Forget-me-nots

My morning walk has reminded me that it’s time to sow forget-me-nots (Myosotis sp.). I want to add them to the garden for their edible petals, which are the floral equivalent of confetti, although I don’t think they have any flavour to speak of. I bought my seeds last year…

…at quite the wrong moment to sow them. I had to get two different packets to get the full spread of colours! For some reason the wild ones haven’t made themselves at home in the garden.

This one is, I think, Green Alkanet, which has similar flowers to the forget-me-not, but more blue. It has very different leaves (and is a larger plant). It can stay in the hedgerow.

And the cowslips are out. I have one or two plants in containers, which I rescued from the old ‘lawn’ before we started building the garden. I need to find them a permanent home!

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I had no idea that Forget-me-nots have edible petals. If so, there’s a veritable feast waiting up at the allotments, they’ve spread everywhere. I have a small clump that a neighbour gave me but I’m keeping an eye on them to make sure they don’t spread too far.

I only found out myself last year! But you don’t have to take my word for it, I have some sources confirming they are edible: Eat the Weeds and Edible Wild Food. More of a nibble than a feast, though, I would imagine!