I found this article on Slate.com. In it Constance Casey offers both gardening advice and a bit of history on the symbolism of roses.

A Rose Is Still a Rose
How not to be intimidated by your rose garden

Rose water was first obtained by distilling roses in Persia (Iran). It is used in cosmetics for its lovely scent, but also because it has light astringent properties. Because it is the most gentle of astringents, rose water is often used as toner for fair and dry skin.

Rose water can also be used in food — whipped with heavy cream creates a lightly scented and flavored topping for mild desserts. Many Greek pastries, puddings and cakes call for rose water.

Rose water can be purchased at some pharmacies, natural food stores, delicatessens and herb stores, but you should be careful to read the label. Make sure it is 100% pure, for many of the solutions you can purchase over the shelf use synthetic rose oil and preservatives.

Of course, you can always make your own. You can find a recipe here.

I found an unique recipe that uses rose water, created by James Meehan, bartender of Gramercy Tavern and Pegu Club in New York, N.Y. If you try it out, let me know what you think.

R&R

1.5 oz. Bourbon
2.25 oz. Iced Tea
1/2 tsp simple syrup
2 raspberries
3 drops rose flower water

Add the raspberries and simple syrup to a mixing glass and muddle.

Add the Bourbon, rose flower water, tea and ice.

Shake and double strain into a rocks glass

Garnish: 1 raspberry skewered with a dried rose inside it

Makes 1 Drink

The other day, I learned something new. Tivo Suggestions has been recording episodes of Marty Stouffer’s Wild America and the latest episode was “Feathered Jewels.” It was all about humming birds. What I learned was that these beautiful, iridescent birds are unique to the New World. They don’t exist in Europe.

I found this copy of the episode on AOL video and thought I’d share it with you. I couldn’t view it, but I hope you can. The episode was fun to watch.

Powered by AOL Video

I also learned that you don’t need a bird feeder to attract humming birds. All you need is an open jar with the rim painted red and the humming birds will come for a drink. Pretty cool, huh.

Butterflies are very colorful and intricate creatures that flutter freely among the beautiful flowers and shrubs on warm days. There are many varieties of butterflies, but the most colorful and popular is the Monarch. The butterfly has one of the most unique life cycles of any creature on Earth. Each one goes through a variety of physical changes, starting out as only an egg and ending as a beautiful butterfly.

A butterfly may lay a single egg or several. It depends on the type of butterfly and the nutrition she has had prior to conceiving. The better health a butterfly is in, the more eggs she will lay at a time. The eggs are laid on various food plants, in areas that are well hidden to protect them from the elements and predators. Most eggs will hatch in approximately ten days, with a small green caterpillar emerging from it. The eggs shell serves as the very first meal for these young caterpillars.

It is amazing just how much food a small caterpillar can consume on a daily basis. The jaws of a caterpillar are very powerful and it is not picky when it comes to nibbling on a variety of foods and plants. Most anything that is edible will be consumed by a caterpillar. As it grows larger, the caterpillar will shed its skin. This will take place several times in its life as a caterpillar.

After a caterpillar has become fully grow, it will enter the next stage of life called pupation. During this time the caterpillar spins a silk pad and then hangs upside down from it. A hormone in the caterpillar the next phase of physical changes. The caterpillar will remain in this state for approximately two weeks. What emerges is a beautiful butterfly with wings ready to continue life in this new form.

Regardless of the species of butterfly, each one lives a very remarkable life featuring dramatic changes that very few creatures go through. The metamorphous of a butterfly from a caterpillar that hatched from an egg is an unbelievable spectacle to observe. It does make you stop and watch in awe as this new life form emerges.

For more information about the butterfly life cycle, visit these websites:

Where Do Butterflies Come From?
Howard Hughes Medical InstituteButterfly and moth life cycle
Pacific Science Center