When it comes to edible flowers, edible roses recipes are among my favorites. Roses are among the most ancient of flowers and are one of the most revered. Fossil records indicate roses have been on Earth for more than 40 million years—predating humans. Native only to the northern hemisphere, roses will also grow south of the Equator. The Greek poet Sappho summed it all up more than 2,500 years ago when she called roses the “Queen of Flowers.” That's why I consider edible roses recipes to be the queens of edible flowers foods. After all, roses have been cultivated for thousands of years. But the ancient Romans get the credit for introducing the flowers to the world as edible. (Peasants already used the rose hips). Selecting Edible Roses for Flavor There are more than 200 species of roses and 20,000 man-made hybrids. The flavors of rose petals run the gamut from totally flavorless to bitter, sour to sweet, slightly spicy to herbal and apple to minty. With all the roses to choose … [Read more...] about Garden Roses: Queen of Edible Flowers
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12 Cold Hardy Tropical Plants to Grow Now
Everyone loves the feel of the tropics. Palm trees swaying in the breeze. Exotic flowers with intoxicating aromas. The fragrant fruit that seems to melt in your mouth. But did you know you can grow cold hardy tropical plants as far north as New York State? By incorporating some of these cold hardy tropical plants in your garden, you can enjoy your own tropical stay-cation without leaving your backyard! Cold-hardy tropical plants can be hard to find in local stores. That's why we have included some of our favorite website sources for these plants, including NatureHills.com and Amazon. When you click one of our links to a recommended product, Home, Garden and Homestead will receive a small commission for qualifying sales. Thanks for supporting this website! We really appreciate it! Happy Face Emogi! Best Cold Hardy Tropical Plants for Cooler Climates Hardy Banana You can’t get much more tropical than a banana tree. And luckily … [Read more...] about 12 Cold Hardy Tropical Plants to Grow Now
The 10 Commandments of Edible Flowers
You've heard of the 10 Commandments from the Bible. But the 10 Commandments of Edible Flowers? As gardeners and adventurous eaters begin to embrace eating more edible plants and flowers, it's important to be able to identify edible flowers and their growing conditions. Before you eat flowers or plants that you think are edible, make sure the flowers and plants really are edible. Follow these 10 Commandments of Edible Flowers to ensure your safety Eat only those flowers you can positively identify as safe and edible. Learn the Latin (botanical) names, which are universally accepted. The common names of plants may vary from region to region, and they can therefore be confusing. Do not assume that restaurants and caterers always know which flowers are edible flowers. Just because it is on your plate does not mean it is edible. Eat only those edible flowers that have been grown organically. Do not eat flowers from florists, nurseries, garden centers or … [Read more...] about The 10 Commandments of Edible Flowers
Four fabulous flowering container plants
When it comes to flowering container plants, Byron and Laurelynn Martin, the third-generation owners of Logee’s Greenhouses, are the go-to experts. Byron grew up working at Logee’s in Danielson, Connecticut (about halfway between Hartford, CT and Providence, RI), and Byron and Laurelynn have been on TV with Martha Stewart to talk about plants. “One of the questions I get asked the most is, ‘What are the best flowering plants for growing in containers?’” said Byron Martin. “Container gardening continues to grow in popularity. That's because people want to be close to blooming plants—in their homes, on their decks and on their balconies and patios.” Here are four of Byron Martin’s favorite flowering container plants to grow in containers. Brugmansia ‘Angel’s Summer Dream’ Commonly known as Angels Trumpets, Brugmansia hybrids are favorite tropical flowering plants because of the long, trumpet-shaped flowers that hang gracefully from the plant during the summer. … [Read more...] about Four fabulous flowering container plants
