Roses and Salt

This rosebush is one of my favorite things on the farm. It was planted from a clipping and is now over 10 feet tall and 30 years old. The nicest thing about it is the smell. So many flowers have no smell anymore but no one has told this rose bush that!

The roses are not just on the surface either, this rosebush is like "The Little Engine That Could " merrily blooming prolifically all through December, hundreds of roses all throughout the bush. At any place on this bush, I could just shove my camera inside its boughs and come up with shot after shot of roses in every stage from tight buds to rich full blooms.

Many times this bush has bloomed its way all through winter and into the following spring, impervious to the fact that seasons exist.

This was not to be one of those winters. After the coldest weather in 20 years and with record breaking lows of 15 degrees, the rosebush is drastically showing what its endured.

rosebush one week ago:



rosebush today:



All the remaining roses hang downward


buds frozen as solid and hard to the touch as acorns.



Left alone they will fall to the ground. Picked, they can continue to be enjoyed. The rose hips can be dried and steeped in hot water as a tea. Not only do they contain loads of vitamin C but even better they are a good vegetarian source of essential fatty acids. Here is a simple and basic recipe for spiced rose hip tea,



4 or 5 rosehips and 4 whole cloves

add piping hot water







a generous drizzle of honey

and enjoy ~

As for the actual petals there are recipes for everything from rose oil to rose water. I chose a simple basic bath salts with roses.

A jar, rose petals, some fragrant oil (or not) and some type of sturdy salt.



I used rock salt. The type used for making ice cream in a churn. Epsom salts would be nice too since this is for a bath.
Start with a layer of salt as a base and then layer petals and small amount of oil (if using) the salt will preserve the petals and they dont have to be dried first.

An easy way to enjoy the beauty of roses indoors.