Seeds swaping

This is Cucurbita pepo var. giraumontia var. Warszawska.


Common names: vegetable spaghetti, noodle squash, Spaghetti Marrow.

I grew it for the first time and as I result have some extra seeds, that I may swap.







This spaghetti squash can be stored for use during the winter.


Seeds do not germinate in cold soil, so it is better to sow the seeds on the windowsill in colder climate.

Plant grows up to 5 m long. 1 plant may grow 6-7 cylindrical fruits of maximum size 1,5 kg.





If you are interested, let me know by e-mail, which is available in profile section. I will be more than pleased to send it to you. No extra charge.

I have received lately some amazing tomato seeds from Patrick at Bifurcated Carrots. If you drop there, you may read very informative post about why swaping seeds is important.

Easiness of propagating succulents - drought resistant plants...

Ultra extremely easy... you just pick a piece, without roots, simply piece of the branch and stick it into the soil. No watering is needed. The speed of growth depends on the kind - on the picture, you can see: tiny pieces planted on 19th of August (L) and same plants today (R), which is after one month. Two of them almost tripled its size, rest starts to get wider by sprouting new branches. That is ootdoor.

On the windowsill, indoor, little leaf of that lovely plant fell on the soil.

Can you see growing roots and new leaves?
By the way - I forgot its name, do you know it?

Martha Stewart Living in Polish - second edition

First of all thank you very much for very interesting comments on my question posted previously. Each of them is precious to me.

You asked about my opinion. I had biased feelings, but after reading your comments and some articles, I can say that in a way I admire Martha, because despite of her undeniable decorating and cooking talents, she is also talented business woman as well - tough - I read in some places. This is just my humble opinion.

I know also, how diffcult it is to work with strong personalities - I have worked with some known people, which could be called celebrities: Polish, American, and from few other european countries.

As long as contact is shallow and short, even if it is rough, it is fine and you remember it as rather nice and interesting. When contact is closer and lasts longer, it is not easy to cope with.

The way Martha went through the last crisis, will be the case studied by students of management, Public Relations and marketing.

OK, the value of her empire dropped by 60%, but she is back. Empire was shaken, but didn't collapse, right?

Above you see Martha Stuart Living magazine second Polish edition, freshly published (Picture courtesy of Dom & Wnętrze). First one I missed - it was published in December'07 as Christmas issue.

Martha visited Poland in June for opening her photography exhibition organised by American Embassy. I found in the net a short video shot at the opening with the phone as I guess based on the quality (you can see it HERE).

Funny enough about her visit to Poland I learned first from USA Today publication.

Beside on 30st od September there is new satellite cooking channel Kuchnia.tv that will be broadcasting MS TV show. 6.15 is very early hour for that, don't you think?

I flipped through the magazine and must say, that there is few very sweet and simple decorationg ideas - like that one on the left. Nice composition "vase with daisies" (Picture courtesy of MSL).

It is full of great photographs and fresh graphic design ideas.

There is a need on Polish market for such magazine. We have already few interior design magazines, few cooking and few gardening, but none of them is wrapping all subjects.

Aditionally, I am so much fed up with their offer. Pictures are either too simple, or too boring, or too flamboyant.

Design not daring enough to inspire.

This is maybe something MSL will NOT fill, but definately it may challenge. I am happy it will also show HOW you can make some things, not only go to shop and BUY - and the more expensive the better.

I am also very happy to read in your comments, that she is proud of being Polish, because there were some discussions as whether only Polish minority in USA is aware that. Just to feel better.

eeeh...

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...

Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day - September 2008

Fuchsia - no name. Could you help to find its name?



Rose - also no name. It was written just "patio rose" on the label - this is rediculous, that THEY think it is enough.



Rose Chopin - healthy plant and very persistent bloomer - it blooms till November. Last year, when winter was mild, it gave us last flowers in December.



"New Dawn"



The Pink Fairy.



Digitalis purpurea - late blooming - who knows why. Usually in Poland they bloom in June, but as it is with human beings - there is always somebody who makes things different...



This Denrathema used to be pure white last year...



This yellow dendrathema was the the closest color to orange I could find. Still keep looking, because for some reasons I need orange in autumn garden.



This unusally looking clematis x triternata "Rubromarginata" is blooming since July and it is fragrant.



Periclymenum Serotina - beautiful and strong scenting. Blooms since June.



White pelargonium - fantastic for containers. Looks like it can survive without extra watering.



H. macrophylla - last new flower.



Tagetes tenuifolia



Nasturtium decided to climb the tree.



This big hairy critter - that I don't know what it is - parked entire afternoon on the butterfly bush. Lookes pretty scary - do you see those black big eyes?





Periwrinkle again on duty...



Anemone hupehensis still blooming...



Hydrangea paniculata Tardiva slowly passing away, but still beautiful...



Hydrangea arborescens Annabelle blooms in June, but with remowing the growing tips in May, the blooming period may be prolonged. Some may prefer her big flowers, but I think they are too big to look nice - they usually look down, because the stems have difficulty to hold them upright.



H. Paniculata Kyushu



Hydrangea paniculata Limelight turning slowly into pinkish shades....



Phlox paniculata still keeping single blooms and hosting guests...



Sharon rose last blooms...



Sedum Bertram Anderson...

Garden Bloggers; Bloom Day is kindly hosted by Carol at May Dreams Garden, for what the blogosphere is thankful :))

Villas in Southern France

Why Southern France is so magnetic? This must be its unique combination of simple earthiness and pure sophistication of traditional gardens of Provece.

Many of the estates are build on the remaining estates, vineyards and orchards created and cultivated by ancient Romans, who were the first gardeners in Provence - long time, huh?

I am digging lately the subject of gardens in Provence, because of my plan to spend there the closest vacation. While searching for information and studying the subject I am often smashed by the beautiful pictures of amazing places. I feel I need to share it with you.

Apart from old traditional Provence gardens there is a second school of garden style, not so much modelled on old farmhouse style. More airy and light.

By surprise I found a greek ancient villa restored to every detail. Have a look and say you don't like it...











Pictures thanks to courtesy of Villa-Kerylos

Window Party at Cielo

an angel is my neighbor
he guards human dreams
that is why he gets home late
i hear the quiet steps on the stairs
and the rustle
of the folded wings
in the morning he stands in my door
wide open
and says:
your window again
shone long
into the night



This Party Event is held by Cielo at House in the Roses - drop by :)



Poem by Halina Poswiatowska, Polish, d. 11 oct 1967.
translation by Marek Lugowski, marek@enteract.com
http://twice22.org

Window by: Ewa, right in the afternoon sun....

City Garden in Warsaw

Today I would like to take you for a walk in one of the gardens of Bielany - the nicest and greenest district of Warsaw. The house was built at the beginning of XX century.



By arranging a terrace on the ground, the owners connected the garden with the house in a very smart way - it feels like garden is just another room of the house.



Carefully chosen, original garden furniture adds a lot of character - can you see the deck chair in the shape of leaf?





High pots gives clear advantage in displaying small plants - so it is possible to admire the small beauties...
25 years ago, previous owners were wise enough to plant Picea abies - they were brought from the mountains as little specimens. Planted on the northern side, protect the house from cold winter winds and also provide cool shadow in the summer.



Today they grew tall and proud, but beacuse its foliage is very dark, the owners decided to plant
Gleditsia triacanthos "Sunburst" - the kind without torns and with yellow leaves to cheer up the composition.




Terrace and the garden is located on the northern side of the house. That disadvantage is turned into beauty, thanks to well planned plantings of shadow and acidic soil loving plants: rhodos, azaleas and hydrangea.
As you can see the dog is also very happy and proudly posing to be photographed.




Decidous hedge is separating the garden from the street.
You see lanterns? Can you believe that these are still GASLANTERNS and hand lit everyeveining! That is so sweet and so rare. Street is well maintained and very beautiful - could be the subject of separate post.



Owners are very proud of wisteria blooming like crazy every year... It doesn't have any other choice :)) as it is heavily pruned twice a year - this way you can get flower's profusion in the spring...



.... big leaf and thriving hostas...





... if you are interested, the dog is a rare breed of Jack Russell Terrier - truly a big dog... in a small package...