June is National Rose Month, so what better way to celebrate than to add some roses to your life?
Roses are typically thought of as gifts and for their use in fragrances and potpourri, but roses have many other uses. Try planting a few in your backyard and bringing a couple into the house to add a little life to your décor — or take some petals into the kitchen to spice up your recipes.
Get a bush
Talk to a local gardener or surf the Web and find the best types of roses for your region. A bush is an easy way to instantly update your garden — simply dig a hole slightly larger than the pot, sprinkle a little bonemeal into the hole, drop in the bush and cover with soil. Be sure to give your bush plenty of water and fertilize with bonemeal during the summer months. Prune the bush regularly to keep new blooms coming all summer long!
If you don’t have enough space in your garden. you can grow a small plant in a pot, as long as it gets adequate water and sunlight and the pot allows enough room for the roots to grow. Make sure the pot has good drainage, but steer clear of the saucer beneath the pot, as it can lead to the roots rotting.
Keep your plant looking great with these tips for pruning roses >>
Bring them in the house
Nothing makes a house look instantly better than fresh flowers, so whether you cut a couple from your bush in the backyard or stop by your local florist weekly, grab a couple dozen and throw them in a vase for an instant pick-me-up.
Decorating with roses can get tricky with a man in the house — he may not be the biggest fan of floral wallpaper or a floral bedspread so try little bits of roses. A couple of accent pillows can easily bring roses into the house without scaring off the guys. Wall art is another easy way to incorporate roses into your home décor.
Have a glass
Try a cup of rose tea to help soothe a sore throat and runny nose. The tea can also help fight off infection and relieve an upset stomach. Perhaps one of the best things you can get from a cup of tea is relief from menstrual cramps. You can buy the tea or make your own, using about 2 cups of fresh rose petals and boiling them in about 3 cups of water for 5 minutes. Then sweeten to your taste.
Learn how to make your own herbal tea from the garden >>
What’s cooking
Spice up some common dishes by adding fresh rose petals — chop up fresh rose petals and mix with butter for a nice floral spread for your toast. Or grab a bottle of rose water from your local market and add a couple teaspoons to your favorite sugar cookie recipe.
Use National Rose Month as an opportunity to experiment with roses and discover new ways for using these beautiful buds around the house.
More about roses
Make an origami rose craft
Roses were used in William and Kate’s wedding cake
Symbolic meanings of roses and other flowers
Leave a Comment