Friday, May 1

The First Rose(s) of Summer


These are the first blooms of what I hope will be a profusion this summer. Click to enlarge. They are so heavy that they weigh the branch down and I had to hold it up to get the photo.


Work was good; I went to Mel's in the morning for three hours and finished up the day at the other shop, where I did about 15 more corsages. Some of you asked about wrist corsages and when they became popular. I am not sure that I remember exactly when they came into popularity, but I began getting requests for them in wedding work back in the 80's. The main purpose is to avoid pinning a corsage on your dress, which could damage fabric. If someone is wearing a strapless dress, there's not much room to pin a corsage. Back in my high school days, if we wore strapless dresses, we pinned the corsages at our waistline. Nowadays, kids dance so close together that a corsage would get smashed on the first go-around.

What many people don't know is that there are now powerful magnets which can be incorporated into corsages, which eliminate the need for a pin and do not damage fabrics. They cost a little more than a regular corsage, but not as much as a wristlet. The only people who cannot use the magnets are those who have heart monitors or pacemakers installed. I often use the magnets for bride's mothers and grandmothers. But some florists think that using them is too time-consuming or adds too much to the cost for them. As a former mother of the groom I would have welcomed a magnet corsage, rather than the lace-backed concoction I received, on a wristlet. Many mothers are now opting for small nosegays or to carry one stem down the aisle, rather than to wear flowers. They may also pin a corsage on a fabric purse - and some opt to have no flowers at all. That is a perfectly good choice too.

22 comments:

Kay Dennison said...

Great photos!!!!!!!

I'm guessing that my daughter-in-law-s mom selected the small wristlets of pink rosebuds that she and I wore at my son's wedding and I thank her for it. I do like the idea of magnets though.

Jay said...

I just like flowers, no matter how you give them to me. :)

Gilly said...

Magnets sound a brilliant idea! Would they be powerful enough to go through the lapel of a suit? (Womens, not mens, do you clal them suits over there??)

The idea of the Prom is only just taking hold over here, and I don't think corsages have arrived yet! As far as I can see its just a great time for dressing up and having a real "knees up"!

Grannymar said...

I love these posts where you share information about your work.

Arkansas Patti said...

Magnets are a wonderful idea. It would save blood letting for when the clumsy,nervous adolescent boy tries to pin on his girl's corsage pre-prom. My little fellow stabbed me twice.

Pat said...

Heavenly roses
Where you lead (US) we (UK) follow. Pins and corsages are a nightmare so the magnet sounds a great idea and I think young girls dancing with wristlets must look so pretty.

Joy Des Jardins said...

Oh those roses....just beautiful Judy.

I would have loved those magnet corsages. They sound like the perfect solution to me. Certainly would have save many a person being jabbed with pins. Wrist corsages were the big thing when I was in high school...we all had them. Yep...I'd go with the magnets.

Traci Dolan said...

One of my rose bushes has buds, the other is growing up very strong but has no buds.

I also have a oppossum lurking about. I saw him or her the other morning.

Darlene said...

Judy, I love your roses. Beautiful picture.

sage said...

Beautiful roses. I didn't know about the magnets and pacemakers!

Evil Twin's Wife said...

I'm just hoping to keep a couple of little pansies alive all season! :-) Love the roses.

srp said...

I personally lean towards the one flower idea... never have liked corsages... one of the most uncomfortable things to wear... anywhere you put them.

tiff said...

Judy - just so you know, those iris we dug out of your front garden a while back are going great gangbusters. Thanks once again for the perennial gift!

rosemary said...

no roses here but the daffodils did bloom finally. thanks you for the wristlet info......I like the magnet idea too.

OldLady Of The Hills said...

The Roses are GORGEOUS, Judy...How wonderful to have them in your Garden in such Abundance...!

I thought that was so interesting about the Magnets. I had not heard that before and I think it is a GREAT Idea! And much better than a Wristlet...I always thought they were rather uncomfortable in got in the way of things....!

Dorothy said...

I just took photos of our first blooms as well will be posting on Monday.

Have a great weekend Netchick sent me.

Dorothy from grammology
grammology.com

TLP said...

Oh, I can almost smell those roses! Lovely.

Jamie Dawn said...

I've never heard of corsages with magnets instead of pins. What a terrific idea, and it would be well worth it for a special occasion.
Your heavy roses are really pretty!

LZ Blogger said...

Judy ~ I loved the food art. Well with the exception of the Meat Ball Bubble Gum! ~ jb///

Bobkat said...

Those roses are gorgeous. I hope you have many more!

Anonymous said...

I wore a wrist corsage wrist at my high school prom in 1953! Mary

BreadBox said...

Lovely roses!

N.