Hip Hip Hooray!

Just a few of the many different sorts of rose hips now ripening in the hedgerows. You don't get these with dead-headed hybrid teas!

 

Gosh, theyre beautiful Hornbeam

 

Beautifull! And so rich in Vit C kids used to be paid for collecting them for rosehip syrup. Another great way to enjoy them is in a home brew. You do need to add pectinase though or it will go to a jelly and ferment all over your kitchen floor. :D

 

:( My mum used to make a delicious rosehip syrup that tasted really great with vanilla icecream- I can't find her recipe anywhere, will have to experiment :(

 

From what I could find this recipe seems typical Recipe Goldmine: Rose Hip Syrup

Long boiling will destroy any Vit C though :(

 

Thank you Frogesque!
Those hips are so pretty. First one looks like Rosa Mundi.

 

You can also dry the leaves of the dog rose and use as a substitute for tea !!

 

Think it might be Rosa rugosa Liz. Great photos Hornbeam, and a great year for hips. Even the (ghastly) Pyracanthas are looking smashing - especially to the blackbirds and pigeons methinks

 

Thanks Jazid, I've been looking for one with those lovely fat hips!
As the weather has been so dry I am amazed at the size and quantity of berries of all descrption around.

 

Yes the firsr fat hips (!!!) are Rosa rugosa. They have superb flowers with a very strong and delicious scent. The leaves are a lovely bright shiny green too and they make superb intruder proof hedges.

It has been an amazing summer for wild flowers and the hedgerow hawthorns, blackthorns and roses have been smothered with flowers. Now they are weighed down with haws, sloes and hips so the birds should do well. I don't really believe that a heavy crop of berries foretells a harsh winter. They just follows a great summer.

 

We used to take the seeds out and drop them down other kid's necks. They make wonderful itching powder.

 

Yes and today we are advised to wear gloves when handling and sowing rose seeds because of the irritant hairs. I never wear gloves 'cos I find I'm so clumsy with them on. (Not a lot better with them off!)

 

Try getting some polythene gloves, HB. They're more tactile. Though personally, I get ones from work that have been opened (and not used, of course!!)

Juts thought - now I'm retiring (three weeks today) I shall be deprived of that sorce of free gloves. Booo Ho!!

 

But in quantity they are 'cheap as chips' luckily. About �£3 per 100 pairs. Vinyl are better than latex as they don't rip quite as easily. I don't wear them except for spreading some chemicals, and machinery servicing. There's precious little loss of feeling, but I kind of feel that its an environmental waste just chucking them away.