From seaweed to wild violets to Japanese knotweed. All in one week these ingredients found their way into my kitchen with various results.
The wild violet now in flower along grassy banks and laneways can be picked and either used as an edible garnish in salads or cakes but it is also very pretty if teamed up with soft yellow primroses (also in flower - see image).
The wild violet or Viola has many mythological associations but I prefer the version connecting it to Jupiter and his lover Io. Jupiter took the dramatic decision to change his lover into a heifer to protect him from Juno’s jealous outbursts. Violets then grew over pastureland in order to provide rich feed for the heifer. It is frequently thought that violet is the diminutive of Viola which is the Latin variant of Io. The violet is now frequently associated with loyalty and dedication and I have even seen references of its power to instil ‘night time magic’!Send it back to Japan. Introduced into gardens as an ornamental, Japanese knotweed is now considered to be one of the top global invasive species. Known to rip up concrete paths, car parks and invade natural habitats, Polygonum cuspidatum is a plant that needs a strong and rigorous hand both legal and manual. Control measures include spraying with glyphosphate, in late Summer and/or digging up the soil with roots and burning and burying the waste up to 5metres deep. New moves to use a natural predator, a Japanese beetle could be a solution as trials are ongoing in the UK. But going back to the food issue, recently learnt that the young stems can be eaten and is similar to rhubarb. I took the brave step and tried it. Yes, its very similar to cooked rhubarb but the flavour wasn’t quite there and I’ll be consigning my cooked tips to the bin and hopefully well maintained landfill!!!
Author’s word of warning – take care when eating any plant from the wild. Do your research before you taste.
