Wednesday 27 September 2023

Hip, Hip, Hooray!

In October I'm attending a wreath making workshop. We've been encouraged to start foraging and gathering materials. On my walk down to the village centre, I regularly pass the most beautiful garden. And on the corner is a huge shrub covered in red hips.
Yesterday as I cycled past on my way home from the Macmillan Coffee Morning, I decided to call at the house. I cycled down the long drive and parked my bike. A woman (about my age, perhaps a little younger) answered the door. "This Is a bit cheeky, but please could I have some of those hips for a wreath?" She said it was her parents' garden, but she was sure they would not mind. 
I said I'd be back later with secateurs. I returned in the afternoon and snipped off three sprigs, then went to the house to say thank you. The woman had gone home, but her parents, the home owners, were utterly delightful. "It's the lady with the pretty bicycle basket!" said her Mum as she answered the door. I chatted for a while with them both, and they said I could go anytime and collect any further foliage I might need. 
I explained about the Wreath Workshop. We talked about crafts - she and I share a love of knitting, and sewing and patchwork - and his career was working as a Master Saddler [wow! ] I gave them a jar of chutney and thanked them again.
And I pedalled happily home. I'm really glad I called - not just for the foliage, but because I've made two new acquaintances and learned about another plant. It is called a Rosa Geranium. I found a picture of it in flower. Isn't it stunning? 


25 comments:

  1. What a lovely way to make new acquaintances!

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  2. I’m sure they were delighted to meet you too. Looking forward to seeing your wreath. Catriona

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  3. That's lovely! I'm so glad you were brave enough to ask! Kx

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  4. How nice that you were able to introduce yourself to the homeowners and be told to help yourself to cuttings from the garden. Over here, people have been shot and killed for turning into the wrong driveway or knocking on the wrong door!

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    1. I should hate to live with the gun culture of the USA

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  5. If you opened up the hips might you be able to plant the seeds? All the workshops they are having here are so financially prohibitive. I can make my own wreath for a lot less than £50, for example.

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    1. I hadn't thought about saving some seeds. Good idea Anne. Our workshop is being run by one of the members of our group, so we will just pay our usual £2 fee!

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    2. Lucky duck! There are at least 3 I'd love to attend but the prices are overboard. It's not that I need another wreath (dig out the same old pine cone one that my bestie sent me before she went to NZ, today I've added Orange berries from my Rowan Tree to yush it up a bit)it's more for the social aspect really.

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  6. Rosehip and apple jelly, delicious.

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  7. That is lovely, how nice to make new acquaintances. The Rosa geranium is such an intense colour, how wonderful. I would love one in our garden. I call that a successful mission and I'm sure they will appreciate your chutney. Win, win all round. Sue H

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  8. What a lovely encounter! I wish life was like that here

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  9. You have a lovely neighborhood just as we do. I love that you gave that nice couple a gift of chutney. I usually bake for the folks around here who do things for me. JanF

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  10. What a lovely way to make new friends!

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  11. How delightful and it's extra wonderful that you've made your bicycle basket pertty!

    Hugs!

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    1. My £5 bunch of silk flowers from the market have brought a smile to so many faces this summer.

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