Gloria LeDroit
Frank House Friends member, 308.234.9812
Lavender and rose petal angel food cake will be among the classic standards served at the 19th Annual Edible Flowers Tea set for 2 p.m. Sunday, June 26, at the Frank House.
The Edible Flowers Tea is an event which has been organized and hosted each year by Gloria LeDroit of Kearney. Admission is $15 per person, and attendance is limited to 36 guests. Tickets are available from LeDroit by calling 308.234.9812. LeDroit is a member of Friends of the Frank House, and all proceeds from the event go towards restoration projects for the historic home.
“This event has become a tradition at the Frank House,” said Sarah Jones, Frank House director. “Afternoon tea is a Victorian era invention. The beautiful 19th century atmosphere of the mansion makes these events extra special for all who attend.”
The event includes a demonstration and discussion of using edible flowers, including which flowers are safe to use and how to incorporate edible flowers into various foods. The demonstration will be presented by Carol Schwartz, extension educator from the Buffalo County Extension Office. Schwartz will also talk about identifying which flowers are safe to eat.
Those attending will also take part in tea tasting, tour the Frank House and surrounding gardens, and receive a recipe booklet. The booklet will include recipes used in the demonstration and others.
“We try to add a couple of new recipes each year,” LeDroit said. “This year, we might try the Lavender Blueberry Mojito (sans alcohol). The daylillies are in bloom, so something with those flowers might show up. Johnny-jump-ups are in the edible viola family, and they are blooming in earnest this year with all the moisture.
“The recipes come from a variety of books and magazines which I have collected over the past 20 years,” she said. When she began the Edible Flowers Tea program, LeDroit said that she would do the program for 20 years.
“This is the next-to-last one (Edible Flower Tea) of the series,” she said. “I promised them 20 years, and this is the 19th.”
