I am planning to harvest the rosehips from my rose bushes, to make tea, but am not sure if that are at the proper ripeness. I live in western Mass. so winter is approaching and the rosehips are reddish/orange, they appear to be fleshy all the way through. Is this the time?

Also, I assume this won't hurt my rose production next summer - right?

Go ahead and pick right now. If you have plenty please leave some for our feathered friends, there wont be any problems with your rose next summer however if you care to increase flower production (=more hips) use some alfalfa, as it will stimulate your roses. Dont overdo it though! Too much alfalfa can do the opposite. Dont forget the compost!!!!!

What a good idea to harvest rose hips. What kind of roses do you have though? Some rose hips taste better than others. Let us know how yours taste and what kind they are. You can use them as a vitamin C source all winter in the form of tea! Oh, and pick them whenever they turn red and dry them.
Cindy Jones, author of "The Antibiotic Alternative" http://antibioticalt.tripod.com