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| Rosa rugosa - ©Penelope Hellyer |
The first hedge that Arthur planted when he bought the land adjacent to the farm lane was of Rosa rugosa. Mixed colours of white, pale pink and deeper fuchsia pink planted randomly along the boundary, to keep out the cattle which were driven twice daily along the farm lane. The hedge extended almost all the way along the eight acre length.
Gay used the hips for making rose hip syrup when we were children, but in later years they were left for the birds to enjoy.
The heady fragrance from the hedge always made you stop and examine the delicate petals on the single flowers. Pruning it however was another story. The stems are covered in a multitude of tiny little thorns that are much more difficult to extract. But you could forgive it for all the pleasure it gave through the year.
These roses always look healthy don't they?
ReplyDeleteI agree, it is probably the fatness of the hips. I loved too the buttery yellow of the leaves before they fell.
ReplyDeleteHad this in my old garden, lovely fragrance too....really old fashioned shrub. Thanks for reminding me of it.
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome. One year we cut the neglected hedge down, took out all the deadwood and the weeds around, bought arthritis wrist supports so I could finish the job, lit bonfires and from then onwards cut it annually with petrol hedge trimmers, as both of us swore we'd never do the job again. My wrists have never been the same since!
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