Edible Flowers Decorate the Plate

Colorful flowers are admired for their beauty and fragrance. A vase, or arrangement, of garden flowers of the dinner table adds ambiance to the meal and gives that little something extra for added pleasure when entertaining. Edible flowers, used as a garnish, add a bit of fun and whimsy to the plate.

There are some flowers that are actually okay to eat. Nasturtiums can grace a dinner plate or salad. The flower, laid next to the food adds color and interest. The flowers are safe to eat, for the more adventurous.

Cooking and garnishing with flowers is coming back in vogue with the haute cuisine set. Flowers were especially popular during the Victorian era. Flowers were used in cooking in the Roman, Chinese, Middle Eastern and Indian cultures. Flowers work best with simple dishes, not overpowering flavors.

When adding flowers to the dinner plate, make sure that they are safe to eat. Even if people don't' eat the blooms, make sure that anything put on the plate is safe to eat and not poisonous. Plants that have been sprayed with insecticide, or exposed to lawn chemicals, should never be used, even if they are normally safe. Daffodils, Foxgloves and Morning Glory should never be used in cooking.

Pretty flowers, from an organic garden, can add beauty and grace to the dinner plate. Following are edible flowers that are safe to eat on the lunch or dinner plate.

Anise Hyssop

Bee Balm, also called Monarda, Bergamot or Oswego Tea: An airy looking perennial with tubular flowers that was used by Native Americans to brew tea. Blooms are colored pink, red, violet, purple and white. Monarda attracts hummingbirds to the garden.

Daylilies: Hardy perennials bring showy color to the garden and to the table. Note: many lilies contain alkaloids and are NOT edible. Daylilies may have laxative effect.

English Daisy: Bitter flavor, mainly used as garnish.

Marigolds: Easy to grow annuals have blooms in shades of gold, yellow, orange and ivory.

Nasturtium: Attractive five petaled flowers in shades of red, orange, yellow and cream. Annual plant.