But Nona's final words echoed in her mind, spoken just before Elara left for the night: "Be careful. The garden loves what it keeps. It won't want to let him go. And it won't want to let you leave, either."
The "forever" aspect comes from a specialized preservation process that replaces the natural sap and water within the flower. Because the biological structure of the plant remains intact, the rose keeps the soft texture, natural veins, and delicate appearance of a fresh flower. To the touch and eye, it is indistinguishable from a newly cut bloom—only it requires no water or sunlight to survive. forever roses
UV rays can fade the vibrant pigments over time. But Nona's final words echoed in her mind,