Courtesy Photo­Image Stella Mattox and rose

A rose is a rose, but this one stands extra tall, reaching toward the heavens.

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Stella Mattox, a resident of Autumn Park, typically grows beautiful roses outside her front door, and this year a long-stemmed rose grew to an amazing height.

The rose stands 5 feet, 8 inches tall -- taller than Stella at 5’ 4”.

Regular long-stemmed roses are usually less than three feet.

Mattox said she doesn’t add special fertilizers, just uses potting soil.

At first, she supported the rose with a yard stick. As it grew taller, she used a broomstick and a dowel. It has survived the cold weather even though it is on the north side of the building, Stella said Oct. 12.

However, she said her son and daughter-in-law helped her plant this rose and soon thereafter, her daughter-in-law died of a stroke.

Stella considers the rose a parting gift from her daughter-in-law and she likes to think the rose is reaching toward heaven as a remembrance of her.