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Post by mnjrutherford on Jun 6, 2009 8:26:36 GMT -5
I am looking for a Rock rose? A stone rose? A wood rose?
OK, so I'm not sure what the name is. I found it doing some searches a couple years ago and I haven't been able to locate it again.
There is a British society devoted to growing these. They have a deep history going back thousands of years. In ancients times they gathered the sap of the plant by running a leather cat o' nine tails through the plant then rolling the stuff off the leather thongs. Once dried the sap was used like frankincense or myrrh and was equally valuable.
Does anyone have a clue what I'm talking about?
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Post by plantsnobin on Jun 6, 2009 16:37:29 GMT -5
I think you may be talking about cistus.
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Post by mnjrutherford on Jun 6, 2009 20:38:46 GMT -5
KAREN! haHA, YOU are a GENUS!!!  (Get it? Genus as opposed to Genius? ok, so you can laugh tomorrow  ) This is exactly what I was looking for. The whip thingy is a flail. I remembered the correct name a few hours after posting. You'll see pictures of pharaohs with their arms crossed and in one hand they have a flail. The flail was somehow indicative of wealth in connection with the saps collected... Sorry, I can't remember exactly, it's been a while since I read the paper. Regardless, I'm VERY interested in acquiring some of these plants for my orchard! Can anyone help with this? en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cistus |
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Post by plantsnobin on Jun 9, 2009 9:08:33 GMT -5
I wish I could grow these, but they aren't hardy here. They should be ok for you though. Digging Dig Nursery carries a few of them. There is an old video I used to check out at the library all the time, English Cottage Gardens, and also Great Gardens of England. The cottage one had a lovely old couple with a beautiful garden with lots of cistus. They really are very pretty. I am just afraid that the blooms won't last long here due to the heat,but I guess even one day would be better than nothing.
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Post by mnjrutherford on Jun 9, 2009 11:32:38 GMT -5
We have a brand new truffle orchard. The cistus is a companion as they are supportive of the migration of the fungus through the soil and from plant to plant. I don't know all the technicalities, this is just what I've come up with reading stuff online. Anyway, the sap is also a fairly high value crop making it desirable for our situation as well. The other orchard companions are lavender. So, we'll have hazelnuts with a sprinkling of oaks, lavender and the cistus. If it looks and smells as lovely in reality as it does in my mind, it will be wonderful!
However, as I grow and get to know the plants, maybe I could "make" one that would be hardy enough for your area? Sumthin' to think about at least. And yea, even if the bloom was only for a day, it would be so worth it. My sweet peas last only a couple days in vases, but what delightfully snifferous days they are!
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Post by grungy on Jun 10, 2009 0:07:20 GMT -5
Yah!. Jo. Hope they all grow well for you.
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Post by mnjrutherford on Jun 13, 2009 8:21:17 GMT -5
Thanks Val! I hope so as well. If so, it puts 2 fairly high value crops in a single space. The cistus facilitates the growth and development of the perigord mychroizza... (now, I KNOW I didn't spell that correctly!) and they both develop in the same soil environment. Add the lavender and that is another crop with a lot of uses and market value. It'll be the best smelling eating place in town!
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) This is exactly what I was looking for. The whip thingy is a flail. I remembered the correct name a few hours after posting. You'll see pictures of pharaohs with their arms crossed and in one hand they have a flail. The flail was somehow indicative of wealth in connection with the saps collected... Sorry, I can't remember exactly, it's been a while since I read the paper. Regardless, I'm VERY interested in acquiring some of these plants for my orchard! Can anyone help with this?
