The Sacrificial Rose

When we lived in Annapolis, Maryland, a great place for sailing, a friend told us about the Sacrificial Anode, a piece of metal that people affix to their boats.  The sacrificial anode will corrode and, through its destruction, save the other metal on the boat from corrosion.  (Yeah, that will preach.  In fact, if you’re interested in learning more, you can read a sermon Joe preached using that illustration here).

Here, in the Cape Winelands near Capetown, South Africa, we’ve learned about the Sacrificial Rose.  A tour guide told us that vintners often plant something near their vines that will attract pests away from the vines or succumb to pests faster than the vines.  That way, if pests are present, vine growers can see the presence of pests on the sacrificial plant and take precautions or treat for the pest before it attacks the precious grapevines.  The best flower for this, our guide explained, is the rose.

Sure enough, we’ve seen rose bushes, beautiful guardians and beautiful sacrifices, near some of the vines.  It seems to me an expensive and surprising sacrifice.  It must be priceless to the winemakers.

That will preach.

The photos are from Excelsior Wine Estate and Ludwig’s Roses.