Candy

by Connie Handscomb

Title

Candy

Artist

Connie Handscomb

Medium

Photograph - Photography - Fine Art

Description

All I really need is love, but a little candy now and then doesn't hurt
~ Charles Schulz
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Rosa acicularis (wild rose; prickly rose; Arctic flame) : the floral emblem of Alberta
Rosa arkansana (wild prairie rose; Arkansas rose)
Rosa blanda (meadow rose; smooth rose)
Rosa carolina (pasture rose)
Rosa gymnocarpa (baldhip rose)
Rosa nutkana (Nootka rose) ... BC's wild rose; a treat for butterflies
Rosa nitida (shining rose)

Family: Rosaceae (rose family)

This fragrant perennial is thick with pollen: the bright yellow anthers are a food source for birds, wildlife, as well as insects, including bees. It is native to North America, and several species are commonly found in the Canadian provinces along roadsides, pastures and open ranges. The Rosa acicularis (wild rose) is the floral emblem of Alberta.

All parts of the wild rose are used: the roots, leaves, flowers, fruits - even the thorns (aboriginals used them for fishing lures). The flowers are emollient, and both the rose petals and rosehips are used in therapeutic cosmetics. The leaves are astringent (tannins) and rosewater is used for healthy complexions, as well as its lovely fragrance. The fruit antimicrobial provide flavonoids (anti-spasmodics). Water or oil infusions, and teas can be made. In the backwoods, the petals can be used as a "bush bandage" for cuts, scrapes, or bug bites: the petals absorb heat from wound & stop the inflammation. The rose petals are also edible, so if you are starving in the backwoods, you can also chew on them (remove the bitter white base first). At home, sprinkle the petals on salads, add to a sandwich, or candy them for a decorative confection. Vinegars, jams, and syrups can be made from them.

The red rosehips are the fruits of the plants. They are formed after bees have pollinated the rose flower so if you want the rosehips to ripen, do not remove dead flower heads. The rosehips [Rosa rugosa] can be gathered in autumn after the first frost, dried, and used in teas, jams or jellies, and rosehip pectin is a thickener in baked goods and puddings. Rosehips are high in Vitamin C - apparently, there is 20x more Vitamin C in the rosehips than in an orange, although I could not find the specific amount of rosehips required; medicinally, the deepest red petals are best.


Sources:
fr. Boreal Herbal; & The Canadian Wildlife Federation
Homegrown Teas [Cassie Liversidge]
Uncommon Beauty [Neil Jennings]
Illustrated Encyclopedia of Magical Plants [S.Gregg]
Fragrance In Bloom [A.Lovejoy]
Weeds Of Canada and the N. United States [Boyer; Dickinson]

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These roses were growing at the side of the back road, near the pond where my favorite redwinged blackbirds like to mingle amongst the bulrushes (yes, this is in our city). Which particular wild rose it is, I cannot determine; there are several!. The light shining brightly overhead, I took a peek inside the floral candy cupboard: sweet treats for the pollinators.

Captured in natural light; uncropped; unedited - nature in all its splendour :)

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♥ Heartfelt Gratitude to FAA groups for featuring this image :

Macro Marvels
Macro Photography

Uploaded

May 24th, 2016

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