent sunset. I will also move some of the coral bells from his yard to his grave. And I will plant some foxglove and hollyhocks because they are his favorite flower.

Thanks for letting me share my thoughts with you fellow gardeners.

Kathy

Oh Kathy---Your loss brought tears to my eyes. As I get older--(just turned 79) so many of my friends are passing away---it is sad .

It sounds like he was a fantastic friend.-----
You shared so many wonderful times together it is a terrible loss.

What a wonderful evening you had with beautiful music and singing the lovely old hymns together.That is a beautiful memory to cherish.

I'm so sad for you .please accept my heartfelt sympathy.

Hope your roses and gardens can sooth some of the pain.

Love, Florence

Always a hard thing, to lose a friend

and to feel the pain of another and not know how to help.

i hope that you can find some small comfort in knowing that your friend had a good death, at home, in his own bed.

He did not choose many friends, maybe, but i think he chose well when he chose you Kathy.