A “Winter Rose” (Christ Rose)
Our first Christmas in Chelan was fast approaching, and my husband Hal and I, Ilona were very busy to complete the final decorations, fresh white tulips in a beautiful tall, white vase by Rosenthal to place on the buffet in the dining room along with an awesome set of bisque angels by Edward Marshall Boehm. A beautiful Christmas décor!
All other rooms and the entry were done. We now need to find a florist willing to order fresh, white French tulips. If I cannot have tulips, white roses will also look great with a few evergreen branches in that vase. We were so pleased with our decorated white flocked tall tree right in front of the three big windows, overlooking an apple orchard with snow laden old, sculpted apple trees. Standing back and looking at this winter wonder land, satisfied that all looked festive.
We were told that a young gentleman opened a great flower shop in Leavenworth, which is not too far from Chelan. With high hopes we drove to Leavenworth and to visit this florist.
After a nice lunch in one of the German restaurants we asked the waitress where that flower shop was, and she explained it to us and gave us the directions. We ordered our lunch, roulade with a piquant sauce and little, very thin and crunchy potato pancakes on the side. While we were waiting, we had a glass of excellent aged Rhone Valley red.
Set back from the street in a dark stone building was the flower shop and as we entered, we were in awe of all the flowers and stunning arrangements waiting on the tables to go home with someone. It was dark and cool in the shop and there were pleasant fragrances of a large assortment of flowers. I could see why this florist had this reputation. It was paradise! With a big smile we were welcomed by the florist and after I stated what we would wish for, he took us to a big cooler with tulips, roses, gerberas, orchids and single cut poinsettias in white with a little pink and the standard red. He volunteered right away that he gets his French tulips from Canada and that he will call and get some white ones. What was in the cooler was red, red with green large heads, beautiful, yellow and pink ones. But I had set my vision on white ones.
As my Hal and I were looking around the shop, the owner made his phone call and approached us, smiling. Yes, he will have white, French tulips by Friday afternoon. That news made us very happy. I also picked some beautiful branches of fresh noble fir. The fragrance was heavenly. As Hal and I were waiting to pay, I had another look into the cooler for something special. I saw on the bottom shelf a vase with (I could not believe my eyes) little star-shaped, white flowers that reminded me of growing up, my childhood in Germany and Christmas. A nostalgic, warm feeling came over me. They were called “Christ Rose,” like Christ in Christmas not Christ (Jesus) They bloom in December through March in gardens and one can purchase them at the florist. I had never seen them before here in the USA, a delicate white little star, like a miniature rose. The owner came over and told me they were called “Winter Rose” and I told him what memories I had of them. On our way out, the nice gentleman presented me with a little bundle of the Winter roses. Such treasure, such memories. I had tears in my eyes. How sweet of the young man to gift them to us. I will do something very special with them, along with some of the red with green tulips I will purchase on Saturday when we get the white tulips. I am looking so forward to make a very special arrangement with little greens, the large red/green tulips, the precious Christ roses and a beautiful red ribbon with a string of white pearls for the center of my dining room table. Bring on this, so special, so holy and wonderful Christmas miracle.
My Hal and I are ready!
This is a wonderful story from Ilona, full of the beauty of Christmas and the delight of the gift of the winter roses. Ilona’s warm greeting and smile upon entering a shop draws people to her, so it does not surprise me that the young man gifted her with the precious Christ roses. And the Christmas décor sounds absolutely gorgeous!
Such a sweet story. A quiet story like the white silent snow on the apple orchard. I wish I could see the finished Christmas decorated home. I can imagine stepping through the front door and entering her home from the detailed description that Ilona gives. She helps bring you right into the room. I wonder if she had those lovely delicate “real candles” to light the Christmas tree. Thank you for this glimpse of Christmas in the middle of July. Lovely.