The Rose That Survived Katrina

A Plant of Promise
One of those friends who received the rose was Dr. Bill Welch, a rosarian and horticulturist at Texas A&M University. After Katrina, an idea struck him in the middle of the night. The 'Peggy Martin' rose, the one that outlasted the storm, could be used to raise money to restore gardens on the ravaged Gulf Coast. He took his idea to some friends at the Greater Houston Community Foundation, which now manages the fund.

Peggy takes comfort in knowing that her rose is helping bring back the beautiful gardens of her coast. Even more, she says, it's a fitting way to remember her parents, two "beautiful, sweet people" whose memory she'll cherish always.

Want To Help?
The following mail-order nurseries are selling the 'Peggy Martin' rose and have agreed to donate $1 per plant sold to the Peggy Martin Survivor Rose Fund managed by the Greater Houston Community Foundation. The money raised will go to rebuild greenspaces along the Texas, Louisiana, and Mississippi coast.

• Antique Rose Emporium; www.antiqueroseemporium.com or 1-800-441-0002
• Chamblee's Rose Nursery; www.chambleeroses.com or 1-800-256-7673
• Petals From the Past; www.petalsfromthepast.com or (205) 646-0069

"The Rose That Survived Katrina" is from the September 2007 issue of Southern Living.