Parasols, Parades and Lady Banksia

The first of April is the time of year when the world's largest rosebush blooms here in my neck of the woods.  That rosebush would be the famous Lady Banksia rosebush in Tombstone,

Arizona.  It just happens to be about a 20 minute drive from

my home.

 This is the view of the top of the bush from the viewing platform which is up about five feet so you can see the top.  This picture does not show it in full bloom yet as the whole bush will be full of the small blooms.  It only lasts a few weeks but is quite awesome to see.

 Its canopy covers 8,500 (!) square feet. The trunk of the monster plant has a circumference of 12 feet. It is, and has been, listed in the Guinness Book of World Records. Plus it smells really good!!

So every year the Rose Festival takes place in Tombstone 

to celebrate this special part of the towns history.  You see

a lady by the name of Mary Gee came to Tombstone from Scotland in 1885. She was the bride of a local miner, and she stayed at the Cochise House while her home was being constructed. She was horrendously homesick, and her family sent her some reminders of home to make her feel better. One of those things was a root to her favorite plant, Lady Banks' Rosebush. She was friendly with the owner of the hotel, and the bush was planted on the grounds. 

Today the bush is in the same spot, but the Cochise House is now called the Rose Tree Inn Museum and Gift Shop. It blooms white roses every April, and their is a parade and festival to celebrate the blooming.  The rosebush is at the corner of 4h Street and Toughnut.

This brings me back to my original title of Parasols, Parades and Lady Banksia.  I participated in this years Rose Parade....the one here in Tombstone not in Pasadena, California!

 There I am on the far left of the above picture.  This is the picture that was in our local newspaper!!  I don't think I have ever had my picture in the newspaper!!  I'm a member of the Tombstone Vigilettes and our group always walks in this parade.

Here I am standing under the Lady Banks rose bush.  I've only been with the Vigilettes for just a year now so this was my first time attending the whole Rose Festival events for that weekend.

This is the picture I took of our ladies getting ready to walk in the parade.  

So with my special picture to display I came up with a few items already around the house and put it in this display in my front room.

I thought my lovely Victorian Lady with her parasol would go very well next to me and my parasol!

 Any time you might find yourself in Arizona around the Tombstone area do stop by and see this very special rose bush.  It's amazing to see the size of it and even more special to see it in bloom.  

These are a few pictures I found of it in full bloom.  Also see how large the trunk is.....very impressive!!

I enjoy seeing my little display when I walk into the front room of Parasols, Parades and Lady Banksia!!

I hope you have enjoyed it also!!

§§§♥♥♥♥♥  Sue  ♥♥♥♥♥§§§

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