Saturday, March 20, 2010

Pink Saturday - Roses

Welcome to Pink Saturday, I hope you are enjoying all the fun pinks that are being shared. To see the list of Pink bloggers visit Beverly @ How Sweet the Sound
last week we had 172 blogs who had something pink to share. If you would like to share some Pink, Beverly tells you how.

Last week I shared a little bit about Red Clover and the response was good (see last weeks Pink Saturday post).

This week I would like to talk about Rose and its herbal uses. We all know how wonderful roses smell, and the beauty they bring to the garden, to a table top as they spill out of a vase or a single rose in a elegant bud vase. I love standing in a rose garden, the fragrance is very relaxing, it clears the head and makes life's little stresses subside.

Even though we are most familiar with the Hybrid Tea, Florabunda and Grandaflora roses, they are not the ones considered medical or for making essential oil, or perfumes. For that the Rosa damascena, Rosa centifolia, or Rosa gallica are used. For eating and medicine Rosa Rugosa are used. That does not leave the Hybrid Teas, Florabundas and Grandaflora out though, they are bred for beauty, but if they have not been sprayed with insecticides they can be used, and it is even better if they are organically grown.


















Above is a Hybrid Tea rose from one of my former gardens. So what are some of the things we can do with our roses? I love to harvest the petals, several large blooms will do, put the petals only, into a clean quart jar, add witch hazel to cover, place plastic wrap over the opening before adding the lid, place in a warm place and let them sit a few weeks. The witch hazel will change color pretty quickly, as the properties of the roses are being drawn into the witch hazel. Strain and place into a bottle that you can put in your bathroom, remember to squeeze all the liquid out of the petals. Apply a bit to a cotton ball and use as an astringent for your face after washing.

Rose is wonderful for the skin, thus why I like to use it as an astringent in the witch hazel. Also, I add rose hip seed oil in soaps, lotions and skin creams.

You can also steep the petals in hot water to make rose tea.

(from Herbalpedia)

Constituents: Flower contains essential oil which includes citronellol, geraniol nerol,
eugenol, linalool, L-p-menthene, cyanin, gallic acid, beta-carotene

Fruit: vitamins C, B, E, K; nicotinamide, organic acids, pectin.
Properties: Rosehips: antiscorbutic, diuretic;

Petals: carminative, stimulant, emmenagogue,
antibacterial; Astringent; Tonic.

Energetics: (petals) sweet, slightly bitter,
warm; rose hips: sour, neutral

Meridians/Organs affected: (petals) liver,
spleen; rose hips: kidney, bladder, colon

How about some rose tea? Yes, you can also steep the petals in hot water to make rose tea. Use fresh petals, preferably organic and only roses that have not been sprayed with bug killers. One rose is good, add to a tea pot full of boiled water, think how pretty this would be in a clear glass tea pot. Steep for 5 minutes or so, strain and sweeten to taste.

Did you know..........it takes about 5,000 lbs of rose petals to make 1 pound of essential oil? Yes, 5,000 pounds, I can not even imagine that many rose petals. Good rose essential oil costs about $60.00 for a 1/4 ounce, but you can see why, I mean.......5,000 lbs!

If you have read this far, I would like to offer a gift, 2 bars of Rose Milk Soap made by me. To one winner.

Please leave a comment to this post for one entry and for a second (2nd) chance become a follower (or mention that you already are a follower) and post that in a separate comment. The winner will be announced on the April 3 Pink Saturday post.

I plan to continue info on the Rose next week, so be sure to come back and learn more about this beautiful flower. I will include some recipes, like rose petal jelly, or how about syrup? With more on its medical uses.

Have a rosy Pink Saturday

39 comments:

Country Wings in Phoenix said...

Happy Pink Saturday Gail Sweetie...
I love this post, and your roses my sweet are just gorgeous.

Thank you for the share about the tea rose. I love learning new things and sweetie, boy did you share. I am tickled "Pink".

Please enter me into your give away. I would love your soaps I am sure. Thank you for the wonderful opportunity. I will post again for the follower. Country hugs sweetie...Sherry

Country Wings in Phoenix said...

Hi Gail Sweetie...
I am already a follower, so please enter my name again. Thank you again for the wonderful opportunity. Country hugs sweetie...Sherry

illini89 said...

What beautiful flowers. I can only hope that my roses will look that great this year! Happy Pink Saturday

Debbie-Dabble Blog and A Debbie-Dabble Christmas said...

What a wonderfully interesting post! Yes, please enter me in your great giveaway!
Debbie

Mermaids of the Lake said...

Happy First Day of Spring! Oh, just reading about roses... I can almost smell them. I would love to win your handmade soaps. We are having a giveaway today too.

Mermaid Debbie

Cape Cod Rambling Rose said...

Thank you for visiting me today! This is a wonderful post - I have a hybrid tea rose that came with our yard when we bought our house... it is a lovely bright pink and smells DIVINE! I'm a follower here now, too! =)

Valrie said...

Love all your beautiful flowers. What do you have on tulips, my favorite flower of all! Maybe next Saturday my Pink post will be on Pink Tulips, the little Dutch in me is musing away a new poem...

Thanks for stopping by and enjoy your pink blog hopping. Oh did you enter my giveaway, come back and plese do!

Valrie said...

P.S.

I just becaame a follower!

Anonymous said...

Loved the rose info - roses are my very favorite flower! I dipped roses in wax one year and they turned out beautifully- so many ideas for roses!

Kelee said...

Hi Gail!

Thank-you for the wonderful info on roses and their uses.

I work with oils a lot and have always loved the rose oil. It reminds me of my grandma.

Happy Pink Saturday!

love, kelee at www.katillacshack.com

Denise Marie said...

gorgeous roses!! Love your blog decor. You must be an orange lily lover.

reimaginedtreasures.blogspot.com said...

Thank you for the great rose info! I am a rose grower too---almost all the old English or Danish varieties! Thanks for stopping by my Pink saturday Post, too! Happy First Day of SPRING!

reimaginedtreasures.blogspot.com said...

Hi! Thank you for this great Rose tutorial! and for stopping by my blog today! I would love to win your rose milk soap...mmmmmmm Kathi

Cathy said...

Hi Gail,

It would be my pleasure to Follow You!

Thank you so much for stopping by my blog and your kind words regarding my Cottage Style feature. I am so thrilled and I glad to be able to share it with you.

Happy Saturday,

xo Cathy

nancy said...

What a pretty perfect rose you got there,I have no idea what roses can do for a person's skins and its care. I never made anything from flowers or rose.Happy PS and have a great weekend.Hugs Nancy

Mari said...

HELLO GAIL, WHAT A GREAT POST WHO KNEW THAT A ROSE HAD SO MANY USES!!! ASIDE FROM HER NATURAL BEAUTY......I NOW FOLLOW YOUR SWEET BLOG...THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR TAKING THE TIME TO DROP BY MY LITTLE PINK BLOG AND YOUE VERY SWEET COMMENT!!! ESPECIALLY FOR INFORMING ME ABOUT YOUR GREAT GIVEAWAY....GOOD LUCK TO ALL THE PINKETTES!!!

Tobi Britton*pinkpixieforest.blogspot.com said...

OOOH Rosey Roses!!! I love them and I love this blog!
I would love some soap- do you sell it?
Happy Pink Saturday!
Sparkly Hugs,
Tobeeee!

Tobi Britton*pinkpixieforest.blogspot.com said...

PS thank you for saying such nice things to me on my blog today!!!

Maria@ChicaBellaCrafts said...

Wow, I had no idea Roses were so good for the skin, I'll have to make me some witch hazel. Thanks so much for posting all this information. Happy Pink Saturday, and thanks for visiting me.

Suzie Button said...

What lovely information about roses! Thanks too for a chance to win some milky sweet smelling soap too!
Please come visit me too, I'm having a giveaway just this PS weekend! Suzie

Suzie Button said...

I'm a follower of your blog too! Suzie

Tracy F. said...

Hi Gail, What an interesting post and such beautiful flower pictures. I'm so glad we found each others blogs.

Cindy said...

I always love roses and yours are gorgeous. I have never made rose tea. I make potporri and sachets with the petals. Rose scent is certainly a classic!

Maggie said...

Roses are always a perfect pink choice! Love 'em!

Sorry for the late visit but I'm glad I could come and enjoy your great pinks!

Have a wonderful week!

In Shoes We Trust,
Maggie Mae
"Do these shoes match this purse?"

Beverly said...

Happy Pink Saturday, Gail.

This is such a wonderful and informative post. I do love roses. Our roses are just beginning to get shoots now. I can hardly wait for blooming season.

Thank you for the opportunity to win your soap. It must be wonderful.

Marie said...

What a fabulous giveaway and information on the lovely rose.
Happy PS!
Marie @ Lemondrop ViNtAge
Spring into Spring giveaway

Marie said...

I am a new follower...

Candi said...

Gayle, I'm always learning something new from you. I never ever would have thought of Rose Tea. I have one of those glass tea pots and when my roses bloom I'm going to try it!
love,
Candi
ps
hope I win the soap!!! tee hee

Gwendolen Elaine said...

How very interesting! I love reading about flowers and herbs and their uses.Please do include me in your giveaway...

Gwendolen Elaine said...

...and I am following...Happy (late) Pink Saturday!!!

ThriftyAnnabella said...

Very nice - Happy late Pink Saturday!

Flory said...

oh so many things to learn from here....lovely flowers... thanks for stopping by my blog too! have a wonderful week:)
Flory

Lisa said...

Oh how great! I just started reading a book about a girl that cooks with flowers and it is so interesting! I love your informative posts!
Thanks for offering a give away! I love soaps!
Hugs, Lisa

Lisa said...

Oh I'm a lucky follower too!
Hugs, Lisa

Dogmom Diva said...

Hi Gail, oh my those roses are beauteous! I think roses are my favorite flowers and I must plant some..love the hybrid teas, but also the florabunda..i say i need some of each!
Thank you for stopping by and entering my giveaway. I would love to win the soaps. Really would...
Barb

Dogmom Diva said...

Hi Gail, I jusst became a follower!

Petunia said...

Thank you for sharing this great info about roses. I definitely enjoyed it and can almost smell their lovely fragrance! Thank you for stopping by my blog. Happy belated Pink and have a great week!

Tiffanee said...

What beautiful flowers!! Thanks for visiting me and your sweet words. Would love a chance to win!!
Have a great week!!

peggy aplSEEDS said...

i would love to have a chance to win your giveaway! thank you for the chance!