Sometime in 1978 Kathleen came to my Burnaby studio for a photo session. I had this idea of putting a white rose overnight in a glass of water with blue food dye. I wanted a blue rose.

I almost cringe when I look at this photograph today in this 21^st century. My progress in taking photographs that please me without offending too many others has been a long one. I have almost developed good taste. I would never photograph a woman with the following elements present: train tracks, angel wings, Corvettes, Harleys or anything that remotely resembles boudoir. I would not almost cringe, I would cringe if I did that sort of thing.

What saves this old colour negative is the fact that Kathleen was lovely and sweet then and since I photographed her in 2018, she is lovelyand sweet now.

In was around 1987 when my Rosemary persuaded me to go to a Vancouver Rose Society meeting at the Floral Hall at VanDusen Botanical Garden. The folks projected over 100 bad slides of roses and I found the chairs uncomfortable. But Rosemary persisted and we both came to love roses, particularly the old roses and the English Roses.

There is no such thing as a blue rose. I can only plead ignorance and a terrible bad taste. Fortunately there were no angel wings around in my studio.

I have been indoctrinated fully and these days I would never call a woman a lady. A woman is just fine. But I could not resist placing the lyrics to that song. Has it seen better days?

Red Roses for a Blue Lady

I want some red roses for a blue lady

Mister florist take my order please

We had a silly quarrel the other day

I hope these pretty flowers chase her blues away

I want some red roses for a blue lady

Send them to the sweetest gal in town

And if they do the trick, I'll hurry back to pick

Your best white orchid for her wedding gown

We had a silly quarrel the other day

I hope these pretty flowers chase her blues away

I want some red roses for a blue, blue lady

Send them to the sweetest gal in town

And if they do the trick, I'll hurry back to pick

Your best white orchid for her wedding gown

Your best white orchid for her wedding gown

Songwriters: Roy C. Bennett / Sid Tepper

Red Roses for a Blue Lady lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group