posted April 10, 2008 06:45 AM            

Me - white lilac (we had a bush in the garden)and the smell was just incredible
Michaelmas daisies (ditto)

Night Scented Stocks. I bought a packet of seeds with my pocket money and my mum let me have a square foot to grow them in when I was about 7. Having two older sisters meant that this space was MINE and that was GREAT! They weren't even allowed to sniff without permission. Thanks Mum!

A clematis called Montana (pale pink) that spilled over the back of a neighbours hedge on to our side. It looked so exotic, I couldn't get over what it was doing there.

Hydrangea, blue and pink pompoms, at my Nan's. They were so 'loud' and I really thought they were too gaudy and bad taste but I've learned to love them because my Nan did.

posted June 15, 2008 09:51 PM            

Peonies.....

Nasturtiums.....

Buttercups.....

And rhododendrons.....

posted June 19, 2008 02:33 PM            

I remember another bloomer that I loved whilst traveling (California seaside)
-- ice plants:

posted June 24, 2008 01:15 PM            

As children, my brother and I would make a fabulous soup from water, a bit of dirt, and lots of dandelion flowers (not that we ever ate it )

Dandelion greens are excellent for one's health. My mother tells of picking the greens as a child regularly for the family meals (salads or cooked).

By Peter Gail

Suppose your doctor tells you, on your next visit, that he has just discovered a miracle drug which, when eaten as a part of your daily diet or taken as a beverage, could, depending on the peculiarities of your body chemistry:

prevent or cure liver diseases, such as hepatitis or jaundice;

act as a tonic and gentle diuretic to purify your blood, cleanse your system, dissolve kidney stones, and otherwise improve gastro-intestinal health;

assist in weight reduction;

cleanse your skin and eliminate acne;

improve your bowel function, working equally well to relieve both constipation and diarrhea;

prevent or lower high blood pressure;

prevent or cure anemia;

lower your serum cholesterol by as much as half;

eliminate or drastically reduce acid indigestion and gas buildup by cutting the heaviness of fatty foods;

prevent or cure various forms of cancer;

prevent or control diabetes mellitus;

and, at the same time, have no negative side effects and selectively act on only what ails you. If he gave you a prescription for this miracle medicine, would you use it religiously at first to solve whatever the problem is and then consistently for preventative body maintenance?

All the above curative functions, and more, have been attributed to one plant known to everyone, Taraxacum officinale, which means the "Official Remedy for Disorders." We call it the common dandelion. It is so well respected, in fact, that it appears in the U.S. National Formulatory, and in the Pharmacopeias of Hungary, Poland, Switzerland, and the Soviet Union. It is one of the top 6 herbs in the Chinese herbal medicine chest.

posted June 24, 2008 01:39 PM            

The seeds are like foot-long greenbeans, and bro and I used to chase each other with them and try to land a whack

The flowers are so frilly and delicate, but I can't remember now if they have a wondrous scent.....

posted August 24, 2009 10:15 AM            

'gifting' family members with a flower. Once I gave my mom a white headed dandelion in full seed....she started sneezing so violently it is a vivid memory to this day.

An Aunt showed me the secret to the snap dragon. I thought it the greatest thing any one had ever shared. I was 7 or so at the time. I still share the 'secret' with others ... And am constantly amazed how many people have never seen the Dragon snap.

For me the answer would be the Fuschia-->

posted August 28, 2009 09:33 AM            

Do you see the yellow dragon at 5pm just above your post?

Now grasp him right behind his little head with your thumb and index finger (best done off the stem, but can be done as a catch and release without disturbing him.)

squeeze those fingers and his jaws open. It will be articulated like most reptiles.

Open your fingers and the jaw snaps shut.

posted June 19, 2010 04:21 PM            

You are to visit a garden center this summer.
If you live in the city this is a demand!
Wander around and read all the little spikes of plants you do not know, introducing yourself.

Find Snap dragons! If you don't see any, ask.

Make a dragon snap or 3, and report back here...

I visit one up the road from me that is quite large, they have Koi ponds, fountains, and all manner of trees, shrubs, whatnots, you don't have to buy a thing- cheaper than an arboretum.

posted June 20, 2010 07:01 PM            

randall's honeysuckle tasting resonates with me...in fact it was a hot summer honeysuckle inspired altered consciousness that took me to my first vision from the astral zone.

jasmine affects me the same way tho i don't eat it...we used to eat clover in the fields and the smell of wheat grass juice takes me back to that every time i get a whiff (can't stand wheatgrass juice!!)

gardenias - being in the vicinity of some - are tickets to heaven.

posted July 02, 2010 02:33 PM            

And SO have to try the snap dragon thing.
I bet my son would get a kick out of that.

posted February 16, 2011 11:15 PM            

quote:

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Originally posted by Randall:
Eating that tiny drop of sweetness inside of honeysuckles.

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I love that too!