Edible But Beautiful

The garden has been invaded by poppies - simple orange ones and this stunner. With the exception of one poppy plant my sister gave me, I don't know where they came from - they just appeared. I like poppies and have left them to flower, even though they are not edible. In garden centres in the Czech Republic I could have bought seeds of the opium poppy which the Czechs grow for the black seeds or "mak" which feature so prominently in Czech baking, but I wasn't sure about how they might be viewed by HM Customs.

Many gardens in the UK have an amelanchier. It is grown because of its delightful white flowers and vibrant autumn colour. It is seldom grown for its edible fruits, but it should be. In its native North America the plant is known as saskatoon or juneberry. I first came across the berries in my Czech friend's garden. "Help yourself," she said, "there are loads of them." She was right, her bush was covered with red, purple berries. I tried one and could not stop myself reaching for another and another - the berries were and are delicious. There is no tartness or unpleasant aftertaste, unlike some other superfoods I could name. How Amelanchier berries haven't been promoted as a superfood I do not know. They are incredibly good for you - vitamin pills on a bush. They are said to have more antioxidants than blueberries, and are packed full of vitamin C, manganese, magnesium, iron, calcium potassium, copper and carotene. Never has being good for your health

My sister loves sweet peas. She gave me a dozen plants or so, which I have planted in pots to grow up home-made hazel teepees. They will sit on the terrace near to the garden seat, where I drink my morning coffee and where I will be able to enjoy their scent. But this is an edible garden and flowers of the pea plants are already putting on a spectacular show. I don't what has happened, but this year's pea plants are twice the size they were last year. The white Kelvedon Wonder blooms are dainty and delightful (see below). But the stars of the show are the purple and pink flowers of the shiraz mangetout (top). And when they are finished I get delicious purple pods. We had our first taste of them yesterday. Summer and summer harvests are beginning. Yippee!