Oh, if we could only bottle this!

  How many times have I heard the phrase "If we could only bottle this!"? Folks, who are not accustomed to the scents of a garden, go wild over the Jasmine, Citrus blossoms, Southern Magnolias, Wisteria and Gardenias.  These blooms fill the air with their light flowery fragrance. The winds off of the Bay gently waft the aroma around the yard filling every nook and cranny.  At night when the dew settles over the hillside, the fragrance strengthens and silently flows in through the open windows.  The house takes on an entirely different feel.  It is almost mystical!

  With a big lug of a dog snoozing on the living room floor, my house can use all the help it can get in the form of deodorizing.  I wash her and her bedding only to be accosted by "doggy" smell within a few hours.  Ugh! This makes me appreciate the blooms all the more.  I have even taken to picking Gardenias to set in the window where the breeze can filter it into each room.  This afternoon as I sat looking out the window, an antique canning jar of Gardenia blooms was sitting near me.  I thought about folks who live in big cities and do not have the opportunity to sleep with open windows, sounds of frogs and scents like Gardenias. With that thought, I was saddened.  Surely everyone must experience this at some point.  I vowed right then and there to never take this for granted.  My little piece of paradise is just that..paradise.  

  Now a few "did you know" facts about Gardenias. The fruit of the Gardenia is used to make a yellow dye that is used in clothing and food. Gardenias are being studied as a possible treatment for rheumatoid arthritis and as an immune system booster.  Gardenias are actually edible!  That lovely white bloom of the Gardenia Jasminoides can be used in salads or to garnish desserts.  The petals can be snipped and candied but my favorite recipe calls for Gardenia J. petals to be made into ice cream!  Yep, ice cream!  I have not tried this but anything involving ice cream has to be delightful!  I am thinking that this will be the project for tomorrow!  Gardenia ice cream definitely has piqued my interest and since I have several bushes in full bloom, now is a perfect time to try the recipe!  (If this is a success, look for recipe forthcoming!)

  *One word of warning.  If you plan to eat any flowers, first use a reputable source to check for edibility and double check the identity. Never use any flowers that have been sprayed with pesticides and never use any from roadsides as they are contaminated with exhaust emissions. Do not use blooms from florists or department stores as they are most likely treated to last longer.  It is best to use your own home-grown flowers!