Lifestyle

Flower foraging

There is a new trend that’s emerging from people’s interest in foraging and their love of fresh flowers. It’s called flower foraging!

These days foraging is not so much about survival, but a need to connect with nature and learn about its edible treasures.

The same impulse is behind flower foraging. That doesn’t necessarily mean putting on our hiking boots and heading out into the wild. Like charity, flower foraging can begin at home, by exploring your own garden, not only for flowers but the many other beautiful gifts of nature like grasses, and colourful or textured leaves that can be combined with flowers.

mixed bed of marigolds, cabbage, Amaranthus.

Consider introducing pickable flowers and even flowering herbs  into all parts of the garden: among the veggies or herbs, on the pavement, in containers, in flower beds, bordering pathways or in neglected spots. It is just as satisfying to pick your own flowers as it is harvesting your own veggies and herbs.

Further afield

There are ethical considerations when going wider afield to forage. Plants should not be removed from nature or flowers picked from endangered or sparsely growing species.

If done responsibly, flower foraging can become a lifetime’s hobby of appreciating the flowers around us, even when not for picking.

Where to start

Rewilding is another term that’s often used and a flower foragers garden is likely to become a bit wild.

  • Grow your flowers from seed and look out for heirloom, open pollinated varieties. Once planted many varieties reseed themselves year after year.
  • Seed can be sown directly into the soil or into seed trays and planted out once seedlings are big enough to handle.
  • They can also be scatter sown. Rough up the soil, scatter over the seed and then gently smooth the soil to cover the seeds. Water well and keep the soil moist, but not wet, during germination.
  • Just remember, do not weed until the flower seedlings are tall enough to be identifiable and this applies especially to marigolds and cosmos.

Pickable garden flowers

Sunflowers and cosmos.

There is a mouthwatering  range of flowers that can be grown from seed. The tall versions of all the old favourites like snapdragons (antirrhinums), asters, marigolds and zinnias are all good cut flowers along with sweetly scented carnations and long lasting statice that dries well and keeps its colours.

Antirrhinum (Snapdragon) “ F2 Fancy Show Mix’ is a winter or spring flower that can be sown towards the end of summer. Start in seed trays and transplant when large enough to handle.

Aster ‘Super Giants Mixed’ is very tall with large flowers. Its suitable for borders or wildflower gardens to attract pollinators and birds, if flowers go to seed.

Aquilegia Mixed’ is a hardy perennial for semi-shade and can be sown in autumn. Its  unusual flowers in shades of cream,  pink, lavender and yellow have long, graceful spurs.

Cosmos “Sensation Mixed’ is one of the best nectar plants for attracting butterflies, bees and other beneficial insects and it tolerates poor soil.

Sunflower ‘Cut Flower Mixed’ grows up to 2m with flowers in shades of yellow, brown and red. They grow in hot spots and like regular watering.

Statice ‘ Art Shades Mixed’ is a compact plant with tall flowering stems in a mix of vivid colours. The papery flowers are a favourite for long lasting dried bouquets.

Zinnias

Zinnia ‘Lucky Day Mixed’  is very easy to grow and flowers through the hottest days. Water the soil freely during very dry weather but avoid overhead watering.

Posy flowers

garden flower posy

Low growing flowers like dwarf dahlias and dianthus, Forget-me-not, nasturtiums, dwarf zinnia, and sweet peas make charming posies that can be popped into jugs and jars for kitchen countertops or bedside tables.

Sweet Peas

Sweet peas are the ultimate pickable flowers that charm with their sweet scent in winter and spring. The climbing and rambling variety “Mammoth” provides the best cut flowers. It requires a deep trench for good growth.

Start preparing the trench in January. Take  out the soil down to a depth of 50cm. Mix  it with compost and a sprinkling of lime and bonemeal and return the soil to the trench. Seeds can be sown in situ from end February through to mid-March. Being a climbing variety, it needs to be staked or supported.

Fillers and foliage

Gypsophila (Baby’s Breath).

Gypsophila ‘Baby’s Breath’ produces clouds of tiny white flowers that add texture to flower arrangements and beautifully show off other garden blooms.  The tall, free flowering plants grow in any kind of soil and can be used as a cut and come again variety.

You can also sow herbs like dill, basil ‘Dark Opal’ and bronze fennel for their beautiful foliage, and flowering herbs like oregano and lavender. For further inspiration visit Kirchhoffs.

organum in flower.

Article and images supplied by Alice Coetzee. 

 

For more on gardening, visit Get It Magazine.

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