Monday, February 28, 2011

Flower Favorites

Until recently if you asked my favorite flower I would have had a quick answer for you.
No, it wasn't roses or orchids, though I like them both.
Orchids do tend to make me sneeze.
Until recently I would have answered that my favorite flowers were violets.
I've been thinking a lot about flowers recently because I have Spring Fever and am looking forward to warm weather when I can plant some flowers. I have decided to plant my favorites in pots on the porch. Are you curious yet?
Nasturtiums!

 This year I plan to plant lots of Nasturtiums, both on the porch and in the yard.
Before we moved here we lived in a townhouse in Maryland. We had three dogs, Pylon- a Lab mix, Bentley- a Portie and Lucy- a Chihuahua-Pomeranian mix. We had a small back yard in which we planted lots of trees and flowers. I also had pots of flowers on the deck. In a couple of the pots I planted Nasturtiums.
One day I was reading a magazine that mentioned putting Nasturtium flowers in salads for color.
When Rob came home that night I told him about the article and we both wondered what Nasturtiums tasted like.
We went onto the deck and I picked a couple Nasturtium flowers and we each ate one. They have a peppery taste.
The three dogs were interested in what we were doing, after all food is important to most dogs. I picked a flower for each of them. Py and Lucy ate theirs, then wandered off, but Bentley begged for another.
The next morning I let the dogs out and went to pour a cup of coffee. When I returned to the deck with my coffee, Bentley had his head in the flower pot and was eating Nasturtium flowers. He ate them all. Good thing I didn't plan to use them in a salad that night.

Every morning for the rest of the summer, Bentley would check for any flowers that had opened that day. He would carefully snap them off their stems, not damaging the plant.

The boy had a real craving for Nasturtiums.
I have no photos of Bentley eating his flowers, but apparently there are some other Nasturtium lovers.



Every summer for the rest of his life I planted a pot of Nasturtiums for Bentley and every morning he feasted on them. Since Bentley died I have not planted Nasturtiums, but this year I will. I'll try this pack of Porties and see if they like the flowers as much as he did.


I found this shirt online and I just may get it for one of my dogs.
The porch should look very cheerful covered with these happy flowers and this time I might actually get a salad from them.

18 comments:

Wyatt said...

Oh we love em too! We ate our share last summer :)
We just love the way they cascade all over, so colorful and tasty!

Wyatt and Stanzie

Two French Bulldogs said...

Oh we just love those flowers. But momma said we can't eat them
Benny & Lily

booahboo said...

Lovely flowers Sue.. i didn't know you can eat these.. and its a funny story to have your Bentley sneak off each morning to have a snack of flowers :)

they look lovely for salads too!

Nicki said...

My favorite is lilies. But we can't bring them in the house because they are so toxic to cats. But I have a lot outside!

Jan said...

I was introduced to them as food by a friend who is into this sort of thing. She says they have vitamin C and also help detox the system.

Beyond the Dog Dish said...

Gardening is right up there in my book with dogs and photography! Nasturtium is a favourite of my Mom's. Ah, all your photos give me hope spring is just around the corner.

Bella Roxy & Macdui said...

Don't think you should introduce them to the porties and co. Otherwise, you'll never get any for a salad.....or just to enjoy!

XXXOOO Daisy, Kendra & Bella

Molly the Airedale said...

Mom loves nasturtiums too!
We have never had them in a salad. They sure do add color!
Know what? We're going to plant them this year too!

Love ya lots
Maggie and Mitch

SissySees said...

Nana introduced me to the edible beauties. I don't know that my dogs have ever been exposed to them, but given that Sissy is more goat than dog sometimes, and that Gretchen loves even iceberg lettuce, I think they'd love 'em!

♥♥ The OP Pack ♥♥ said...

Nasturtium flowers are very pretty and colorful. We wonder how they hold up in the hot sun. If they do well, they might be a good option for the deck pots that some unnamed pest/pup likes to sample:)

Woos ~ Phantom, Thunder, and Ciara

Marjie said...

So, you had a dog named for probably the second most expensive sedan in the world. Why should it surprise you that he ate flowers? I'm sure they're terribly expensive on a per-pound basis! This is a hilarious story!

Tracy said...

Sue,
I like Nasturiums...but my favorite is Columbine! They are absolutely gorgeous :) That salad looks very scrumptious!

LizzieJane said...

I think Nasturtiums are such lovely flowers. I had no idea though that dooggies liked them too!
It will be fun to see if the pups like them as much as Bentley
x

gMarie said...

They are lovely and peppery. How funny that Bentley loved them. I hope this Wave loves them as much - you deserve the smiles again. g

Anonymous said...

I love this post, so much. Flowers make me smile...even the ones that make me sneeze.

Vivian said...

Your beautiful pictures again! we never had a flower eater, Trinket ate grass from time to time, and threw up :-(

AE said...

My youngest Portie loves to eat the leaves off our little curry tree. He comes in with wonderful smelling breath!

Dianne said...

I love Nasturtiums, too. I've never eaten them, but they are lovely flowers.