Edible Flowers Vol. 1-2
Vegan? Paleo? Keto? Whatever diet is “ál la mode”, adding edible flowers to your meal will brighten up your dinner plate while in some instances give you additional health benefits. Following is a list of common flowers that not only should appeal to your nose but also to your palate.
1. Hibiscus – (Roselle) – are about 6” in diameter and come in an assortment of colors. These flowers can be eaten straight as food or used in teas, salads or jams. Allegedly, hibiscus tea is good for high blood pressure, cholesterol, and other heart conditions. The flavor is tart but over ice, it is particularly refreshing.
2. Dandelion – sadly suffers from poor branding in this country. It is not only just a weed but also besides being a harbinger of spring, it is a very healthy food choice. We are all familiar with the little yellow flowers but did you know that they contain many powerful antioxidants? Additionally, the leaves, stems and roots can be added to salads and can be used to make dandelion wine. Maybe we can convince Go Grocer to add it to their stock.
3. Lavender (Editor’s Favorite) – known for its luscious and calming smell, lavender is native to the Mediterranean and Africa. Because of its beautiful color and scent, lavender can be added to baked goods, spices, syrups and especially tea. Since it has a strong taste, when cooking with it, start with small amounts and increase to taste.
4. Rose – Ah – the Queen of all Gardens and now the Queen of the kitchen. Since there are a zillion varieties which are all edible, choose a smell that appeals to you. Restrict your eating to the flower only. The flower can be put into beverages, jams and even butter and sugar to give them that special tang. The health benefits are reputed to be helpful in dealing with anxiety and relaxation.
5. Pansy – Oh those darling little faces are almost too cute to eat. But they are just as pleasant to eat. The taste is usually mild and slightly floral and since they come in so many colors, they are decorative as well as tasty. Pansies are also believed to have tons of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties. So throw out that old BenGay and use a sweet-smelling pansy petal instead.
Susan Marcus, Editor
News From the Committee
Horticulture Happy Hour, Fridays 5:00-7:30
The Community Garden Committee would like to invite all of our gardeners to an informal, loosely planned, Horticulture Happy Hour in the garden every lovely Friday this summer beginning in June.
The Committee would love for all of the gardeners to feel welcome to spend time in our space, enjoy the progress in the plots, the last sunshine of the day, the company of the gardening community, and a beverage of your choice. We also encourage you to BYOB in safe containers and relax. You will have to provide your own chair or blanket, but please do spend a while. As these Horticulture Happy Hours are loosely planned, there are no expectations as to when you come or how long you stay. Come down any time between 5:00 and 7:30 and stay as long as you'd like. If there happens to be any particularly lovely Friday evenings in May, please be encouraged to come down with wine and sundown in the garden.
Reminders
Sundays in May with Mike
Gardeners, please keep in mind that Mike will be in the garden to offer advice and assistance from 1-3pm every Sunday in May! Feel free to as for as much or as little help as you'd like from him. He is fully invested in seeing our garden project be successful. See you Sundays in the garden.
Welcome to the Imperial Towers Community Garden website, www.imperialtowerscommunitygarden.com. We hope you find this to be a useful resource for all that we have going on. You may find everything you need regarding event information, RSVPs, community events, and educational resources. We also encourage you to sign up for and follow us on Instagram to contribute photos. You will find our account in the Instagram app @itcommunitygarden. Or you may view photos online via a third party site.
Dear Gardeners,
Hello again gardeners. I'm happy to see so many of us have gotten off to a good start! I think we have to thank, in part, Mike from Urban Habitat Chicago for the seedlings and seeds which were provided for our opening day planting.
Some of our gardeners asked about one thing that was a bit unexpected at opening day. What is it with these black covers on our plots?
This is actually a rather simple solution for what could be a big problem. The gardening cloth which covers the plots is an erosion preventative measure. Lucky for us, the cloth is permeable so we can water right through it.
Because our growing medium is quite lightweight, it is easy for it to be lifted in high winds, especially when it is dry. Once our seeds and seedlings have taken root, they will prevent mass erosion. Lucky for us, the rains in this first week of May will help our seeds germinate, then it's off to the races. If you'd like to read up on garden cloth and plants preventing all types of soil erosion, check out these resources: American Scientific - Can Plants Help Slow Soil Erosion?, Popular Mechanics - Ways Plants Can Help You Control Erosion, Green Roof Solutions - Erosion Control.
Answering your questions again next month, please submit any questions you have.
- Rose
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