Clipped Yew in the Cathedral Grounds, Dunkeld, Perthshire, Scotland.

This looks beautiful David...

Bows made of Yew...strong but flexible...the English longbow changed history...it changed warfare as it was conducted...knights on huge destriers were fodder for the rain of arrows that fell in volleys upon them from a distance....like the rifle of later years, it revolutionized military tactics. And could perform a snipers function as well...England's navy may have been her heart of oak, but the longbow was her arms of yew! Now it's decorative!

Love it, dear Lori -but wait just a mo!
Wasn't King Harold killed by a bow?
At the Battle of Hastings in 1066
('tis an historical date, which, in my mind, sticks).
Those old stormin' Normans sure gave us a clue,
as to how to grow better the sacred old yew!
If I were there, I could sure hear them cry,
" Mon Dew, c'est la Yew, and here's "one in the eye!"

- Many Thanks, with Love X

Yes...seems it was an arrow started Harold's end
From a bow of the roman type, short- hard to bend
Or perhaps from a crossbow without a windlass
But not from the flexible bow now called English.

It's past ten in the evening, David...it's too hard to rhyme..
I'm just not up to it..not in my prime
So I'll borrow a tactic and feign my retreat
and maybe you're able to hand me defeat!

So here I sit, splitting historical hairs
Too tired and sleepy to crawl up the stairs
But doing my best to exchange repartee
With someone who's certainly brighter than me!!

On a lighter note!! I've always marvelled at the antipathy of the French and English...when their genes are so intermingled. lol...

Lol, Lori, I can't think anymore either, so, you "win". Many thanks, again, for the info on rose "Hot Cocoa". Too late for my Christmas list, but is certainly on our plant list!