From Ambassador (Blooming roses)
2021/7/29
In my first essay that I wrote right after my arrival, I talked about dandelions blooming along the roadside, out of season.
I am not familiar with gardening at all, but the beauty of flowers surely draws my attention. I found out that the rose in my garden had bloomed, as I tweeted on July 21. It seemed too fragile to bloom just yet then. I also found some other buds that are likely to bloom. It looks like I can enjoy roses in my garden for a while. Talking about my first essay, I’ve learnt that cherry blossoms here start blooming in May.
Although the Gulf Stream keeps the Icelandic climate relatively mild even during the winter, it is not easy to grow roses and other horticultural plants in this country where the wind is strong especially in autumn and winter. The book, “Afleggjarinn” (*) by an Icelandic author, Ms. Auður Ava Ólafsdóttir, depicts a mother of a family who set up a new house in a land with a strong sea breeze patiently planting and growing trees in the garden. Her efforts eventually bear fruit, and various plants take root in the garden. After her sudden death in a car accident, the son, Lobbi sets off on his journey, taking with him cuttings from a special rose variety, to a monastery in a foreign country town with a wonderful rose garden, in spite of his father's recommendation to go on to college.
Since no place names are described in the book, it is not certain that Lobbi and his family lived in Iceland. However, the description such as residential area along the coast with strong sea breeze, roads with lava surrounding and so forth remind me of Iceland, especially the suburb of the Reykjavik city. Additionally, I guess that Lobbi’s destination would be somewhere in France.
The feeling of loving flowers would be the same everywhere in the world. However, thinking of the hardships of growing plants in this country, I feel especially blessed and joy for my blooming roses.
I will enjoy looking at those roses with full appreciation.
(*) Japanese title: “Hana no kodomo”. The book was translated by Ms. Akiko Kanzaki and published by Hayakawa Publishing, Inc.
I am not familiar with gardening at all, but the beauty of flowers surely draws my attention. I found out that the rose in my garden had bloomed, as I tweeted on July 21. It seemed too fragile to bloom just yet then. I also found some other buds that are likely to bloom. It looks like I can enjoy roses in my garden for a while. Talking about my first essay, I’ve learnt that cherry blossoms here start blooming in May.
Although the Gulf Stream keeps the Icelandic climate relatively mild even during the winter, it is not easy to grow roses and other horticultural plants in this country where the wind is strong especially in autumn and winter. The book, “Afleggjarinn” (*) by an Icelandic author, Ms. Auður Ava Ólafsdóttir, depicts a mother of a family who set up a new house in a land with a strong sea breeze patiently planting and growing trees in the garden. Her efforts eventually bear fruit, and various plants take root in the garden. After her sudden death in a car accident, the son, Lobbi sets off on his journey, taking with him cuttings from a special rose variety, to a monastery in a foreign country town with a wonderful rose garden, in spite of his father's recommendation to go on to college.
Since no place names are described in the book, it is not certain that Lobbi and his family lived in Iceland. However, the description such as residential area along the coast with strong sea breeze, roads with lava surrounding and so forth remind me of Iceland, especially the suburb of the Reykjavik city. Additionally, I guess that Lobbi’s destination would be somewhere in France.
The feeling of loving flowers would be the same everywhere in the world. However, thinking of the hardships of growing plants in this country, I feel especially blessed and joy for my blooming roses.
I will enjoy looking at those roses with full appreciation.
(*) Japanese title: “Hana no kodomo”. The book was translated by Ms. Akiko Kanzaki and published by Hayakawa Publishing, Inc.