They taste of very mild zucchini in flavor, but the texture is light and delicate. It's what you would imagine a flower to feel like in your mouth. They can be eaten raw, or baked, or fried, or stuffed and cooked in one of the aforementioned ways. So far, I've made them a few ways. Battered and pan fried, which was good, but once fried, they really could have been anything. Dry/wet/dry coated then pan fried, and again, they kind of could have been anything with that kind of coating. And the other day, when I had a horticulturalist come over to diagnose my tomatoes, and rudely plucked my one and only (and very first zucchini flower that I'd ever grown in my entire life >:( ) blossom and unceremoniously hand it to me, I just washed it, tossed it into a pan with a smidge of butter, and sauteed it until it was just wilted. THAT was my favorite preparation of them all because I was able to really taste the delicate flavor of the blossom instead of hiding it inside a heavy fried flavor. It's tempting to fill and fry them, but honestly, I could fill and fry something much less precious and it'd probably taste about the same, since I'm sure the predominate tastes would be from the filling.

I am up in southern Canada just an hour north of Toronto Ontario Last year I put broken bushel baskets, which I had around over the plants and had them stuffed with leaves Not all my hydrangeas but on some. I am new to growing these beauties that it is to cold where I am But fortunately we get a lot of snow and that I believe this protects them some. The plants though that I did not cover, other than with some leaves thrown over them bloomed earlier than the plants I had protected. This year I have only thrown leaves over the entire beds. Just let them fall and then watered in a bit so they do not blow around Pinkie winkie and limelight that where not covered really bloomed so nice and early and still have bloom on them now but of course it is fall colored now I am in Florida for almost six months and will not be home to uncover them That I believe makes a difference as well So will see what happens this year They sure are gorgeous plants and look good from spring til late fall

Cutting back the foliage on beardeds is done strictly for cosmetic purposes. It is not beneficial to the plant. Some people snap the bloom stalk off at its base after bloom finishes. I remove spent blooms and let the stalk turn yellow before removing. The FAQ at the top of the page has info regarding foliage under transplanting.

So the op's question was answered that it will recover even though it has been heavily 'pruned'. And expect a much lower yield in fruit... I can't wrap my head around those that do not prune can't wrap their head around those that do... I prune because i want more varieties in a smaller space and need to go 'up' with trellising and protect from critters and bunnies and such... My neighbor wants volume and grows 30 plums, two varieties, so he can make sauce.... removes skins, and all the watery seeds cavities...then cooks to death... I want fresh and many varieties...many oxhearts that do so well for me and are meaty, not watery...freeze whole, roast then freeze, etc. at the end of season. Much different wants and needs and desires. He did not want any of my extra plants this year. I might just stick them out in the field with the sunflower rows...let them be...and might get the best crop of my life! : )