I was up on a ladder, in my garden, trimming a rose bush when my friend Annie came over to visit. Looking up at me, then the rose bush she said, "How I wish I were up on that ladder! What a pleasure it would be to aid spring!"
"Annie!" I greeted her, "I was just saying to myself, God, I wish Annie were here to help me!"
Annie said, "You should pray for something serious, because you have his ear!" With that
I jumped down from the ladder, and hugged her.
Eagle-eyed Annie sees things with years of experience and gives her wisdom from a gentle heart. She advised me which off shots to cut, what branches to trim and in the middle of it all, recited her recipe for rose jam.
As I started to sweep the rose clippings in a pile, Annie bent down and picked up a few branches.
"We could plant these you know. Do you have a hammer?"
"A hammer? You mean a shovel?"
"No, a hammer, we need to smash the ends. Do you have a hammer, and we will need wheat seeds too."
A hammer and wheat seeds? Who would have guessed that is how one plants roses clippings?
Annie has a ton of her mother's secrets about gardening, cooking, sewing, baking, wine-making and a million other household tricks up her sleeve. I thank my lucky stars that she remembers everything in such detail to share it with me.
I gave her a hammer. Unfortunately, I didn't have any wheat seeds on hand, though I had rice grain and offered that instead..
"No, rice won't work, but we can use our hair instead." She said.
"Our hair?" Certainly, I had misunderstood her French.
"Yes, we need something to aid the rose trimmings to root. You'll see."
Under her guidance I trimmed the rose clippings, taking off the old leaves and leaving one or two new shoots per branch. Each trimming was about eight inches long. As long as it had a new shoot it was could be used. Annie smashed one end with the hammer. Then we plucked out two to three strands of hair from our head. Then Annie put the hair strands in the smashed part of the trimming, then pinching it so it wouldn't slip out, she wrapped the other ends of hair, around and around the trimming. Afterwards, she poked the hair wrapped, rose trimmed, branch end into the moisten dirt, about two inches deep.
Annie says that this method helps the rose trimmings root easier, given them a better chance of survival. She did say that for every five rose shoots, maybe one will actually take.
"Annie, I wonder if my dyed blond hair will turn the red roses white?" I laughed.
"Only the hairdresser in the sky knows for sure." She smiled as she pulled out a few more strands of my hair. Then added, "Though, if your neighbors are watching us, they'll think we are crazy old ladies!"
Photos of My Annie who is nearly 90 years old and is going strong.
Note: The wheat grain or lentil is shoved up into the smashed part of the rose stem. Then planted about two inches deep into moist soil; The wheat or lentil sprouts faster, and therefor aids the rose trimming to root easier.
She is ADORABLE. Look at that hand on her hip.l She's lovely. Thanks for sharing this, Corey.
Posted by: kim | 01 March 2009 at 01:39 PM
Dear Annie,
You are so chic as well as wise. I love the way you pose with your hand on your hip.
Posted by: hhb | 01 March 2009 at 01:41 PM
Love your stories about Annie, as I'm a vintage Annie Also. And I'm almost as chic and cute as she!
Posted by: Annie | 01 March 2009 at 01:44 PM
She is precious!
Posted by: Melly | 01 March 2009 at 01:47 PM
Makes me feel getting 90 is going to be great ! Your friend Annie looks amazing and I love that she is wearing a béret . So cool . She looks like someone who enjoys life in every aspects . And I am sure she was a lovely kind mischievous little girl !!! You'll have to keep us posted on how well roses grow while rooting in hair .
Posted by: Massilianana | 01 March 2009 at 01:54 PM
Corey, you are so lucky to have Annie as your friend!
Posted by: Irina | 01 March 2009 at 01:58 PM
What a treat! Thanks for the distraction from Hollywood, Wall Street, and Afghanistan! Thanks for the reminder to love what is lovely, and to savor the people and experiences right in front of us.
Posted by: julia | 01 March 2009 at 02:01 PM
What a wonderful friend you have in Annie.
Posted by: Eileen @ Passions to Pastry | 01 March 2009 at 02:19 PM
Annie sounds(and looks) like a real delight!
Posted by: Katy | 01 March 2009 at 02:58 PM
Something about her reminds me of my dear Irish Nana. I miss her. It's nice that you appreciate the blessing she is in your life. Can't wait to see those roses next year!
Posted by: Jeanette McCabe | 01 March 2009 at 03:42 PM
What a woman, what a blessing. Annie is a joy, thanks for sharing her.
Posted by: Sheala Feeney Pritchard | 01 March 2009 at 04:06 PM
How sweet and special is your lovely friend
Savor every ounce of your time shared.
You learn so much wisdom from those that have experienced life a little longer than us.
Love Jeanne ^j^
Posted by: Jeanne | 01 March 2009 at 04:12 PM
Annie is a treasure and reminds me of the lovely women in my family....both my mom and my mom-in-law are going strong in their 80's and we are blessed to have them here to offer their wisdom and have fun with....my Nanas lived to be 94 and 97 and were an important part of my life and huge support right up until their last days. It is truly a gift when one has a strong and wise woman in her life to guide the way. Thanks for reminding me this morning!
Posted by: Laura | 01 March 2009 at 04:14 PM
Corey,
Annie is gorgeous~~and the recipe for rose clippings is fascinating. I bet you have some new plants peeking their heads out of the ground.
Thank you for this post!
Posted by: Chris | 01 March 2009 at 04:19 PM
Such a tender moment. Your photos of Annie are very special. Thanks for sharing.
Posted by: Paula @ Second Studio | 01 March 2009 at 04:24 PM
What a treasure of a friend. It's always so nice to read your Annie stories here. This one reminds me of my dad and his rose rooting adventures. How I wish I had the forethought years ago to take a cutting and make it my own.
Posted by: annie | 01 March 2009 at 04:37 PM
We need more Annie's.
Posted by: Denese | 01 March 2009 at 04:54 PM
Learning about Annie through your eyes, Corey, is a gift.....art.
Photos of gardens aren't the garden. They are an idea of the garden through the camera, through the photographer and through the person seeing the photo.
I look forward to more of the talented gifts you're using to share Annie.
Boldly, selfishly, I ask, Can you post some pics of Annie's home-garden-family?
Thanks.
Garden & Be Well, XO Tara
Posted by: Tara Dillard | 01 March 2009 at 05:10 PM
Annie reminds me of my Grandmother, Ivy. I would give anything to stand by her again as she created magic in the kitchen. Her cakes were legendary. My other grandmother, Ruby, was the gardener, with no interest in what happened in the kitchen, other than basic sustenance so she could get back outside. What a treasure you have!!!
Posted by: Rebekah | 01 March 2009 at 05:16 PM
wow....annie looks many years younger. she is very spry and has an elegance about her that is undeniable.
You are lucky to have such a wonderful friend.
Posted by: Christine | 01 March 2009 at 05:26 PM
Lovely story. When I pruned my roses last year, I tried to propagate some, but none of them took. I did have lots of bouquets of roses. And made rose petal jam, jelly, granita, and ice cream. :)
Posted by: Wandering Chopsticks | 01 March 2009 at 05:31 PM
Annie is lovely in every way. Don't you just love the grace & wisdom that comes with age ? There is something so calming about the company of the elderly - perhaps that is why the very old and the very young often seem to bond so easily. Its just the middle bit where we all become a bit stressed and hyper ! So many wonderful lessons to learn and cherish from Annie - will look forward to an iminent post of Annie's rose petal jam, Jx
Posted by: Julie Ann | 01 March 2009 at 05:37 PM
I see a wonderful book here to preserve the knowledge and wonderfulness of Annie. Your photos and her wisdom! If you could record her stories now, you could do the book anytime!
Posted by: Lilly | 01 March 2009 at 05:43 PM
You and Annie make quite a team. Kindred spirits who are fortunate enough to have found each other. Do you never stop? On a ladder with a broken rib? I trust this means you are healing well or you really just needed to "aid spring." What a lovely line and thought.
Posted by: Alina | 01 March 2009 at 05:51 PM
I could just hug and squeeze Annie. She is so cute. What a joy to have her in your life.
hugs,
Gail
Posted by: Gail | 01 March 2009 at 05:55 PM
Please tell Annie that she gave my heart a hug when I saw her photo. She could have passed for my grandma's little sister, sans the beret. My grandma had that same kind of cheerful smile and friendly look- with a twinkle in her eye, and only wore print dresses(she was cute, but NOT as chic as Annie). Her hats were of the frilly, floral variety(the kind from the 50's that many bloggers are collecting these days), but I know a beret would have suited her. My grandma passed away when I was in first grade, but I'll never forget the way I felt when she smiled her smile just for me. Thanks for introducing us to Annie, she gave me a sweet surprise this morning!
Posted by: pam | 01 March 2009 at 05:56 PM
I have always cherished the friendship of "older, wiser" women.
I seem to gravitate towards them...... wanting to soak up all that they have to offer.
Your friendship with Annie is a gift from God.....and she looks like quite a character to boot !!
Cheers
Bre
Posted by: Bre | 01 March 2009 at 06:09 PM
Thank you so much, for sharing Annie with us!
All these bits of Wisdom, which she has in her lovely head! I think of a recorder, for her to talk into. Or just to chat with you, with it on. And many, many photos taken. {Easy!!!!} And what a collection they all would make! All sorts of Wisdom, lore, and recipes and...
Eventually, a book.................
You just know I'll never give up on the book idea, now don't you? >,-)
Aunt Amelia
"March is a tomboy with tousled hair, a mischievous smile, mud on her shoes and a laugh in her voice."
~ Hal Borland
Posted by: Aunt Amelia's Attic | 01 March 2009 at 06:27 PM
i am so grateful for your blog~i love annie's hands...so sweet- i know they are soft like my mimi's(my french grandma) i adore how you write about your friendship with her-you are blessed and you know it! thank you,corey! :]ann-marie
Posted by: ann-marie | 01 March 2009 at 06:37 PM
Send Annie over here-I'm in the midst of the annual rose pruning project. Love her pose. She reminds me of Grandma and her daughter, Favorite Aunty. Favorite Aunty is 93 and a great resource for how to do things. I love polka dots and realize it is because Grandma wore polka dot dresses! Recommended reading-"Little Heathens" about a childhood in Depression era Iowa.
Posted by: martina | 01 March 2009 at 07:02 PM
Corey you are fortunate to have Annie. It is wonderful that you share her and her wit and wisdom with us.
Posted by: Betty M | 01 March 2009 at 07:37 PM
Corey,
This gives me an occupation for the few rogue hairs that have decided to turn white (and wiry)! This story makes me wish that I could find an Annie.
Chris
Posted by: Christy | 01 March 2009 at 07:44 PM
I like Annie.
Posted by: julie | 01 March 2009 at 08:24 PM
What a treasure you have in her! What a role model! What a mentor!
I so hope you are writing all these things down.....it would make for such a wonderful book of old wisdom and methods for cooking, gardening etc. Have you ever considered a book about her? I'd buy it!
XOXOXOXO
Posted by: Lisa "Oceandreamer" S. | 01 March 2009 at 08:29 PM
Corey
So nice of you to share Annie with us and pictures this time, too,, she is very chic, stylish French woman . . . I love her quote to you ---
Annie said, "You should pray for something serious, because you have his ear!"
Well God did listen and respond he gave you a treasured friendship and a rose garden...
Bonjour, Joanny
Posted by: joanny | 01 March 2009 at 08:44 PM
Annie is a doll, what a treasure! I shared her idea with my husband as he is a lover of roses. He had never heard her tips and now is going to try it. Thanks for this very special story.
Posted by: Marilyn | 01 March 2009 at 08:53 PM
What a sweet story!
Posted by: kelleyn | 01 March 2009 at 10:09 PM
You are really blessed to have someone like Annie in your life...she is beautiful!! by what you wrote inside and out!
Loved that!
Posted by: Louise | 01 March 2009 at 10:13 PM
Fabulous! I love the old ways of doing things. My father, before he became ill, was a marvelous gardener. He could make a rock grow. He took a rose from my prom nosegay, stuck in the ground, put a mason jar over it, and dirt on top. Twenty years later it is still growing. I wish my thumb wasn't so black. I would love to have a beautiful garden.
Posted by: JulieKP | 01 March 2009 at 10:14 PM
My mother has planted roses from the florist by just sticking them in the ground. I'll have to pass along the hair technique.
Posted by: Deirdre | 01 March 2009 at 10:24 PM
What a blessing to have in your life!
Posted by: Vanessa | 01 March 2009 at 10:58 PM
I need an Annie!! Tell her hello for me.
She is just amazing, and cute too!
Rosemary
Posted by: Rosemary | 01 March 2009 at 11:05 PM
You now have an "Annie Fan Club" here in the states. We'll need weekly Annie tips weekly.
Posted by: Mardog | 01 March 2009 at 11:13 PM
I hope I look like her when I'm 90. This was just what I needed today. Thank you.
Posted by: naomi | 01 March 2009 at 11:47 PM
She's beautiful! And a great role model for what I would like to be like when I'm 90.
Lorrie
Posted by: Lorrie | 02 March 2009 at 12:55 AM
i would love to give your dear, sweet annie a hug...what a treasure you are for each other! (will you share her rose petal jam recipe??)
Posted by: qualcosa di bello | 02 March 2009 at 01:01 AM
I love your Annie! I have a picture of my mother in the same pose, just a year before she died. It's my favorite photo of her! Annie so reminds me of her...
Posted by: Eunice | 02 March 2009 at 02:11 AM
She is so lovely, your Annie. Thank you for sharing her with us.
Posted by: Alena | 02 March 2009 at 02:41 AM
The photos of Annie made me smile. What a lovely beautiful woman. You are blessed. :) Kimberly
Posted by: Kimberly | 02 March 2009 at 04:51 AM
Thank you Corey for sharing Your Annie with me today. She is beautiful.
Posted by: Carolyn | 02 March 2009 at 05:38 AM
Charming Charming! CHARMING! We all need all of Annie's wisdoms!
Posted by: Shelley Noble | 02 March 2009 at 06:17 AM
Perhaps Annie could write a guest post translated?
Posted by: Jend'isère | 02 March 2009 at 07:46 AM
"You should pray for something serious, because you have his ear!"
That is what jumped out at me! Corey, I have a special Prayer request. It is something with which you will feel a deep connection.
I go to lunch at a yogurt shop owned by a sweet Thai lady named Lan. Lan is probably only 35 and she has a husband and three daughters.
Her oldest daughter, madeline, is only 14 years old and they found out, last Thursday, that she has ovarian cancer. She will be having surgery on Tuesday. At this time, they don't know much.
Lan told me on Friday, that she is not sure if she, herself, can deal with this, but she knows she has to be strong for her daughter.
Corey please pray for Madeline and for her family to have the strength to emotionally support her during the difficult time a head.
Thanks so Much!
~elaine~
Posted by: Elaine L. | 02 March 2009 at 08:16 AM
What a lady your friend Annie is! I whish I could be like her if I would hit the '90.......
Posted by: Gracie | 02 March 2009 at 08:47 AM
Great story... bless Annie.
Posted by: poppy fields | 02 March 2009 at 10:20 AM
A weekly tip from your Annie would be most welcome. I have over 50 rose bushes and will give this a try in late April .
Posted by: welltraveled | 02 March 2009 at 11:49 AM
Corey, this post deserves an award of some kind. It is truly delightful: story, photos and all.
Love,
Kate
http://stubblejumperscafe.pnn.com
Posted by: stubblejumper Kate | 02 March 2009 at 12:51 PM
Annie is a treasure,you are lucky to have such a wise and wonderful friend.
Posted by: cathy | 02 March 2009 at 12:55 PM
Gosh, Annie really reminds me of my gorgeous grandma Rose who I miss so much. Just seeing Annie's picture brought a whole load of lovely memories pouring back. Thank you for sharing her with us :)x
Posted by: Deb | 02 March 2009 at 01:44 PM
Oh how lovely, Corey! I love Annie's spunk! Those 90 year olds always have wonderful wit and wisdom to share, from years of experience! My hubby's 98 year old grandmother always had sound advice and stories for us till the day she passed away (just last week as a matter of fact). I'll just bet those roses will be FABULOUS!
Posted by: beachy | 02 March 2009 at 03:35 PM
When I grow up, I want to be like Annie!
Posted by: Denise Moulun-Pasek | 02 March 2009 at 03:51 PM
Just a wonderful post Corey - I need a neighbor like Annie! Instead I've become the elderly lady assisting my new neighbor with her garden - she's new to all the mysteries surrounding this lifetime hobby!
See you still have the wall chart - I love it so much and wish I could have found one at the brocantes last Fall!!!
Posted by: Mary | 02 March 2009 at 04:10 PM
The stuff of life- wise old women...they are treasures!
Posted by: Elizabeth Parsons | 02 March 2009 at 04:33 PM
I LOVE this story!
Posted by: Dee | 02 March 2009 at 05:22 PM
Thank you Corey! I am so happy to see Annie's beautiful, cheerful face and to read about your adventures.
I have a special place in my heart for her.
She makes me look forward and hope to one day be 90.
That is not a easy thing to do in our culture!
Love to you both.
Donna
Posted by: Miz Booshay | 02 March 2009 at 05:29 PM
What a doll!
I love her cheeky/chic pose!
It shows a sense of homour, and deep in those eyes I see wisdom.
Did you tell her her photo has gone around the world?
If so, I'm sure she had a quick response.
Posted by: sheila | 02 March 2009 at 05:59 PM
I love Annie too, and can't wait to hear more about her.
If you had wheat seeds, how would they have been used? Do you suppose you would bury them near the branch end? But wouldn't they sprout too?
Chris
Posted by: Chris | 02 March 2009 at 09:48 PM
Hi Corey, You are very lucky to have Annie. Learn all you can from her and feed it to us! Love Toni
Posted by: Toni Mason | 03 March 2009 at 04:37 AM
It's so nice to finally meet Annie! She looks like a fun and delightful woman to hang out with. :-)
Posted by: Hasmade Designs | 03 March 2009 at 05:15 AM
so glad you'll be posting more about Annie. Seriously, Corey, I want to get a million signatures so you will write a book--scratch that, a couple of books!
Posted by: amylia | 03 March 2009 at 08:18 AM
I have heard that french women have real style, grace and class. and your Annie has proven this to me. what a simply gorgeous woman.
I love the wisdom of the older people. My grandad had so much gardening wisdom, he died when I was 10. a little too young to appreciate his wisdom....I search my memory for snippets he may have told me.. one was to put honey on cuttings to help them strike.. just like you did with your hair.. does Annie want to come to Australia?
Posted by: Miss*R | 03 March 2009 at 10:17 AM
Everyone needs an Annie in their lives - what a bright and beautiful light.
xo Isa
Posted by: Isa | 03 March 2009 at 03:34 PM
Here's to a world full of delightful energetic ladies such as your Annie! Absolutely delightful story ... reminds me that I should call my grandparents today. :-)
Posted by: Lemon Tree Tami | 03 March 2009 at 06:23 PM
Please tell your precious Annie she has a fan club in the states. The post is simply beautiful.
Posted by: Jenny | 03 March 2009 at 06:30 PM
Corey,
I love your friend Annie! I will try her rose rooting method...she knows the secret to a wonderful happy life....Betty
Posted by: Betty @ Country Charm | 03 March 2009 at 06:53 PM
Annie is awesome - and she has such a great personal style! What an interesting person she is...and with such a wealth of knowledge. Wouldn't her old gardening remedies make a good book? I think so. Please let us know if the rose/hair shoots take hold. How cool would that be??!
PS: My sister has a friend whose childhood home had an old tree in the front yard that wasn't doing so well. His father came out one spring night and whipped the tree along its base. My sister's friend was shocked. Their neighbors were shocked. I was too as I heard the story. But then the tree responded by growing new leaves, new branches, becoming healthy again. It was like it had been reawakened. That summer, all the trees on the block were hit with some kind of bug or tree disease - all except my sister's friend's tree. It remained healthy.
These old gardening tips are fascinating, aren't they?
Posted by: susanna | 04 March 2009 at 03:22 PM
Not that I would recommend whipping trees...
Posted by: susanna | 04 March 2009 at 03:24 PM
That is such an awesome story. Makes me take a long deep soothing sigh and wish I were there too. I haven't been here for a while, but the pic of you with the wine glass always made me feel liberated and free! I just miss it, I suppose. I pray you are well from your dream too.
Posted by: Kindle | 08 March 2009 at 01:12 AM
What an absolute darling Annie is! Oh lala...she will blush when she knows we all think she is so C U T E~!xo Lidy
Posted by: frenchgardenhouse | 10 March 2009 at 12:42 AM
This Friday, which began as just annoying, has turned into nothing but beauty & wonder & just happiness!! I love this! I just recently lost the Annie in my life - Mary, 94, just a month ago - and something tells me they would have gotten along fabulously!
Tell her hello from Texas! :)
Posted by: debi | 20 March 2009 at 04:44 PM