By Jonathan Barnes

Perennial plants flower year after year, constantly spreading their roots, generously sharing their brilliant hues.

Up in hilly North Versailles, 70-year-old Dolores Flowers' continuous parenting over nearly two decades has helped her lay down roots that are deep and wide. The blossoming of relationships has been abundant. In addition to her five grown children, Flowers has helped to raise 53 foster children during the past 18 years.

Flowers was one of 29 foster parents working through McKeesport-based Auberle's foster care program recently honored for their service. Even now, she is singlehandedly raising three children in her home. Not bad, considering that she had triple bypass surgery 19 years ago.

The close call with her health is part of what led Flowers to keep her home open for foster children, even after she was forced to quit her job due to her health problems.

The good Lord was guiding her to do it, she said. "I feel God gave me a second chance. And this is what I was meant to do, and I enjoy it."

While the filial bond usually is strong between a parent and child, it takes an especially caring person to share such a bond with someone else's children. Many foster parents actually are kin to their foster children, such as when a grandmother is foster parent to her grandchild. But the blood tie has little to do with family at the Flowers house.

"I treat them all the same as my own kids," Flowers said. "And all of my kids come back every year. I had a couple of kids call me up and say, 'You know how to make a cake... How do I bake a cake?' "

The grandmother of 14 has a gift for raising children, Auberle staff members said. "She's so unique; she has six beds available. She had to get a special license for that," said Dawn Lewis, program manager of Auberle's foster care program. "Dolores is the kind of person we want as a foster parent -- those who feel the calling."

Flowers' vigor and wisdom are evident to those who work with her, Auberle foster parent recruiter John Lehman said.

"She takes about any kid we give her. She's outstanding. She seems to be able to help kids who others can't help," he said. "She mentors other foster parents, as well. And she encourages others to call her with their concerns."

As long as the sun keeps shining on Flowers, she'll be helping kids, she said. While other seniors her age want to relax, the hectic life of raising kids is as natural as can be to Flowers.

"I have to do something, and this is rewarding to me," she said. "My heart just fills up seeing these kids in the position they're in. I'll help any child that needs to be helped. As long as I can help, I'll help."