Speaking at Embassy of United States in Warsaw

Americans are living around the globe and - by surprise - among them readers of Ewa in the Garden. One of my blog readers is currently working at the embassy in Warsaw.

Last month I had a chance to speak to US Embassy in Warsaw about gardens in general, gardens in Poland and green practices that everyone can apply daily like growing herbs indoor.

Room was filled with embassy employees and their friends - all members of Brown Bag Team, a group of people who are envirnmental conscious. 

Thank you for the invitation! It was a pleasure!

Wondering about benefits of gardening?

Just have a look at this great infografics Janey made me aware of.
Health benefits, mental benefits and financial benefits.
Go gardening! Stop watching TV so much!Its weekend!



Source by Loch Ness Water Gardens

Secret Life of Letter Boxes

Everything seems to be perfectly normal. Garden is opulent and because of enormous rains since 2 months I can hear it growing, cats are happy and well, birds are coming and taking bath in the water pond, fish are swimming around in a siesta tempo, frogs are happy, slugs are also happy with amount of water Poland is getting.

But there is one thing that really puzzles me and I can't find the answer - this is the secret life of our letter box. Recently the post mail notification, taken out of a letter box looked like that one on the picture.

It doesn't look torn - it looks.... eaten... could that be possible? If yes, who is having party in my letter box?

Any suspect? Beside postman?

Christmas Decorations in Warsaw 2008

Nowy Świat Street





Crossing of Chmielna and Nowy Świat.



Chmielna Street.



Chmielna Street.



Expensive shop on Chmielna - see the legs of the shop assistant on the left?

Oriental flavours and oriental furniture

Far East… scented bays, sunny streets, oriental spices waiting for you on the narrow streets, spices so fragrant, that you refuse to walk away, opulent gardens full of exotic flowers, touch of mystery… do you feel it?

Do you already want to pack your suitcase and go with me? It would be a very sensual pleasure…

Long time ago, one friend of mine asked by me, why she was not available last few days, said that she got a surprise from husband…

She came home on Wednesday after work, tired – like always. “I have a birthday present for you, but in order to see it, we need to go out. So, let’s go”.
After a short moment of not really wanting to go out again, she grabbed the purse and they left. In the car, he tied her eyes.

When he untied it – she looked around - they’ve been at the airport! 2 tickets in hand. “Honey, here is your present. Your boss knows everything, so you have next 2 days off, your suitcase is packed and here”. Could she oppose? Rather not. They have had romantic long weekend in Istanbul. Would you refuse? Me NOT!
For being clear - Istanbul is in Turkey, still in Europe, however showing wonderful flavour of orient, as for centuries it was for Europe THE gate to Far East.

That is a true story from the times I used to live in Sweden. I remembered it, when I bounced lately on beautiful website with eastern furniture. You may see it here lombok.

My attention was caught not only by beautiful interior pictures – it wouldn’t be me otherwise - but also by the furniture itself, especially by drawers, four poster beds, dining chairs and occassional chairs.

Do you know that oriental furniture has special scent coming from the wood used for production. I am used to furniture made of pine, oak, acacia and beech. Sometimes woods are unexpected, it could be boxwood (Buxus), Cinnamonum camphora, Robinia pseudoaccacia, Phoebe nees, Walnut, Ulmus plus tropical hardwoods: hongmu, huanghuali, jichimu, tieli wood, ebony, zitan and some others. No idea, of what are made those pieces on the pictures, that's a pity - I couldn't find it on their website.

So if you plan to redecorate, maybe oriental design, could be something to consider… It doesn’t require to fully add to the house oriental style, c’mon – such pieces of furniture look so authentic and classy - they go great together also with some modern pieces and fully modern style.

These xms decorations are also soo nice, right?

Pictures: courtesy of lombok.co.uk

Legend of the seeker?Consumer confidence?

...the seeker is the hero that arises at the time of trouble and suffering...

This is how the trailer of a new movie begins. "The Legend of the Seeker" hits US cinemas on Saturday.

You may see the trailer HERE

When I look at what is going on in US media and what are the hottest topics i.e. 'consumer confidence is lowest since 16 years' I really wonder how do you cope with all that?

What are your ways to deal with it?

My Warmest Hugs to you!

What do you think about Martha?

Yesterday I found Martha Stuart Living magazine on the shelf, so there two possible strategies: either - Martha starts to fight for new markets - this is first time published in Polish. Her TV programs are on occasion broadcasted, but only on cable TV or stations available via satellite, so her style and message is not known to broad audience here.

- or - it is published as sales booster of the magazine it was added to. Martha Stuart Living is published by Edipresse (Swiss publisher operating also in Poland) as supplement to interior design magazine "Dom i Wnętrze", which is selling abt 20.000 copies monthly (pulishing 40.000 - what a waste, huh?). This way MSL will reach much broader audience, thank just limited TV reach.

I read many negative comments on blogs about what she's doing. And I am trying to understand why? I know many of you don't like it, maybe some like... - please enlighten your friend living in Poland...

Earth on the verge of significant extinction event...

I was checking some other stuff on the website of World Future Society and there is one new thread that appeared lately which really made my eco interests alert.
This society is widely recognisable since 1966, because reality has proven many of their forecasts made in the past, which were sometimes perceived insane. One of the craziest of the past and proven in real life are development of internet and fall of iron courtain.

What has appeared on the last list of forecasts for next 25 years is following:

"Forecast #5: The earth is on the verge of a significant extinction event. The twenty-first century could witness a biodiversity collapse 100 to 1,000 times greater than any previous extinction since the dawn of humanity, according to the World Resources Institute. Protecting biodiversity in a time of increased resource consumption, overpopulation, and environmental degradation will require continued sacrifice on the part of local, often impoverished communities. Experts contend that incorporating local communities' economic interests into conservation plans will be essential to species protection in the next century. "

/credit World Future Society/

This maybe scary, but it is better to know and get prepared, right?
As they write 'Crisis or opportunity'? And the difference is whether you are prepared.
It is even better to try to do something to prevent it. We, gardeners can contribute it in large extent.
This post is part of my own development and growth to that direction, because this is a process, nobody is born with it...
eee..
or maybe there are such gifted people, like teenager described in very interesting post at Strawberry Lane - just read it to get some more hope about youngest generation.

Greetings to You :) I wish you join me in the process of eco-awareness growth.
Ewa

pH report, grass combing, InStyle and authentic garden in Warsaw

After applying ammonium sulfate 3 days later pH dropped from 7 to 5,5 pH, so it seems my rhodos will feel better. They already look better - it is surprising after such short time - it's leaves are up, like dog's ears :) looks really cheering up.

There is so many things going on in the garden, cos it is last month, to make some more serious arrangement, then either it gets too warm and you have to water transplanted plants more often, or theitr natural growth process is disturbed. I am trying to finish all the jobs in March, but they usually extend to April.

One of the urgent jobs was 'combing' the lawn - cos it looked pretty weird - different shades of green, different growing speeds of grass. Here in "Ewa in the Garden" we are trying to shrink size of lawns, but still we home some. This piece is visible from the window, so I would like it to look nice. "Combing" was made with machine looking like lawnmower, but cutting the crawded sod, and make more space for grass to grow.

Total effect is interesting. Lawn is less green, but flattened and more even in color. Now I consider to give some fertiliser, but that brings vicious circle. The more fertiliser you give, the more often you have to mow it.

Some fertiliser would help it to equall the shades of green, right?

In the afternoon I had a meeting in Warsaw, and look what I have spotted in front of the restaurant. This magnolia looks very lovely in the pot, but I felt so sorry for it... such a wrong place for it. It will not be happy there... just a short lived eye candy for customers...

Having some time before the next meeting I took the chance to have a look in the female and vanity magazines. I flipped a newcomer (how they found new readers in this crowded and competitive market?) magazine InStyle (fashion through celebrities) and look what I saw. For a moment after reading I was staring at it... surprised, I guess.
This pretty lady on the picture is known in Poland photographer Lidia Popiel, wife of popular actor (they live in same area as I do). She is presenting her favourite different clothings at different occasions. This particular below is .... gardening outfit. Hmm... do you also see something like this in your magazines? She says that after job she likes to not change her clothes for gardening, just changing shoes, cos high heels are rediculous and dangerous in this situation (sic!).

Then I went to another meeting, which takes place on the right side of the river. Praga is considered as most dangerous district in Warsaw. It is also very authentic. It is the main part of city with original, lower society inhabitants of old times. There are still people that have never been to Warsaw on the left side of the river.

This is the poorest district and getting more and more popular among artists. Being there lately I noticed many small gardens, that resemble the cottage gardens, which I wanted to show you.

I leave you with pictures now...

Happy Easter :)

We are drowning - Gardeners unite!

That is the name of the campaign by Green Korea United (South Korea) for awareness of global warming effect. Authors Daehong Communications in Seoul.

I found it very appealing and awakening the imagination, so I share it with you. Can you see the humans' face and hand?

It is very dramatic - isn't it?

Full headline "We are drowning - rescue us from global effect".

Every one of us can help in stopping the process - right?

This weekend I will make the review of my own 'ecology status' to see how can I improve it :)

Will You?

This way I would like to start with you the new tradition of regular review of what we gardeners are doing in order to make the footprint smaller.

This is international - me from Poland, inspired by campaign made in Korea :) And you - potential contributors, spread wide in the globe :)

Let's look for ideas. Every one who will make a post about it, please leave the message here.

Let's put deadline for that and it will be 15th of April.

I will wrap all OUR ideas to a Green Gardening Guidelines to all fellow gardeners who are looking for ideas how to make their gardening more green :)

How FUN and IMPORTANT sounds that?

My blog listed in USA Today

My blog is listed in USA Today - you can find the listing here.


It is listed, but not rated yet.

My friends if you could rate it for me, I would be great :)

Stalin vs Hard Rock Cafe and my new blog announcement...

One day I was rushing in the city, just trying to fix some things. I was looking around and thinking how bad it is, that after the war Warsaw was not restored properly. The main part of the center full of ruins of old apartment houses was not restored - there was a decision of removing them and place there a huge building Palace of Culture called 'Gift from Stalin'.
(Josef Stalin was horror Soviet Union leader 1922-53).


At that time (in 50-ties) it was said to be an option of either a metro system, or the palace. The people wanted a metro, so Stalin gave them the palace :(


There is a concert hall, where are many performances taking place. The first band visiting Poland behind Iron Courtain was The Rolling Stones - I was kid at that time, but since then they had many fans in Poland. My mom was one of them :) so, when I was a kid I used to hear Rolling Stones as lullabys :)


Still today the center of the City is not rebuild, because there are too many different ideas and there is no settlement. The ideas oscillate between removing Stalin's gift completely through leaving it and just hide with skyscrapers to expose it nicely as important historical monument.


I really do not understand why to remove it - whatever history is connected with it, it is still part of the past and history, right?


I just realise just another Laugh of the History - that huge guitar as big as the Palace of Culture. The first one you can find here.


So, finally I came to last subject announced in the headline. I decided to make separate blog about interesting places in Poland, that are either off the regular tourist tracks or a differet look at the known places. It is not ment to be a place for regular publishing, rather if I spot something or learn something interesting I will publish at My Poland. You can always find it on blogroll on the left bar 'other interesting blogs'.

Please feel invited :)

Easter inspirations from the walk in Warsaw

This decoration at the interior design shop made me realise, that Easter is in less than a month - very early this year.

What do you see first?

Floral decoration over the table, right?

It stopped me - I like it a lot.

On the picture I see that wooden lamp at the ceiling - it looks very simple, but interesting. Also easy to make :)

Look what happened!

My blog was awarded!

I’m very happy to receive an award from Victoria at Teachings of the Horse - great blog about horses and not only.

Victoria - I am really honored that you like mine. Thank you!

This award originates at Mind Sieve dwmindsieve.blogspot.com.

Victoria asks to pass it to 10 other blogs. Please pick up the award by clicking on it, and pass it along to your favorites.

My award goes to:

1. Yolanda Elizabet at Bliss

2. Jodi at Bloomingwriter

3. Prophet at The Proper Prophet

4. Tyra at The Greenhouse in Tyra's Garden

5. Barbara at Abenteuer Garten

6. Maryam at My Marrakesh

7. Yoli at Salome Y Cael

8. Billie at Garden Wise Guy

9. Tara at Paris Parfait

10. Sammako at Kasvimaalla

Please feel free to pass the award along to 10 blogs you appreciate, even if they have been awarded already :)