Natural object themselves
even when they make no claim to beauty,
excite the feelings, and occupy the imagination.
Nature pleases, attracts, delights,
merely because it’s nature.
~Karl Wilhelm Humboldt
The most common attractions of the rose are the prettily colored flowers and the sweet to spicy fragrances. On some roses there are also brightly colored hips that not only decorate bare canes in winter but also provide feasts for overwintering birds. These hips are the pomaceous fruits of the rose, and they vary in size and shape and color. Some of the first rosary beads were fashioned out of dried rose hips, and they have been used as well to make jellies, jam, marmalade, teas, soup, and medicinal compounds. They also played an important role during World War II because they are very rich in Vitamin C. It seems the people of Great Britain were encouraged to gather wild-grown rose hips to make a syrup for their children since German submarines were sinking commercial ships making it very difficult to import citrus fruits from the tropics.
Looking with expectancy for things that excite, I venture out into my gardens almost daily, weather permitting. To that end I am seldom disappointed even on drippy days like this one. Today’s find were some gold-orange-reddiish rose hips, and though they make no claim to great beauty, I was thrilled to see them once again. After photographing them and beginning this post I began pondering what a difference for the better it might make if I greeted every new day’s living with the same attitude. What an impact might it have on those around me if I met them filled with joy and expected the best from the encounter. Once again I see how God’s Eden is not only a great sustainer but also an excellent teacher.
The seed will grow well, the vine will yield its fruit, the ground will produce crops, and the heavens will drop their dew. ~Zechariah 8:12 ✝
Sacred Touches 
I always wondered what rose hips looked like and now I know! Great image and that quote from Humboldt sums up my sentiments. Thanks Natalie!!
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I’d never seen them either until I started growing roses. Now I’m trying to get up the courage to make some jelly out of them some day. Thanks for coming to my blog again, Laura. Blessings, Natalie 🙂
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Always inspiration from nature.
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Such a pretty picture of equally delightful hips, Natalie. What’s the name of this beauty? Humboldt’s quote rings true – thanks for that post, best wishes
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Thanks, Annette. Here’s the info about the plant they are on:
Rosa arkansana (Prairie Rose or Wild Prairie Rose; syn. R. pratincola, R. suffulta, R. suffulta var. relicta) is a species of rose native to a large area of central North America, between the Appalachian and Rocky Mountains from Alberta, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan south to New Mexico, Texas and Indiana. Have a great day! Blessings, Natalie
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How interesting, thank you. Didn’t know this one but then there are so many different (species) roses. Yours is not common around here but very beautiful.
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The hips it puts on are actually more impressive than the flowers. This rose was given to me by an Irish man who lives here in Fort Worth. Years ago he had opened his garden up for a garden tour, and I went to visit. He had such a lovely yard and as I was commenting about the hips he told be all about the rose. He said he had searched for it a long time before he found it. Then he said since it suckered easily he would dig up some of the suckers the next year and bring them to me. Now I have a couple of patches of them in 2 different beds. They do in fact sucker easily so I have to keep them in check or they would take over. Gardeners are such lovely people, aren’t they?! I hope you have a splendid weekend, Annette. Natalie 🙂
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I agree and usually they’re so willing to share knowledge and plants alike. Have a good weekend too, Natalie 🙂
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Yes, they are. This man brought a shovel with him and insisted on planting the things. I was so taken with his generosity that I painted a birdhouse for him, and I still see it up in his tree when I drive past his house. Blessings, Natalie 🙂
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When we were children we would gather rose hips. But, I’m afraid we did terrible things with them. Inside the hip is what we called ‘itching powder’ and we would catch each other out by rubbing it on the other’s arms. I can’t believe I was such a terrible child LOL
Beautiful as ever, Natalie, and a great quote too ~ Amelia 🙂
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This made me chuckle. We all did a few “terrible” things at times when we were kids, I reckon. Natallie 🙂
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You will have to share some of those things one day, Natalie ~ Amelia 🙂 🙂
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they and everything –I believe, glorify God! I’ve seen rosehips only because of my grandpa tending the roses but he never really told me about their uses~ Another great post! You are the sweeter rose! Faithfully Debbie
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Oh, thank you so much, Debbie for your sweet remark. However, like all roses, I do have my thorns. I expect you are a far sweeter rose than I. Blessings, Natalie 🙂
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