| Mothers Day approaches again, 14th March this | | | | soups and salads and give a spicy taste. So they |
| year and your thoughts will turn to what to get | | | | say, I haven't been tempted to eat any as yet. |
| your Mum that will please her on the special day. | | | | Then there are chrysanthemums, a popular choice |
| Flowers by post from Guernsey are a good place | | | | of flower for Mothers Day due to their lasting |
| to start. Giving her flowers is an old tradition | | | | qualities but beware, they get eaten too in many |
| started when children would pick a posy of | | | | parts of the world, they are tangy and have to |
| flowers from their gardens to take to church on | | | | be blanched before eating. It may be that colour |
| Mothers Day to make a procession and present | | | | would come in to the risk equation here, she |
| them to their Mums. | | | | might be tempted to eat say, yellow ones but |
| So you say OK, flowers by post it is, they don't | | | | not fancy the pink ones. |
| cost too much and are fresh picked and packed | | | | Well I do jest of course but not completely, these |
| but, what of the rumours I have recently heard? | | | | flowers do get eaten and they do give various |
| Some flowers are edible! Oh no, if you choose to | | | | flavours and colours to Chinese cookery, Thai and |
| buy her these blooms will she be tucking into | | | | Indian dishes not to mention old English recipes for |
| them instead of admiring them in a vase? | | | | soups and salads. Herbs too have flowers and are |
| Which flowers are edible then and which are high | | | | used as flavourings without a thought, but |
| risk from your point of view, of your Mum eating | | | | somehow that seems ok whilst eating flower |
| the flowers and putting the chocs in a vase. | | | | petals might be a step too far. It makes no sense |
| Well carnations are one of the main culprits here, | | | | but it is often thus in the world of what we will |
| for eons of years their petals have been used in | | | | eat and what we won't. |
| cooking and in salads, in fact they are one of the | | | | So how do I end this discourse, I think I will |
| secret ingredients in the liqueur Chartreuse. The | | | | suggest to you that it is worth the risk and that |
| petals have to be removed and the white bits at | | | | you should look for some fluffy pink carnations, |
| the bottom cut off, but then it seems, they get | | | | pink is not an edible temptation as would be |
| eaten or cooked for the bitter flavour they | | | | yellow. So pink carnations will be ok and I have a |
| impart. | | | | good company suggestion for them, but if you |
| Another risky bloom to give her would be | | | | are feeling doubtful after reading all my 'health and |
| marigolds, the flowers not the rubber gloves, | | | | safety' risk assessments above, then maybe go |
| although if she is looking likely to start chomping, | | | | for the strictly inedible Guernsey freesias and |
| then maybe gloves would indeed be a better | | | | orchids also from the same grower, you'll be safe |
| choice. Floral marigold petals are widely used in | | | | enough. |