Mr Tayyab Mahmood is a lawyer and a great lover of roses. When asked if I could grow some roses in Rabwah? His reply was in affirmative. He replied; “I’ll get you roses 160 km away from Pattoki.”
“Pattoki”, he said, “is known as ‘the City of Flowers’, and Changa Nursery is famous for the most coveted flowers, the roses. As I later discovered, David Austin’s book “English Rose”, a sacred text for any type of rose grower, documents his journey – a British horticulturist – who set a standard for rose cultivation. The Changa Nursery Farms “Rose Specialist” in Pattoki is a hub of nurseries that is entwined with a historical, political, and capitalist construction on the place of nature. Pattoki’s ability to physically sustain such a large number of nurseries and plant farms also comes from its proximity to Punjab’s rivers and fertile Indus Plain. Over two hundred hybrid varieties are produced.
Pattoki lives up to its reputation as the “queen of flowers.”
Apart from their popularity and use within the country, roses cultivated in Pakistan are not only sent to Asian countries but also to European countries.
Why do I love roses? The main reason is that “The rose has a spiritual affinity with Sura-al-Fatiha,” wrote a Saintly intellectual.
He continued, “Now, out of the things created by Allah, namely the rose – and describe the external and internal wonders which make it admittedly of such excellent quality that human capacities fall utterly short of reproducing its like. …. The wonders and excellence of Sural Al-Fatiha are in all respects of the same measure and indeed, far superior – as the wonders and excellences of the rose.”
“…. that a rose, like other creations of God, has such excellent beauties within it, the like of which man is unable to reproduce. These beauties are of two types.
First, those that are found in its external form, namely its color is beautiful and lovely, its fragrance is delightful and pleasing, and in its visible form, it is characterised by extreme delicacy, freshness, softness, tenderness, and purity.”
Second, there are beauties that the All-wise God has granted it internally, namely the qualities which are hidden within its essence…. “
On account of these two types of qualities, it is believed that it is at such a level of perfection that it is utterly impossible for any human being to produce such a flower by himself which is attractive in color, lovely in fragrance, and fresh, soft, delicate, and clear like the rose in its texture, and in addition, possesses internally all those qualities that are possessed by the rose.”
The world of roses is a fragrant tapestry, woven with threads of diverse scents. It speaks of God’s ability to create a wonder for new olfactory appetites
Roses are the most popular flower in the world. Most people associate roses with love and romance because of its elegance, class, and beauty. Each colour of the rose represents a different feeling, emotion, or message e.g. red is the most popular, and red represents love and romance. Yellow roses are vibrant in color and traditionally given to symbolise friendship. White roses represent purity and innocence. Pink rose represent grace, gratitude, and joy. Orange roses perhaps the most fun of all the colours, means passion and enthusiasm.
Interestingly the quantity of roses is also significant to meaning.
One rose is hugely romantic. The two roses represent a pair that share a deep love for each other. The gift of three roses represents the three words; ‘I love you.’ Six roses is a great way to send messages of commitment to another person because it means; ‘I want to be yours.’ Seven roses mean; ‘I’m infatuated with you’, Nine roses are the message of eternal love. Ten roses means; ‘You’re perfect’. Twelve roses is thought of as the most romantic gesture.
Embedded within the colourful velvety petals of a rose lies a symphony of over 400 chemical compounds. Each of these chemicals participates in the intricate orchestra that is the rose’s signature scent. A music so divine, it’s been admired and replicated since eternity. The intricate and elaborate nature of the rose molecule makes its scent unique. From geraniol, which gives roses their signature rosy smell, to citronella, which adds a touch of lemon, and phenyl ethyl alcohol, which brings in a subtle honey note, the chemistry of rose’s scent is a labyrinth of delight. These are maestros of the olfactory symphony.
Like the cadence of the symphony, each rose sings its own olfactory songs. The variance in their scents is as varied as the colours they bloom in.
“Just as a jazz musician might conduct a solo, so too does nature improvise the scent of each rose.”
Indeed, the world of roses is a fragrant tapestry, woven with threads of diverse scents. It speaks of God’s ability to create a wonder for new olfactory appetites.
A dawn breaks the roses breathes their richest, most intoxicating fragrance into the world. This enchanting fragrance is in a group of organic compounds known as turpenas.
Every time I catch a whiff of a rose in my garden I wonder at the complex chemistry of nature at work. It is a whole lot of Allah’s beauty. Not only that I’m thankful to God for granting me delicate olfactory perceiving neurons & neurotransmitters without which this smell could not be comprehended.
Let’s not forget that the underlying beauty of the rose lies not just in its sensorial delight or visual appeal but also in the scientific marvel it represents. Through the lens of science, we come to appreciate the rose in the new light of nature’s complexity and wonder about an already awe-inspiring God’s universe.
Roses harbor a treasure trove of medicinal healthcare remedies. These include the treatment for diabetes, stress, depression, treatment of inflammation, menstrual disorders, seizures, and even aging.
Rose water and oil is precious beauty water for skin cure and has antibacterial effects. The liquid distilled from rose petals has been used to cure almost everything from aging to dementia. Man’s love affair with the rose has been blazing for centuries.
The historical figure most associated with rose water is Ibn-i-Sina, also known as Avicenna a groundbreaking physician recommended rose water for everything from hangovers to memory problems, eye disease, and headaches. “The rose extracts love a promising biological potential to act as natural healer.”
The rose essence is of long-standing value in food, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics.
The unique hierarchical structures of rose petals inspire the creation of biometric materials with applications in flexible electronics, electronic skin (e-skin), solar cells, and even graphene enhancement. This extraordinary innovation highlights the potential of roses in sustainable material science and technology.
Rose oil offers a bouquet of benefits that reach far beyond the realm of perfumery. Roses stimulate several chemicals like dopamine, oxytocin, and serotonin in our brains. This possesses the ability to boost concentration, focus, and clarity. It helps increase memory and learning skills by 30% during sleep.
As I sit in my small garden I wonder at the beauties of nature & Allah’s creation – the rose. It reminds me of the master designer of this awe-inspiring world. My head bows in all gratitude for His innumerable blessings and bounties.