the esstential oils that give rosemary (and all herbs) their powerful smell and taste are at their most concetrated just *before* flowering - so theoretically this is the best time to pick them for flavour and for medicinal use.

it is perfectly safe to eat when in flower and to be honest i only begin to notice a change in flavour at the "end" of the season when herbs such as tarragon begin to die back for winter.

__________________
Vegetable Rights And Peace!