Everything's Coming up Roses

It is an absolutely gorgeous spring day here in the hill country. Our rose bushes have burst into full bloom over the past few days. According to folklore, the rose hails from ancient Persia and has even been discovered in Egyptian tombs. In the fifth century BC in China, oils were extracted from roses for use by royalty. And, of course, there are the immortal words of Shakespeare, "a rose by any other name would smell as sweet." To me, the most interesting folklore about the rose comes from the Cherokee. During their long, grueling march down the Trail of Tears, roses sprang up on their path as they walked and gave them comfort.