Six Edible Ornamental Flowers and Recipes to Savor the Garden

 

 

 In every well-tended garden, some blooms do more than delight the eye—they tempt the palate. These edible ornamental flowers offer beauty, fragrance, and flavor, bridging the gap between the flowerbed and the kitchen table. Here are six lovely blossoms that can be grown, admired, and devoured—with a simple recipe to highlight each one’s charm.

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🌼 1. Nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus)

Peppery, bright, and cheerful.

Flavor: Slightly spicy, like watercress.
Garden Use: Sprawling border filler, hanging baskets.
Recipe: Nasturtium Cream Cheese Spread

• Mix 8 oz softened cream cheese with 2 tbsp chopped chives, a dash of lemon juice, and ¼ cup chopped nasturtium petals. Spread on crackers or cucumber slices.

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🌸 2. Viola / Johnny Jump-Up (Viola tricolor)

Whimsical faces in cool weather hues.

Flavor: Mild, sweet, grassy.
Garden Use: Edging flower beds, container gardens.
Recipe: Candied Viola Garnish

• Paint petals with egg white, sprinkle with superfine sugar, and dry overnight. Use to top cupcakes or custards for a romantic, old-world effect.

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🌺 3. Hibiscus (Hibiscus sabdariffa)

Tropical beauty with a tangy bite.

Flavor: Tart, cranberry-like.
Garden Use: Bold statement plant in sunny locations.
Recipe: Hibiscus Iced Tea

• Simmer ½ cup dried hibiscus petals in 4 cups water with a cinnamon stick and 2 tbsp honey. Strain, chill, and serve over ice with orange slices.

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🌼 4. Calendula (Calendula officinalis)

The “pot marigold” with a saffron soul.

Flavor: Spicy, slightly bitter, like saffron or arugula.
Garden Use: Companion plant in vegetable beds, attracts pollinators.
Recipe: Calendula Rice Pilaf

• Stir 2 tbsp chopped calendula petals into cooked jasmine rice with sautéed garlic, peas, and a pinch of turmeric. Finish with a pat of butter and fresh parsley.

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🌸 5. Bee Balm (Monarda didyma)

Wild, shaggy flowers with minty magic.

Flavor: Citrus-mint, slightly spicy.
Garden Use: Pollinator magnet and deer-resistant border plant.
Recipe: Bee Balm Honey Butter

• Mix ½ cup softened butter with 2 tbsp finely chopped bee balm petals and 1 tbsp honey. Serve with cornbread or hot biscuits.

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🌺 6. Borage (Borago officinalis)

Sky-blue stars with a cucumber kiss.

Flavor: Fresh cucumber.
Garden Use: Self-seeding herb with tall, fuzzy stems and electric blue flowers.
Recipe: Borage Lemonade

• Muddle a handful of borage flowers with lemon slices and sugar. Add water and ice. Optional: a splash of gin or vodka for a garden party.

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Planting edible flowers is like weaving poetry into your garden—each petal a verse, each flavor a stanza. Let beauty be more than skin-deep this season. Grow these edible ornaments, and let your table bloom with every bite.

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Sedum - Drought-proof Color for Tough Gardens

 

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Chasing Dahlias in the Pacific Northwest: A September Garden Road Trip

 

Portland Japanese Garden - 

Image by Abhay Bharadwaj from Pixabay

September in the Pacific Northwest is ablaze with color, when dahlias burst into their full glory and gardens spill over with late-season abundance. Here's a suggested itinerary for you. This week-long loop carries you from Portland’s elegant gardens to the Swan Island Dahlia Festival in Canby, through orchard country in Hood River, and up to Seattle’s serene arboretums. Along the way, you’ll gather blooms, sip wine, and walk landscapes where wilderness and cultivation meet in harmony.

Sept 6–14, 2025

Day 1 (Sat, Sept 6) – Portland, OR Arrival

• Fly into Portland International Airport.

• Evening stroll through the Portland Japanese Garden or International Rose Test Garden.

Day 2–3 (Sun–Mon, Sept 7–8) – Canby, OR

• Anchor Event: Swan Island Dahlia Festival (peak bloom!)
  Acres of dahlias in riotous color, tuber sales, floral design classes, and local vendors.

• Explore the nearby Woodburn Tulip Farm (off-season but still worth a look for specialty bulbs).

Day 4 (Tue, Sept 9) – Hoyt Arboretum & Downtown Portland

• Wander among 2,300+ species at Hoyt Arboretum.

• Visit the Lan Su Chinese Garden, a hidden oasis in downtown Portland.

Day 5 (Wed, Sept 10) – Silverton & Salem, OR

• Day trip to Oregon Garden in Silverton — 80 acres of themed plantings.

• Stop in Salem for wineries or local farm markets.

Day 6–7 (Thu–Fri, Sept 11–12) – Columbia Gorge & Hood River, OR

• Drive the Columbia River Gorge. Hike among waterfalls framed by late-summer wildflowers.

• Explore Hood River’s lavender farms, cider houses, and orchards.

Day 8 (Sat, Sept 13) – Mount St. Helens, WA

• See post-eruption landscapes reborn with lupine, fireweed, and alder.

• Visit the Mount St. Helens Visitor Center for ecological interpretation.

Day 9 (Sun, Sept 14) – Seattle, WA

• Morning drive north.

• Tour the Washington Park Arboretum and Kubota Garden.

• Evening departure from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.

   Pack your camera, clear space in the car for tubers, and set your course for Oregon and Washington this September — the dahlias are waiting, and so is the road.

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Garden Fireworks - 5 More Perennials That Burst With Dazzling Color

grand finale spheres, these flowers will transform your summer landscape into a spectacular display that keeps shining all season long.

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If we were going to take a 2-week road trip to visit some major gardens and events in the mid-Atlantic region, we would do this:

 

Longwood Gardens Image by Bo Hwan Wang from Pixabay

 

 

September is the season when American gardens put on their final, glorious show, and this itinerary sweeps you through the East Coast’s most enchanting horticultural gatherings — from the bustling plant swaps of Philadelphia to the heirloom treasures at Jefferson’s Monticello, and onward to the grand New England Fall Flower Show. Along the way, you’ll wander storied botanic gardens, breathe in the fragrance of late-summer borders, and return home with plants and memories to last a lifetime. Pack your bags, clear some trunk space, and let this road trip become your gardener’s pilgrimage — book your flights, reserve your rooms, and prepare to chase September’s bloom.

Here's a suggested itinerary for you: 

Sept 8–21, 2025

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Day 1–2 (Mon–Tue, Sept 8–9) – Philadelphia, PA

• Event: PHS Fall Plant Swaps (Sept 8–9)
  Swap perennials, herbs, and houseplants, plus grab your “challenge plant.”

• Side Stop: Longwood Gardens (Kennett Square, PA) — dazzling fountains + late-summer borders.

• Evening stroll through Bartram’s Garden (oldest surviving botanic garden in the U.S.).

Driving Notes:
Fly/arrive in Philadelphia. Stay local for two nights.

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Day 3–4 (Wed–Thu, Sept 10–11) – Philadelphia → Charlottesville, VA (≈5 hr drive)

• Event (Sept 11): Home Educators’ Day at Monticello (not strictly plant sale, but excellent garden programming).

• Explore Monticello Gardens & Orchards — Jefferson’s historic vegetable terraces and fruit plantings.

• Wine country side trip (Charlottesville is surrounded by vineyards).

Driving Notes:
Depart Philly morning Sept 10 → overnight in Charlottesville.

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Day 5 (Fri, Sept 12) – Charlottesville, VA

• Rest day + explore Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden (Richmond, VA; ~1 hr).

• Prep for the big Monticello sale tomorrow.

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Day 6 (Sat, Sept 13) – Monticello Fall Plant Sale

• Event: Fall Plant Sale at Tufton Farm (Monticello)
  Heirloom veggies, ornamentals, herbs — Jefferson-linked and regionally rare finds.

• Spend the day browsing, chatting with horticulturists, and loading the car with treasures.

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Day 7 (Sun, Sept 14) – Charlottesville → NYC (≈6 hr drive)

• Drive to New York.

• Optional stop at U.S. Botanic Garden in D.C. along the way.

• Evening in NYC.

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Day 8–9 (Mon–Tue, Sept 15–16) – New York City

• NY Botanical Garden (Bronx): Seasonal displays + preview of Climate Week events.

• Evening wander through Brooklyn Botanic Garden.

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Day 10 (Wed, Sept 17) – NYC → Boston/Wellesley, MA (≈4 hr drive)

• Scenic drive through Connecticut.

• Stop at Yale’s Marsh Botanical Garden (New Haven) en route.

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Day 11–12 (Thu–Fri, Sept 18–19) – Boston Area

• Explore Arnold Arboretum + Mount Auburn Cemetery (ornamental plantings, historic landscapes).

• Rest day before weekend show.

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Day 13–14 (Sat–Sun, Sept 20–21) – New England Fall Flower Show, Wellesley, MA

• Event: 139th New England Fall Flower Show — exhibitions, vendors, regional nursery sales.

• Wrap trip with a bang: stock up on late-season bulbs, shrubs, and fall perennials.

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Trip Summary

• Total Duration: ~14 days

• Driving Miles: ~1,000 (Philly → Charlottesville → NYC → Boston)

• Anchor Plant Sales: PHS swaps (Philadelphia), Monticello Fall Sale (VA), New England Flower Show (MA)

• Side Gardens: Longwood, Lewis Ginter, U.S. Botanic Garden, NYBG, Brooklyn BG, Arnold Arboretum

• Flow: Start south, swing through Monticello, finish north in New England at the flower show

   

  How does that sound?  

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Here's a partial list of major plant sale and garden-themed events across the U.S. for September

 

If you're thinking about travel plans for September focused on gardening, check these out. I'm sure you'll be delighted.

Major Plant-Sale & Travel-Worthy Garden Events — September 2025 (U.S.)

• Swan Island Dahlias: Annual Dahlia Festival (Canby, Oregon)
  Through Sept 14
  Acres of dahlias in full bloom, guided tours, workshops, and one of the biggest cut-flower and tuber sales in the country. A pilgrimage for dahlia lovers.

• Fall Plant Sale — Thomas Jefferson Center for Historic Plants (Monticello/Tufton Farm, Virginia)
  Sept 13
  Rare heirloom vegetables, herbs, and ornamentals connected with Jefferson’s own garden legacy. Perfect for gardeners with a taste for history.

• Philadelphia Horticultural Society (PHS) Fall Plant Swaps & Distribution (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)
  Sept 8–9 & Sept 20
  A chance to swap with fellow gardeners, plus Challenge Plant distributions—great for expanding collections with unusual varieties.

• Chicago Botanic Garden — Fall Plant Giveaway (Glencoe, Illinois)
  Through Sept 28
  Known for their large-scale seasonal events, including free plant giveaways and special horticultural programs.

• New England Fall Flower Show (Wellesley, Massachusetts)
  Sept 20–21
  Historic 139th show with exhibits, plant vendors, and regional nurseries offering unusual finds.

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Garden Fireworks - 5 Perennials That Burst With Amazing Color

 

 Want your summer garden to sparkle like a Fourth of July sky? In this video, we reveal five perennial showstoppers—Crocosmia, Gaura, Kniphofia, Verbena, and Allium—that explode with color and texture just like a fireworks display. From Crocosmia’s flaming arcs, Gaura’s fluttering sparks, Kniphofia’s torch-like blooms, Verbena’s airy bursts, and Allium’s starburst spheres you’ll learn how to create a garden that dazzles all season long. Perfect for pollinator lovers, bold color fans, and anyone who wants a flower bed that truly lights up the landscape. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Locks for the Land - How Savannahians Used Human Hair as Fertilizer in the 1850s

 

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The Secrets of Thyme - Folklore, Medicine, Magic, and How To Grow It

 

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Delosperma: A Jewel in the Drought-Hardy Crown

Delosperma, commonly known as Ice Plant, hails from the arid and rocky slopes of South Africa, where survival depends on resilience and brilliance. These succulents, members of the Aizoaceae family, thrive where others falter—basking in full sun, laughing at poor soil, and enduring long droughts. Their name, from the Greek delos meaning “visible” and sperma meaning “seed,” hints at the exposed nature of their seeds, though most gardeners today know them best for their daisy-like blooms in luminous hues of magenta, orange, gold, and even iridescent fuchsia. Like jewels scattered across gravel beds or between stepping stones, they brighten even the most Spartan landscape.

In gardens, Delosperma offers more than color. As evergreen groundcovers, they form dense mats that suppress weeds and cling tightly to slopes, making them perfect for erosion control and rock gardens. While not known for medicinal use in the traditional Western sense, some Delosperma species have been used in Southern African folk medicine for respiratory ailments and soothing skin irritations. But their modern charm lies in low-maintenance landscaping. Cold-hardy varieties like Delosperma cooperi can survive surprising chill, while others revel in dry, sun-scorched patios. Plant them in containers, tuck them into wall crevices, or let them spill over retaining walls with carefree grace.

Ready to add brilliance without the backache? Plant Delosperma in well-drained soil and full sun—and watch your garden sparkle. Visit GoGardenNow.com to discover top-performing Delosperma varieties perfect for your region.

 

The Secret Is Oregano - Andy Griffith's Spaghetti Gag and How To Grow This Legendary Herb

  

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Sempervivum - The Plant That Never Dies

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Sedum: The Stonecrop Jewel of the Garden

Sedum, often called stonecrop, is a rugged yet refined perennial that has charmed gardeners for centuries. Native to a wide range of regions—including Europe, Asia, and North America—sedum thrives in rocky outcrops, alpine slopes, and sun-drenched meadows where little else dares to grow. Its name, derived from the Latin sedere ("to sit"), hints at its habit of sprawling across stones and walls, clinging to crags with a tenacity that belies its dainty blossoms. Ancient herbalists valued sedum for its purported wound-healing and anti-inflammatory properties. Some varieties, like Sedum acre, were even used in small doses to treat skin ailments—though caution is wise, as not all species are safe for medicinal use today.

In the garden, sedum is nothing short of indispensable. Its succulent leaves store water, making it remarkably drought-tolerant—a hero in xeriscaping, green roofs, and rock gardens alike. Low-growing types like Sedum spurium or Sedum kamtschaticum make vibrant ground covers, while upright cultivars like Sedum 'Autumn Joy' burst into glorious bloom just as summer wanes, offering nectar to late-season pollinators. Sedum prefers full sun and well-draining soil; too much moisture or shade, and it may sulk or rot. Propagation is easy—simply snip a stem and nestle it in soil. Whether edging a border, topping a container, or brightening a neglected corner, sedum performs with steadfast grace.

Are you ready to bring the enduring charm of sedum into your landscape? Visit GoGardenNow.com to explore our hand-picked selection of hardy sedums and other drought-tolerant beauties. Don’t just grow a garden—build a legacy of resilience and color, one stonecrop at a time.

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