In my recent newsletter, I mentioned our garden's clematis vines and rose bushes (and Deuteronomy 6:11). Here's a look, with two close-up photos.

And wow! do these smell sweet.

In particular, what I said was this: "One of my favorite parts of spring is tending the rose bushes and clematis vines we inherited from our house's previous owners. They're doing great this year (the plants, that is). I feel like a man with the blessings of 'vineyards and olive groves that [I] did not plant' (Deut. 6:11)."

I felt a little bad not being able to show you how beautiful they are — but now you can see for yourself. Here are some close-ups of their blossoms, taken during the week of Memorial Day, just about at their peak.

first published Jun 7, 2004