Eglantine

[smokingboot]

Out across the little park/nature reserve/common land/whatever it is. A really light touch of honey to the air, gorse in full bloom, brambleflowers and clover...And of course, the wild roses.




When we bought this place, we learned that the previous owners once had a beautiful garden, then on deciding to let the house out, tore everything up. We found nothing left but a silver birch tree, a rowan, some raspberry stalks, some current stalks yet to be identified, and a random climbing rose. Now we learn the latter's real identity.



Maybe she found her way to the garden on the wind, seeded out of the reserve. Celebrated in medieval heraldry and illustration, Rosa Canina is her name, called the dog rose because the Romans thought the flower could cure rabid dog bites. Apparently you can do great things with the hips in tinctures and whatnot - loads of vitamin C - but I don't see myself straining goo through cheesecloth for worthy pink jellies and back-of-cupboard lurking medicinal syrups. I'm just not that kind of witch. Rosa can scramble up the wall to enjoy many summers with us. I'll let her be.