Summer is waning and fall is just around the corner. I can feel it the air when I’m out on the porch during these late summer evenings. Before long, at least here in the south, gardeners will be pouring into the nurseries in search of pansies for their annual beds.
Pansies enjoy the cooler weather and if planted in early fall, they will put down good roots that will carry them through the colder temps we see here during the winter. I’ve even had pansies that were covered in snow for a day or two, look as good as new, once the snow melted.
So, why is she is telling us about pansies, you might ask? Well, party season is coming up before too long, and I thought I’d share an easy, fun little “recipe” that is sure to WOW your guest…a recipe for…drum roll, please…blossom ice cubes! Yep, we’re talking ice cubes with gorgeous little flowers tucked right inside!
So here’s how you do it…it’s easy as pie!
Step 1. From your garden, gather and gently rinse some of the blossoms or petals from any flowers that are considered “edible”…you’ll be amazed at just how many are safe for consumption. Examples include: violets, rose petals, pansies, lavender, nasturtiums, begonias and dianthus…but there are so many more! Two websites where you can find an extensive list of edible flowers are HERE and HERE.
NOTE: It is very important to use only those flowers that have NEVER been sprayed with any type of pesticide. Also, do not use flowers, like certain types of roses, if they have been treated with a systemic product for bugs and disease. You will want to use flowers that are considered edible. So be sure to check prior to harvesting your flowers, that the flower isn’t considered unsafe, or even poisonous, if eaten.
Step 2. Boil the water you will be using for 2 minutes. This allows all the air trapped in the water to escape. This will ensure that the ice cubes are crystal clear. Let the water completely cool to room temperature. If you don’t want to boil your water, you may use distilled water and it will work just fine. (When I made my flower cubes, I used distilled water.)
Step 3. Place each blossom at the base of each compartment, within an ice tray…using several trays for larger parties. Below you will see a photo of the trays I used. I like the square shape but you could use any shape ice cube tray.
When I made my blossom cubes, I used the flowers that were growing in my garden. This included lavender…
…and dianthus.
These two flowers also fit well inside the square ice cube trays I used.
Step 4. Fill each compartment half full with the completely cooled, boiled or distilled water, then freeze. The reason you want to just fill it half way is because the flowers tend to float to the surface…and you want them to ultimately be in the center of the cube.
Step 5. After the water is frozen solid, fill each ice cube compartment the rest of the way to the top with the remaining, water. It’s best to use chilled/cold water because if the water is too warm, it will melt the cube and the flower will come loose and float to the surface.
Step 6. Refreeze and keep cubes in the freezer until you are ready to use them. One word of caution…do not do what I did and rinse the cubes off. This will cause them to stick together like they are super glued! Yikes! Fortunately, I was able to ice pick them back apart.
You can also freeze a whole punch bowl shape with a variety of blossoms. Don’t use the glass punchbowl or it will expand and burst in the freezer. Instead, pull out a ring-shaped cake tin and fill it with flowers and water. Follow the same procedure as above (filling halfway, then freezing), but you can add additional blossoms to the second layer so that the blossoms are throughout the large ice cube.
You will want to have some ice cubes without blossoms in them for guests who might be squeamish for one reason or another. No one at my dinner party balked at drinking ice tea with blossom cubes…they loved them!
Tip: If you are using ice cubes in wine, make them with the wine you will be drinking. This will prevent dilution of the wine as the ice cube melts. Freeze with a strawberry, a raspberry or a mandarin slice for a delightful, uplifting taste.
Looking forward to hearing about your upcoming parties. If you make some blossom cubes, send me pics and I’ll post them here for all to enjoy!
What a great tip! Thank you for sharing with all of us. Have a wonderful weekend!
This is a great idea. I’m hosting a bridal tea in August, and I’m going to tuck this idea away for then.
BTW, you need another follower quick. But I’m impressed with how many you have. Looks like we started blogging around the same time, but it took me a while to network in.
love it !what a great idea for summer drinks…thank you Susan and have a great weekend..
I love the lavender ice cubes…I will definitely have to try this at my next party. Thanks for the great idea! Miss Bloomers/Sonia
…I’m so glad you re-posted this idea…I’d read about similar ideas but yours is beautiful…I’m thinking homemade lemonade with these flower-cubes…
Thanks
Becky
Those are the most beautiful ice cubes I have ever seen! What a great idea. Thanks!
Penny
LOL! It is Saturday night and you already have comments for your Sunday Favorites post 🙂
Wonderful post!
I am going to clip some violas tomorrow and make some great ice cubes. What a lovely summer party idea.
What a fabulous idea. They are so pretty and what a treat for guests to see some pretty flowers in their drinks. Thanks so much for doing this repost. I missed it the first time, and I love it. Hugs, Marty
Great ideas Susan..love the repost
Susan, I have always just wanted to try this idea and never had. Well now is the right time of year to start, right?
You mentioned pansies being your Fall plantings. We in the Midwest use them for our first spring annuals as they can survive a few frosts that we may have before summer. But they do not do very well during our very hot summers.
Thanks for repeating a wonderful post, that I missed!! 🙂
xoxo
Jane
Fabulous. I’m just a’gatherin’ great ideas for Mother’s Day Brunch.
I’m going to be reading everything with your tablescape label on it as well.
🙂
How cute is that?!
Really nice.
A friend brought a big frozen ring to our Coffee Group barbecue last summer. It fit perfectly around a bottle of white wine and kept it chilled beautifully.
I am glad you reminded me about them.
I’m glad you reposted this. This was before I even knew the wonderful world of blog existed 🙂
What a neat idea, Susan! I am glad you reposted it cause I missed it the first time…Christine
Great idea! The ice cubes are so pretty this way.
~Michelle
I love this idea! Thanks for reposting this. They really are lovely, what a festive touch for a party. Kathy
Great re-post. Yep, I’m a zone 4 – so I just planted my pansies and violas today. The rest of the bunch will have to wait for a few weeks. I’ll save this idea for Mother’s Day. ~ Robyn
Good Evening my friend…I am so glad you did this again…I do have this in my save filed..great post..Thank you for coming by and seeing me today your kindness touched my heart…I am so sad and can’t shake it today…but like everything eles I do I put on my Big girl panties and deal with it..Oh girl I ordered these dishes for my sunroom and they came in today and one of the dinner plates is broke..I am still using them for TT this week and then send them back…sighs..May you have a Great weekend my friend..Thanks again from the bottom of my ♥. Hugs and smiles Gl♥ria
This is something a goat could really enjoy!
Hello Dearheart…
Girl, I’m just thrilled that you decided to join in with the fun for “Sunday Favorites” again this week…and thank you for your sweet compliments on my “Love Affair” tablescape!!!
Susan, I just love this idea! Again, it really is in the details…don’t you think! The little extras like the pretty splashes of color…pretty little flowers in the ice cubes!!! My lilacs are getting ready to bloom soon…wonder how they would do? I’ll have to check them out to make sure they aren’t toxic!
This was a great post to share with all of us again, Darlin’! It’s a GRAND idea…and really so easy to do!!! Thank you, Susan!!!
Have a super Sunday, Sweetie!
Love ya,
Chari
I’ve heard of many different things frozen in ice cubes, but I love this idea. So glad you shared this one again. Will definitely give it a try later in the summer. Thank you Susan!
That’s an awesome idea, Susan! Great re-post! I will try that for my upcoming Sangria!
Susan,
I love this idea, so cool, what a way to WOW Your guests! Pretty pics too, of course! Cindy
I thought that was a strawberry frozen inside an ice cube!
Have a great Sunday
The Raggedy Girl
I missed this post originally. What a neat idea! I’ll definitely have to try this sometime.
Another stellar post! You are such a creative soul! Inspiring!
Another stellar post! You are such a creative soul! Inspiring!
Another stellar post! You are such a creative soul! Inspiring!
Another stellar post! You are such a creative soul! Inspiring!
Another stellar post! You are such a creative soul! Inspiring!
Another stellar post! You are such a creative soul! Inspiring!
Another stellar post! You are such a creative soul! Inspiring!
Another stellar post! You are such a creative soul! Inspiring!
Another stellar post! You are such a creative soul! Inspiring!
Another stellar post! You are such a creative soul! Inspiring!
Another stellar post! You are such a creative soul! Inspiring!
What a wonderful idea. Those ice cubes are beautiful ♥ I’m heading out to my garden to take a look around. Thank you for sharing this lovely post.
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Stop by soon; the giveaway ends Friday May 8.
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http://oakrisecottage.blogspot.com/2009/04/which-chandelier-decal-would-you-prefer.html
What a wonderful idea! I am a gardener, so this is of particular interest to me. Nothing prettier than a flower in your glass. Or a bit of mint freshly nipped from the plant. I love your blog. So informative and well-written. Many flowers also fit the criteria for herbs.
Brenda
http://cozylittlehouse.blogspot.com
http://viewfromthepines.com
Susan,
I’d like to give you an award to add to your collection! Please come by and pick it up!
Someday we will have summer here…..I can’t WAIT to try this. How pretty. That was a great re-post. Thanks so MUCH!
Blessings,
Spencer
So pretty, perfect for a summer Ladies Luncheon!
Thanks for the great directions!
A utterly delightful way to usher in spring…
Mmmm now to scour the garden! wish me luck 🙂
(ps…I am uploading my metamorphosis monday 🙂 )
Your ice cubes are so pretty! This was and is a great post! ☺♥☺ Diane
love this!
Running late this week visiting blogs….Hope you had a Happy Pink Saturday ~ Susan