And so many associations too: old tales of a princess and a poisoned spindle, of a derring-do lad with thorny ramparts to vanquish and kisses to impart. Then there’s the therapeutic qualities of Rosa canina, the dog rose. Herbalists have long used the dried petals in compresses for the eyes and as a tea to soothe digestion. And of course the bright red hips of autumn are still valued for their high vitamin C content. If you were a child in Britain during WW2, and indeed for some years afterwards, you will still remember the taste of rosehip syrup, promoted by government during the war-time absence of citrus fruit. The hips are said to have 30 times more vitamin C than an orange.
And rose petals are indeed edible. In times past I have been known to crystallise them with a coating of gum arabic, rosewater and caster sugar, delicately applied with a small paint brush. Once they had been left to dry in a warm place, I would serve them with creamy lemon syllabub and homemade meringues. A memory then of my culinary ‘dog days’ – of a June without deluges, and the dog roses scrambling airily through hedgerows suffusing the lanes with their delicate scent.
All the same, the flowers do look rather lovely scattered with raindrops – not too many, mind. Which rather brings me to John Coltrane, and my favourite version of My Favourite Things. I’m hoping some you like it too:
Lens-Artists #49 Favourite Things
This week Patti has set the ‘favourite things’ theme, so pay her a visit and be inspired. And here’s what she says about the Lens-Artists weekly challenge: “If you’re new to the challenges, click here to learn how to join us. Remember to link your post here and tag it Lens-Artists to help us find your post in the WP Reader.
Next week, it’s Ann Christine’s turn to lead the challenge, so be sure to visit her blog. As always, Amy, Tina, Ann-Christine, and I are delighted that you’re joining our challenges!
Tish Farrell 
I love good music and wild flowers .
Good woman!
A Coltrane fan!
Well, I never.
I’m rather partial to the version by Stanley Jordan.
Am surprised you’re surprised, Ark. Have given the Stanley Jordan a listen thnx for the prompt), and can see the appeal, but Coltrane is still my favourite 🙂
I always imagined you as a Brotherhood of Man fan t’be honest.
😉
This is my favorite Coltrane number with Ellington.
Two grand masters together. Blissful co-creating!
And when the hips have formed, you can pop out the seeds and use them as itching powder
Ah yes! Itchy-coos so Richard Mabey says in Flora Britannica. Why am I not surprised that you know this – and on several counts 🙂
You will give me due warning when you next feel the urge to make lemon syllabub, Tish? I’ll drop everything and grab a flight 😍🍧🍸💕
Ha! Now I have a way to lure you back to Shropshire 🙂 🙂
😍💕
Mmm, your favorite things are delicious in every way, Tish! And there are so many ways of using a rose – if you don’t feel happy just looking at it.
They do indeed provide for many possibilities, Ann-Christine 🙂
Wild roses are amazing. They do not want to transplant though. Must be that wild part.
Good they cling to their wild side 🙂
I enjoy John Clotrane, Tish. I love ‘My One and Only Love’.
Your roses are stellar. The raindrops look like sparkling jewelry on their petals.
I’ve heard of some flowers being edible, like orchids.
I always enjoy your gardening information.
Many thanks and so glad you liked the Coltrane, Isadora.
Between the memory of a lemon syllabub and a photo of rain on dog roses: lovely England. And Coltrane, of course, is, in part, a lovely Philadelphian.
Thank you, Tish! Sarah
Thank you, Sarah. And v. nicely put re. Coltrane
Beautiful roses and I love Coltrane’s version of this melody.
Who doesn’t love Coltrane?! A lovely response to this one Tish, thanks for joining us.
Thank you, Tina.
Beautiful and lyrical post, Tish. I totally enjoyed it. And please let me know when you’re making lemon syllabub. 🙂 It sounds amazing. I’ve never tried it….yet…:)
It looks like I might need to have a syllabub party. Actually, the old recipe I used to use served about 12 if I remember rightly, so eating helpers would definitely be needed.
🙂 🙂 Count me in. 🙂
You’re in!
Ooh your rose petal dessert sounds divine, Tish, just up my street! You’ve brought back a memory here too, I well remember my mom giving me Delrosa Rose Hip Syrup as a child, I loved the taste!
The wild roses in the hedgerows seem a bit slow to bloom this year. Still looking for the first to open up it’s pretty petals. Hopefully, I won’t have too long to wait. 😊
Delrosa! That was it, Debbie. I could remember the taste but not the name. Wonder if you could add a shot of prosecco to it – a hipinni??? Not sure why that came to mind, I’ve not had breakfast yet 🙂
Haha! Funny you should mention a potential hipinni, Tish. Years ago, Trev used to make his own beer at home. However, he decided to have a go at making wine once. For whatever reason, he thought he’d try rose hip wine, you could still buy the syrup then as a children’s cordial. It stated on the bottle that it contained just pure rose hips. Anyway, he made it…& there it remained, in our airing cupboard, for years!! We never bottled it, & I can’t remember if Trev tried it & it was horrible or we just couldn’t bring ourselves to drink it! Maybe we should’ve persevered! Hope breakfast was good! 😉
Rosehip wine sounds intriguing. Maybe new experiment is called for come the autumn?
My auntie used to make amazing wine with almost anything she grew or foraged..she rarely gave any away. We were always curious about how much she must’ve drunk herself & not end up in rehab! Pity she’s no longer around, or I certainly would’ve suggested it to her!
What a delightfully refreshing post – just like raindrops on roses.
So glad it hit the spot. Was needing a bit of an uplift myself.
It’s a wet week over here too ☺
😦
As we watch the 20th anniversary of Midsomer Murders, I think of you. Have you suffered from too many murders recently? Humaan sacrifices? Murders of vicars in their ancient churches? Summer fetes with multiple deaths?
Only in the secret recesses of a misanthropic mind, Marilyn 🙂 🙂 But thank you very much for thinking of me at such Midsomer moments.
The area looks so much like yours. That wonderful lush greenery and the classic old churches and pubs and green (commons to us, I guess). I tend to think of poetry as another body is gored. It’s a brilliant mental paradox.
I have developed mixed emotions about roses. I still have holes in my arms from mine and while I love them when they bloom, I think they are trying to kill me the reset of the time.
I know exactly what you mean about roses. The ones in my garden have torn quite a few shreds from hands and arms, and given me splinters. I get quite angry with them. Best kept at a distance.
I can see why they were used to protect estates. I’d hate to fall into a batch of them!
John Coltraine could make any tune sound better than practically anyone else (in my humble opinion). I love this version, and your beautiful image.
I am impressed by your dessert-making skills. Something I totally lack 🙂
I lack them too now. I used to do lots when I was creating fund-raising lunches for the Ironbridge Gorge Museum years and years ago. Now if a pud is required, I usually just make Elizabeth David’s chocolate almond cake which is dead easy (and gluten free) and very squidgy. And sometimes I make elderflower sorbet – when the flowers aren’t too wet to pick as they are just now after 30 solid hours of rain. John Coltrane at least provided a soothing soundtrack to the downpour 🙂
Ooh, I just found (at least a version of) the Elizabeth David recipe. Looks delish, and very much the kind of thing the Zimmerbitch family enjoys. 😀
I hope the rain stops soon — 30 hours is more than enough ☹️
Excellent that you found it. It never disappoints. I usually finish it with a sprinkle of cinnamon and raw cacao.
Yum. I’m finding that cinnamon is the new sugar for me — it creates a sense of sweetness in dishes that is exactly right for my palate.
My thoughts too 🙂
Ahh Mr Coltrane, a treat for the ears. Rose petals are eye and taste bud candy, but I can’t imagine I’ll ever get to try them!
Hello, Gilly. Glad you enjoyed JC.
I love those roses and their delicate scent. I’ve always thought of them as “Grandma’s Roses” since my Italian grandmother had them planted all around her house when I was a child. It’s one of those enduring memories I treasure ❤️
How very lovely of your Italian grandmother. That conjures such blissful ‘old world’ scene. And lovely of you to pass it on, Joanne 🙂
Those flowers do look lovely, Tish, with their adornment of raindrops. How horrendous is the rain where you are today?
It’s reduced itself to a foggy drizzle. But very gloomy and soggy all round. Just called in at Dudmaston Hall (nr Bridgnorth) and thought of you as I photographed collapsing roses – so many stages of decay! Very beautiful even so.
Love it! I look forward to seeing some of the results
Heavens to Murgatroid! Your crystalised rosehips sound divine! 😀
🙂