Nature’s Christmas Ornaments
December 17th, 2009
Nootka Rose Hips
Small trees laden with crabapples, and thickets full of bright red rose hips and white snowberries are very decorative at this time of year. Several native plants have attractive fruits that persist, like little Christmas baubles, through the winter months. Driving north from Courtenay on a sunny December day, I noticed how pretty and abundant these native fruits are along the highway’s edge.
Rose hips, usually from the Nootka rose (Rosa nutkana) are especially plentiful. The round “hips” range in colour from orange-red to bluish-red and have a fleshy outer rind, which houses the white, hairy seeds. Continue reading »
