My nasturtiums are getting their second wind. The plants are flowing over the walkways in the backyard and climbing up the trellis among the dead cucumber vines.
The entire plant is edible. Flowers, leaves, stems, and even the seeds. Some folks say they make faux capers from the seeds. I’ve never tried that.
The taste of nasturtiums is reminiscent of the bite of a radish or even horseradish, yet different. I’ve added the leaves and blooms to salads, but mostly I nibble on the plants when I’m out in the garden.
Nasturtiums come in a variety of colors. I have deep red, orange, and yellow. I adore their leaves because water will pond up on them and shine like a diamond. Some grow as large as my hand.
Nasturtiums can also be used medicinally. The leaves, blooms, and seeds have properties similar to antibiotics.
Corie made us a few jars of nasturtium tincture a couple of years ago. When the whole family took sick during the winter we all dosed ourselves with the medicine. Let me tell you the tincture was one of the vilest things I’ve ever tasted! But it did seem to help me feel better.
It’s hard for me to pick a favorite flower because I love so many, but there’s no question nasturtiums would be at the top of the list for their great beauty and usefulness.
Last night’s video: Delicious Tomato Pie – Matt LOVED It! (And More Old Photos)
Tipper
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Those are so lovely, Tipper! I have never grown nasturtiums but you sure make me want to! 🙂 I’ll have to get some seeds next year. I think of you whenever I see them!
So pretty! And you are right, some of the tinctures do taste pretty vile. I just take them right from the dropper, so I can get it over with. Some folks mix them with water, which just prolongs the misery to me. I use them with our dogs and cats also, especially when we have to take them in for vaccines required by law. That’s another whole topic, but if you are interested, there are herbal remedies and homeopathic remedies that can be helpful with combating vaccine side effects or vaccinosis.You can find information on the topic from Dr. Jean Dodds DVM, Dr. Ronald Schultz, or expanded holistic information from Dr. Richard Pitcairn.
The only things flowering in the garden are my cosmos and hydrangea, and they are so beautiful this year. Hydrangeas love water so with all the rain we had this year they’ve loved it! The garden is winding down, which is good because so am I! Autumn is always a busy time with all the preserving I do, so it’s nice to be able to slow down a bit! Have a great day everyone!
Your flowers are always beautiful, Tipper. My hanging baskets must be enjoying the cooler weather. They are more full of blooms now than they have been all summer. I am loving these cool temps too. It was 53 this morning, as I drove my mama to her dentist appointment. I watched your tomato pie video last evening..so now I really must try it. It made me so hungry watching you and Matt and Katie enjoying each bite. . Cooking, baking, and trying new recipes are some of my favorite things to do. I love trying all of yours. Thank you for sharing them with us. Fall also gets me in the mood to crochet. I kind of lay it aside all summer, but now I am getting ready to make some new hats and toys for the kids for Christmas. It makes me think of your Mama too.
Seeing your Nasturtiums brought back wonderful memories of my momma! One of her favorite flowers and there were nasturtiums of one color or the other in each flower bed in her yard. Beautiful!
Thank you for sharing!
Your nasturtiums are so lovely! I grew a few sad little nasturtiums last year, but I plan to do lots of them next year at our new place. We have a special needs son who eat plants when he can get ahold of them. Nasturtiums are totally safe and so I plan to grow a lot! He may even get some health benefits from his tastings! They sound like thay have many uses medicinally which I need to look into. ❤️ and prayers for all!
I am familiar with all the plants in the picture but honestly I couldn’t tell you for sure which one is the Nasturtium. I think the fuzzy leafed one in the lower right is mullein. I know I could Google it and no one would know how stupid I am but that’s is cheating in my book.
My nasturtiums haven’t come back up in the past two years, even though I tossed their seeds everywhere. I thought they would self seed too, but mine didn’t. Maybe because we have a lot of squirrels or deer that like them too, I don’t know. I’m glad yours have been successful for so many years. As my mom used to say to people who could grow anything beautifully, “You have a green thumb”.
I incline to the belief that, if it doesn’t kill you or sicken you, it probably has some healing property, or at any rate some nutritional benefit. But as with oysters, it must have taken a brave individual to “try the first one” of a lot of these plants.
Every year the nasturtiums you grow are so healthy looking and beautiful! It made me want to try to grow them too. The first year was not good but last year one plant did great and to my joyful surprise a volunteer from that same grow bag came up this year and was gorgeous. But I did not keep up with it like I should have in this dry heat and it dried up but then there was a new little sprig growing but it was not strong enough and did not last. Another one that I did plant did sprout but it has not grown out at all. I have heard, and read, you say “Hope springs eternal” for a gardener and so it is, I look forward to trying again with them next year hoping to grow them as beautifully as you do : )
My dahlias are still blooming along with three butterfly bushes. The bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds love the blue, pink and white flowers. I have one small pink hydrangea left and two Sedum bushes which have turned a wine color. The leaves are gone on a weeping cherry tree out front and the one out back is starting to lose its leaves. It rained all day yesterday and was in the high 60s. Today is cloudy with same temps. The hummingbirds will leave soon. Fall has definitely arrived here in south central Virginia.
Nasturtium is so beautiful! One of my favorites too, among many others.
I love that you’re sharing the medicinal properties of nature too. Nasturtium has antimicrobial, antifungal, and antiinflammatory properties. I got tickled when you said how vile it was. I feel the same way about most of them.
Nasturtium is good for so many things from breathing and sinus, UTI and great for your hair. Plus they are so beautiful to look at!!
God is so good to give us all this beauty in His creation not only for us to enjoy, but to care for our bodies too. Can you just imagine how beautiful Heaven will be with all the things there He has for us?
I have made tinctures from both mullein and goldenrod. While they do taste VILE they both seem to help. God provides, always.
Kelly, the goldenrod is so beautiful right now in our area!
I love flowers as well. It’s hard for me to pick a favorite as well. I love succulents they are at the top of my list. I love sunflowers as well. My Daddy’s favorite flower was jonquils, I will always love them.
This has nothing to do with flowers, but the weather. Yesterday was the first “fall like” day for my area this year with more of the same forecast for the foreseeable future. I love it!
The temperatures have cooled down but we have had a small amount of rain. Other close by areas have had more, rain was forecast last night but we didn’t get a drop.
Randy, I’m so glad you are catching a break. We have caught one this week too. Such a relief from the heat and the exhausting humidity. I love all of the seasons, but the humidity has made it a little harder this year. Hope you’re feeling better my dear friend! My cousin (B’s grandma) asks about you each time we talk. They lift you in prayer as well as many others here. Have a beautiful, blessed day.
Debbie, tell your cousin Randy said he was wiggling but not kicking very high! Right at moment I am feeling some better, I just hope it lasts. Seriously, I appreciate her prayers. I pray for B everyday. I will never know her, but she has really got to my heart.