This garden salad prepared with fresh salad greens, seasonal herbs and garnished with edible flowers is not only beautiful, it is delicious. Click on other pix to enlarge and read captions.
Photo/Illustration: Susan Belsinger
Start your flower salad with just-harvested greens--baby lettuces, spinach, mizuna, tatsoi, frisee, and add any herb leaves--arugula, sorrel, chervil, parsley, chickweed, fennel, whatever you have in the garden.
The violas are one of my favorite edible flowers because of their appearance--little smiling faces--often with whiskers. Some are more floral than others; most have the flavor of a mild, leaf lettuce.
Brassica flowers are some of the tastiest blooms. I eat flowers from kale, broccoli, and mustards. They taste similar to the vegetable from which they come, however, they are sweet and bright in flavor.
Lilac blooms are so very fragrant, I just use a few scattered in salads, although they make a lovely syrup for beverages, desserts and ice cream.
So many folks spend a lot of time and money trying to eradicate this weed. Dandelion leaves and flowers are full of minerals and vitamins; although they can be bitter, they are great additions to salads, wilted greens, pasta dishes, green sauces, and I make a great veggie burger using the bright yellow petals.
While we are on the subject of weeds... this one is an invasive... so do not plant it and even if you remove it from your yard, it will still volunteer. So, instead of being annoyed by this garlic mustard, I use flowers and small leaves in salads and wilt the greens with other greens.
There is nothing like an allium to complete a dish, whether it is a salad, soup or sauce. My common chives are just budding up and I can probably harvest a bud or two to spread over my salad. These tiny flowers are very pungent!
The only reason I have blooming calendulas right now is because I bought plants from the nursery. These golden petals are delightful on salads, in soups and in baked goods. They are a cool weather annual, so plant them now.
Sweet woodruff is planted in my fairy garden in the shady part. This is one of the few herbs that can take part or almost all shade. It is a low-growing ground cover and when in bloom has the aroma of new mown hay and vanilla. I use it to make May Wine and with strawberry and rhubarb desserts.
The spring garden is full of edible flowers right now, which will be totally different from summertime edible blooms. These harbingers are both showy and delicious. A treat for the eye of the beholder as well as the palate. So gather ye blooms while ye May and bring them into the kitchen to create lovely dishes.
And what better time to do this than Mothers’ Day? Tomorrow we celebrate moms across the nation… not that we don’t honor them throughout the rest of the year… so I want to treat the mothers in my family special and I am harvesting the edible blooms in my garden and backyard to garnish a freshly harvested garden green and herb salad. A simple vinaigrette of extra-virgin olive oil, herb, balsamic or wine vinegar, salt and pepper is best to allow the other flavors of the herbs, greens and flowers to shine through.
I will also make a May Wine featuring strawberries and sweet woodruff. Just mash some berries (add just a little sugar if they are tart) with a handful of sweet wooodruff. I infuse the berries and herb in a fruity white wine like a German Rhine Wine, Moselle or Reisling (use white grape juice for non-alcoholic version) overnight or for up to 24 hours. Strain off the berries and herb into a punch bowl or clear glass pitcher. Add a bottle of chilled champagne (or gingerale for no alcohol) and garnish with some small strawberries, woodruff sprigs and flowers, johnny-jump-ups, violets or pansies. Serve in wine glasses or punch cups. To keep cold, add ice or an ice mold with edible flowers frozen inside of them.
Here’s to celebrating mothers and gardens and spring–Happy Mothers’ Day!
Note: Be sure to properly identify your flowers before eating them. Use organically grown, unsprayed blooms.
Fine Gardening Recommended Products
Ashman Garden Cultivator (1Pack)
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Solid Build—The Ashman Garden Cultivator/Tiller is strong in construction so that it can withstand heavy work in the garden. The blade and the shaft are coupled well for deep digging and uprooting the soil from the depths. It serves the purpose of cultivation very well. Create a blooming crop and watch it blossom and reap the benefits. Sharpened Fine piercing Blade—The blades are razor sharp and are made to pierce into any kind of soil and to serve digging, loosening soil, and weeding. The blades are rust-proof and have chip-resistant coating enhancing durability. Use it to control weeds, bury crop residue in the soil, and for preparing a proper seed bed.
High-Quality Design—The thoughtful design incorporated to shape the blades in L shape helps dig deep into the soil and rip it from beneath for cultivation. This helps a lot when weeding. Dig well and plant well. The handle is made to fit in the hand well and can be held tightly to apply push and pull forces effectively. Practical Utility—The garden cultivator is made with “practical utility” as the core of its purpose. It serves all the necessary purposes when gardening. Helps mix soil, which will loosen it up, providing more nutrients for the crops.
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Consistent & Even Watering Drip Irrigation Hose: Makes use of a clog-resistant fabric cover recycled vinyl for consistent slow soaking seep throughout its entire length. Deliver water to the entire area that it covers. Only certain areas of your garden bed getting watered. For waste-free watering in garden beds and other tight spaces. Waters the base of the plants so less water-related leaf damage. Linkable Garden Soaker Hose For DIY Irrigation System: End to end connectable drip water hose, flexible versatile Above-ground or bury it below a up to 3-inch layer of mulch or soil; this fit with garden hose threads and come with rust resistant end caps that make it possible to connect multiple hoses and works well with timers.
Maneuverability And 100% Environmentally Friendly Drip Hose: Double layer design PVC Covered With Extra-Strength Fabric material protect from sun damage than rubber weeping hose; ensure the longevity of the soaker hose, which is ideal for you using it regularly through all seasons in your garden. Made of 100% environmentally friendly recycled vinyl, pass CA65 test, water is safe for ground which makes it perfect for use with vegetables, herbs, and other edible plants. Easy To Store Flat Soaker Hose: This irrigation drip hose flat design is kink-resistant, lies flat makes it a breeze to roll up and store for next season.The flat shape also makes it simple to snake under existing plant growth. One-Year Warranty on Flat Soaker Hoses: Ensure a water pressure of 40-90 psi for best results—hot water is not suitable.
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