Cool…

Temperature, that is.  Quite a switch from the heat and humidity of the past couple of weeks.  It is a welcome change, nonetheless, although not exactly beach weather.  On days like this most tourists check out the attractions, go exploring, or do some shopping.  There is certainly no shortage of things to see on our beautiful island.

The wild roses are blooming in our maze, the green is awash in pink splashes of colour.  This year we are planning to harvest our rosehips.  Besides the wild rose bushes we have rugosa roses, which apparently yield the highest quality and flavour.  Did you know that the rose is a relative of plums, blackberries, raspberries and apples?  The fleshy bulbs which form after the floom dies, especially on the rugosas, supposedly taste like an apple.  This is a new venture for us, but we plan on drying them and possibly making some syrup.  From there, we can make soup, wine, jelly and tea.  The rosehip is very high in vitamin C, bioflavinoids, B complex vitamins, pectin, vitamin E, selenium and manganese.  Come mid-September we will be busy harvesting the hips.  Why don’t you drop by and give us a hand? We have a cottage or room just for you!

One of our beautiful rose bushes!