Sunday 29 June 2014

Edible bouquets


This is the time of year not only to pick bouquets, but to pick edible bouquets! Little bundles of herbal joy, in full bloom and flavour.


The roses are lush and beautifully scented, with branches full of buds ready for high summer. Lavender and the last of the chive flowers add a regal purple contrast, with fiery bronze fennel softening the background. Yarrow punctuates with its collection of miniscule white blossoms, though its scent is less than pleasant (but it gives the compost heap such a wonderful boost!)

Mint and lemon balm offer fragrant green leaves to mask the yarrow.

Prolific mint sits beside the rose bush
Lemon balm, left, towers over the slim, fern-like fronds of yarrow, lower centre, with oregano on the right (and I believe some mint creeping over in front of it!)

This bouquet is entirely edible/usable/medicinal. I love making up bunches to give as little gifts to friends this time of year, with recipes or tips for how to use each herb in the bouquet.


Here is a tiny version. Barely 3 inches high, it makes a sweet little posy fit for a fairy feast:

Little Flower gave me her itty-bitty, hand-painted sugar pot from her tiny tea set for a vase
Purple and white violas, lilac thyme blossoms, and the very first chamomile blossom make up this teensy bouquet, with oregano leaves filling in at the back.


I will continue to select herbs to use throughout the summer. As the chive blossom dies away, the hyssop takes its turn, one branch already pink with new blooms:


The nasturtium will be in flower by the end of the week, ready for a new edible bouquet:


The bronze fennel grows high above the lavender, its fiery, feathery leaves blurring the view. I will use these for weeks to come.


Perhaps I’ll write regular edible bouquet posts, featuring the soft sage leaves, sweet cicely, marsh mallow and sweet woodruff that I have my eye on in the herb border. Then I may be obliged to show you how I use them all in my cooking...

Hmmm, I’m feeling peckish now, snack time! Enjoy the rest of your Sunday!

Chrissie x

P.S. I wrote a similar edible bouquet post last summer, you can read it here

32 comments:

  1. Such lovely bunches of herby goodness, love the teeny tiny posy. so sweet, I'm a big believer in the benefits of herbs, herbal medicine is one of the few things that I have found help with my ME/Lyme disease. thanks for sharing
    Clare xx

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  2. That bouquet is far too pretty to eat ! :-)))

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  3. Such beautiful bouquets, Chrissie. I love the colors in them. The fact that you can eat them makes them even better!

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  4. Gorgeous bouquets Chrissie. Love the tiny little fairy feast one! Alison xx

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  5. Our herbs are going crackers too. Beautiful bouquets. Jo x

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  6. A lovely flowery post Chrissie and I particularly like the little fairy feast in Little Flower's sugar pot - how cute is that! Have a happy week, xoJoy

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  7. So pretty and happy! I love making these types of bouquets this time of year. I'm just learning what our new garden has to offer. The selection is always changing.

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  8. What a great idea! Those bouquets look so pretty....
    Love from Mirjam.

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  9. Lovely posts. I didn't realise how many herbs/edible flowers I had until I entered the village show a few years ago and managed to find 27 varieties to put in vase. Great idea to post about. What do you do with the hyssop?

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    1. Hi Catherine, hyssop flowers can be used in salads, as part of a bouquet garni for roast chicken, and they are very attractive to bees, which is one of the main reasons I planted them in my garden. Thanks for asking! Cx

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  10. I really enjoyed your post and you've inspired me to pick some of the blooms that are flowering at the moment!
    I've spent all day in the garden, planting lots and lots of veggie seedlings!
    Sarah xx

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  11. This is such a great idea and what a lovely present! xx

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  12. Lovely bouquet of edible flowers and greenery. Would love to read about what you do with the herbs from your garden.
    Carolx

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  13. Very beautiful bouquets and edible too! I love this idea, Chrissie! It would be nice to read about the way you use your edible plants too! I plan to crystallize some flower petals for decoration this week, and plant a few more herbs too.
    Happy week!
    Helen xox

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  14. Lovely bouquets !!!! Lovely pictures !
    Have a great week in your colorful garden !
    Anna

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  15. Hi Chrissie,

    I love having herbs and edible plants around the garden. My biggest problem is my four paws are rather partial to them too. Your bouquet is lovely not something I had thought of doing. Would need to purchase some smaller receptacles first to put them in. Note to self to have a look out for something suitable.
    Have a lovely week.

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  16. You are just the sweetest person, I'd just love to be your friend receiving that edible, beautiful bouquet.
    Hugs to you,
    Meredith

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  17. I loved reading this! You are a very inspiring person, and I wish I had a garden to fill with lots of lovely things like this! Instead I have to make do with houseplants!

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  18. Nature is wonderful isn't it! I have a fabulous book I bought many years ago called 'The Green Witch' by Barbara Griggs. It's packed full of recipes and remedies using all ingredients nature has to offer, such as herbs, spices, flowers, oils, and fruit and vegetables. I find this subject so interesting - lovely post Chrissie, and such a sweet gift idea too. X
    (p.s I'll be sharing a home made skin care remedy soon)

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  19. I couldn't be without a herb garden and not could the bees :-) I love your little bouquets Chrissie.
    Tracey xxx

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  20. Beautiful bouquets :) Far too pretty to eat :D
    Jillxo

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  21. Hi Chrissie, what a fantastic post, it certainly has opened my eyes to other uses of flower posies other than to look pretty! I wouldn't have a clue apart from the obvious chives, thank you for the education :0) Sam xx

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  22. I wish there was a smell button on my keypad !
    Beautiful pictures and post,
    Kate x

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  23. Very, very pretty, my herb garden is coming on a treat....only cooked with them so far, but who knows now! :) x

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  24. How lovely! I am impressed with anyone who knows about what is edible or not in the garden. If it's not a herb then I don't eat it, that's usually my rule! Knowing me I'd poison myself. And how pretty does that posy look in that jam jar...gorgeous. x

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  25. Hello Chrissie
    I love your idea of making an edible arrangement. I have made similar with mint and chive flowers but must try using marshmallow and nasturtiums.
    Hope your enjoying a lovely week x

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  26. What a lovely idea, I would be thrilled to receive such a pretty posie! The small one is adorable Sarah xo

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  27. Very pretty and interesting post. I adore that posy in the jam jar and the tiny bouquet is so sweet as well. Lovely of Little Flower to lend you her little vase too!
    Marianne x

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  28. What a beautiful post. Your pictures are stunning. I love the idea of an edible bouquet although they just look so pretty I don't think I could bear to take it apart.
    Margaret

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  29. Hi Chrissie. You've joined google+ haven't you? You're now no reply blogger so i can't reply to your comments :-( i hate googleplus!

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    1. Aw good grief! It's always one thing or another with this stuff! I'm sorry, Wendy, I'm going to look into that and see if I can change the status - I need our regular chats! :-) Cx

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  30. Beautiful bridal bouquet associated with edible blossoms as well as greenery. Sooo want to find out about that which you perform using the herbal treatments out of your backyard.

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