SHADE TREES:

Ginkgo - tea from leaves

Jujube - fruit

Linden - tea from flowers

Mulberry - fruit

Pecan - edible nuts

Persimmon - fruit

Walnut - edible nuts
 

SHRUBS:

Agarita - fruit for wine

Althea - edible flowers

Bay - tea and, food seasoning from leaves

Germander - freshens air indoors

Pomegranate - edible fruit

Turk's cap - flowers and fruit for tea

ANNUALS:

Begonias - edible flowers

Daylilies - edible flowers

Dianthus - edible flowers

Ginger - food, seasoning and tea from roots

Hibiscus - edible flowers

Johnny jump-ups - edible flowers

Nasturtium - edible leaves

Pansies - edible flowers

Peanuts - edible nuts

Purslane - edible leaves

Sunflower - edible seeds and flower petals
 

VINES:

Beans and Peas - edible pods and seed

Gourds - dippers and bird houses

Grapes - food (fruit and leaves)

Luffa - sponges from the fruit, edible flowers

Malabar spinach - edible foliage

Passion flower - edible fruit, tea from leaves
 

ORNAMENTAL TREES:

Apple - fruit and edible flower petals

Apricot - fruit and edible flower petals

Citrus - edible fruit

Crabapple - fruit and edible flower petals

Fig - fruit and edible flower petals

Mexican plum - fruit

Peach - fruit and edible flower petals

Pear - fruit and edible flower petals

Persimmon - fruit

Plum - fruit and edible flower petals

Redbud - edible flowers

Rusty blackhaw viburnum - edible berries

Witchhazel - tea from leaves
 

PERENNIALS:

Anise hyssop- edible flowers, foliage for tea

Blackberries - edible berries, foliage for tea

Chives - edible foliage and flowers

Garlic - edible flowers, greens and cloves

Hibiscus - edible flowers

Hoja santa - leaves for cooking with meats

Horsemint - insect repellent

Jerusalem artichoke - roots for food

Lavender - teas and insect repellent

Monarda - edible flowers and leaves for teas

Peppers - edible fruit

Purple coneflower - all plant parts for teas

Rosemary - food and tea from leaves and flowers

Roses - petals and hips for tea

Salvia - edible flowers, foliage for teas

Sweet marigold - food, flavoring and tea from leaves and flowers

Tansy - chopped and crushed foliage repels ants

Turk's cap - flowers & fruit for tea

GROUND COVERS:

Clover - tea from leaves and flowers

Creeping thyme - teas and food flavoring

Gotu kola - tea from leaves

Mints - food and teas from flowers and leaves

Oregano - teas and food flavoring

Violets - leaves in salads and tea from flowers and leaves

 

Note: Pregnant women should avoid all strong herbs and no plant should be ingested in excess by anyone. None of these should be eaten unless they are being grown organically.
 

Aloe vera, althea, apple blossoms, arugula, basil, begonia, borage, broccoli, calendula, chicory, chives - onion and garlic, clover, coriander, dandelion, dill, elderberry, English daisy, fennel, hyssop lavender, lemon, lilac, mint, monarda - red flowered M. didyma, mum (base of petal is bitter), mustard, okra, orange, oregano, pea (except for sweet peas), pineapple sage, radish, redbud, rosemary, scented geranium, society garlic, sweet woodruff, squash blossoms, thyme, violet, winter savory, yucca (petals only)
 

Not all flowers are edible. Some are poisonous. Learn the difference.

Eat flowers only when you are positive they are edible and non-toxic.

Eat only flowers that have been grown organically, toxic materials collect in the reproductive plant parts.

Do not eat flowers from florists, nurseries or garden centers unless you know they've been maintained organically.

Do not eat flowers if you have hay fever, asthma or allergies.

Do not eat flowers growing on the side of the road.

Remove pistils and stamens from flowers before eating. Eat only the petals, especially of large flowers.

Introduce flowers into your diet the way you would new foods to a baby - one at a time in small quantities.
 

HOWARD'S BOOKS

Plants of the Metroplex was Howard's first book. The revised edition now contains over 300 color photos of landscape plants for Texas together with information on the cultivation, uses, and problems of each plant. By The University of Texas Press in Austin
 

Howard Garrett's Texas Organic Gardening is written especially for Texans, explaining how to use native plants, vegetables and fruits. It covers soil improvements and maintenance instructions of organically healthy lawns, gardens and landscapes. By Gulf Publishing in Houston.
 

J. Howard Garrett's Organic Manual is a non-regional book and a complete guide to organic gardening. It explains how to work with Nature to promote healthy gardens without the use of toxic chemicals or artificial fertilizers. By the Summit Group in Fort Worth.
 

The Dirt Doctor's Guide to Organic Gardening, essays on The Natural Way. The University of Texas Press in Austin.
 

Plants for Texas is a book on native and introduced ornamentals and food crop plants for Texas. It is arranged in alphabetical order rather than chapters and cross referenced for ease of finding detailed information on landscape plants, fruits, vegetables, cover crops and herbs. By the University of Texas Press in Austin.
 

Texas Organic Vegetable Gardening written with Malcolm Beck. This book covers the planting, maintenance and harvest of vegetables, fruits, nuts, herbs and other edible crops in Texas. Gulf Publishing in Houston.
 

Texas Bug Book is co-authored with Malcolm Beck. It is the state of art book on troublesome and beneficial insects in Texas. The University of Texas Press in Austin. It is the most popular book at this time.
 

RADIO: WBAP News/Talk 820-AM Gardening Talk Show, Saturdays 11:00-Noon, Sundays 8:00-Noon.

Commentary 12:50 PM during "Hello Texas", Monday - Friday.
 

COLUMNS: Dallas Morning News - "The Natural Way" in Fridays House & Garden Section, Acres USA.
 

WEBSITES: <www.wbap.com> or <dirtdoctor.com> PHONE: Metro 817-695-0817
 

E-MAIL: <hgarrett@wbap.com> FAX: 817-365-0608