Some really cool summer treats are in bloom right now. What we should be picking – and eating...

Have you eaten any flowers today? 

Some of them are really good for us. Naturopathic physician Jamison Starbuck says right now is the best time of year to give your diet a nutrient boost right out of the garden. Here are some of her favorite treats:

• Flowers: fresh blossoms of nasturtium, violet and calendula make a great addition to greens or potato salad. They’ll make your dish look beautiful and they’re really good for your heart, bone and muscle health.

• Heart-healthy ice pops: Squeeze any fresh purple or red fruit and freeze the juice, unsweetened. Grapes, blueberries, raspberries and pomegranates are all good choices. Fill an ice cube tray and drop those heart-healthy cubes into some water or iced tea.

• Parsley pesto: Two tablespoons of chopped parsley contain ample vitamin C and all of your daily vitamin K requirement. Make a traditional pesto recipe with half parsley and half basil. Serve on pasta or rice or as a dip.

• Sun tea. Summer-harvested peppermint, which aids digestion, is delicious prepared as sun tea. In a glass jar filled with three quarts of water, add about 12 well-rinsed six-inch peppermint stalks, leaves and stems - or eight bags of your favorite herbal tea. Add three tablespoons of honey, seal it and set it out in the sun for six hours.