The best part of this time of year is all of the fragrances that fill the yard. Over the years, I have planted things that bloom at different times of the year. All of these blooms waft aromas over the hillside in waves of sumptuousness! Citrus trees, peach trees, wisteria, roses, jasmine...all leave the yard sweetly scented. Just this week, the jasmine is starting to fade so it is being replaced by the delightful gardenias and magnolias. I happen to like the gardenias so much that I have rooted another dozen or so! This should just about fill the entire yard with their happy blooms and enticing scent.
Odd fact....gardenias belong in the coffee plant family. Now go figure! I knew there had to be some link as I love both!
Odd fact....while gardenia blooms are usually white ( a few are pale yellow), if the petals come in contact with water, they turn "coffee-brown". While I love coffee, brown gardenia water just does not have the same appeal.
Odd fact....gardenia blooms make great flavoring for ice cream! The fresh blooms can be used as an ingredient in making homemade ice cream. The ice cream tastes "flowery" and smells just like the bloom. I have made this and it is really tasty!
Odd fact....after the bloom fades, a small fruit appears. When ripe, this fruit is used to make a yellow dye that can be used in food or fabric. This I have not tried! Maybe I should!
Odd fact....some herbal concoctions use the gardenia fruit as a fever reducer. Another thing that I have not tried. Maybe I should not.
Odd fact...ok...enough odd facts about the gardenia bush. Trust me when I say that this is a wonderful addition to any garden. The dark green foliage and brilliant white blossoms add visual pleasure while the fragrance will knock your socks off! If you are wearing socks and are not barefoot like I usually am. Then there is the added bonus of using the blossoms as air freshener inside the house! A vase of gardenias makes everything smell better!
I don't even think that is a word..planty..but that is exactly how my son described the bowl of ice cream that I handed him. Planty? Whatever! Sure, I did make it out of flowers but shouldn't he have used the term "flowery" instead of coining some new word? Oh, well. I liked the Gardenia Ice Cream! It did, indeed, have a slightly flowery taste, smelled a smidgen like the gardenia bloom and have an almost too creamy of a texture but it was not at all unpalatable. In fact, I would have said it was downright delicious. I suppose not everyone is keen on picking flowers from the garden and plopping them in desserts. I, also, suppose that perhaps men just are not that anxious to eat things that might smell like one of the scented candles sitting around the house. Me? I am not that picky! I like things that smell nice. Candles, flowers, ice cream...it matters not!
I admit that I have never attempted to make ice cream using flowers before but, then again, there is always a first time for everything. The success of the dish now has me curious if rose petals or violet petals would create a different taste. Several years ago, my daughter and I were feeling a tad adventurous and made several batches of jelly using different flowers. Hibiscus, Violets, Roses, Nasturtiums and Lavender blossoms all were washed and used as flavorings. My favorite of those was the Hibiscus! It has a slight cranberry taste and makes a beautiful dark red jelly. I am not sure that I would like dark red ice cream so, perhaps, the Hibiscus will be reserved for teas and jelly and not make it to the freezer!
To make the ice cream, I used a standard recipe that Mom used to use in the old hand-cranked freezer. I altered it a bit to suit my needs but it worked well. The cream and milk was infused with the Gardenia petals and vanilla bean for an hour and then strained before proceeding with the final ingredients. As for freezing, I sort of improvised. The ice cream maker has not been used for years and needed a good cleaning. I merely filled a stainless steel mixing bowl with ice, added salt and situated a smaller stainless steel bowl inside. The smaller bowl held my ice cream. Hehe..then I had the bright idea of using my handheld mixer to "turn" the smaller bowl. Using the lowest setting, the ice cream was stirred causing the bowl to rotate on the ice. It worked like a charm! I will include my recipe in the "Cooking on the Bayou" page for any who are interested. Try it! It is definitely unique!
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!
