Story by Leslie Navarro, Summer 2023
Growing up in my grandmother’s house, I was always surrounded by elements of nature. Her backyard contains a plethora of flowers, plants, and vegetables. Plants came and went throughout the years, but one thing that remained constant were the rose bushes. The roses all in their white, pink, and red glory stood tall- making their presence very known to everyone, especially during the summer months where they would bloom beautifully. Growing up, I was always told to not get too close to them, to be careful as to not hurt myself on their sharp thorns. Many times I had to learn the hard lesson to be mindful when I’d pop a ball or run too close.
As a young individual, I only knew roses as something to look at, serving no purpose other than to look pretty. As I’ve grown, I’ve learned just how much more a rose can do; it can be turned into medicine to heal ailments, teas to soothe aches and cramps, and ointments to nourish the skin. Nearly all of its parts are edible; the leaf, bud, petals, and rosehips. I’ve come to appreciate all the parts of a rose, not just its obvious beauty. It can do so much more for us.