Susan has written us this excellent blog post about this month's flower - the Rose.
Rose – Rosa species
“What’s
in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.”
William Shakespeare, from Romeo and
Juliet
What comes to mind when you read or hear
the word “rose”? Fragrance? The color
pink? A single, five petaled variety that enables you to see the stamens? Or
the voluptuous cabbage roses that have multitudes of petals so packed together
that it is impossible to count them? Hybrid teas? Valentine’s Day? Your
grandmother? Whatever that image or sensation, there is something you can
recall. Who has gone through life and not encountered a rose in one form or
another?
Roses are native to every temperate
continent on earth. There are roughly 300 rose species and anywhere from 13,000-16,000
varieties, depending on the source. Every culture from antiquity to today has
held roses in high esteem. They have been cultivated in some parts of the world
for over 3000 years. Beloved and treasured for its beauty, fragrance and
medicinal qualities, the rose began its worldwide spread from China. Traveling
through Ancient Persia, India and Syria, it was introduced to Egypt, Greece and
Rome. Roman soldiers brought rose plants with them to France and England.
Cultivated roses were brought to North America by the first colonists.
Roses have symbolized beauty, youth, love,
passion, purity, innocence, secrecy, war, and more. It is said that Cleopatra filled her pillows
with rose petals and once created a carpet, 20 inches thick, of fragrant rose
petals to greet her lover, Antony. The Romans hung wreaths and garlands of
roses from the balconies at their games and feasts, showered their guests with
petals and sprinkled them in their baths.
Associated with Harpocrates, the god of
silence, the rose became an emblem for silence and secrecy. During Roman
council meetings, a rose was hung above the meeting table, symbolizing
confidentiality of all that was discussed. From this we get the term sub rosa, Latin for “under the rose”, and
means “in secret” or confidential. (Write “sub rosa” on a letter next time you
send it!) The classical ceiling rosette decoration is an extension of this
tradition and is still used today, though its meaning has long been forgotten.
In India, rose petals were crushed and
molded into beads, then strung to create prayer malas. Eastern Christian monks
adapted this tradition in the third century, renaming them rosary beads. For
instructions on making your own rose beads, contact me and I will email them to you. You
can find instructions on the web, no doubt, as well.
Roses were distilled and used as a base
for perfumes. Today, attar (the essential oil of roses) is used in the majority
of women’s perfumes. You can make your own Rose Water following this simple
recipe:
Rose Water Recipe*
1 ½ cups bottled spring water
⅛ cup 100 proof vodka
1 ½ cups fresh, organically grown
fragrant rose petals
1 quart glass jar
Place water, vodka and rose petals in
clean glass jar. Cover and shake. Store in refrigerator for one week; shake
daily. Strain out rose petals. Pour into an atomizer, perfume bottle or
decanter. Apply with a cotton ball or spritz on. Store up to two weeks.
*based on recipe by Kate Carter
Frederick, as appeared in the 1999 Simply Perfect Roses magazine published by
Meredith Corporation, Des Moines, IA, USA.
Roses as Food
Rose hips (those of the Dog Rose being
the best) are used to make jam, syrup, wine and tea. They can also be used in
muffins and quick breads. Through the ages, rose petals have been a popular
cuisine item, used in tea sandwiches and to flavor whipped cream and egg whites
in desserts. Some contemporary recipes using roses can be found here
Rose Varieties
As previously stated, there are
thousands of rose cultivators. Here are a few that are common to the English
countryside, which is the flower theme for 12 Months in View.
Dog
Rose, Rosa canina – Native to Europe and parts of the United States. It grows six feet
and four feet wide (1.8 m x 1.2 m). White to pink flowers, up to 2 inches (5
cm) in diameter bloom in summer and are followed by clusters of bright red
fruits, called hips. The hips of roses contain high doses of vitamin C. They
were harvested from the countrysides during World War II. So valuable to the
country were they, the dog rose became a patriotic symbol.
 |
| Dog Rose |
Field
Rose, Rosa arvensis – A common
hedgerow plant, this rose grows 12 ft x 8 ft (3-3.7 m x 2.4 m). Single white
flowers, 1.5-2 inches (4-5 cm) in diameter bloom in July, followed by rounded hips
loved by birds.
 |
| Field Rose |
Sweet
Briar or Eglantine Rose, Rosa rubiginosa
or R. eglanteria – This is Shakespeare’s Eglantine rose. Growing 10-12 feet (3-3.5 m) tall,
this species has scented foliage as well as fragrant flowers. The leaves have a
strong apple-like fragrance. Showy hips in autumn attract birds.
 |
| Sweet Briar |
Rose Quotes
"I'd rather have roses on my table
than diamonds on my neck." -Emma Goldman
“The
rose looks fair,
But fairer we it deem
For that sweet odour
That in it doth live.”
- Shakespeare
“Oh! No man knows
Through what wild centuries
Roves back the rose.”
- Walter de la Mare
“The roses are drooping with the fatigue
of being so beautiful.” – Aude Kamlet
“There should be beds of Roses, banks of
Roses, bowers of Roses, pillars of Roses, arches of Roses, fountains of Roses,
baskets of Roses, vistas and alleys of the Rose. – Reverend Samuel Reynolds
Hale, 19th Century Horticulturist
Today’s challenge:
Create a journal page or a blog post
about your recollections of roses. If you grow roses, list the varieties.
