Tagged by Richard at CatskillCottageSeed.

I was tagged by Richard Reeve @CatskillCottageSeed.com to reveal 6 random things about myself, so here we go.

• Started blogging 12 months ago, and my eco-gardening blog in Polish hit 34.000 visitors in first 6 months - to my big surprise! 10.000 visitors/monthly in season months!

************************************************************************

• One day, abt 5 years ago, I got so much annoyed with living in the city, that during morning jogging I decided, to move. Where to? In extreme version it could have been middle of the forest, but luckily turned out to be suburbs of Warsaw - so we keep an access to city treasures, but can fully enjoy living close to nature.

************************************************************************

• I found my way to Twitter via Joe Vitale book 'Hypnotic Marketing' - amazing book, that changes the energy flow - can't explain why - and changes the approach to marketing. This book is real fire and burns hands and mind while reading!

*************************************************************************

• In Malmoe/Sweden they have such a unique place called Ribban (cold bath house), where for the first and so far the last time in my life, I jumped straight from the sauna to the Baltic Sea - it was beginnng of December, temp. of air and water was close to 0C. OOOHHH - I thought I will die on the spot, but no... it was just very refreshing :)

**************************************************************************

• In my last regular job I got stucked lil much too long doing things I didn't really like. It was not like this from the beginning - just developed in different direction than I did. My mistake was to not cut it at the proper time. It ended 18 months ago, not funny at all (depression, burn out etc.) Never going to make this mistake again! As Gary Vaynerchuk says 'there is no reason in 2008 to do s**t you hate' - if you haven't yet, u need to see this one! (attn: it contains some adult language)
  
  

************************************************************************

• My first big love was music. I was also very keen to know everything about bands I loved. One day universe dropped - so called - possibility in front of me, which I never, ever in my life had dremt of! From that day I had the chance to meet world's biggest names i.e. Miles Davis, Chick Corea, even had the chance to organise the tour of 12 concerts in Bulgaria of my kid's years fav band Uriah Heep. I thought at that time -it was the lucky coincidence, but later I understood something that Paulo Coelho wrote 'if you really want something, world and universe will do everything to give it to you'.

This were 6 random things YOU didn't know.

So, now I would love to know more about:

Lynda at Food, Farm & Farm Life in East Africa

Katarina at Roses and Stuff

Valorie at Visual Vamp

Shawn at Country French Antique

Vicki at FrenchEssence

Millie at The Laurel Hedge

Rules are following:

1. You mention in your blogpost two links of this meme http://ewainthegarden.blogspot.com - this will help us check how far this particular meme reached - I will report it after seeing hits in my stats. And also you need to link the blog who invited you to play.

2. You post 6 random things about yourself we didn't know.

3. You choose 6 people you would like to know better and you invite them to play.

I am REALLY looking forward to know more about Lynda, Katarina, Valorie, Shawn, Vicki and Millie!

Still blooming Friday- broadcast from the garden!

Watch this Dendrathema carefully! After snow melted and freeze past, it is still in bloom. What's more interesting, this just one stem that popped out from the ground. I forgot to prune it and look with how many flowers it graces us!



This one is also surprising - isn't it?

Blooming Friday is hosted by Katarina at Roses and Stuff - come on!

I’m Thankful for You

Thanksgiving is the appointed time

for focusing on the good in our lives.

In each of our days,

we can find small blessings,

but too often we overlook them,

choosing instead to spend our time

paying attention to problems.

We give our energy

to those who cause us trouble

instead of those who bring peace.

Starting now,

let’s be on the lookout

for the bits of pleasure in each hour,

and appreciate the people who

bring love and light to everyone

who is blessed to know them.

You are one of those people.

On Thanksgiving,

I’m thankful for you.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Poem by Joanna Fuchs. www.poemsource.com

What can warm YOU up on this cold winter morning?

Maybe the view of these red & energising chilli peppers - my last crop from capsicums growing in pots. Collected just before the snow has covered everything.

... or the view of this still profusely blooming hardy geranium - taken home for winter.

.... or maybe couple of cats, that don't want to go out ?

What would cheer YOU up this morning?

Barefoot Contessa Walking Bare Feet on the Snow...

Bored with your regular lifestyle? try something different :) walk barefoot on the snow - as there is more and more of it. Keeps falling and falling....

Just red lately in our press about very extreme vacation (expiation vacation - couldn't find proper term - any help?). After googling this very specific subject, I found only one matching result. Hmm... If you are interested read it here.

Click here if you Want to Improve Your Foreplay And Lovemaking To Create Explosive And Passionate. Suitable For Christian Audiences As Well.

Tasting snow....

Although Autumn was surprisingly warm and long, first snow just hit Poland - entire country! Some regions are - like always - paralysed!

Phew! Entire Europe is covered with snow this morning, as I know - maybe with exception of Southern parts... Hello friends in Greece, Italy, Spain, Portugal and Turkey! How is your garden this morning!?

This is always like this - first snow has to come first in November, then it may appear for the second time in January, or even in February! What will happen this year?

Georgeous symmetrical, well-rounded hebe - looks same beautiful whether it is summer or winter :)

Fish - where is all 127 fish gone?

I know you will not believe this...

Temperature was about 5C last days, and even after one night, that it dropped below 0C, that hollyhock is still in his best bloom!!

well... is that not a proof, that age doesn't matter? feelings do matter - right?

It feels like blooming, so what would you do about it? Just accept it...

...... and this is Pink Fairy from my garden also blooming now....

Blooming Friday is hosted by garden blogger from Sweden Katarina at Roses and Stuff - please participate.

Crispy morning and container planting

Do you like this picture? Not bad at all - I think. Nice morning sun in Warsaw. I love these long shadows and misty air.
There is one thing that puzzles me, whenever I am seeing this - Do you see, on the other side of the street, those poor catalpas - planted in small containers? There is plenty of them on that street - more than hundred... I guess... Do u think they have chance to survive there?

*Do THEY (misterious they) do such things in your city?*

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

November Blooms

Do you also look at neighbour's gardens to check 'is there anything worth seeing? especially in November? is there anything blooming over there?'
If yes... come and see my garden... see, something is still blooming... soo... don't ask me more questions, just give me your warm hand in cold November day and follow me...
When we passed the front garden have you seen the blooming hebe? The way the leaves are placed in the stem... OK, you can't see much of it, but what about its green leaves tinted white? Nom, right?



Asters are still so shiny - radiant especially in dull November days... I am so happy to show them to you, cos they really are able to sooth your tired eyes.



Surprising pairing could show unexpected results...



... while Chrysanthemum x superbum 'Esther Read' looks little out of place and season....



... fire orange Dendrathema looks right in place - what an cheering up in November! Finally found the proper orange shade... that is so energising and uplifting.



... fuchsia - unbeatable in blooming.... I feel bad about taking it to dungeon (! :) for winter.



... her name is Calluna. She lives on the groundfloor...



Let me introduce you to Dendrathema (mums) - but why she resembles snow... that's too early.



..this Campanula poscharskyana still reminds me of summer, right? It blooms from June, likes to climb other plants...



Pelargonium still in bloom...



... hydrangeas too...



Tagetes as well...



The suspect, that was 'wanted' in the last post was identified as Erica vagans Diana Hornibrook suitable for any kind of soil. Great! - it doesn't require acidic soil, as long as it is rich in organic matter and magnesium. If you have doubts, check it here. They write, it even can be adapted to alkaline soils.
My congratulations and special Thank You goes to Easygardener - who identified the plant.




... did enjoy your walk? You must be tired, so let me get you a cup of green tea - will purify your body, mind and make you stronger.

Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day is hosted by Ewa (or Eve if you prefer) here and Carol at May Dreams Gardens - thank you Carol.

Diane Hornibroski Wanted

Have you ever felt that there is no place in the garden to plant something new?

I did for last couple of months - this made me feel.... mmm... limited... - sounds familiar?

Do you know that's not truth? There is alway space for something cute to plant. On th little patch many plants will still fit :) This is what I decided will be my motto after seeing that little, cute erica in the shop. Can you see the little flowers growing around the stem - they look like painted circles.

I found little patch for 3 new erica by getting rid of another piece of lawn. This time I chose a place close to the pond, so I can see little flowers entire november directly from the livingroom window.

This is most sunny and hottest spot entire year round, which is not best for watergarden, but at the time of choosing the location my awareness of that fact was non existent. It will get better with the time - after trees and shrubberies will mature.

If you have closer look at the edge of the border, you see the logs. Earlier this year cherry tree needed some pruning - and this is the way to use again pruned branches - they will 1/ prevent gras from growing into the border, 2/ make lawnmowing easier 3/ little life creatures will get good place to live - that makes garden more biodiversified, which means more similar to natural and easier to maintain.

Thare one thing that bothers me - I bought the plants as Diane Hornibroski. To my highest surprise, googling is not showing any results. Usually if there is a plant - wherever in the world, however rare it is - you can find a trace of it by googling. This time NOPE! no such plant on this planet. Any idea why? I really would like to solve this puzzle...

By arranging little new patch, I removed some irises to a better place as well - while doing it don't forget to plant it on the surface of the soil - rhizome should be laying on it facing south for better sun exposure, which it needs. Just its thin roots should be buried in the soil. It will give you much more healthy plants and abundance of flowers June next year.