Lauralee Bell Shares a Treasured Gift From Her Late Mother

It’s been more than two years since THE YOUNG & THE RESTLESS and THE BOLD & THE BEAUTIFUL co-creator Lee Phillip Bell passed away on Feb. 25, 2020. But her daughter, Y&R star Lauralee Bell (Christine), needs to look no further than the giant rose bushes in her backyard for a constant reminder that her mother is with her always.

As longtime fans might remember, Mrs. Bell had something of a green thumb, having been raised working in her family’s flower shop in the suburbs of Chicago. The soap executive cultivated quite a lovely rose garden in her California yard, and in the years since she’s passed away, Mrs. Bell’s daughter has continued to prune those very blooms.

In her latest Instagram post, Bell showed off one of her late mother’s beloved rose bushes, which now has a place of honor in her own garden. “Many of you know I transplanted some of my mom’s rose bushes to our yard two years ago,” wrote Bell on Instagram. “Before that, she and I used to look at them outside her bedroom window.”

Back when they were at her mother’s house, Bell added, “they were eye-level or lower.” That is no longer the case because the roses are growing and thriving! “Now they’ve become giant roses,” she wrote. “They are the first thing I see in the yard each and all day. I’m convinced that’s her plan.”

With a flower on one bush reaching a lofty 6 feet tall, Bell had to stand on a stepstool to reach the beautiful red rose. “And the top hasn’t even bloomed yet!” the actress marveled as she showed off the flower to her followers. In her Instagram stories, Bell promised to post an update in a few days when the next-highest flower blooms.

We can’t think of a better way for Bell to be forever bonded with her late mother than over their love of flowers!