It is the season for flowers and the rainbow of colors they provide on the green landscape. One-hundred eighteen years ago Rosa pratincola (wild prairie rose) became Iowa’s Flower. The Extra Session of the Twenty-sixth General Assembly of the State of Iowa adopted the wild rose as the official state flower of Iowa on May 7, 1897.

“WHEREAS, the Executive Council has authorized the wild rose of Iowa as one of the decorations on the silver service presented to the battle ship “Iowa;” therefore be it

Resolved, by the Senate the House concurring, That the wild rose shall be officially designated as the flower of the State.”

In addition to the wild prairie rose, there are a wide variety of hybrid roses that we see in gardens and flower centers. We take great pride in their beauty and their aroma. They brighten our lives.

Particular attention to the rose was provided by Shakespeare in “Romeo and Juliet.” Juliet comments: “What’s in a name? that which we call a rose – by any other name would smell as sweet.” The rose – regardless of variety, tends to be a thing of beauty enjoyed by everyone.

There is one other variety of roses around us every day. These roses often go unnoticed. It is the army of volunteers that provide their time and talents for every kind of project that can be imagined. Like nature’s roses they also have an inherent beauty – service to mankind. They brighten our lives.

These “roses”:

Take care of elderly and help those in need,

Guide and mentor youngsters,

Care for the natural resources,

Manage the libraries and museums,

Coach youth in recreational activities,

Deliver meals,

Assist in hospitals and hospices

Entertain those needing an emotional lift;

Support a wide range of religious entities;

Serve on governmental committees, boards and commissions;

Guide hundreds of charitable entities;

Assist in making Iowa and its communities clean and attractive and

Many other activities that improve our State and Communities’ quality of life.

These legions of volunteers provide hundreds of hours of service at no cost. If we had to pay for those services the bill would be staggering. In many ways these volunteers provide “color” and a sense of community spirit and hometown pride to our lives. They are truly the “Iowa Rose” not quite, but almost, the official flower of Iowa.

Each Iowa community has it’s bouquet of roses that are serving and helping make our lives better each and every day. Take time to “smell the roses” – thank and honor them for their work. If you aren’t volunteering, consider becoming a rose and show everyone your colors.