Heritage Kitchen Nasturtium Linocut - Nature's Confetti

The third print in my 'Heritage Kitchen' collection, celebrates the colourful and edible flower, nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus). Often seen peppering gardens during the summer with their standout orange and red blooms.

When Spanish Conquistadors first encountered nasturtiums in Peru, they were struck by how the round leaves resembled shields and the flowers like helmets stained with blood from battle. Despite this rather violent imagery, nasturtiums made their way to Europe in the 16th century and quickly became beloved in both ornamental and kitchen gardens.

In Victorian England, nasturtiums were known as 'poor man's perfume' and were often grown around the edges of working-class gardens. They symbolised patriotism and conquest due to their shield-shaped leaves, and were often included in victory gardens during both World Wars.

In my linocut print, I've captured the plant's characteristic lily pad-like leaves and the intricate detail of its spurred flowers. The challenge was representing the way nasturtiums seem to tumble and scramble through the garden with joyful abandon - they're never static!

Today, nasturtiums are experiencing a renaissance in modern cuisine. Every part of the plant is edible: the flowers add a splash of colour to salads, the leaves provide a wasabi-like kick to sandwiches, and the seed pods can be pickled as 'poor man's capers'. They're also a valuable companion plant, their peppery scent helping to deter pests from your vegetables.