This is my first post for Macro Monday, and I really don’t know why I haven’t joined in with this one before, since I love to take macro pictures! Anyway. This is not the best macro photo I’ve taken, not by a long way, but it’s very dear to me.
This is Beautiful James. It’s a unique rose in the true sense of the word, because there is only one bush in the whole word. And it is mine.
James was our very first dog, and he really was a beautiful soul. He’d been abused and neglected before he landed in Wood Green Animal Shelter at Godmanchester in Cambridgeshire, but his faith in the human race never wavered and he was one of the most eager-to-please greyhounds I’ve ever met. I only had to make him understand what I wanted from him and he’d do it if he possibly could. He had a huge vocabulary of words, gestures and commands and he never once, in his entire life with us, so much as grumbled at a person, no matter how old or how young, or what they were doing. He endured some very unpleasant medical procedures without a murmur – he was so compliant and gentle that our vet called him ‘Gentleman Jim’.
James was 100% small dog safe and he was afraid of cats, and yet he was a fierce hunter of rabbits. And however far he ran from me on his spontaneous hunting trips he would always, always come back to the exact spot he left me.
So when he died at the venerable old age of thirteen and a half, I needed to find something beautiful as a memorial and I chose to have a rose bush named for him – a completely new variety, which would be his alone.
It is beautiful, don’t you think? Just like James.
It certainly is a beautiful macro and a beautiful rose. James was obviously a beautiful dog
Just from the beautiful photo of the rose…I can smell the lovely soft scent, and feel the softness of the petals. From the photo of James I can see the comfort he felt in your arms and the gentleness of his soul.
Well done, could not have been any better than this, Jay.
Oh Jay, how lovely… *swallowing hard*.
Must admit that when first seeing the rose, I started searching for the unusual insect I felt sure you had ‘snapped’ lurking within… but instead you give us this heart warming story of a beautiful flower and a precious canine friend called James!
Thanks for that. Nice start to the week.
Absolutely lovely, Jay! I just love your idea of planting as a memorial! A beautiful post!
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Welcome to this Macro world! Will show you great macros from all over the world and as one gets comments you get inspired and see the world in a different way sometimes.
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Love the rose and the story behind. Me myself is also a dog-fan and nowadays I’ve only one left The other passed away in January aged 14. If you look at the challenge Camera-Critters where I participate sometimes you will find many gorgeous dogs (as mine
Thanks for commenting on my blog!
I will look forward for more entries in the Macroworld
/Christina, Sweden
What a wonderful tribute to such a brave dog ! and the idea to give a rose bush his name is very touching. The rose is just gorgeous !
Pretty macro!
Oh, that sweet baby!
Great captures. And, yes. Both subjects are truly beautiful!
Beautiful rose for a beautiful boy!
Lovely tribute to you wonderful dog.
Your words and the picture below moved me to tears. What an amazing pet he must have been. A very special friend, I can imagine. He had a happy life at your home, I can see that. If that is not your best macro, I’m dying to see more!! This is absolutely stunning. And a beautiful story to go with it. Nice meeting you!
It’s a glorious photo and a wonderful story.
What a moving and beautiful posting Jay. It made me weep.
You must have loved Beautiful James so much, but what a worry making certain that nothing could befall the rose bush. Have you taken any cuttings from it?
What lucky dogs your greyhounds are! To be sent to live with someone so loving after a life of kennels, tracks, and other greyhounds? I bet they all come alive and positively shine after they come to live with you.
That’s a great macro. Beautiful James! Jim! Happy tears.
Babs – Thanks, Babs. Yes, he was. Very beautiful. I do miss him!
Sistertex – Thank you so much. I always agonise when we lose a dog. Did they have a good life with us? Did they like being our dog? But we do our very best to make it so, and I think James did love being with us. He had a good life, and a long one.
Geri Atric – I’m so glad you liked it. Actually, there was a little spider in the rose, but I cropped him out for this one. He wasn’t in sharp focus, anyway.
Petra – Thanks! I’m trying to find a plant of some kind for Jack – there is a rhododendron called Captain Jack, and I think I will order one. There is only one place that sells them. He was my little Jack Sparrow.
Christina – Thanks for the welcome, and the kind words! We lost two dogs recently, one at the end of December 08, and the other only a few weeks later in February. To say I was grief-stricken was an understatement. Traumatised, in fact. I do feel for you losing your 14 year old.
Gattina – Thank you! I’m very happy with the rose. You can’t choose what you get, other than vague colour guidelines, but it does smell fragrant, and it’s so pretty with the gold flush!
Dina at 4 Lettre Words – He was such a sweetheart – thank you for your kind words!
Regina, Heather P and EG Wow – Thanks!
Jientje – I think he did have a good life with us – we certainly tried to make it so. He was my beloved companion, and yes, an amazing dog. Thank you.
Liz – Thank you!
Tuli – What kind words! Thank you! They do blossom, for sure. Their true character develops after a while – along with some bad habits, usually! But they learn, with patience and kindness.
All dogs crave is approval and love.
Sandy – Thank you, Sandy. I loved him so much!
Granny – Thank you! Yes, I did love him very much indeed, and yes, it’s a bit of a worry. I’ve tried taking cuttings, both soft and hard but no luck. I even gave some to my mother, who is usually successful, but she couldn’t either. So this year, I’m leaving a few hips on and I’m going to try to grow some from seed. Wish me luck!
I knew it would be a fragrant rose, something about the splayed petals. So few have a proper fragrance these days. And that brindley boy is just lovely. They really are sweet dogs!
Beautiful story…beautiful rose.
Both photos are absolutely stunning.
Such a heartwarming story.
Your macro of the rose is very soft and beautiful.
Thats also a very sweet image of your James.
James and the rose you named after him are both beautiful!
I thought this was a picture of a rose until I read the story; now, through my tears, I see that it’s a heart.
What a lovely way to remember him and what a beautiful boy he was!
That is a gorgeous rose! and your macro are stunning.
I too linki floral memories to our special friends. I’m having a rough summer Jay . I cried all day about my little dog yesterday . I miss her so much
I love the colour of the rose and the story accompanying it. And how brilliant to be able to name your own rosebush!
Oh Jay, I love your heart. What a perfect memorial to someone you loved so dearly
SO DETAIL! Love it!!!!
Baino – Yes, I think the more open roses are more likely to be fragrant, aren’t they?
CarolynUSA and Ruth – Thank you!
Carletta – Oh, thank you! I was a little disappointed that it wasn’t crisper, but I suppose it does suit the subject to be a little soft, doesn’t it?
Vicki FL – Thank you!
Ethelmaepotter – Oh, how sweet. Thank you! He certainly did have my heart – he was what some would call my ‘heart’ dog.
Kate – Thank you! For James, I really needed something as a living tribute. It helped me to see the continuity of life, somehow.
Jama – How kind you are! I do appreciate your comment!
Sandy – You poor soul. You have lost more than your share of loved ones lately, haven’t you?
Mara – Well, it cost us a pretty penny, but it was definitely worth it! Thank you!
Shrinky – I did love him dearly indeed! You know, I hadn’t realised it, but the crop of the rose does include a heart shape, doesn’t it? Purely unconscious, but it’s there! How sweet.
Mami Picture – Thank you!
that photo of the rose is STUNNING and James was obviously a beautiful dog!! xoxoxo
That is the most beautiful tribute I have ever heard.
Meleah – Thanks! Yes, he was. I miss him.
The Incredible Woody – Thank you, Woody – he was the most beautiful dog, so he deserves it. They never live long enough, do they?
I’m catching up on your posts and I’m not leaving a comment on every one (it would take me far too much time and I love all your posts anyway), but I had to tell you that both James’s are BEAUTIFUL indeed.
And I hope that the photography course I’m going to do will result in me being half as good a photographer as you are. I’d be pretty pleased with that.
Carolina – Oh, how sweet of you! Thank you!
I’m sure you’ll do very well indeed on your photography course! I did one several years ago and learned an awful lot. It’s well worth it!