Plant of the Month

Let’s start with the leaves of October’s choice, the Dog Rose. They are called pinnate leaves. As you can see, there are several pairs of leaflets along the stem and then one right on the tip. There can be 5 to 9 leaflets on one leaf. Bok here, is counting to check how many this one has. The edges of the leaflets are a bit jagged and look like little teeth. The leaves are edible, especially in the spring. Good salad stuff! They are green all through the summer, and when the fall comes around, they turn yellow to orange, just like some deciduous trees.

The stem of the Dog Rose plant is a whole other matter. It starts out green and then turns a greyish brown as the bush gets older. This stem is full of thorns, giving the word “prickly” a new meaning. These thorns, or prickles, are curved like little sharp claws. Perhaps it’s like a protection against big animals who would munch on the flowers and fruits? Or maybe the plant uses them to hold on to other plants, like trees, growing nearby? Mother Nature always has a reason for things. We gallavants are very careful when we’re out harvesting the rosehips once they are ripe.

Look at these beautiful flowers! The colors of the Dog Rose blossoms can be white or all kinds of shades of pink. And they smell so sweet! Queen Millikan loves the scent. The Royal ServAnts make these beautiful capes of the petals for our Royal Highness to wear. That only happens when the flowers bloom in the summer, of course. The flower has only five petals and a whole lot of stamens which have tips loaded with pollen. These stamens surround the little thing in the middle, which is called a pistil. This flower is not only beautiful, but edible as well!

The real juicy part of the Dog Rose plant- are the fruits, or hips. They start to grow after the flowers have been pollinated. By October they are rosy red or bright orange, and still a bit hard. To enjoy the edible portion of the rosehip, it’s best to wait until there has been some frost. Then they are soft, mushy, and delicious! The hips are loaded with vitamins and all kinds of nutrition. Rosehips can be used like medicine, too. They can boost your immune system against colds or flu. They can be made into soups, jams, and jellies. You can brew a yummy tea with dried rosehips.

You need to take the seeds out before you eat the rosehips. The seeds are hard and hairy, which could be irritating for your tummy. They are not poisonous, though. The fuzzy part could perhaps be itchy if you get it on your skin, but your skin would be quite happy with the oil you get from squeezing the seeds. So, how could this wild rose spread and get to grow up in other places? For that it needs the help of other creatures such as birds. They chomp on the fruits and poop out the seeds. So – let’s hear it for the Rosehip! Hip-Hip-Hooray!