Rosehip Decorations

Rosehips grow wild and are often plentiful in rural or untended, wilder areas of suburbia. They make colorful winter decorations and will keep their color for a few years. The drawback is that they have sharp thorns which can make handling a challenge. Do not remove stems from public lands or private property without the owner's consent.

HARVESTING

-bucket

-pruners or heavy scissors

-leather glove (optional)

PREPPING

-pruners or heavy scissors

-wide-mouth jar or vase

I prefer to harvest the berried stems bare handed. Once you locate a rose vine, select a long stem with plenty of bright red berries and grasp it, avoiding thorns, above where you plan to cut. A 9" stem is good for larger displays but 5" will work for smaller ones. Snip and carefully remove the cut stem being careful not to get stabbed by thorns on other stems. Aside the stem to your bucket and continue until you have about fifty.

Work on a light colored, hard surface so you can easily see the thorns and so cleanup will be easier. Carefully remove a single stem from the bucket, being carefull not to dislodge any berries. Grasp the stem at the cut end and snip the thorns using your pruner. Rotate the stem to locate all of the thorns. Once the stem is safe to handle, place it in a jar or vase. Arrange as you go or do it once all of the stems have been dethorned. I find that a rubber band or a long twist tie around the base of the stems helps keep them under control.