Natural Kids: Eat your Flowers!

Flowers can be used for a multitude of dishes from garnishes to salads. For a great summer treat try freezing petals in ice cube trays filled with water for a lovely addition to your favorite lemonade or iced tea! Although this seems to be a new trend eating flowers has been going on for centuries. The first mention of people consuming flowers was as far back as 140 BC. Also many veggies we eat are really flowers broccoli, cauliflower, artichokes and broccoflower are all flowers. The spice saffron is the stamen from the crocus flower, and capers are unopened flower buds to a bush native in the Mediterranean and Asian nations. So you most likely have been eating without even knowing it.

A list of common EDIBLE FLOWERS:

Angelica                 Anise Hyssop
Apple Blossom               Artichoke
Arugula                           Bachelor Buttons AKA Cornflower
Banana                           Basil
Bee Balm             Borage
Burnet                            Calendula
Carnation             Chamomile
Chicory                 Chives
Chrysanthemum             Cilantro / Coriander
Citrus                            Clover
Dandelion                      Day-lily
Dianthus                        Dill
Elderberry                     English Daisy
Fennel                           Freesia
Fuchsia                         Gardenia
Garlic                           Geraniums
Gladiolas                      Hibiscus
Honeysuckle                Hollyhock
Hyssop                  Iceland Poppy
Impatiens                     Jasmine
Johnny Jump Up      Lavender
Lemon Verbena           Lilac
Linden                       Mallow
Marigold                     Marjoram
Mint                            Mustard
Nasturtium                Oregano
Okra                          Onion
Orange Blossom         Pansy
Passionflower             Pea
Pineapple Sage           Primrose
Radish                        Red Clover
Redbud                      Rose
Rosemary                   Rose of Sharon
Runner Bean             Safflower
Sage                           Savory
Scented Geranium       Snapdragon
Society Garlic             Squash Blossom
Sunflower                   Sweet Marigold
Sweet William             Thyme
Tuberous Begonia        Tulip
Viola                           Violet
Winter Savory             Yucca

How To:

There are a few cautions one should remember before harvesting any flowers:
Do not harvest any flowers that could have been exposed to animal excrement, that have had insecticides or fertilizer sprayed on them, or are from the side of roads where they have been exposed to trash, carbon monoxide etc.

Harvest your flowers in the morning.

Next, bathe the flowers gently in a salt-water bath.
Immediately drop them in ice water for 1 minute. Gently pat flower dry on a towel.

For best results, use your flower petals immediately

Article by Beccijo, The Enchanted Cupboard

A few lovely flower theme items from our members to add to your Nature Table: