Each year, when rose pruning season comes around, I take a few extra moments to remember Ella. Normally I would have a day off but this year I am working on a very large project, one of the biggest since I started rose pruning.
Ella was a dear friend and mentor to me. She gave me kindness, practical support and encouragement when I needed it most. She believed in me, in my work and in what I could build through caring for roses and gardens.
Before she passed, I made Ella a promise that I would keep moving forward, in life, in business and in the rose care work that I love. I have carried that promise with me ever since.
Over the years, JGS Roses has grown, and I am grateful for every client who trusts me with their gardens. This year, I am taking on one of my biggest rose-pruning jobs yet: pruning more than 1,000 roses. It is a big undertaking, but it is also something I am proud to do.
Ella taught me that rose care is not simply a job. It is about taking the time to do things properly, respecting each plant and helping gardens thrive. Every season, I aim to do better, help more people and continue building on the confidence she helped give me.
Although Ella has been gone for many years, her memory, guidance and belief in me continue to live on in the work I do and how I continue to live each day.
This rose season, as I take on new challenges and care for more roses than ever before, I remember Ella with gratitude. I hope she would be proud of how far I have come; and I will keep honouring the promise I made to her.
John, JGS Roses