lorax

I had problems with the sap the first time, and after that, I set the flower cut-part-down on a rack outside until it stopped bleeding.

It won't come out of clothes, it will really stick to plastic boards, it also sticks to wooden ones, and your hands, and can be removed with turpentine. Just like other stiff, non-water-soluble organic glues.

And yes, the salt-water thing is necessary. It neutralizes the oxalic acid content and improves the flavour of the vegetable. I didn't do it the first time I ate a bud, and it was horrible.