Our peace rose seems bigger and earlier than ever this year. The peace rose has a lovely story. To quote Wikipedia:
In early 1945 the rose specialist Meilland wrote to Field Marshal Alan Brooke (later Viscount Alanbrooke), the principal author of the master strategy that won the Second World War, to thank him for his key part in the liberation of France and to ask if Brooke would agree to give his name to the rose. Brooke declined saying that, although he was honored to be asked, his name would soon be forgotten and a much better and more enduring name would be “Peace”.
The adoption of the trade name “Peace” was publicly announced in the United States on 29 April 1945 by the introducers, Messrs Conard Pyle Co.. This was the very day that Berlin fell, the official end of the Second World War in Europe. Later that year Peace roses were given to each of the delegations at the inaugural meeting of the United Nations in San Francisco, each with a note which read:
“We hope the ‘Peace’ rose will influence men’s thoughts for everlasting world peace.”
Three more deaths in our area today, sadly, giving a total of 46. The number of new deaths in France was 289 against 427 yesterday, a much more encouraging figure. However our area is classified orange on the new red, orange, green map that indicates the number of suspected cases. Unfortunately we are orange.
Notre rose de la paix semble plus tôt et plus grande que jamais. La rose de la paix a une belle histoire. Pour citer Wikipedia (ma traduction):
Au début de l’année 1945 Meilland a écrit au maréchal Alan Brooke (plus tard Vicomte Alanbrooke), l’auteur principal de la stratégie de maître qui a gagné la deuxième guerre mondiale, pour le remercier de sa contribution clé à la libération de la France et demander si Brooke donnerait son nom à la rose. Brooke a refusé en disant que bien que cette demande soit un honneur, on oublierait vite son nom. Il trouvait qu’un nom bien meilleur et plus pérenne serait “paix”.
L’adoption du nom commercial de “paix” a été annoncé publiquement aux Etats-Unis le 29 avril 1945. C’était le jour même de la chute de Berlin, date considérée officiellement comme marquant la fin de la deuxième guerre en Europe. Un peu plus tard la même année, on a offert des roses de la paix à chacune des délégations qui assistait à la réunion inaugurale des Nations unis à San Francisco. Avec chaque rose,il y avait un message:
“Nous espérons que la rose de la paix influencera les pensées des hommes vers une paix mondiale durable.”
Le nombre de décès en Loir-et-Cher est passé de 43 à 46 tandis que le nombre de nouveaux morts en France au cours des 24 dernières heures a chuté de 427 à 289, chiffre très encourageant. Mais le Loir-et-Cher est classé orange sur la nouvelle carte du confinement qui indique le nombre de cas de suspicion. Malheureusement nous sommes orange.
This property called Les Tilleuls (The Linden Trees) was at the end of our walk today. We are so looking forward to cycling again and going further afield after 11th May.
After a very long period of sun and blue skies, most unusual for spring, rain has appeared on the horizon and we are in for two weeks of overcast skies.
This iris turned up unexpectedly among the arum lilies. Obviously not into lockdown.
Today is the fortieth day of lockdown which means we have ended the traditional quarantine period of 40 days. Quarantine is actually a French word meaning 40 days. However we still have another 16 days to go. It is also Anzac Day in Australia and New Zealand which is a national day of remembrance to commemorate those who served and died in wars, conflicts and peace-keeping operations. I made Anzac biscuits which were first made by Australian women to send to the ANZACs (Australian and New Zealand Army Corps) serving in Gallipoli in WW1.
The roses are incredibly early this year!
I stopped and took a photo of this horse chestnut tree on the way to the newly opened garden centre today.
We took a slightly different route on our walk today and I was able to take a better photo of this play house that is respecting social distancing perfectly.