h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I really enjoyed reading this article Webbie. It brought back some of the happier memories from my childhood
Daisy chains and dandelions, buttercups and all sorts of other wildflowers were a big part of my life back then. I collected fir cones that are meant to predict the weather and rose hips to make itching powder We used to make perfume from rose petals, though that was'nt too successful, i can't think why

Thank you Venus. It is strange, when I started the article I didn't really know where it would take me, but the memories came flooding back. Good ones too for a change. I am glad I shared them now.

Fir cones, yes, I have some for that purpose, I used to have seaweed too which did a similar job. Now, rosehips I have used for rosehip syrup for many, many years, but for itching powder Do tell! I can think of some six hundred victims who deserve a dose

I think I tried rose petals for perfume too, also without much success, but perhaps using cultivated roses which had little scent was the problem?

Websailor

The seeds inside the rosehips are covered in tiny hairs. We used to collect it and put it down the back of others at school.
Of course these days that sort of thing i probably a no-no due to so many having plant allergies and such.

You don't think it was the fact that we just put a load of rose petals in tap water was the problem? Essence of decomposed rose petals never really did anything for me.

Hi I didn't comment when I read it yesterday but now I can say that yes I enjoyed it too and yes we used break rosehips open for doing the same thing and boy do they itch.

We even used to carry a small bag of flour to mix into a paste to cook on sticks over a fire for lunch when we went exploring across the fields, didn't burn anything down and was only told to be careful even if mum was pretty strict

Hello both. Curiosity aroused I checked the Internet and it seems 'itching powder' is alive and well and thriving. I shan't be making any but it has awakened my love of rosehip syrup again, so I might be doing that this year.

Plantlife International reported yesterday that there is a glut of dandelions this year, so it wasn't just in my neck of the woods. That was what originally prompted my article.

Monraker, my son used to do that in the Cubs, and we did it over the bbq many years ago. Happy days!

Websailor

We seem to have a lot of Dandelions here too , just been out to get some for Blue the Rabbit .

All the pet rabbits here seem to be large 'house' rabbits who don't eat anything as ordinary as dandelions and groundsel which mine used to eat

Websailor

Tortoises love dandelion leaves . I tried dandelion and burdock drink for the first time last summer , and yea it was nice .Recomended .

TM, hello, I intend to order some of the real stuff as soon as possible. It has tickled my taste buds

Websailor