Yummy Flowers

Image from gardenmamma.typepad.com

So my wife asked me to write about edible flowers and where you can buy them or grow them. I was like "ok, that's actually a good topic" so I am. 

Have you ever sucked on a honeysuckle flower? C'mon... I know you have, at least when you were kid right? So sweet and good. 

A lot of people don't realize you can actually eat many flowers and even a couple of weeds.  Flowers have been a delicacy for centuries among many cultures. Fantastic healing power in some specific flowers that I will share here as well. 

You typically can find flowers being used in salads at high end restaurants. I'm not talking about Outback and Olive Garden, I mean celebrity type places. Why only there? Celebrities can actually afford to care about different foods and their health. 

Bakers, such as my wife can use real flowers on cakes and it's actually quite popular. 

I will share with you all the flowers safe to eat. 

Violets, Nasturtiums, Honeysuckle, Borage, Pansies, Rose or Calendula petals,

Elder, Mustard, Chive and Onion blossoms, Mullein, Chrysanthemum, Clover, Apple Blossoms, 

Mallow, Squash Blossoms, Pinks, Forget-me-nots, Fennel, Rosemary, Thyme, Dill, Lavender Flowers, Day Lilies. 

• Day lilies taste like sweet lettuce or melon. 
• Clover has a licorice type flavor.
• Fennel has yellow flowers that are great for deserts. 
• Lavender is citrusy and great with salads.
• Nasturtiums are a little spicy and great in taco salads. 
• Violets and Johnny Jump ups ( also edible )  can be used in ice drinks during the summer, or deserts. They are light and mild and cary many general uses in foods.

Herb Flowers, Vegetable Flowers, Fruit Flowers etc. 

Finding edible flowers that don't have pesticides is very tricky.

You can usually locate them at specialty store in bigger cities and even in some health food stores.  It's very important you get flowers that are meant for eating and pesticide free. 

Passion Flower

Grow the edible flowers yourself is what I recommend. I know it seems like a big chore, but really it's very simple. 

Here's what you need

Checklist

• Organic Soil
• A good compost
• Sunlight
• Water
• Patience :)
• Container
• Seeds ( I like Ferry Morse & Burpee )

Very simple list right? 

You just need to make sure you don't use any chemicals or pesticides near the flowers as they grow. 

You can make a small green house out of simple things. Hey, maybe I will even do a blog about how to make a small green house lol. 

Healing Flower Power-

Passion Flower- Great for insomnia, nervousness, and tension. 

Chrysanthemum- Helps get rid of headaches, red eyes, and fevers.

                                               I also boil dried Chrysanthemum flowers for a

                                               tea, put it in a spray bottle, and use on roses for 

                                               a strength and to rid aphids. 

Magnolia- Boiled dry magnolias once inhaled will help open nasal               

                            passages during colds, aid in sinus infections, and 

                            allergies. 

Honeysuckle- Fevers, colds, flu, skin problems, infections, inflamations, viruses, sore throats,                    

                                    hot painful eyes, swellings, headaches all can be cured with honeysuckle. 

I really want to become an herbalist eventually. 

I have used Passion flower myself for insomnia and 

nervousness and it really helps with Chamomile. 

I love herbal teas and have been drinking them for about a year and a half now. 

Many of these flowers can be made into a tea, or bought at your local grocery store in organic tea. 

You can have a lot of fun with this little edible flower project.

Make it fun!! Plan a small party with friends after your flowers have grown. Salads, drinks, deserts all adorned with floral decadence. Endless possibilities from such a simple thing, and it just changes up the monotony in everyday food. 

I would love to hear from anyone who tries flowers on something.

Write a comment here, or email me.