The dream didn't come suddenly. It ripened over years, like a bud on a slender stem. Once, as a child, I saw a rose of unparalleled beauty at my neighbor's through the fence. Purple, with velvet petals, it smelled so strongly that it made my head spin. I asked for a cutting. The neighbor smiled: "If you grow it, you'll be a hero." The first cutting dried up. Then came the second, the third. But the passion didn't fade. Now, thirty years later, I can't imagine life without roses. They have become my endeavor, my pain, my pride. Today, I will tell you how a simple hobby turned into a destiny.

The First Bud, or How I Believed in Myself

The sixth cutting survived. It was a miracle: I soaked it in honey, wrapped it in film, placed it by the southern window. And one day, tiny leaves emerged. Two months later, a bud! It was crooked, pale pink, without a scent. But I cried like a child. I realized: I can. It was with this rose, which I named "Hope," that my collection began. Now I have over four hundred varieties. But I still remember the first one. It died of black spot in a harsh winter, but it remains in my heart.

Roses as a Business: From Hobby to Profession

For a long time, I worked as an engineer at a factory. Roses were my sanctuary. In the evenings and on weekends, I dug in the soil, grafted, pruned. My colleagues rolled their eyes: "Found something to do." But one day, I calculated: selling seedlings and bouquets brings as much as my salary at the factory. I quit. It was scary. My wife supported me. I rented a plot, built greenhouses. At first, I made mistakes: bought sick seedlings, lost crops to frost. But I learned from my mistakes. Now I conduct master classes, people come to me from all over the region. Roses feed my family and bring joy.

Secrets of Growing: What I Learned in 30 Years

Roses don't like hustle. They need a routine, love, and cold calculation. The main rule: good drainage. Roots should not be wet. Second: at least six hours of sunlight a day. Third: pruning. Without it, the bush becomes wild. I use only organic fertilizers: manure, compost, ash. Chemistry kills the scent. I even talk to roses. Yes, it sounds strange, but they feel the mood. On a bad day, the leaves turn yellow. On a good day, they bloom more lushly. And above all, patience. Some varieties bloom on the third year after planting. But it's worth it.

Top 5 of My Favorite Varieties

"Gloria Day" — a classic creamy yellow with a pink edge. The aroma is strong, sweet. Blooms until frost. "Pierre de Ronsar" — a climbing rose with large cup-shaped flowers. Ideal for arches. "Black Magic" — dark purple, almost black. For those who love mysticism. "Leonardo da Vinci" — softly pink, with dense mossy petals. Similar to a peony. "Vesterland" — orange-rose pink, with an incredible fruity scent. Each variety requires a special approach. But they are all beautiful.

The Dream Come True

I often remember the boy who looked at a foreign rose through the fence. Today, I have my own nursery. In June, when the garden is in bloom, I turn on soft music, sit in a wicker chair, and breathe in the aroma. It's happiness. I didn't become a millionaire, but I am free. I do what I love. And people appreciate my flowers. They come to us for weddings, birthdays, just for a bouquet of mood. I realized: growing roses is not just work. It's a way to speak to the world in the language of beauty.

Advice for Beginners

Don't be afraid to start with one bush. Plant a tea hybrid rose "Flammentanz" — it's not picky. Buy a good secateur, don't skimp. Learn how to cover the plants for winter. Straw, spandex, dry leaves. Don't overwater. And don't listen to "experts" who say that roses are difficult. Everything is difficult until you try. The main thing is the desire. And the memory of why you do it.

Diseases and Pests: Experience of Battle

Black spot, powdery mildew, aphids. These are my enemies. I don't use pesticides — they kill bees and beneficial insects. Instead, I use garlic, tobacco, ash. If the infestation is severe, I remove the sick leaves and burn them. It's important not to overcrowd plantings — air should circulate. And water under the root, not on the leaves. Diseases often come with purchased seedlings, so I have been taking cuttings only from trusted people for many years.

Roses and Family

At first, my wife was jealous of the flowers. She said: "You spend more time with them than with me." Then I involved her in the business. Now she herself makes bouquets, manages social networks. The children grew up with roses. They know the difference between floribunda and groundcover. My granddaughter already asks for her own bush. Roses have brought us together. We have gone through droughts and aphid invasions together. We rejoice in every new bloom. This is our family value.

The Future: New Varieties and Plans

I dream of breeding my own variety. A dark blue rose with a vanilla scent. So far, it's not working. But I am experimenting with cross-pollination. Plans include expanding the nursery, launching an online store for seedlings. And definitely writing a book. About how a simple hobby became the whole life's endeavor. To make others believe: dreams come true. Not immediately, with pain, with losses. But they do come true.

Growing roses is not a hobby and not a business. It's a dialogue. You give the earth labor, warmth, care, and it gives you a miracle. A miracle that smells and touches the soul. I am happy. I have found my own. Look for yours.

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