Wild Rose

Woods Rose —Rosa woodsii

east of the Cascades

A Little Note

The Photo:

Woods Rose —Rosa woodsii

east of the Cascades

The Thought:

North Dakota also has prairie roses— there are many varieties and I love each one, despite their prickles [thorns]. I remember being so happy to see them bloom along the river, running up to enjoy the fragrance, but being careful not to touch! The Wild Prairie Rose is North Dakota’s state flower.

Pinks on green— nature’s gentle colors, each flower with five wide petals. The plant is eaten by many animals from coyote to mule deer. Bees and butterflies love them. And Native Americans found nutrition and medicine in the rose hips and petals.

This variety, Rose Woodsii, grows up to ten feet tall, filled with pink blooms in May and June.

We found these along the abandoned road leading to Banks Lake, where we took Guthrie for a walk. There were huge bushes of them along the walk, so fragrant you needn’t even get too close to enjoy. The thorns on these are small and not too many.

I found a website that helps identify the different varieties: Wild Rose Visual Identification. I also found a guide for plants in the Colville National Forest, just north of us.

How wonderful for such beauty that also provides soothing teas and medicinal helps.

Poetry

Wild Rose

Stems, prickly; petals,
soft—delicate pink for tea;
winter rose hips heal

Sheri Edwards
05.28.24 148.365.24
Poetry/Photography
Rosa woodsii