Cool and damp summer day after gentle all-night rains. We had been promised a thunderstorm which failed to materialize after all. Perhaps later? I don’t want to miss out on the show.
Time for another “Wordless Wednesday” post, except this time I have things to say after a few weeks of wordlessness on WordPress, only a rare image now and then just to stay in the loop. We have been immersed in the televised select committee hearings of the ongoing investigation into the 2020 insurrection on January 6, the incident that shocked a nation’s complacency and triggered, in me, a mild stroke when I crashed to the floor. Only by the grace of God did we all survive, albeit divided still. Since then, we’ve celebrated twice the Fourth of July with some degree of pomp and circumstance.
Our Fourth was a sunny, not-too-hot day, beginning on Sunday with a glorious worship service live-streamed from St. Luke Cathedral in Orlando, followed by our usual afternoon of perusing the Sunday papers, and culminating in an alfresco supper of barbecued baby back ribs — Smithfield, no less — and cherry pie. Didn’t George Washington, our national hero, have something to do with a cherry tree?
The actual day this year fell on Monday. I did the laundry.
Now that my Antique Roses have completed their astounding late-spring show, I am “allowing” rose hips to form by declining to deadhead the faded blooms. Sometimes laziness pays off. One rose, however, the “Red Rose of Lancaster,” continues to surprise us with one fresh bloom each day. Maybe it’s the same one?
Yesterday, I discovered a second bloom below the first. This is the variety of antique rose that often produces a repeat bloom around September, although not as abundantly as in June. As I’ve written previously, The Red Rose of Lancaster was the heraldic badge adopted by the royal House of Lancaster in the 14th century.
The House of York adopted the White Rose, not included in my garden. I believe it has been included in George Washington’s Upper Garden at Mount Vernon, Virginia.
So, what’s with the hips? They begin to form after pollination in spring and ripen in late summer through fall. Hips are needed to propagate new roses, according to Wikipedia. . . .
“Roses are propagated from rose hips by removing the achenes that contain the seeds from the hypanthium (the outer coating) and sowing just beneath the surface of the soil. The seeds can take many months to germinate. Most species require chilling (stratification), with some such as Rosa canina only germinating after two winter chill periods.”
Domestically, rose hips can be used to make herbal teas, often blended with hibiscus, and to make jams and jellies, perhaps on a rainy fall day.
Recipe: https://www.simplyrecipes.com/recipes/rose_hip_jam/
Invitation to the Garden 
Jo, I did’t realized that was what had preceded your stroke…..I hope you have fully recovered now. It is upsetting to watch, and we have been glued to the hearings too, even though we are Canadian. Although some days I threaten to turn off the tv as I cannot handle any more shooting tragedies. I didn’t know roses were propagated from rosehips. I only have one older rose bush which has rosehips which I just leave on. I spent the holiday weekend (our Canada Day holiday is July 1) making strawberry jam and strawberry shortcake. We had a nice rain yesterday morning but need more as the lawns are so dry.
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Yes, I imagine it was the extreme shock, physically as well as emotionally. It’s taken over a year to get over the after-effects but I still sometimes forget how to spell. I was a near-champion speller in school! I am back to walking fairly smoothly although I use a walker when I’m out; it’s a good sturdy one with a flexible shelf/seat so that I can fold it flat when not in use.
About the hips for propagation, that’s for the antique and old roses grown on their own root stock. I really know next to nothing about propagating and hybridizing roses! Plant seeds? Nah. We’ll have to consult David Austin. By the way, I just leave my hips on, too. (Take that either way you wish!) In the fall I like to cut a few branches to include in fall table arrangements.
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Glad to hear you have recovered Jo. It will be interesting to see what happens after the hearings, if there will be charges.
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Beautiful pictures as always, Jo! I think we got your thunderstorm the other night, with a nice display of lightening!!
Sorry the insurrection triggered a stroke in you, it was indeed quite upsetting. It triggered anxiety in my partner, for which she was on medication for a few months. It has left our nation scarred. I hope some kind of action comes out of the investigation.
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I hope so, too, Peg. Hubby and I have been closely attuned to the hearings — unless they’re on at 7 a.m., then just Charlie and me. Charlie, my cocker spaniel, is the one who found me on the floor, sniffed and whimpered until I “came to” and has been my constant companion. I’m quite recovered, now, except for occasional spelling mistakes.
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What beautiful roses. I love the old fashioned, simple varieties too. And such interesting information about germination – I didn’t realise two winters were needed first! Rose Hip jelly sounds wonderful – I imagine it has a beautiful aroma 🙂
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Thank you, Emma! The hips are only now forming, but they’re ripen by October or so. I am glad you enjoyed this post.
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… So making hip tea or Jelly is certainly something to look forward to at the end of the summer!
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