Borago officinalis
Edible and lovable blue blooms.
Gerard the Herbalist, one of the earliest garden bloggers of the 1500s, wrote, "The leaves and floures of Borage put into wine make men and women glad and merry and drive away all sadnesse, dulnesse, and melancholy Syrup made of the floures of Borage comforteth the heart and quieteth the phrenticke and lunaticke person." All useful ideas! But you could also follow the advice of our more modern garden sages and freeze the flowers in ice cubes to make your lemonade look pretty.
One of the most popular edible flowers, borage's star-shaped blossoms have a pleasant cucumber-like flavor. The gray-green foliage is festooned with small, bright flowers, which can be used to decorate cakes, salads, and drinks. It also has medicinal properties and attracts beneficial insects.
The Package
Each year, Hudson Valley Seeds commissions contemporary artists from around the United States to tell the story of a particular seed variety. That art and those seeds combine to create an Art Pack, a unique celebration of the diverse stories of seeds and their stewards.
The Artist
Artwork by Donna Sharrett. The intricate hand stitches in this flower mandala echo the fine hairs, curled buds, and true blue purity of borage flowers. Through an artistic and mathematical approach, Donna uses embroidery to celebrate the power of this healing herb.
