Honeysuckle Flowers and Rose Hips

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Sep 18, 2008 4:05 am

I have seen on the food list Honeysuckle flowers and was wondering as I have a lot of Honeysuckle growing in my garden, can I cut off some of the branches and leaves to put in my tank?I also have a lot of rose hip, if I pick it all now what would be the best way to store it?

Crabby Abby · Post by **Crabby Abby** » Thu Sep 18, 2008 4:24 am

I know the flowers themselves, as long as they're not treated with fertilizer or pesticide are fine but I can't speak for the wood and leaves.

Margaret · Post by **Margaret** » Thu Sep 18, 2008 11:27 am

Hevs, I harvest rose hips a little later in the fall -- when they are very red. Then spread them out (like on a cookie sheet) and let them dry until the skin looks wrinkled and shriveled. Then cut them in half and scrape out the seeds - some people don't do that, but the best part of the hip is in its skin, so no need to store the seeds too - we always have space issues, so I remove them). Then let them dry another week or so, and then bag them up and toss them in the freezer or in the pantry.I don't know if that would work for you, though - it sounds like you have A LOT more hips in your garden than I have in mine! Maybe if it's a big pain to cut and de-seed so many, you could just leave the seeds in.As for honeysuckle, a caresheet on CSJ advises that we only feed the flowers to our crabs.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri Sep 19, 2008 5:26 am

Don't forget to pluck off the rose leaves while you are out there. They are a crab favorite.