Rose Hips and Acadia
I was walking along a path in Acadia National Park at Bar
Harbor, Maine, enjoying being out in nature when I heard someone say, “Are
those tomatoes?” I looked to where she was pointing and smiled.
She was referring to the rose hips, which are the seeds of
roses. They are red and have a slightly flattened roundness that could be
mistaken for hefty cherry tomatoes. They are abundant at this time of the
season, ripening as autumn approaches.
Rose hips have a long history of usage, from birds and
animals to humans. They are edible, though we humans cannot comfortably digest
the seeds; they can be easily removed. They are rich in Vitamin C and other
vitamins and antioxidants. Fall is a particularly good time to harvest them as
they become sweeter after the first frost. They can be used topically to heal
skin problems.
But I didn’t let my focus on rose hips distract me from the
splendor of Acadia. It is magnificent. The mountain views and seascapes are
meditative. Many people, myself included, sat on the rocks just looking
outward. Time seems irrelevant in such a setting. It is a place of renewal,
something necessary in today’s frenetic world. If you can’t get to Acadia, take
a few minutes in your day just to close your eyes and breathe deeply. It really
makes a difference.
This is the official Acadia website but Google other sites
as well for some additional great photos:
A brief review of rose hips with some recipes:
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