them in dishes with apricots, peaches, and plums; use them in the punch bowl and in fruit salads or to garnish cold drinks; or add them to apple jelly and baked goods such as pound cake.
TUBEROUS BEGONIAS
Begonia X tuberhybridia
THESE SHOWY FLOWERS are sensational in the garden and on the table.
How to grow: Spectacular puffs of orange, yellow, white, pink, or red, tuberous begonia flowers range in size from 2 to 4 inches across. To ensure safe eating, either grow them without chemicals or buy chemicals that are registered for edible plants. In some climates tuberous begonias are prone to mildew, but in many cool-summer areas these plants grow with ease. Start begonia tubers in flats or pots in the spring in rich, moist, well-draining potting soil. When the plants are 3 inches high, replant them in the garden or in containers. They need a slightly acidic soil, filtered sun, and constant moisture and feeding. Dig up the tubers in late fall, knock off the dead and dying stalks, and store the tubers in a cool, dry, frost-free place. Do not lift the tubers until the foliage turns yellow.
How to prepare: The flowers of most tuberous begonias have a delicious, light, lemon taste and a crisp texture. Taste them before using them to make sure they are not astringent. Use sliced petals in salads and tea sandwiches. Dip whole petals in flavored yogurt and serve as an appetizer that is sure to spark a conversation. Garnish a fish plate or a fruit or green salad with begonia petals, or use them as a spectacular garnish on an appetizer platter for a buffet.
Tuberous begonias come in a feast of colors.
Borage flowers (above) are easy to harvest.
BORAGE
Borago officinalis
THIS HERB, NATIVE TO EUROPE and Africa, has a slight cucumber flavor. The special blue star-shaped flowers are lovely on salads and in cold drinks.
How to grow: An easily grown summer annual that sometimes acts like a biennial, borage grows to about 2 feet and has hairy gray leaves and half-inch star-shaped deep blue flowers. Borage is easily started from seeds planted in average soil and in full sun in the spring after any threat of frost is over. Harvest young leaves once the plants are established, and flowers anytime they appear. Borage often reseeds itself.
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