Kathy’s Gardening Guide: Violas — colorful and edible!

Where flowers bloom, so does hope.”

— Lady Bird Johnson

As you plan for holiday gatherings, remember to use flowers not only as decorative arrangements, but also in your dishes!

Violas are available in a variety of colors including purples, blues, whites and yellows. The blooms may feature only one of these hues or a combination of several. Violas are useful as a vibrant border for garden beds or pops of color in containers. When adding these annuals to your home, look for an area of full to partial sun with moist, but well-drained soil.

Violas originated in Europe thousands of years ago. The flowers symbolize innocence, unending love and faith. Their heart-shaped blooms make them a romantic choice in bouquets or gifts. Violas were used for medicine in ancient Greece, and the early Romans made them into wine. They are a healthy source of vitamin C and considered by some to have medicinal uses as antioxidants, anti-inflammatories and collagen boosters. Also, various perfumes contain violas due to their light, floral scents.

Many recipes feature violas, both as ingredients and garnishes. The flowers are edible with a tender texture and subtle, sweet flavor. Some people taste a light mintiness in violas. They are popular as edible garnishes for salads, appetizers, desserts and drinks, but they can also be cooked into syrups and jellies.

Violas pair well when served or cooked with chocolate, apricots, cinnamon, mushrooms, asparagus, goat cheese, poultry and fish. The blooms also make beautiful accents to drinks when frozen into an ice cube! It is best to use violas immediately for culinary purposes, but they can be refrigerated in a sealed container for two to six days.

Violas star in the following floral appetizer perfect for kicking off your holiday festivities!

Floral Goat Cheese with Dill & Cracked Pepper

Ingredients: 8 oz goat cheese, edible flowers*, dill (to taste), freshly cracked pepper (to taste)

Pulse ingredients in a food processor for a few seconds, just enough to mix everything together. Shape cheese into a log. Press extra petals onto the outside of the cheese log if desired. Wrap in plastic wrap and chill for a few hours. (Best if it sits for a day or two, the flower colors will bleed slightly though.)

Serve with crackers or baguette slices. Garnish with additional edible flowers if desired.

*Violas grown in your own yard are perfect for this recipe! You can also find edible flowers online, in the produce section of some grocery stores, or at a local farmers’ market. Just make sure that the flowers you choose for eating are organic — meaning they have not been sprayed with any kind of pesticides! (NOTE: Recipe courtesy of https://themerrythought.com/recipes/floral-goat-cheese-with-dill-cracked-pepper/)

Best wishes for a wonderful holiday season!

Flower of the Week: Violas

Please email Kathy at kcg.pvr@gmail.com for any questions or gardening tips you would like to see in the future. For more information and ideas, visit Kathy’s Creative Gardens & Nursery, 196 N. Roscoe Blvd. The phone number is 904-655-7373.