All around Wangi, the naturalized Freesias are coming up and
in a few months they will be flowering.
Here are a few articles that may be helpful. So don’t mow them down use the flowers.
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As a forager one of the first things you learn is that there
isn’t much to offer in the Iris family, or, if it is an Iris beware. Freesia is an exception.
A native of South Africa, it’s an Iris to about 18 inches tall and grows from a
bulb. The stem branches once giving it a classic Y shape. One odd thing about
the Freesia is that they grow in a helicoid, that is the flowers attach to the
stem in a spiral fashion but they all point the same way. Fragrance
varies with the variety. And the usual debate is whether it’s a wild plant as
it is in its native range or a cultivated plant as most of these readers will
find it. I opted for cultivated. So far I have put only one flower in both wild
and cultivated and that’s Dame’s Rocket. Freesias colors include white, purple,
yellow, orange and red. In the language of flowers they represent “innocence.”
The highly scented blossoms are used in salads raw or as a garnish. They are
reported to be excellent infused with a sugar syrup, and are used in sorbets
for flavoring.
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SPRING MIX SALAD
Radicchio, Mizuna, Baby Romaine, Freesia, Red Oak, Green Oak and Endive.
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Pick your flowers in the morning when their water content is at its highest.
Rinse them under fresh running water. Immediately drop them in ice water for 1
minute. Dry on a paper towel. For best results, use your flower petals
immediately (not the stamen or the stems), or store the whole flower in a glass
of water in the refrigerator overnight.
Flowers can be used for a multitude of dishes from garnishes to salads. Try
freezing petals in an ice cube tray filled with water. Add to jellies,
cocktails, stirfries, add to baking such as bread, scones or muffins or
decorate an iced cake. Cover the petals in granulated sugar and place in hot
sun to make some delicate lolly flowers.
Dates for the 2014 Wangi Scarecrow Competition have now been released!