Lavender & Thyme - are they safe?

I have this large [English I think] lavender plant I just can't let go of without a fight. The weather is getting colder by the day & so I've brought it inside. But as I feared the window is too shaded. The 2nd best place to put it is within reach of the Budgies.....the best spot is too crowded.

What do you think? - I can't find much on this in Unsafe Plant lists.

It would smell divine in the room.

I know herbs can be medicinal & I'm wondering if they'll leave them alone.

Ohh Miss Bea.. where are you??

Until she gets here, I did a quick yahoo search for you:

Lavender is safe according to these websites:
Safe and toxic plants for birds

Avian Enrichment: Safe Plants
^Something called tullip thyme is on this list, but I don't know if it's the same thyme you're talking about.

Hope this helped at least a little bit!

I think they are both safe.

Yep I know lavender is safe as Dusty lokes to chew on it, and I give her the seed heads as part of her environmental enrichment picks from the garden. Thyme I offer but she doesn't like it.

Well, thyme and rosemary haven't killed Ruby yet! ha! It would give such a lovely scent to your home. My rosemary scents my whole back yard. ha! Just love fresh herbs. Sometimes I will put cuttings in a vase, just like flowers. Try not to freeze up there! Luke leaves for Nova Scotia tomorrow and has packed all his heavy duty winter clothes. BRRRRRR!

Thanks guys - it is such a beautiful plant - I'm hoping it will make it inside until spring.

They are both safe. My birds get thyme in their gloop regularly, and lavender is edible, at least the flowers are because you can tea out of them and, in medieval times, they use to sugar the flowers to be eaten as candy.

Sugar the lavender flowers? Ohh.. Maybe I'll have to try that. My sweet tooth is too big for my own good. :P

Jac is just a neat lady!

There are two ways of making them, one is with syrup and the other with egg white. See recipes:

CANDIED (CRYSTALLIZED) ROSE AND OTHER FLOWERS: For flowers such as calendula, chrysanthemum, lavender, rose, tulip, and yucca, only the flower petals are edible. The white base of the petal, where it is attached to the flower, may have a bitter taste and should be removed from flowers such as chrysanthemums, dianthus, English daisies, marigolds, and roses. Break or cut off this portion before using. Separate the flower petals from the rest of the flower just prior to use to keep wilting to a minimum.

1 cup flowers
1 cup sugar
3/4 cup water
Confectioner's sugar

Wash flowers gently and dry on paper towels. Combine sugar and water in a saucepan and boil until it is 234 degrees F on a candy thermometer. Pour syrup into a bowl on a bed of cracked ice. When syrup begins to crystallize, hold petals with tweezers and dip. Dry petals on waxed paper and dust with confectioner' sugar


OR

1 dozen flowers:
Meringue powder
1 teaspoon water
1 dozen pesticide-free edible flowers, such as lavender, violets, marigolds, and rose petals
1 cup superfine sugar

1. Gently give the flowers a water bath to remove dirt and check for insects. To do, fill a small bowl with cool water and a pinch of salt. Let each flower or petal take a short bath in it. Afterwards, quickly dip the petals in ice water (remove ice before using) to perk them up and when done, place on paper towels. Let air dry. They must be completely dry before proceeding to the next step.

2. Dilute pasteurized, powdered egg whites or meringue powder with water. I sprinkle the powder over the surface of wide bowl of warm water and let sit (about 3 - 4 minutes) to dissolve before stirring. Resist the urge to stir it too soon because then the powder will clump. If it does, squish the clumps between your fingers while submerged in the water.

3. Hold the flower or petal with tweezers. Apply a thin layer of egg white mixture on each side with a small paintbrush in a thin, even layer. Any places not coated will turn brown.

4. Holding the blossom over a bowl, sprinkle or shake superfine sugar in a clean salt shaker, over the entire flower. Tap the tweezers to remove excess sugar and repeat on reverse side.

5. Place flowers on superfine sugar covered parchment or waxed paper to dry for 2 - 4 hours (in humid weather, it takes longer than 4-6 hours to dry). Hang larger flowers upside down to avoid squashing the petals.


Bon Appetit!