{Edible Flowers}

This blog's subject is in reply to a comment by Lilo from Moment, a lovely blogger friend from Niedersachsen, Germany. In her comment on friend Johnanna's blog from Silber+Rosen, Germany... she asked if the pansies that Johanna had on her shortbread cookies, were edible.
So that's the theme for today.

Yes, Lilo, they are edible! And a whole lot of other flowers, besides those pansies. In fact I have for years now the German book with the title: Köstliche Blüten - Rezepten aus dem Kräuter- und  Blumengarten by Marion Nickig/Heide Rau. Edition Ellert & Richter ISBN 3-89234-527-9

For sure this lovely book with recipes from the Herb- and Flowergarden will be available at Amazon in Germany. Here on my blog I only have access to the US Amazon... but it is available here, I did hyperlink it.
Just to wet your appetite: here follow photos from the book. They are scans that I made from the Dutch magazine Nouveau in which they appeared years ago. Let's first find Madelief, another blogger friend from The Netherlands as the first recipe is made for her!

Sorry about the creases, I kept them folded inside the book...
Above are Meizoentjes or Madeliefjes...
that is the Dutch word for Bellis perennis a European variety of Daisy

Holünderblüten in German and Elderblossom in English for syrup.

Wood violets for the salad!

Appleblossom...

Soup with cowslip, primrose...

To even it out, something in English here above for those readers that can't read Dutch...

 The recipes in English

The Ice Cream is delicious and I went through the trouble of also crystallizing the wood violets myself!

And to top it off, a British book about THE LANGUAGE OF FLOWERS by Sheila Pickles who used to be managing director of Penhaligon's, the exclusive London perfume house.

{5 Varieties of Hydrangea Are Blooming Now}

• Over the last week I've taken several pictures of our Hydrangeas. So here they come:

•  This is the Hydrangea  Serrata Pretty Maiden that we got in 2000 from Wayside Gardens but they no longer have it in their collection. 
• For the most extensive Hydrangea collection you might have a look at Wilkerson Mill Gardens. 

• Hydrangea Serrata Pretty Maiden, a Lacecap variety.

• Hydrangea Serrata Pretty Maiden in a vase.

• As it turned out, they are not great cut flowers as they shed the tiny buds, you can see on the oak table... But they sure are pretty in the garden for their looks!

• This is Hydrangea Macrophylla Ayesha.

• Hydrangea Macorphylla Ayesha close up.

• Just an ordinary pretty blue Hydrangea doing its very best!

• The ordinary blue Hydrangea in a vase indoors; these keep very well as cut flower and even as dried flower.

• A white Hydrangea.

• This has an exceptional blue color and we got it from our dear friends The Bogles.

• A close up of the Bogle variety...The true color is a lot deeper than in this picture!

{Victorian hybrid Pelargonium 'Red Rosebud'}

As promised on April 21 in my blog: {RARE ANTIQUE ROSE JEANNE D'ARC} (1818 FRANCE), some more info about the Victorian hybrid Pelargonium RED ROSEBUD. 

 This photo shows some freshly cut Victorian hybrid Pelargonium: Red Rosebud. They are inside a tiny silver vase with embossed roses. The total height is a little over 3" and for comparison I've placed a 10 cents coin beside it. The photo is taken in our gazebo, by daylight, with the grass as background...

This Victorian hybrid features clusters of tiny double blossoms.

For my US and Canadian readers, this rare Pelargonium is available at Logee's Greenhouse.  They also sell the Pink Rosebud.

For readers in The Netherlands or nearby, they can obtain this beauty at De Gaerde where Toine Vermunt will have them for you! 

For readers in Scandinavia I would recommend to visit Wenche's Pelargoniumlbog from Oslo/Norway, as they do have the Rosebud and also the Rococo; Appleblossom Rosebud; Plum Rosebud; even a  White double Rosebud and a Ruby Rosebud; and here you see the Wedding Royale...

Okay, I could go on and on but you just explore these sites and wet your appetite. These Rosebud or Rosenknopp Pelargoniums are LOVELY!

This tiny vase is actually an antique silver handled walking stick...