Wildcrafting Rosehips

I went for a walk with my son this morning hoping to harvest some rosehips but alas I think the storm might have destroyed most of the wild rose bushes that grow near us. Not to mention, with all the snow we just had it's probably too late anyway. So instead I'll just share some information about them and maybe you'll be able to pick some for yourself!

Rosehips are rich in Vitamin C and are good for all manner of things from jelly to wine and tea. Roses themselves are edible and are related to such fruits as apples and plums. The rosehips themselves actually taste somewhat like apple. Unlike apples however there isn't much flesh to these small red beauties so the more you have the better. After the rose blossom begins to die the green hip (hypanthium) begins to swell. This is found at the base of the rose blossom and turns red when it is ripe beginning in approximately mid September depending on your area.

Magickal Uses for Rosehips:

• Love
• Psychic Powers
• Healing
• Divination
• Luck
• Protection
• Calling Good Spirits

I hope you have better luck harvesting than I did, and if you do make sure to tell us what you did with them.