Journal, 4.24: The roses are dead

... though I suppose I'm not talking about roses at all

"The true meaning of life is to plant trees, under whose shade you do not expect to sit."

― Nelson Henderson

Hello my friends,

Though I highly doubt it’s the meaning of life, it’s non-negotiable: to plant a tree is to invest in the future. Trees are a great resource, after all.

What then of the gardener who plants roses?

Roses are not harvested for their lumber, nor are they shredded for chipboard and paper. Buildings are certainly not constructed of roses. Roses do not shade the ground beneath them, break strong winds, or shelter large populations of fauna. Though it’s fine enough to garnish a cake in rose petals, roses themselves do not provide my family with sustenance. The ground they are planted in could equally house something bigger, something with more potential.

If I had to do it over again, would I plant the roses?

… though I suppose I'm not talking about roses at all.

Let me back up.