Frank House Friends member, 308.234.9812
UNK– The 17th annual Edible Flowers Tea event and fund-raiser, hosted by the Frank House museum and Friends of the Frank House, is set for 2 p.m. Sunday, July 19.
The Edible Flowers Tea fund-raiser will include a demonstration of how to use flowers, a tea tasting, a booklet of recipes and a serving of herb butters and golden nuggets cookies. In addition, participants will receive a tour of the Frank House and the surrounding gardens. On exhibit in the mansion are “Quilts of Valor” wartime quilts and the 1883 bridal dress of Ella Stedman Frank.
Tickets are $15 and may be purchased by calling Gloria LeDroit, Frank House Friends member, at 308.234.9812. Proceeds will support the Frank House museum, which is located on the University of Nebraska at Kearney west campus.
Carol Schwartz, extension educator from the Buffalo County Extension Office, will give a of ways to incorporate flowers such as viola, rose, lavender, day lilies and marigolds into food, as well as identifying which flowers are safe to eat.
“Organic eating is not a new idea; the Victorians believed in eating organically grown and fresh foods,” LeDroit said. “Victorians also used lavender in their linen drawers to keep insects away.”
LeDroit also noted that dandelions were first introduced in America by the French to ensure “greens” were available.
“Dr. Hapeman, a doctor who worked at the tuberculosis hospital, grew herbs and plants on the south side of his house in Minden specifically for medicinal purposes,” LeDroit said. “People don’t realize how many uses flowers and herbs have.”
There is a limited number of tickets available for the event.
