Gertrude Stein, after wracking her brain for many hours finally gave up and decided the name itself was more descriptive than anything that she, as  a poet, could concoct and so she simply said: “A rose is a rose is a rose is a rose” and was satisfied that she had best described it’s awesome beauty.

            It is true there are but a very few things in this world as lovely as a rose in full bloom. And Mariposa this time of the year with our ample sunlight is home to many lovely rose bushes.

            One only has to drive on any street in Mariposa to be overwhelmed by the display of so many bright and seemingly glowing red and yellow roses. It is said by local gardeners that the sunlight in Mariposa is significantly superior to other places which is why we have so many beautiful rose bushes growing just about everywhere. Whatever the reason it is a joy just to drive around town and see all the roses that seem so large and have such deep colors.

            Roses are just one of the very many joys one experiences living in the mountain’s shadows.