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In the name of roses

By Kim Jin-heon The writer is a retired English teacher who published a book titled “Flower Is Flower.”

On my wife’s birthday, I purchased a bouquet of roses from a local flower shop and gifted them to her. Their stunning beauty and strong fragrance captivated me, causing me to linger near them for a prolonged period. This beauty has inspired people to cultivate roses in their gardens, along their fences, and in public parks.

I regularly visit public parks in my hometown where around 50 different varieties of roses are grown and sectioned off. During the flowering season, I take photos of the blooms and share them with friends.

Each rose boasts numerous petals. As a botany enthusiast, I discovered that roses initially had only five petals, but through modification and human intervention, their petals have been increased.

In ancient Rome, around the 1st century A.D., Gaius Plinius Secundus, a politician and naturalist, discovered 12 distinct types of roses growing in the mountains with up to one hundred petals. At that time, citizens transplanted these modified roses into their gardens, leading to the further evolution of the species.

In fact, roses grow in abundance in the northern hemisphere and have contributed to their status as symbols in Christianity and Islam for over 1,500 years.

Roses also feature prominently in mythology and human history. In Greek and Roman mythology, gods such as Apollo, Aphrodite and Dionysus were associated with roses. Cleopatra, the Egyptian queen, adorned her palace with roses, winning the heart of her lover, the Roman General Antony. Josephine, Napoleon’s wife, planted thirty thousand roses in her palace garden, captivating Napoleon’s heart.

Humans have long revered roses as symbols of romance, as depicted in literature and paintings.

Additionally, the rose was designated as the national flower of England and was used as a symbol in wars such as the Wars of the Roses (1455-85) and the traditional patterns of the Tudor dynasty (1485-1603).

However, during the 18th century, roses saw their popularity decline due to the influx of tulips. But in the late 18th century, roses in Damascus and China were successfully bred through selection. Furthermore, breeding experts in the mid-19th century were successful in enhancing the qualities of roses, leading to the emergence of various improved species and making roses the most popular flower. Today, in South Korea, experts continue to develop new varieties of roses.

The diverse species and multiple symbolic meanings of roses have made them more appealing to people. Additionally, roses bloom in every season, making them popular in festivals, as a source of income for merchants, and as tokens of love.

Women who love to adorn themselves with beauty appreciate receiving roses as a gesture of courtship from men. Sensible men are therefore eager to offer them to their partners. Thomas Holcroft, an English playwright (1745-1809), once said, “Love and a red rose can’t be hid.” Perhaps as long as there are women, roses will continue to be loved.

Opinion

en-kr

2023-02-08T08:00:00.0000000Z

2023-02-08T08:00:00.0000000Z

https://thekoreatimes.pressreader.com/article/281818582987669

The Korea Times Co.