Thursday, October 28, 2010

Why Roses Have Thorns

Have you ever wondered why roses have thorns?

If I was a rabbit or a deer, I would probably think that roses would make an especially tasty "snack" because of their fragrance, sweetness, and bright colors.

[Photo borrowed from Internet]

But can you imagine a rabbit's or deer's surprise if it chomped down on a beautiful rose bloom and got a mouth full of thorns? I don't think it would take but one time for it to decide that roses aren't as good as they look.

So, just as God gave all creatures great and small a way to protect themselves, He gave roses thorns, or "prickles," to protect them from animals that may eat or harm them. The thorns also discourage humans from smelling, touching, and picking them, too, allowing them to blossom and grow strong.

This brings me to the subject of this story which features some pictures I captured during a walk around our yard yesterday after a rain shower. We desperately needed the rain, and everything looked so clean and shimmery, I couldn't resist taking my camera with me.

One of the things that attracted my attention was the rose vine which grows on an arbor over a stone path on the side of our house. The leaves were heavy with raindrops that were clinging to them, literally defying the laws of gravity.


While I was pondering the "magical" raindrops, I couldn't help but notice how pretty the thorns were. I have felt their needle-like tips many times when admiring or photographing the roses on the vine, but I never noticed how beautiful they are until yesterday (you can click on the pictures to enlarge them, if you'd like).

I would like to close with this inspiring quote from Abraham Lincoln:

We can complain because rose bushes have thorns,
or rejoice because thorn bushes have roses.

This is the rose that blooms amongst those thorns in the summertime.

4 comments:

Jenni said...

Oh my! how lovely.... as happens so many times while viewing your photographs, I am touched yet again by the perfect beauty of God's creation....

You could do a book of some sort on just your study of roses alone....

Since I am a musician, of course I relate just about everything that touches my heart to a song. There is an old one that begins: "One day among a world of thorns, a rose began to grow. It was the greatest gift of God this world would ever know, it was the will of God to show that since the world was formed, there had to be a rose to live..... and die among the thorns."

Merisi said...

Simply gorgeous images of roses in autumn,
their thorns as pretty as the blossom still left to shine!

I can't tell how anymore how many times I ended up with scratches all over my hands and arms - or torn clothes for that matter - while shooting roses. Beauty has its price, at least for those who want to capture it!

Tonja said...

I have never thought of thosrns before as anything but bother and a pain. But, you are so right. They are beautiful! And, great protectors of the beautiful rose, I might add!

Sue said...

Beautiful post Janie, The close up of the thorns are beautiful, a Your roses have been beautiful this year, mine have been put to bed for the winter, and i look forward to seeing them next season. Thank you for sharing.
Hugs,
Sue