Watermelon Roses

John Carroll Doyle's painting.

Why "Watermelon Roses?" What does that mean, anyway?

It was a sign. Literally. Many years ago, I was riding in the backseat of a car (that alone makes me think I might have still been a teenager living at home, but I'm not sure about that) when we passed a roadside stand with a handmade sign that said "watermelon" and underneath that, "roses." My mind was occupied for some time afterward, wondering whether watermelon roses were a rose variety, or whether the seller was selling both watermelon and roses. My thoughts segued from curiosity to the notion that "Watermelon Roses" sounded like a great idea for a book title, and from there I pondered just what such a novel would be about. That was the first time I considered writing a novel. Some 15-20 years later, I'm still considering writing a novel. I may still be considering it in another 20 years, at the rate I'm going.

I actually googled "watermelon roses" recently, just to be sure no one had stolen my book title idea, and found that it is indeed a variety of rose, as well as the title of a painting. I still wonder if that roadside vendor was selling watermelon, though. In any event, since no one to my knowledge has used it as a title for a written work yet, I'm claiming it now, and reserving the right to use it for a novel if I ever write one. No, I'm not copyrighting it. I'm just claiming it.