@Stephie Cool! I love quizzes! I think I recognize the chive, since we have some of those, but I'll probably be wrong! Is it the one lying on it's side with the little bulb-looking thing on the end?
This picture sums up nicely why hubby leaves most weeding for me. But he waged war at the dandelions one fine spring day a short while ago. Did pretty well, too.
Thinking again... Is the grass the wider pointy blades, and the muscari seedlings more skinny? That would make sense according to what I think is outside. I can't go look now cuz there's a cat on my lap and the rule is he stays here as long as he wants!
I LOVE dandelions - beautiful hopeful harbingers of spring!
We have a lot of white and blue short wildflowers too which would have been mowed down by now, but since they're still there the rabbits are having fun, munch, munch, munch!
@Stephie Cool. We're into "real" medicine these days, but, at least here in the US, natural stuff is very expensive. Dandelions are free, so I should figure out how to do something with them.
I've been seeing a number of questions here that make me think I have some edible brassica-type things out there, but I'm not sure which, so I'm reticent to try. I'll have to compare some pix.
@Stephie I forgot to thank you for this old message about my edits. Very sweet. I often feel like my edits are so trivial, but I like to contribute at least a little.
The people over there are very quick with answers, which is great!
@winwaed Hi stealth man! It's nice to see you in person :) I don't know anything about ponds, but we've thought about putting in one of those fake ones. Probably too much work, but I'd be interested in the questions, and think it's a good subject.
@Sue for the syrup, pick about fifty or so flowers (eyeball it). Preferably midday in full sun. If you take the time to remove the green parts, it will be milder. Cook the petals in 4cups / 1liter of water, let cool over night (or steep for at least an hour or so), filter. Add equal parts of sugar by weight to the liquid, simmer down until you get a honey-like consistency (test like for jam on a cold plate). Store in clean jars.
Oh, and wear gloves or you'll end up with yellow fingers.
@Stephie Doesn't sound too hard, and this is the perfect time. Does cool over night mean on the counter or in the fridge? And do I keep the jars in the fridge? (Yes, I know I sound like your typical Cooking:SE question :))) Also, how long will the syrup last?
I have two young grand-kids and they cough a lot and catch every cold, but they don't have a lot of money for cough meds, so this would be a big help to them.
Ha, ha about the yellow fingers!
I'm going to try it as soon as the sun comes out, and before the lawn gets mowed. There's only a short window left, as they're getting ready to go to seed (is that called "bolt", or only when it happens to vegetables like broccoli?)
I have to run, and you probably do too, as I imagine it might be time for your whatever you do while the minors are getting ready for bed. I hope we get to chat again soon. I've had my notifications off and have been lazy about checking messages.
Well, if you have a high concentration sugar syrup and clean jars, the sugar will keep it safe to be stored out of the fridge. It lasts at least for a year, multiple years, even. I usually let it cool on the counter (no hot food into the fridge, please!) and if I have time to process it on the same day don't bother, overnight, it goes in the fridge.
Maybe I'll enlist my 3 year old grandson to pick flowers with me. At his age, though, it could go either way. They'll probably end up in his mouth raw or squished in his hand, but it could be a fun project to do together. I will let you know. Good night back!