'Da Gullah Rose' represents the Palmetto Rose, quintessential to Charleston, made from South Carolina's official State Tree -- The Palmetto Tree. The legend of the Palmetto Rose is said to have dated back to the Civil War. It's said that southern ladies would give their true love an everlasting Palmetto Rose to keep them safe from harm as they went to war and that their love one would return soon. Today, it’s not uncommon to see the baskets and roses for sale alongside each other in downtown Charleston. Often sold by street vendors, the roses are a modern tourist-economy variation on sweetgrass baskets, which have a rich and well documented history in South Carolina. Enslaved Africans brought the technique used to make the baskets from Africa, and for generations, African American residents of the state’s Low Country sold the baskets in roadside stands outside of Charleston. The baskets, originally made of bulrushes, are now a combination of sweetgrass, palmetto, and pine straw.
Due to each leaves' unique appearance, no two roses are exactly the same. The natural colors may vary from dark green to yellow or tan.The palmetto roses are keepsakes that symbolizes everlasting love. The little girl in the painting knows that she too is a Gullah Rose with so much love inside to give to others. She is offering everyone who views her 'The Gullah Rose' - everlasting love. However, the sadness in her eyes depicts her acknowledgement of the fact that not everyone will want to receive it from her. Will you accept the Gullah Rose?
"I am the rose of Sharon, and the lily of the valleys." -Solomon