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LAURA MOWREY'S SAMPLE ADULT OPOSSUM DIET :


BUT FIRST......
The reason for this section is simple. There will always be opossums who fall into
a rehabbers hands that cannot be released due to physical handicaps or
other health issues. In some states, the law requires euthanasia of any non-releaseable
wildlife. In other states, the laws are much more lenient.
It is up to each individual to make the legal and moral decision on what to do if
you find yourself with a non-releaseable opossum.
Personally, if an injured adult comes in, who cannot be released, euthanasia is
probably the kindest course to take. This animal has been wild and knows nothing
else. To try and take that animal and expect it to live its life happily in a
cage is unthinkable, to me anyway.
However, if a baby arrives severely injured or somehow otherwise impaired, that make
release unwise, then you have a true dilemma on your hands.
I have seen some opossums not only adapt but truly thrive, with the right people,
and under the right circumstances. But be advised, that to take on a opossum is a
HUGE resposibility. Those cute little babies grow into very large adults. Their
teeth and jaws are extremely strong and their claws can do some serious damage to
your skin, clothes, furniture and curtains.
Males can get aggressive towards their caretakers during mating season. Opossums,
even the tamest of opossums, startle easily, and can, without even
meaning to, literally bite the hand that feeds them, or that of a child or
other household pet.
Some opossums are very tidy. Many will even use a potty box. But some will literally
poop and urinate anywhere and everywhere and even take delight in seeing
how far they can smear it. There is no way to pre-determine what your
particular possum will turn out like, in that respect.
And now comes the question of where you will keep your opossum. Let me just tell
you: Opossums DO NOT belong in a cage! If you were to use some sort of enclosure
at all, it should be for day sleeping only. They should be able to free-roam
during their waking hours, at the very least! Opossums kept caged are miserable
and can become neurotic and unpredictable.
An outdoor enclosure is necessary in my opinion so that they can get some outdoor
time. For that, you can purchase one of those chain link kennel runs, making
sure to put a escape proof roof on it and a dig-proof floor. 6X8 feet should be
the minimum size used. To this add some very thick, sturdy tree branches, a
hollowed out log if you can find one, and perhaps some platforms to sit on at
different levels. Dried grasses, leaves and other natural materials should cover
the flooring. Hide treats around so he/she can forage.
And when in the house, your possum should have full run of at least part of your home.
****When planning your outdoor enclosure and
the area of your house that your possum will have free roam of,
always take into consideration whatever physical limitations your opossum has.****

Many have forgotten this truth,
but you must not forget it.
You remain responsible, forever,
for what you have tamed.

Before I get to what I feed an adult opossum, I want to add that I usually have opossums on the adult diet
by the time they are 2 pounds, maybe a little more. Some take to solids quicker then others.

I decided to document several days of meals. You will note some leafy greens with perhaps unfamiliar names, actually most come from an organic salad mix I buy at the store.
Since diet is still largely a mystery, I think it is important for all rehabbers to keep striving to find what works. This is often best studied in NR opossums who are with us long term.
**If you find yourself with a “picky” eater, you can often get that opossum to eat everything if you take the entire meal and either dice it up extremely small or puree it all together so that he or she cannot pick and choose what they will or will not eat.
**Note that there are a few days when no whole protein is given, and neither is dog or cat kibble. In the wild, an opossum is an opportunistic eater and there is an emerging theory that perhaps we need to feed them according to that theory, keeping in mind that this is NOT a proven theory. Each meal consists of appx 1 cup food per adult possum.

I prefer to use holistic, organic brands of both cat and dog foods, moving up to the low fat versions by the time they reach 5-6 months of age and then onto Senior dog kibble once they reach the age of 1 year. If you find that your opossum is having a lot of runny stools, it may be the cat food. Switch to a low fat dog food and see if that doesn’t take care of the problem.

I also have incorporated numerous supplements into their diets such as:

ESSENTIAL GREENS by Oxyfresh (which contains Green Mix: (Green Kamut ® Juice, Barley Green Juice, Alfalfa Juice, Wheatgrass Juice, Oat Grass Juice), Lecithin, Cracked Cell Chlorella, Broccoli, Spinach, Parsley, Dandelion Greens, Kale, Cabbage, Apple Pectin Fiber, The Traveler’s Acidophilus™, Sea Dulce, Sea Vegetables, Protease, Lipase, Amylase, Cellulase.

PRO-BIOTIC AND DIGESTIVE ENYMES Just a small pinch on their food daily. They help the body more readily absorb and digest the nutrients in the food they eat.

L-CARNITINE AND TAURINE: Just a tiny pinch on their food twice a week.

CINNAMON There are many health benefits in cinnamon.
For more information, go to: Health Benefits of Cinnamon

HAWTHORNE: Hawthorn Berry (appx 1/4 of a 510 mg capsule) twice a week for heart health. I used this daily for my possum Kizzie after he was diagnosed with Congestive heart Failure. I am hoping that a diet with this will help prevent heart disease in other possums, if begun at an early age.

HEALTH-E-COAT: This is a product made by Summerwinds and is similar to Missing Link. It contains the following ingredients: Linseed meal, Rice Bran, Flax Seed, Wheat Germ Meal, Safflower, Garlic Powder, Vitamin C, and Chelated Trace Minerals. I add a tiny pinch (appx 1/8 tsp) of this to their food 3 times a week. Missing Link, which is a product similar to Health-E-Coat, is more easily obtained and can be used instead. Many pet stores and health food stores sell this product.

CRANBERRIES AND BLUEBERRIES: Cranberries and blueberries both contain tannins that are well known for keeping the urinary tract healthy. And most of us know how prone female opossums are to getting urinary tract infections. I believe fresh is always best, but you can always serve in powdered form as well. I use fresh or frozen, sometimes dehydrated, and only a couple of each per day due to the fruit restrictions possums have. You could always boost the intake by using Cranberry capsules, readily available at health food stores. They occasionally get bites of other fruits as well.
(Fruits should be limited, as they can cause medical issues such as Metabolic Bone Disease, if overfed.)

BIRCH LEAF: Birch leaves have been found to help cure urinary tract infections, and since females opossums especially, have such a propensity for UTI's, it may be wise to include this in their diet. If you are lucky enough to have a birch tree in your yard (untreated of course), try offering a few of the leaves to your opossum. For the rest of us, Birch Leaf Tea and Birch Leaf powder can be found in health food stores as well as online.

BREWERS YEAST: I buy the Nutritional yeast in bulk at the health food store and sprinkle approximately ½ tsp on their food a couple times per week.

VITAMIN C: 50 mg of chewable vitamin C daily, crushed into the food.

VITAMIN E: 100 I.U. of vitamin E to each possum 3 times per week.

FISH OIL CAPSULES: The oil of 1 capsule on their food 3 times per week.

EDIBLE CLAY: I obtained a sample of this awhile back and fed it to Kizzie with no ill effects. In the wild, possums will consume a certain amount of dirt while foraging for earthworms and such. It is believed that edible clay will supply the same necessary trace minerals.

NONI JUICE: Noni juice is a very good anti-inflammatory, as well as an immune booster. Kizzie was on Noni the last 2 years of his life. It has been used successfully to reduce the effects of arthritis in animals as well as people. You can buy the juice itself, or purchase it in capsule form. Make sure you buy the brands that use the whole fruit! Noni products can be found online and at health food stores. Your best prices will be online.

IPG AND MGN-3: Kizzie was given small pinches of these the last year or so of his life. Both have anti-cancer and immune boosting properties. Found online and in health food stores.

RODENTS: I am feeding juvenile and or adult mice to my opossums 2 or 3 times per month. I use frozen thawed only, bought from a pet store. NEVER feed a wild caught mouse as even though they would of course eat one in the wild, it exposes them to parasites and possible pesticides or other poisons. **Pinkie mice do not contain enough calcium, as their bones have not yet formed enough, so I would not bother with those. Wait until they are at least at the fuzzy stage.

INSECTS: I believe whole-heartedly in feeding home raised or store bought insects to my opossums. I raise my own mealworms, giant hissing and discoid cockroaches, silkworms, hornworms, earthworms and sometimes crickets as well. My insects are fed an extremely nutritious diet so that my animals will get the maximum benefit from them. In the wild, opossums eat insects, and rodents (among other things) we all know that………so why is it so many people exclude them from their diet in captivity?
As is the case with live caught rodents, live caught insects can also carry pesticides, yard chemicals and parasites, so I would avoid them at all cost, especially if you have a non-releasable possum in your care.
(As an added bonus, silkworms have anti-cancer properties!)

EDIBLE FLOWERS AND GRASSES: Over the past couple of summers I've experimented to see if my possums would eat edible safe flowers. I feed these to my Iguana as well. A BIG hit were the nasturtiums and rose petals and rose hips, which are a great source of vitamin C. I plan to greatly expand this next summer and already have an area set aside for growing nothing but edible flowers. I have also observed my opossums eating grass and clover in our yard, so I serve these as well to them.

The rest of my diet involves the use of many, many vegetables. There are never less then at least 6 or 7 types in their dinners. This includes leafy greens as well (except lettuces and spinach). All my possums will eat collards, dandelion and other greens. I haven’t found a vegetable yet that my opossums will not readily eat, although some possums can be picky. If you have a picky eater, try taking all the ingredients of their meal and either dicing it up extremely small or pureeing it. Most possums will eat it just fine that way, and will not then be able to pick out what they don’t like. Some of the vegetables I use are:

Carrots, collard greens, swiss chard, cucumbers, egg plant, sweet potato, mustard greens, broccoli, cauliflower, green beans, okra, zucchini and all the other squash varieties, lima beans, peas, turnips, beets, parsnips, jicama, radishes, sprouts, water chestnuts, prickly pear cactus (thorns removed of course), fennel, shiitake mushrooms; (which contain anti-cancer properties), cabbages, green, yellow and orange peppers, and edible flowers, just to name a few.

The proteins I use are: Rodents, insects, chicken liver, salmon, sardines, white fish, eggs, ricotta and low fat mozzarella cheese. DO NOT overfeed proteins, and fruits or you risk the development of Metabolic Bone Disease. Each adult possum here gets appx 1 tablespoon of protein appx 5-6 days a week.


****Here is a quick appx breakdown of the protein/fat/calorie
ratios of some common forms of protein fed:


1 oz boneless, skinless chicken breast: 48 calories, appx 10 grams of protein, 1 gram fat.

1 oz boneless, skinless turkey breast: 44 calories, appx 9-10 grams of protein, 1 grams fat.

1 large egg yolk: 65 calories, 18 grams protein, 6 grams fat.

1 large egg white: 15 calories, 3 grams protein, less then 1 gram of fat.

1 ounce baked, poached or broiled skinless salmon:
Protein: 2 grams, calories 14, fat less then 1 gram.

1 sardine (packed in spring water): Protein 2.5 grams, calories 25, fat appx 1.5 grams.

1 ounce low fat Ricotta cheese: Protein 2 grams, calories 18, fat appx 1 gram.

1 ounce boiled chicken liver: Protein appx 2.5 grams, calories appx 20, fat less then 1 gram.

1 ounce plain non-fat yogurt: Protein appx 1.5 grams, calories appx 10, fat less then 1 gram.

1 ounce low fat mozzerella: Protein 7 grams, calories 35, fat appx 1 gram.


Learn about the dangers of:
METABOLIC BONE DISEASE


Yogurt, about 1 heaping teaspoon, is fed twice a week. I use the organic, plain yogurt with the live cultures.

Wild or brown rice and other grains such as Kashi are offered occasionally, just for variety, in small amounts. Remember to figure these in as part of your protein.

Legumes; Actually I have fed beans occasionally as well, but only very occasionally, and only 2 or 3 at a time. There is a frozen vegetable mix I like to buy and it has some beans in it.

The subject of diet is ever changing and has been in debate for many years between rehabbers. I have changed the diet I use over the years as well, as those of us who love the Virginia Opossum continue to struggle with what is best for these beautiful creatures.


MEAL EXAMPLES:

This meal consisted of fresh raw broccoli, fresh cauliflower, fresh green peppers, fresh raw organic green beans, radicchio, arugula, dandelion greens, fresh raw okra, wheat grass, cucumbers, 1 heaping tablespoon low fat dog food, 2 raw cranberries, chopped grass, 1 rose hip, 1 small organic chicken egg (pureed with shell), 1 tablespoon organic yogurt, 1/8 tsp Essential Greens, ¼ tsp cinnamon, 1/8 tsp edible clay, 1/2 tsp Noni Juice, 1/2 tsp yeast flakes, pinch of Taurine, and pinch of L-Carnitine, a pinch of powdered Hawthorne, 50 mg vitamin C, 1 capsule of fish oil, 1/4 tsp birch leaf powder (or fresh leaves)and a pinch of probiotic and digestive enzymes.


This meal consisted of a lot of leafy vegetables to include
(each in very small amounts):
Organically grown collards, Mizuna, Tatsoi, Arugula, baby green and red romaine, red Swiss chard, baby green and red oak, lollo rosa, baby spinach, frisee, radicchio, radish greens, diced shitake mushroom, 1 diced radish, diced jicama, dried hibiscus flowers, diced raw beets, diced raw zucchini, wheat grass, 3 organic wild blueberries, avocado, 1 tablespoon low fat holistic dog food, 50 IU of vitamin E oil, 50 mg chewable vitamin C, 1/8 tsp Health-E-Coat, 1/8 tsp edible clay, 1/16 tsp Spirulina, and a pinch of probiotic and digestive enzymes.


This meal consisted of diced raw jicama, diced radishes, 1 tbsp cooked sweet potato, diced raw zucchini, mushrooms, cabbage, fennel, collard greens, Kale, prickly pear cactus, spinach, organic raw green beans, celery, cucumbers, dandelion greens, ¼ tsp cinnamon, 1 raw cranberry, ½ tsp Noni Juice, 1/8 tsp edible clay, 1 tsp cooked wild rice, 1 rose hip, green pepper and 1 small organic egg pureed with shell, ¼ tsp bee pollen, 50 mg vitamin C, and a pinch of probiotic and digestive enzymes.


This meal consisted of raw carrots, cauliflower, raw zucchini, raw okra, oriental snow peas, 1 raw cranberry, kale, 2 tiny organic blueberries, 1/8 tsp edible clay, 1/8 tsp Heath-E-Coat, ¼ tsp yeast flakes, ¼ tsp bee pollen, a pinch of Taurine and L-Carnitine, 50 mg vitamin C, 50 IU vitamin E, a pinch of powdered hawthorne, a pinch of probiotic and digestive enzymes, and a small frozen (thawed) mouse.


This meal consisted of fresh raw green beans, steamed squash, diced raw zucchini, raw broccoli, raw oriental pea pods, raw okra, clover, steamed whole artichoke heart, collard greens, dandelion leaves, swiss chard, 1 raw cranberry, ½ tsp Noni Juice, 1 rose hip, wheat grass, ¼ tsp cinnamon, 1 tablespoon baked salmon, 1/8 tsp edible clay, 50 mg vitamin C, 1/8 tsp Missing Link, a pinch of spirulina, a pinch of probiotic and digestive enzymes, 1/4 tsp birch leaf powder (or fresh leaves)and 1 tablespoon low fat Eagle holistic dog food.


...... We also raise our own crickets! Dump a few of these inside a dry bath tub and let your possums learn their hunting skills!
This meal consisted of raw cauliflower, water chestnuts, raw green pepper, collards,radicchio, raw jicama, spoonful of sweet potatoes, kale, raw eggplant, wheat grass, diced shitake mushrooms, 1 raw cranberry, 2 rose hips, 1/8 tsp edible clay, 1/8 tsp Essential Greens, 50 mg vitamin C, 50 IU of vitamin E, 4 large crickets, 1/2 tsp Noni Juice and a pinch of probiotic and digestive enzymes, and a tablespoon of low fat Eagle dog kibble.


..... This meal consisted of raw cauliflower, red bell peppers, small amount of collards and kale, radishes, zucchini, baby peas, turnips, jicama, 1 small bite of melon, avocado, chopped grass, 1 tablespoon low fat Eagle dog kibble, a pinch of probiotic and digestive enzymes, ¼ tsp cinnamon, ¼ tsp bee pollen, 50 mg vitamin C, 1/8 tsp edible clay, a pinch of powdered Hawthorne, 1/4 tsp birch leaf powder (or fersh leaves), and 1 large silkworm. Silkworms are very soft, low in fat, do not bite, odorless and even contain anti-cancer properties. **Presently I am occasionally raising them in small amounts for our insect eating animal companions. That silkworm above is actually just over 3 inches long but he was a little scrunched up when I took the photo.


...... These Madagascar Hissing Cockroaches get to be 3+ inches in length. The possies LOVE them!!! I have a small farm of 60 or so adult hissers that I breed to raise food for our insect eating animal companions.
This meal consisted of radishes, collards, dandelion leaves, spinach, shitake mushrooms, turnips, cauliflower, carrots, red and green bell peppers, fresh green beans, zucchini, wheat grass, 1/8 tsp edible clay, 2 raw cranberries, ½ tsp Noni Juice, 1 tsp low fat Eagle Holistic cat kibble, a pinch of probiotic and digestive enzymes, 50 mg of vitamin C, and 1 Madagascar Hissing Cockroach.


This meal consisted of mint leaves, rose petals, dandelion leaves, raw beets, avocado, peas, 2 hazelnuts, parsley, 1 tbsp fat free ricotta cheese, 3 mealworms, celery, carrot, green beans, shitake mushrooms, zucchini, green peppers, chopped grass, 2 dried cranberries, 2 dried blueberries, 1 tbsp low fat dog kibble, 50 mg vitamin C, oil from 1 fish oil capsule, a pinch of digestive/probiotic enzymes, 1/8 tsp edible clay, 1/8 tsp Essential greens, 1/2 tsp Noni Juice and 1/4 tsp bee pollen.


......
We also occasionally raise our own superworms, but pet stores sell them as well. The possums gobble them up like candy!
This meal consisted of peas, green beans, zucchini, fennel, prickly pear cactus (spikes removed), collards, red bell peppers, beets, 2 organic blueberries, 1 rose hip, 3 superworms, 1 tablespoon organic yogurt, a pinch of Taurine and L-Carnitine, 1/8 tsp Health-E-Coat, 1/8 tsp edible clay, a pinch of Spirulina, a pinch of probiotic and digestive enzymes, 50 mg vitamin C. 1 capsule of fish oil, 1/2 tsp yeast flakes, ¼ tsp bee pollen, 50 IU of vitamin E.


This meal consisted of kale, brocoli, zucchini, peas, corn, jicama, green beans, turnips, collards, baby spinach, wheat grass, 1/4 tsp bee pollen, 1/2 tsp Noni Juice, 1/8 tsp Health-E-Coat, 50 mg vitamin C, 1/8 tsp edible clay, 2 raw cranberries, and a pinch of probiotic and digestive enzymes.


This meal consisted of 1 raw organic egg mixed in with radishes, carrots, squash, green beans, collard greens, beets, broccoli, zuchinni, cauliflower, 1 rose hip, grass, dandelion, english cucumber, 1/2 oz low fat mozzerella cheese, 1 tablespoon of Eagle low fat dog food, 50 IU vitamin E, 50 mg Vitamin C, a pinch of spirulina, 1/8 tsp edible clay, 1/8 tsp Essential greens, and a pinch of probiotic and digestive enzymes.br>

This meal consisted of 1 raw organic egg mixed in with radishes, carrots, squash, green beans, collard greens, beets, broccoli, zucchini, cauliflower, 1 rose hip, wheat grass, English cucumber, ½ oz low fat mozzarella cheese, 1 tablespoon of Eagle Holistic low fat dog food, 50 IU of vitamin E, 50 mg vitamin C, a pinch of Spirulina, 1/8 tsp edible clay, and a pinch of probiotic and digestive enzymes.


****ALWAYS use organ meat from poultry, never from beef!

****ALWAYS feed organic eggs, and poultry whenever possible to your non-releaseable.
They do not need to eat all the chemicals; hormones and antibiotics
non-organic dairy and poultry contain.

**** NEVER feed wild caught insects/slugs. They can carry parasites and
pesticides or other chemicals. You can purchase them from stores, online, or
even raise them yourself.

EDIBLE FLOWERS AND WILD PLANTS:

Here is a list of “edible” flowers I came up with online, along with some words of caution:

Do not eat flowers from florists, nurseries or garden centers. In many cases these flowers have been treated with pesticides not labeled for food crops.

Do not eat flowers picked from the side of the road. They could have been sprayed with chemicals and will have absorbed toxic fumes from car emmissions. The same goes for wild berries.

Remove pistils and stamens from flowers before eating. Eat only the flower petals for most flowers.

Introduce flowers into your pets diet in small quantities one species at a time. Too much of a good thing may cause problems for their digestive system. If they have allergies, introduce edible flowers gradually, as they may aggravate some allergies.


Angelica: Depending on the variety, flower range from pale lavender-blue to deep rose. It has a flavor similar to licorice.

Arugula: Also called garden rocket, roquette, rocket-salad, Oruga, Rocketsalad, rocket-gentle; Raukenkohl (German); rouquelle (French); rucola (Italian). An Italian green usually appreciated raw in salads or on sandwiches. The flowers are also edible.

Aquatic Plants: Cattails and Lotuc Leaves.

Basil: Depending on the type, the flowers are either bright white, pale pink, or a delicate lavender. The flavor of the flower is milder, but similar to the leaves of the same plant. Basil also has different varieties that have different milder flavors like lemon and mint.

Bee Balm: Also called Wild Bergamot, Wild Oswego Tea, Horsemint, Monarda. Wild bee balm tastes like oregano and mint. The taste of bee balm is reminiscent of citrus with soft mingling of lemon and orange. The red flowers have a minty flavor.

Borage: Has lovely cornflower blue star-shaped flowers. Blossoms have a cool, cucumber taste.

Burnet: The taste usually is likened to that of cucumbers, and burnet can be used interchangeably with borage.

Calendula: Also called Marigolds. A wonderful edible flower. Flavors range from spicy to bitter, tangy to peppery.

Carnations: Steep in wine, candy, or use as cake decoration. To use the surprisingly sweet petals in desserts, cut them away from the bitter white base of the flower. Dianthus are the miniature member of the carnation family with light clove-like or nutmeg scent.

Chamomile: The flowers are small and daisy-like and have a sweet, apple-like flavor. Chevil - Chervil flowers are delicate white flowers with an anise flavor.

Chicory: Earthy flavor, eat either the petals or the buds. Chicory has a pleasant, mild-bitter taste that has been compared to endive.

Chrysanthemums: Tangy, slightly bitter, ranging in colors from red, white, yellow and orange. They range in taste from faint peppery to mild cauliflower.

Cilantro: Like the leaves and seeds, the flowers have a strong herbal flavor.

Citrus blossoms: (orange, lemon, lime, grapefruit, kumquat) - Use highly scented waxy petals sparingly. Distilled orange flower water is characteristic of Middle Eastern pastries and beverages. Citrus flavor and lemony.

Clover: Sweet, anise-like, licorice.

Cornflower: Also called Bachelor’s button. They have a slightly sweet to spicy, clove-like flavor. Bloom is a natural food dye. Dandelions - Member of Daisy family. Flowers are sweetest when picked young, and just before eating. They have a sweet, honey-like flavor. Mature flowers are bitter.

Dill: Tangy; like leaves but stronger.

English Daisy: The flowers have a mildly bitter taste and are most commonly used for their looks than their flavor.

Fennel: Lovely, star-burst yellow flowers have a mile anise flavor.

Fuchsia: Blooms have no distinct flavor.

Gardenia: Intensely fragrant light cream-colored blossom used for decorative purposes. In the Far East, dried gardenia blossoms impart fragrance to jasmine tea.

Garden Sorrel: Sorrel flowers are tart, lemon tasting.

Geranium

Gladiolas: Flowers (anthers removed) have a nondescript flavor (taste vaquely like lettuce).

Hibiscus: Cranberry-like flavor with citrus overtones. Use slightly acidic petals sparingly in salads or as garnish.

Hollyhock: Very bland tasting flavor.

Honeysuckle: Sweet honey flavor. Berries are highly poisonous !

Hyacinth: The bulb of this plant is edible and was a particular favorite of the Nez Perce Indians. It was eaten either raw or cooked and has a sweet, nutlike flavor.

Impatiens

Jasmine: The flowers are intensely fragrant and are traditionally used for scenting tea.

Johnny-Jump-Ups: Lovely yellow, white and purple blooms have a mild wintergreen flavor.

Lavender: Sweet, floral flavor, with lemon and citrus notes. NOTE: Do not consume lavender oil unless you absolutely know that it has not be sprayed and is culinary safe.

Lemon Verbena: Tiny cream-colored citrus-scented blossoms. Leaves and flowers ok to use.

Lilac: The flavor of lilacs varies from plant to plant. Very perfumy, slightly bitter. Has a distinct lemony taste with floral, pungent overtones.

Linden: Small flowers, white to yellow was are delightfully fragrant and have a honeylike flavor.

Marjoram: Flowers are a milder version of plant's leaf.

Mint: All varieties.

Mustard Young leaves can be steamed, used as a herb, eaten raw, or cooked like spinach. NOTE: Some people/animals are highly allergic to mustard. Start with a small amount.

Nasturtiums: Come in varieties ranging from trailing to upright and in brilliant sunset colors with peppery flavors. Nasturtiums rank among most common edible flowers. Blossoms have a sweet, spicy flavor similar to watercress.

Okra: Also known as Ochro, Okoro, Quimgombo, Quingumbo, Ladies Fingers and Gumbo. It has hibiscus-like flowers and seed pods that, when picked tender, produce a delicious flavor.

Orchids

Oregano: Milder version of plant's leaf.

Pansy: If you eat only the petals, the flavor is extremely mild, but if you eat the whole flower, there is a winter green overtone.

Pea Blossoms: NOTE: Flowering ornamental sweet peas are poisonous. Edible garden peas bloom mostly in white, but may have other pale coloring. The blossoms are slightly sweet and crunchy and they taste like peas. The shoots and vine tendrils are edible, with a delicate, pea-like flavor. Here again, remember that harvesting blooms will diminish your pea harvest, so you may want to plant extra.

Peach blossoms

Pear blossoms

Petunia: Petunia flowers have a mild flowery taste and can be used as a garnish.

Pineapple Guava: The flavor is sweet and tropical, somewhat like a freshly picked ripe papaya or exotic melon still warm from the sun.

Primrose: Colorful with a sweet, but bland taste.

Queen Anne's Lace: Flavor is lightly carrot like.

Radish Flowers: Depending on the variety, flowers may be pink, white or yellow, and will have a distinctive, spicy bite (has a radish flavor).

Rosemary: dried herb and blossoms.

Roses: Flavors depend on type, color, and soil conditions. Flavor reminiscent of strawberries and green apples. Sweet, with subtle undertones ranging from fruit to mint to spice. All roses are edible, with the flavor being more pronounced in the darker varieties.
**** As an added bonus, rose hips (the large swollen end of the stem where
the petals have fallen off) contain a nice dose of
vitamin C and are also very edible!

Safflower: Its dried flowers, Mexican saffron, are used as a food colorant in place of the more aromatic and expensive Spanish saffron.

Sage: The flowers are violet-blue, pink or white up to 1 3/8 inches long, small, tubelike, clustered together in whorls along the stem tops. Flowers have a subtler sage taste than the leaves. Savory - The flavor of the flowers is somewhat hot and peppery.

Scarlet Runner Beans: Bean pods toughen as they age, so make use of young pods as well as flowers. Please note: Sweet Pea flowers are NOT edible.

Scented Geraniums: The flower flavor generally corresponds to the variety. For example, a lemon-scented geranium would have lemon-scented flowers. They come in fragrances from citrus and spice to fruits and flowers, and usually in colors of pinks and pastels. NOTE: Citronelle variety may not be edible.

Snap Dragon: Delicate garden variety can be bland to bitter. Flavors depend on type, color, and soil conditions.

Squash Blossoms: Squash and pumpkin blossoms are edible and taste mildly of raw squash. Prepare the blossoms by washing and trimming the stems and remove the stamens.

Sunflower: The flower is best eaten in the bud stage when it tastes similar to artichokes. Once the flower opens, the petals may be used like chrysanthemums, the flavor is distinctly bittersweet. The unopened flower buds can also be steamed like artichokes.

Sweet Woodruff: The flower flavor is sweet and grassy with a hint of nutty, vanilla flavor.

Thyme: Milder version of leaf.

Tuberous Begonia: NOTE: Only Hybrids are edible. The petals of the tuberous begonias are edible. Begonia blossoms have a delicious citrusy sour taste and a juicy crunch. Stems, also, can be used in place of rhubarb. The flowers and stems contain oxalic acid and should not be consumed by individuals suffering from gout, kidneystones, or rheumatism.

Violets: Sweet, perfumed flavor. Related flowers, Johnny jump-ups or violas. Leaves are edible as well.

Yucca Petals: The white Yucca flower is crunchy with a mildly sweet taste (a hint of artichoke).


NUTRITIONAL INFORMATIONAL WEBSITES:

Mountain Rose Herbs
A great source for Birch Leaf and other herbs.

Edible Clay

An excellent website regarding the benefits of probiotic and digestive enzymes. A MUST READ!

Benefits of bee pollen.

Benefits of Wheat Grass

More on Wheat Grass

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