Rose with Rose Hips, Botanical Garden, San Francisco - August 31, 2014

My dear friend, Joanne Olivieri, blogger, writer, poet and photographer, among her

many talents, introduced me to the San Francisco Botanical Garden.  I had lived in

close proximity for over 20 years without having visited.  Now, far away in India, I

often look back at my pictures since, in this hot, humid climate, I, sometimes, long

for the flowers, foliage, and trees of the Bay area.  The Garden, however, hosts

beautiful specimens from all over the world.

For the Our Beautiful World theme this week, "Seeds," I chose this rose photo

I took at the Botanical Garden, complete with rose hips.  

According to Wikipedia, the rose hip, which is the fruit of the rose plant, begins

to form after successful pollination in spring or early summer and continues to

ripen through autumn.  You can see here that this flower is still being visited by

bees and the hips have grown quite large.

Rose hips are the seed pods of roses.  Roses can be propagated by removing

the seeds and sowing just under the surface of the soil.  They are slow to germinate

and this may take months.  They usually require a period of chilling.

Rose hips have many uses.  They are one of the richest sources of vitamin C.  

They are often used for teas, jams and jellies, other beverages.  Current trials are

being run for their use in treating various medical conditions.

Rose hips are best harvested after the first frost and, because the seeds have

hairy coverings, it is best that they be removed.

Because of their high vitamin C content, rose hips are often used in the treatment

of colds and flu.  They are often used in the treatment of stomach disorder, diarrhea,

constipation, ulcers and like conditions.  Much of the vitamin C content of rose hips

is lost during drying, processing and storage.

For more information on rose hips, refer to the links below.  Web MD, especially,

has good information on medications, including vitamins and supplements.  

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rose_hip

http://gardening.about.com/od/rose1/f/RoseHips.htm

http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-839-ROSE%20HIP.aspx?activeIngredientId=839&activeIngredientName=ROSE%20HIP

I am participating in 

Our Beautiful World, Week 62, Seeds

Show us what makes your world beautiful.

Ruby 2 - Red and Black Flowers - June 5, 2012

From San Francisco's wonderful Botanical Garden which was introduced to my by
a dear friend, fellow blogger, Poetic Shutterbug.  To see some incredible flower
photography, you MUST visit her blog!  She is the queen of macro shots and
the Garden is her world.  She is even a squirrel whisperer and has charmed the
bees and other critters in that habitat.

I am participating in Ruby Tuesday 2 -

add your red picture and join in the fun!!

Mellow Yellow Monday #145 - Yellow Torch Lillies - October 31, 2011

I am participating in Mellow Yellow Monday - add your

yellow photo to this Halloween Day and join in the fun!



Ruby Tuesday - Red Tipped Plant and Squirrel - September 27, 2011

There's just a touch of red on the plant behind this little squirrel!

I am participating in Ruby Tuesday - check out the site and

join in the fun!



Pink Saturday - Pink Proteus - August 6, 2011

This is another beautiful flower from the San Francisco Botanical Garden, a

treasure trove of  plants and flowers from all parts of the world.  The proteus

is native to South Africa.  The king proteus is their national flower.

I am participating in Barbara's Pink Saturday -

check out the site and add your pink photo to join in the fun!





Macro Flowers Saturday - The Matilija Poppy - July 2, 2011

I first met this incredible flower, the largest variety of poppy, from the family
Papaveraceae, just last year ( I am sixty-six ), much to my dismay.  The only two
species in the genus Romneya are perennial shrubs, native to northern Mexico and
California.  It is reputed to be difficult to grow but, once they establish themselves,
they are hard to remove.  I don't see why anyone would want to rid themselves of these
lovely beauties, which have been nicknamed the "fried egg flower"!

According to Wikipedia, Matilijas prefer warm sunny soil with good drainage.  Another
interesting tidbit is that, in the wild, they are often called "fire followers" as they often can
be found in burned areas.  What a beautiful blossom to give hope after devastation!

The San Francisco Botanical Garden has a wonderful section with these beautiful
flowers as does the Marin Art and Garden Center.

I am participating in Macro Pictures Saturday - check out the site and add your own flowers

to join in the fun!

Ruby Tuesday - Exotic Red Flower - June 21, 2011

Taken at San Francisco's Botanical Garden, a beautiful source of trees, plants
and flowers at any time of the year.

 

I am participating in

Ruby Tuesday!

Check out the site and add your red photo to join in the fun!

 

Ruby Tuesday - My Ruby Tuesday Friend - February 1, 2011

My good friend, Joanne Olivieri, aka Poetic Shutterbug, who is obsessed with Hong
Kong and waffles, introduced me to San Francisco's incredible Botanical Gardens
and numerous other things.  I always have so much fun on our picture taking excursions.
When I can, I snap a shot of her, totally intent on the task at hand.  She often is dressed
in red so I'm using a couple of those shots for my Ruby Tuesday post this week.  We
haven't been able to rendevous lately and I find I'm really missing her. 

I am jealous because she can squat down like this and I cannot!  Note the

Ruby Tuesday sweater!



Look at the intense concentration - and there were bees in the vicinity!

We were there at the end of the red snapdragon growing season.

I have captured other shots of Jo with her trusty camera but, since she wasn't attired in

Ruby Tueday garb, I'm not enclosing them here.  Let me say, she will go the mile to get

that perfect shot for her blog. 

I am taking part in Ruby Tuesday - take a picture of something red,

check out the site and join in the fun!

Camera Critters & Weekend Reflections, Life is Ducky, October 30, 2010

Camera Critters & Weekend Reflections, Life is Ducky, October 30, 2010

Life is ducky at San Francisco's Botanical Garden.

This photograph is sharing in two memes - Camera Critters and Weekend Reflections #58.

Check them both out.

Mellow Yellow Monday #86 - Yellow Flowers - September 13, 2010

Mellow Yellow Monday #86 - Yellow Flowers - September 13, 2010

I am participating in Mellow Yellow Monday - join in the fun!

The San Francisco Botanical Garden Membership Contest

The San Francisco Botanical Garden Membership Contest

Many of you have seen my pictures and posts from the San Francisco Botanical Garden.

It is a wonderful place and, though I don't have a membership, the charge for non-resident

seniors is $5.00/visit which I think is very fair.  Many of you have also seen the incredible

photographs done by Joanne Olivieri, my dear friend, whose blog, Poetic Shutterbug, is

truly a work of art.  Her macro photography of flowers, bees and and other creatures, and,

of course, her poetry, are artistic treasures.  She is actively involved at the Garden,

volunteering and working with their Facebook page.

The Garden is now sponsoring a membership contest which is drawing to a close, winner

to be announced on Sunday, September 12, 2010.

I've copied this information directly from the San Francisco Botanical Garden Facebook

page:

"San Francisco Botanical Garden We are excited to announce our MEMBERSHIP CONTEST GIVEAWAY!!! In honor of our 70th year Anniversary. The winner of this contest will receive a one year Garden Lover

membership valued at $125.00.


Becoming a member of the SFBGS allows you not only the privilege of keeping the gardens flourishing but you will also receiv...e special benefits such as,


Free or discounted admission to over 250 botanical gardens across the United States,


Subscription to our eNewsletter “In the Garden,"


10% Discount on all SFBGS purchases (classes, plants, tours, books, etc.)


10% Discount at over 75 Bay


Area nurseries and SO MUCH MORE... For details on our membership levels you can go to our website, or click the Discussions tab on this page and click on the Membership Levels link, or email me directly at joanneolivieri@sbcglobal.net for a detailed description.


This contest is open to everyone, worldwide even if you are already a member. Here are the contest rules:

1. Tell us, during your first visit to the gardens, what was your favorite flower, plant or garden area. If you have never been to our garden, tell us what flower, plant or garden you would be excited to see.


You can write a blurb, an essay, a poem or anything you like. Be as creative as possible. You may include photos or even a video. All you need to do is post your entry on our Facebook wall and if you have a photo or video you would like to include, use the little icons on the wall to post them along with your entry.


We realize you may not have enough room on these wall posts for your entry. So, if you have a blog you may post your entry on your blog and copy and paste that blog post link to our wall.


The contest begins today - 8/19/10 and will end on 9/12/10. The winner will be announced on 9/13/10.


The entries will be judged on quality and creativity. Give us your best and good luck to all."

Below is my entry:

San Francisco Botanical Garden

San Francisco has a treasure,

That is here for all to see,

It is filled with nature’s beauty,

An oasis of tranquility.

 

One can while away the hours,

And travel continents far away,

By seeing their plants and flowers,
Which the Garden brings your way.

Stop off in South America,

And see the giant gunnera leaf,

Stand under it in a deluge,

To keep you dry beyond belief!

Pay a visit to California,

And see Matilija poppies white,

The towering, crinkly blossoms,

Are an unforgettable sight!

 

See the majestic proteus,

There are both queens and kings,

This flower from South Africa,

Is one of the prettiest things!

Majestic trees, bumble bees,

Squirrels and Canadian geese,
In this lovely garden setting,

One feels a sense of peace.

The library and the bookstore,

Have all you’ll ever need,

To acquire a gardener’s expertise,

As long as you can read!

 

Enjoy it and support it,

For it is meant for you,

The San Francisco Botanical Garden,

Is like a dream come true.

Carmen Henesy

Copyright (c) 2010 by Carmen Henesy

All rights reserved.

Mellow Yellow Monday #85 - More From the Botanical Garden - September 6, 2010

Mellow Yellow Monday #85 - More From the Botanical Garden - September 6, 2010

I am participating in Mellow Yellow Monday