Alberta Rose

My bell today is a tiny one. As you can see, it is displayed on a curio shelf made by my brother-in-law close to 50 years ago.

At that time both my sister and I had a collection of miniature thimbles and other ornaments that were gifts at Christmas time or when someone in the family went on a holiday. We both needed a place to display them and so my brother-in-law made my shelf and a similar one for my sister.

The bell is in the centre section on the second row from the top. You can see there is only one bell in this collection - I am guessing that is because I hadn’t even seen or heard of playing handbells at this time. For me a bell might be used to ring for a server at a formal dining table.

The bell in this collection shows a rose. The provincial flower of Alberta is the wild rose. It is commonly known as the prickly wild rose. The wild rose symbolizes Alberta’s diversity, history and landscape.

I don’t think the rose displayed on this tiny bell is the prickly wild rose. There are many varieties of roses. But since I am living in Alberta, I thought I would share about Alberta’s provincial flower.

The selection of this flower was left to Alberta's children. School children voted for it to be adopted in 1930.

Have you seen a prickly wild rose in the coulees around Lethbridge? There are many orgainizations, seniors’ lodges and businesses that use the name Alberta Rose. I live in Wild Rose Country! Stompin’ Tom Conners even had a song called Alberta Rose!

# living life abundantly   # published author