Friday, November 25, 2011

Luck of the Draw

Sometimes, you just get lucky.  One of my favorite Christmas memories was the time I won the lottery.  Well, not really.  But, kind of.  In a way.  A small way.

It was the year the Cabbage Patch dolls were so popular.  Remember them?  People were paying big bucks to acquire one.  People were fighting over the few shipped to the retail stores.  And every little girl wanted one.  Including my oldest daughter, who was around 5 at the time.


I had given up getting a Cabbage Patch doll for her.  I wasn't even trying.  But, luck was on my side.

My mother and I were out shopping a couple of Saturdays before Christmas, when we walked into the local five and dime.  We were looking for some simple little item.  But when we walked in, we saw stacks of Cabbage Patch dolls!

LaMarne

My mother asked if they were for sale, and yes, they were, but there was a catch.  The store was having a drawing for the chance to buy one.  One lucky winner would be drawn every hour, on the hour.  Must be present to win.  The next drawing was to be held in just a few minutes.

Sign us up!


We gathered around, along with the other 30 or 40 people that had signed up and stayed in the hopes of winning an opportunity of purchasing the most coveted gift that Christmas.  Of having some little girl's dreams come true.

"Number 53!"


I looked down.  I had number 52.  So close.  But, of course, close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades.  "That's me!  That's me!" I heard someone say.  That someone was my mother!

My mother gave the Cabbage Patch doll to me so I could give it to my oldest daughter that year.   I guess, like in horseshoes, I was close enough!  I don't know if my daughter remembers getting that doll on that Christmas so long ago.  But I remember.



I feel just as lucky to have 'La Marne' in my garden.  I added this rose to my garden this past year, not really knowing much about it.  I won the rose lottery on this one.  A rose that blooms continually, and not just a bloom here and there, but all over.  I've never seen a rose this young bloom as much.

La Marne made it through this year's drought, and did it cheerfully.  Although, with our scorching summer temperatures, it did appreciate a bit of shade in the afternoon.  I actually have two in matching raised beds, and the one rose that received sun all day with no relief suffered much more in this drought. But, as you can see in the picture below, they are both blooming profusely now.


La Marne can get up to 6 ft tall, grows in zones 6 to 9 (possibly 5), is blackspot and rust resistant, and is designated an Earthkind rose.  I've read it makes a beautiful hedge, and I can imagine that it does.  It's almost thornless, and can be kept at around 3 ft, so it would be a good rose by the front door, too.  Unfortunately, there is little to no fragrance.

This is one rose I would recommend, if you're not concerned about fragrance.  I bet your La Marne will last a lot longer than the Cabbage Patch craze!

48 comments:

  1. Jennifer@threedogsinagarden
    What a nice and touching story! You always right with what seems like great ease and with such clever turn of phrase. Do you write professionally?
    La Marne sounds like a winner. I like that it is my favourite pink, almost thornless and disease resistant. Too bad it has no fragrance. Now, where can I squeeze in this 6ft beauty? Have a great Thanksgiving!

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  2. I was 6 when the CP dolls came out and my mother stood in line to get two, one for me and one for my little sister. We loved them; I still remember. :)

    That is a beautiful rose! I love it with the salvia. Do you think that the intense stress from the summer caused it to bloom more this year? I have heard that stress makes some plants more desperate to produce seed? I guess it might be might be easier to tell based on one you have had for a few years.

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  3. Oh my! I remember those Cabbage Patch wars. LOL! People were literally fighting over them here.Or tramping over one another to get to one. People were paying over a hundred dollars just to get one. I was glad my daughter was out of the doll baby stage by then. LOL! I wonder if any girls even want them now when I spot one in the store. Have a wonderful weekend and thanks for the laugh.

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  4. Wow! I am so envious to see your rose in bloom like this :) How lucky indeed.

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  5. From Cabbage Patch to La Marne, you continue to win. Your roses are definitely gorgeous and glad to know they are rust resistant. May fortune continue to go your way.

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  6. Holley, your La Marne is sooo... beautiful. As you stated yourself already it is amazing that such a young rose blooms so profusely. No wonder that you feel you won the lottery with La Marne! I love that you have combined it with a lilac/blue flowering plant. Is this a salvia? Do you mind telling me the name of the variety? Wishing you a nice weekend!
    Christina

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  7. Jennifer - I hope you can find a spot for this one! I don't think you'll be disappointed. Thank you so much for the sweet compliments. I've always dreamed of writing a book, does that count? :)

    Wife, Mother, Gardener - I thought some might remember those dolls, either as a child receiving them, or as an adult giving them. I hope no one remembers not getting them! I'm not sure this rose is blooming extra because of the stress, though I've heard of that, too. I'll let you know next year!

    Lona - What's odd was I had seen those dolls earlier in the year, and thought they were so ugly I didn't buy one. Then they became "The" thing to get! I'm still not sure how that came about!

    Dewi - I am thrilled they are still blooming. I'm hoping we don't get a cold snap any time soon! I'd rather have roses for Christmas than snow!

    One - Fortune has not always smiled on me, but it's fun when it does!

    Christina - Yes, this is a salvia. I believe it's salvia sinaloensis. I tried to find more information, and I think it's sold as Sapphire Salvia or Aztec Blue. It's an electric blue with two white dots on the petals. I love its coloring. A much more brilliant blue and less purple than May Night. I hope you can find one.

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  8. Oh my, I do remember the cabbage patch craze... LaMarne is beautiful. I need to grow this rose.

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  9. That is great that your mom won and you were able to give it to your daughter! I soo remember getting my first Cabbage Patch Kid! Too funny! As for La Marne...it sounds like a wonderful rose...hmmm I wonder how it would do in our zone 5?? I will have to ask around because it sounds too good to pass up!

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  10. Beautiful Rose and I can remember the Cabbage Patch craze. Geez I even have one. :)
    Cher Sunray Gardens

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  11. Oh to be able to grow roses. You are so fortunate. Sometimes I think I would take the summer drought over the -30 degree temperatures in the winter that doesn't agree with my roses.

    Isn't it amazing what we as parents have been through for our children that we remember so vividly and they probably have long forgotten.

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  12. redneckrosarian- I think this is a rose you'd really like.

    My Garden Diaries - It's fun to hear who remembers giving or getting one of those dolls. Zone 5 - maybe. The more I researched this rose, the more variance I found on the zones. Some said only to zone 7 (which was quickly questioned), some said up to zone 4 (but I was hesitant to include this zone). Most said either zones 5 to 9 or 6 to 9. Your idea of asking around is perfect - someone with experience in your own zone is better than any internet search!

    Cher - I think we kept that one for quite some time, but it's long gone now. I did like the concept that each one was unique, with a different name. It did make them a bit more special.

    wilderness - I could never take -30 degrees! I'll gladly endure the heat to not have to take that extreme cold! haha - I start shivering at 60 degrees! Yes, I'm a wimp!

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  13. that's great! I remember those days well, and ended up going into business creating my own version of the cabbage patch doll, they sold well. These roses are just great, I may add these along with those others you emailed me about...hope you had a wonderful holiday...

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  14. I remember the Cabbage Patch Dolls craze and could not understand it, but I love this rose...now I would wait in a lottery for this...lovely and the companion planting too

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  15. I do remember getting my first cabbage patch doll! I had no idea the history behind it!
    That's a fantastic memory that just got a little sweeter. <3

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  16. I was a very young, just married woman when Cabbage Patch Kids were all the rage. An aunt-by-marriage gave me one for Christmas. About five years later I passed her to my own daughter. I still remember how the CPK smelled, like baby powder and sweet. They say the sense of smell accounts for the strongest memories. Roses--ah, another wonderful scent.

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  17. What a sweet story! I never win things like that, so I can imagine how exciting it was! The rose is beautiful too. It looks fantastic with that salvia!

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  18. No poignant Cabbage Patch doll memories for me. The boys did not get caught up in that one. Ha! I do like your La Marnes. I didn't realize they were such a deep pink. It's supposed to be bulletproof in Florida, too. Thanks for a lovely story to go along with the dazzling pics.

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  19. Robin - When I was looking at this rose, I realized it might be a good one for your garden, except I think you might miss the fragrance.

    Donna - It's hard to understand how those crazes get started. A thornless rose, however, is worth waiting in line for!

    Suzan - Those cabbage patch dolls were all the rage for some time. The poor retailers really tried to be fair. Now the popular gift item just gets sold on ebay or amazon at an elevated price!

    StoBlogger - I remember that smell, too! I always wondered what they put on dolls to make them smell that way!

    Indie - As a child, I was always signing up with contests - and I won quite a bit. My parents had to explain I wasn't 18 and couldn't legally win. After I turned 18, I don't think I ever won anything again! I was lucky my mother won this one, though!

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  20. Sherry - haha I guess you were spared having to try and hunt down an available Cabbage Patch doll! You probably had to hunt down lots of boy toys over the years, though. Bulletproof and thornless - if only it had more of a fragrance, it would be a perfect rose!

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  21. I was too proud to admit I wanted one of these things and was sooo disappointed that I didn't get one. I bet your daughter might not remember getting it, but she sure would remember had she not! :)

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  22. What a great story about that doll. I was a kid when they came out but what I wanted was a pony (preferably real). No real ponies but I got one of those pink my little ponies and loved it to bits. What parents won't do for their children!

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  23. Thanks (I think) for another pink rose to add to the list of possible replacements for two Rock Roses (Cistus) that are getting a bit geriatric in my front garden. I had decided a rose was the way to go, but which one? La Marne is definitely a contender now.

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  24. Jess - So sorry you didn't get one. :( I'm certain your parents tried hard not to disappoint you. I think there were a lot of disappointed little girls that year.

    Marguerite - I always wanted a real pony, too. And actually got one for a while! I loved my plastic ponies just as much.

    Lyn - So glad I could help! ;) You know that I definitely think roses are the way to go!

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  25. Sometimes all you need is a plant that is just so reliable and unfussy, like this rose :) And great story about the Cabbage Patch doll!

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  26. Great story, Holley! Congrats on the CP doll and on your more recent acquisition and cultivation of the beautiful La Marne! It IS lovely! Possibly zone 5...hmmm...

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  27. Great story, but I always hated those dolls---hideous and creepy. Can't say that about the rose though.

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  28. I do remember the cabbage patch craze! I once went with friends to the Cabbage Patch factory in Cleveland, Georgia where they are 'birthed'. Secretly, I thought they were ugly and was glad, as the mother of all boys, I did not have to buy one! No, it was teenage mutant ninja turtles for me!

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  29. greggo - I have been so pleased with this rose. Usually it takes a year or two (or three) for my roses to put out as many blooms as this!

    Mark and Gaz - It sure make gardening fun to have easy plants sometimes, doesn't it?

    PlantPostings - Sometimes I research my roses before I get them, sometimes I don't. I knew this one had a good reputation, I just didn't realize just how good a rose it was!

    Carolyn - haha I know a lot of people thought they were ugly. :)

    debsgarden - Oh, my! I almost forgot about the teenage mutant ninja turtles! What a rush of memories you just gave me!

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  30. Holly, thats a lovely story to go with a lovely Rose! xx

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  31. I'm jealous that you have that much color in November. It looks like my May! Really a gorgeous rose. I'll file that name away for future lucky plantings. Cheers!

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  32. I liked your cute story. I remember those dolls too. They were kinda funny looking. Your rose looks so pretty in your garden and photos. It is such a delicate and feminine pink.

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  33. Oh my, I remember all that Cabbage Patch mania, that was some time ago! Personally I think I'd rather have La Marne ;) I love the color, and that it's blooming this much in November is truly impressive!

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  34. Gardening Blog - It's the little things that give us the most joy.

    nittygrittydirtman - November has been wonderful here. Oh, but May is fabulous!

    GWGT - I like this color pink, too. Not quite baby pink - a little more sophisticated.

    Dog Blog - Any rose that will put forth that many blooms is a fast favorite of mine!

    Curbstone Valley Farm - And it bloomed all summer! It was almost like a painting, never changing, just full of blooms every time I saw it.

    Grace - I am pleased with the addition of the salvia next to it, too. Amazing how much companion plantings can add.

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  35. I do remember the Cabbage Patch craze. Tried to get one for my friend's daughter but I was not willing to stand in the lines.

    La Marne - Love her! Great alternative to a Pink KnockOut. Makes a great hedge. I am trying to figure out where to put them in the loft garden now that I know the lay of the land.

    Funny -"Horseshoes and hand grenades" - I say that all the time. Think it is a Texas-ism?

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  36. Tufa Girl - I didn't realize it, but I think you're right about it being a Texas-ism! haha

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  37. Holley, thank you so much for letting me know about the name of that salvia. Your description of it sounds very nice. I will see if I can find it here in San Diego. So far I am only growing salvia 'Black & Blue' and I feel my garden could need some more lovely salvias! Thanks again!
    Christina

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  38. Christina - I hope you find it. I don't have any black and blue salvia, and I want to add it to my garden next year!

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  39. That rose is much prettier than a Cabbage Patch Kid! I remember badly wanting one when I was young, but instead I got a knock off version called a Doll Baby. It was even uglier than a cabbage patch doll. Nowadays I'd much rather have a rose :)

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  40. Ruth - Interesting. I never heard of Doll Baby. Even uglier? That's quite an accomplishment! hahaha

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  41. What a fabulous story about the CP doll and your rose is truly spectacular - thank you for sharing so many photos of it for us to delight in.

    Happy day!
    Felicity x

    Visiting via POTM club

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  42. What a great story about the doll - I love it! What a sweet hard-working rose. It is absolutely beautiful with the salvia.

    Thank you for linking up with POTM Club! It is great to have you there. XOL

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  43. Felicity - Thanks so much for stopping by! The rose takes a much prettier picture than the CP doll! :)

    Happy Homemaker UK - Christmas makes so many memories for the parents that the children aren't even aware of! It seems everyone has their own story of the same Christmas! Thanks for hosting!

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  44. Beautiful blog and fun story. I'm visiting from POTM Club at HH UK and I'm going to send a link from your blog to my Mother-in-law as she loves roses and gardening and she will enjoy it here. Take care and thanks for sharing your joy with us.

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  45. Eli - Thank you so much for sharing my blog with your mother-in-law. I hope she enjoys it. Thanks for visiting.

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