No one in our household can resist the small roses at HEB. Some weeks, the blooms draw attention to the multicolored petals. Other times, a bright yellow set catches my attention, as my mother, sister and I all carried yellow roses at our simple weddings. A brilliant flaming red or a cool soft pink may tempt one of us. I love capturing their brilliance before they fade away.
Copyright 2026 Elizabeth Abrams Chapman
What
is my special treat from the grocery store? Flowers. We enter our local HEB
from one set of doors to purchase groceries. Our route swings us by the plants
and cut flowers at the end of our shopping. A quick evaluation of our cart to judge
whether I’m in budget or not means I may indulge in either cut flowers or a
small plant. The mini roses often draw my attention. First, their inexpensive price
tag means the experiment to keep them alive won’t break the bank. In the past, I’ve repotted the little roses
and successfully moved them to spots outside. Currently, I have one that has
survived for almost a year. It’s not blooming yet, but I’m hopeful it’ll hang
in there long enough to bloom again.
I
feel absolutely spoiled when a dozen roses end up in our cart. Sometimes, the
store has my ultimate favorite—yellow. More often, red or pink bouquets add
splashes of color to our practical grocery purchases. I try to take the time
not only to “smell the roses” but to preserve them through my photography.
Copyright 2024 Elizabeth Abrams Chapman
