English Roses Novels & Stories

She had no appetite, especially having to remember that incredibly painful message. "But this one is Oracle's." A small, meaty pointer guided Rose's gaze to the floribunda rose, a cross between a hybrid tea and polyantha rose. It had a new race of scents. It had its own distinct shape, blooming in a large size. Sandwiched between the roses Theo had given her. "Beautiful. Where did Oracle get this?" "We went to the flower shop, Mommy. Uncle T came to the house early this morning... to pick up Oracle."

Iris said, watching him move through the garden with obvious familiarity. "As I know them." He paused beside a bed of flowers that resembled nothing she'd ever seen—blooms that shifted color with each breath, petals that seemed to be made of crystallized moonlight. "This one Eleanor cultivated specifically for my needs. She called it Rosa eternis—the eternal rose." When he touched the flower, it responded with a note so pure and beautiful that Iris felt tears spring to her eyes. The plant's glow intensified, and its voice joined the chorus with what could only be described as contentment.

They seemed to express that I didn't want him anymore. Facing 50 acres of land, Jeffrey finally realized that I, like these departed roses, would not return. The roses had been given to another woman by him casually, and its owner would not return because of himself. I would no longer plant flowers for him. He would never see me holding roses and asking him, "The roses are ripe. When are we going to get married?" He realized that roses had feelings too. I was willing to be trapped in a greenhouse by him because of my love for him.

The damp earthiness from freshly cut stems mingles with the fragrance of roses, lavender, and eucalyptus, creating a soothing harmony. At the back of the shop, long wooden tables are already filled with students setting up for the class. Before me, an array of flowers is neatly arranged—deep red roses with their elegant petals, delicate baby's breath as soft as cotton, eucalyptus leaves in pale green, releasing their refreshing scent into the air. I reach out, my fingertips grazing the cool surface of a white rose. It feels soft, almost like silk, its fragile beauty contrasted by the small thorns hidden along its stem—sharp, as if guarding itself.

*** Romaine was still debating if what she saw earlier at Thalia’s garden were real or just a phantom caused by the black rose’s influence. A dozen of black-colored roses identical to a Black Peruvian Rose were growing in Thalia’s rosarium. Though there are black flowers that are quite popular here in Ireland such as the black dahlias and the Queen of the Night tulips, Romaine was still in doubt that the flowers she saw was in any way a Black Peruvian Rose. Considering that the latter has silver linings along the petals’ edges, much like the flower she saw earlier before she left her neighbor’s English-style house.

She was glimmering looking at the orange roses. Elliot: Are they that adorable? Celia: Yes… Do you know what they mean? Elliot: A rose is a rose. What else could it mean? She shifted her eyes to Elliot. Celia: Oh! I thought who is this dumb? I was right, I guess… Elliot: Who are you calling dumb? Crook… Celia: Orange roses mean beginning of a new relationship; it could be love or crush. Elliot: Are you planning to give this to someone?

Behind us, a lush forest of vibrant green stretched endlessly, framing the scenery like a dream. Nestled within the trees was a vintage estate, its architecture timeless and elegant. Ordinarily, such an isolated house might have exuded an eerie vibe, but this one didn’t. Instead, it brimmed with life, its stone walls draped in blooming roses—lush, extravagant, and impossibly beautiful. Clusters of red, blush pink, soft yellow, and creamy white roses climbed in vibrant waves, creating what seemed like an ocean of blossoms. I gasped, excitement bubbling up as I recognized each bloom.

A few wide-open creamy roses were added to each arched hedge as decoration. The Dusk Roses on the right, though, caught my attention the most. It was crammed with fully bloomed-red roses. Some were late crimson like the first glass of wine you drank in the morning, some were velvety scarlet like a medieval old-fashioned dress you wore, some were seductive red like the apple in the garden of Eden, and some were newly red like rouge on a girl who is waiting for her date. Augustine took my hand and stopped in front of the Dusk Roses, he ran his hand through my hair, and his blue eyes that shone under the moonlight stared at me, I almost assumed that he would say a vow in those roses' witness.

He takes a slow breath and makes his way over to me holding out the rose. “You look absolutely exquisite,” he breathes, and I feel my cheeks heat up. I take the rose and sniff it instinctively. I’m surprised when I can smell that it’s real; there’s no colouring chemicals. I had no idea green roses even existed. It’s a very soft green, a kind of tea green shade but it’s beautiful, nonetheless. I smile up at him in awe to find him still staring at me. “I can’t believe you did all this for me, thank you, Marcus. I don’t know what to say,” I tell him as I feel myself getting choked up with emotions.

These flowers, delicately attached to pearls for added weight, were tossed into the open windows of the carriage as a symbol of admiration and luck. The oxyplant flowers, known for their luminescent beauty and enchanting fragrance, filled the carriage with a captivating aura. Each blossom boasted an array of vibrant colors, ranging from azure blues to coral pinks, captivating the senses of the princesses. The delicate petals shimmered as they caught the dappled light filtering through the water, casting an ethereal glow within the carriage. The sweet scent of the flowers enveloped Nerissa and Madissa, filling their hearts with a sense of joy and gratitude.