THE MODERN MINT BLOG
Roses for Hips
Just a quick note to share these choices of roses for their hips, from the RHS magazine. The rose choices were…
Rosa rugosa ‘Alba’ – yes, lovely. choice
Rosa filipes ‘Kiftsgate’ (not sure who has the space to grow this one!)
Rosa ‘Francis E Lester’
Rosa ‘Generous Gardener’ (though the article noted if you leave the hips on you will get fewer flowers later in the season)
Rosa ‘Morning Mist’
Rosa ‘Cupid’
Rosa sericea subspecies omeiensis f. pteracantha (not just a mouthful of a name, but the hips drop off quickly too, within a few weeks)
Rosa ‘Geranium’
Rosa californica
Rosa rubiginosa (sweet briar! Crush those leaves for the scent!)
Rosa virginiana
Rosa ‘Shropshire Lass’
Many of these roses are species roses, because they have a need to set seed, in order to live on and prosper!
Uses of Rosehips
Loved this part of the article, as we have a special interest in skincare and the use of plants for helping the body stay healthy.
Hips were used for:
Itching powder
An excellent source of Vitamin C
The pulp for jams and juices
As a tea – recommended to alleviate headaches, cramps, dizziness and osteoarthritis.
It is also said to improve your mood, your energy levels and the quality of your sleep.
Those hips don’t lie, huh?
For more on roses, take a look at a blog about our visit to David Austin Roses.
Topiary, The Art Garden at The Henderson
The Art Garden at The Henderson in Hong-Kong has now opened to the public. I joined the project last March, to work with Gillespies Landscape Architects on the topiary that had been designed for the Art Garden, which gives a calm, green space below the extraordinary Henderson skyscraper designed by Zaha Hadid Architects. The garden has been designed with butterflies in mind, so lots of nectar plants, and has other art projects and installations within its footprint. The history of the site is interesting too – it was originally the first cricket ground in Hong-Kong! So still a green space….! …
ClipFest 2025
On Sunday June 22nd there will be Clipfest 2025 at Ichi-Coo Park in Surrey. It is a celebration of all things pruning and topiary, and I will be there in my capacity of teacher at the European Boxwood and Topiary Society to demonstrate tool cleaning and sharpening, and how to clip. Tickets can be found here on Eventbrite. We are hoping for great weather and to see lots of keen pruners getting their shears out and joining us at this amazing garden! And for more on topiary…
Secateur Holders
A present arrived from Norway today, from a student who visited last February to work with Chris Poole and I on learning topiary. His new hobby – a beautiful and neatly stitched secateur holder. Thrilled with this! The holder will save me keep losing my secatuers too…! Thank you Bernt! It was the same student who introduced me to the APA with whom I am doing a talk at the end of March. Tickets can be bought here for ‘Defining The Essence – Aesthetic Pruning in the Garden’. Do join the European Boxwood and Topiary Society for that!