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FLOWERS, BUDS AND PETALS

© Connie Krochmal

When we're thinking of herbs, roses may not always come to mind. Yet, they've long been a mainstay of herb gardens.

Roses are among the most beloved of all plants. They just seem to have everything going for them. There's romance and beauty. Yet there's also a practical side to roses that we sometimes don't think much about. But that may be changing.

I've heard of spas where rose petals are sprinkled in special baths. In the movie "American Beauty", one of the characters is covered with rose petals.

The next time you have a dinner party forget about the usual table decorations. Sprinkle some rose petals on the tablecloth. Just be sure they're organically grown before using them for this purpose.

The use of roses isn't limited to table decorations. They're used as flavorings for food in various different cultures, including that of ancient Persia-now known as Iran. Persian cooks used both rose petals and rose water as ingredients for various dishes. Rose water is imported to the U.S. from France and parts of the Middle East. Most often I find it in Middle Eastern groceries.

Though it is possible to make your own rose water it usually isn't practical. So many roses would be needed.

A favorite use for roses is as garnish for various dishes. Though this might seem to be an extravagance, it isn't really if you have lots of roses growing in your yard. If you pick some for this they'll hardly be missed.

If you plan on using roses for cooking or for cosmetics, avoid spraying them with chemical insecticides and fungicides. It would be safe to use baking soda-based products and other organic controls if that's necessary.

Both fresh and dried roses are suitable for culinary purposes. Rose petals are often added to herbal teas.

When we think of fruits, rose hips usually don't come to mind. However these are excellent for jams, jellies, and preserves. They're also used for herbal teas. Rose hips are featured in "Garden of Tea," written and illustrated by Nancy Shumaker Pallau, a well-known artist who specializes in botanical art. In this beautiful giftbook from Cedco Publishing she features fourteen different plants. Along with a drawing of each one she gives tips on how to use each one.

If you plan on picking rose hips don't deadhead the plant after it blooms. These need to stay on to develop into the fruits. Not all types of roses will produce rose hips, but you can count on the Rugosa rose to produce an abundance of fruits. These are noted for their high-quality fruits.