Wild Roses and Gaspee Days

I started writing this article about the Gaspee Day Parade, a local tradition; the beautiful and beautiful smelling wild roses; our garden; and a Memorial Day visit after I returned from watching the parade for about fifteen minutes on June 8, 2024.

The Gaspee Day Parade

Today was the Gaspee Day Parade, I returned from watching it for about fifteen minutes a little while ago. And it is still going on. Gaspee Days is a week-long celebration of the burning of the HMS Gaspee, a British ship, in 1772. It took place at what is now known as the Gaspee Point, not too far from where we live. To celebrate the landmark event, the Gaspee Days Committee organizes road races, art markets, displays, shows, and a parade that starts at the end of our street.

Days before the parade, many people put their chairs on both sides of the road for a good viewing point. The parade starts just a little before the end of our street and they walk about two miles to Pawtuxet Village. One of the major attractions is the Pawtuxet Rangers who enact the rangers of the old times. They have an encampment in Pawtuxet Park and the highlight event occurs on Sunday: The burning of the Gaspee. A small replica of the historic ship is set on fire as they did to the original.

There are other scheduled events listed on the Gaspee Days site. Below are some photographs I captured of the parade representing various groups who want to keep some memories alive like the Vietnam Veterans, the Girl Scouts, and many others. We walked down to see the parade after it started and by the time we arrived, many of the highlights had already walked by. But the photographs should give you a sense of the event that lasts from 10 AM till 1 PM.

Stop and Smell The Wild Roses

Many wild growth spots around Rhode Island seem to have these wild roses. There are a couple of wilderness spots near us and this time every year they get covered with wild roses. The small flowers grow in clusters and the plant climbs nearby trees to reach new heights. Yes, I have written about them in the past, but the lovely flowers with a beautiful smell deserve all the attention I can spare for them.

The presence of wild roses is also evident in the lovely aroma they exude into the air. Indeed, approaching the area, one would first notice the beautiful smell and the minuscule white dots peppered on the deep green foliage. Getting closer will add shape and form to the roses at different levels. At a reasonable distance, the green foliage with white clusters looks like a rug hanging from the trees. Getting closer yet will let the clusters emerge, and then the delicate flowers will grab attention.

I look forward to this season to enjoy the wild roses. If you are in the area, you may want to visit the two locations I enjoy. The first is at the corner of North Country Club Drive and Spring Green Road, and the second is at the intersection of Eleanor and Osceola Streets. The former is larger and the latter is more accessible.

Memorial Day and Our Garden

On Memorial Day, the last Monday in May, the nation remembers the American military service personnel, especially those who lost their lives in service. We visit Jan’s father’s grave where Jan leaves a plant and a US flag. It was a pleasant May day and the cemetery was decorated with US flags of different sizes. The cemetery put up large ones around the roads and many visitors left small ones at their family member’s graves.

Of course, I cannot ignore our garden with plenty of irises, clematis, peonies, and other plants. This year the yellow bearded irises dominated the beds, followed by peonies. Other plants put out their charm in their unique ways. Since we have had frequent intermittent rain, I did not need to put the sprinklers to water the gardens in the front and back. Here are some of the delights from our gardens. See you next time!