And how! The rows of zucchini, with their bright orange star flowers poking out here and there are one of the most beautiful sights in our field. Zucchini plants reproduce sexually – that is, they have both male and female flowers on the same plant. Sperm from the male flower is carried to the female flower by honey bees; the female flower is actually the ovary of the plant, and once the pollen is spread, the magic begins! The fruit actually grows in the place between the female flower and the stem – so you can see baby zucchinis that still have a wilting flower at one end as flower makes way for fruit.

Ok so flowers, big deal. But seriously, these flowers are HOT! Sometimes I’m pulling back leaves to find the zucchinis underneath and find myself face to face with a huge, orange flower. It’s like looking into the birth canal of the plant – or to take it a step more – into the cosmic cunt of creation. Plants GROW! It may be true that matter cannot be created or destroyed but there is nevertheless this amazing process in nature, and in all of us, of reproducing and of creating anew. To gaze into these flowers and see the different parts, the petals and the inner private bits, hyper-charged with genetic material and ready, spread wide open even, to receive and regenerate… well I get excited just thinking about it.

You can eat zucchini flowers. You only need one male flower per plant to ensure the proper reproduction, so go ahead and harvest the rest of them (leave the female flowers because they’re the ones that become zucchinis). You can dip them in beer batter and fry them, use them as garnish for salad, float them in a bowl of water as a centerpiece on your table. If you’re not harvesting your own zucchinis, check in with the farmers at your local farmers market – chances are, if they’re not already selling some, they might be able to bring you one or two if you ask nicely. If you’ve never seen one, it’s worth it.

Here’s a recipe for fried zucchini flowers. I haven’t tried it, but it looks good – if you’ve got a better one, do share!

Fried Zucchini Flowers
from cooks.com

3/4 c. plus 2 tbsp. all purpose flour
1/4 tsp. salt
1 1/2 tbsp. olive oil
1 egg yolk
Pinch nutmeg
3 tbsp. dry white wine
3/4 c. cold water
Oil for deep frying
1 egg white
16 male zucchini flowers or 16 sm. spinach leaves
Salt

For batter: sift flour and salt into medium bowl. Add next 5 ingredients one at a time in order given, blending well and making sure batter is smooth. Cover and let stand at cool room temperature (do not refrigerate) for 2 hours.

When ready to serve, heat oil for deep frying to 375 degrees. Beat egg white until stiff. Fold into batter, blending well. Dip flowers one at a time into batter and add to oil (do not crowd). Fry until golden brown, about 1 minute per side. Remove with strainer or slotted spoon and drain on paper towels. Transfer to dish, sprinkle with salt and serve.

NOTE: The male flower is a bright orange blossom and develops only a small thin stem that does not grow into a vegetable. Yield: 16 pieces.

(Thanks to Zak Matsoon for the photo)