Hipsters

Rose hips-ters, that is. There are still rose blossoms here and there in the neighborhood's gardens. But most of the rose bushes around us are covered in hips, especially the wild roses out along the edges of the woods that surround the vineyards. The hips pictured here are not wild roses, but garden-variety plants along one of our neighbors' fences.

Rose hips provide color in late fall and early winter.

Our roses, the few we have left, are no exception. I plan to cut them back once it gets colder, although I don't really know if it matters when I do it. I've read that it should be done before the sap starts running in spring. For us that means January or February. I've also read that it should be done when the plant stops flowering. For us that means any time now. And I've read that it depends on the variety of rose you're pruning. For us that means I have no idea.