Given a reprieve

We have this old rose bush at the back of the house. Our mother planted it more than 50 years ago. When we were kids, it was okay - it would climb up its trellis and bloom politely.

Then the years started getting to it - no flowers, lots of suckers, not any branching or climbing. So we tried to kill it. Every year we'd lop off all the bits we saw. And every year it would send up more suckers and drain the life from the rest of the little garden patch it's in.

This year it decided to earn its keep. It's safe - for now. - Hope