December 23, 2013

3 x NEW - Starting New Life with New Style in New Year


Today is my Birthday. I am 18 again. My new life starts today. This is what will happen. I know. I am going to re-create myself to get ready for my great life.

On the photo there is myself on the left and a friend of mine on the right. We had a styling session at Dior - it was make-up refreshment, transforming and free!
This season is great time to clean-up the closets, throw away old and new pieces don't favour your beauty - exactly what I am doing now. 

What about YOU? What is your plan for the rest of your life? What is youe choice?

Happy Winter Solstice! Its still on for the  next 3 days, don't miss its power.

Planting Tulips December Call


Normally it’s winter here at this season. Usually it’s snowing and freezing as well. Not this year. Temperature is in plus. Grass is green. And I will use this time to move some plants around the garden and plant bulbs longing for soil since weeks. Life kept me too busy to find time. I have it now. 
Any unusual garden chore you are doing now? 

Happy Winter Solstice everyone!

Xoxo,
Ewa


December 21, 2013

DIY Candle Powered Heater just 10 Cents per Day

Human creativity doesn't stop to surprise me. This super easy to make candle powered heater could be a great solution while in troubles. Just have a look: It's only 4 minutes.

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If you look for more information, jump over here

December 13, 2013

13 Best Window Box Ideas


Photo by nizoz

Further recommended reading The Window Decorating Book

Photo by conlawprof

Photo by msprague

Photo by caitlinburke

Photo by melolou

Photo by jim-sf

Photo by meg_nicol

Photo by Chiot's Run

Photo by Chiot's Run

Photo by piers nye

Photo by ateliertee

Photo by smilla4

Photo by cobaltfish

Further recommended reading The Window Decorating Book

December 6, 2013

DIY Garden Bottle Lanterns - Pretty and on Penny Budget


When autumn days are getting shorter, every little beam of light in the garden is welcome.
A good choice to beautify the veranda, garden paths or a romantic table are handmade bottle-lanterns.  This decoration is safe, its preparation will make us a lot of joy and warm, flickering flames of candles will improve our mood immediately.








To prepare lanterns you will need

-          empty milk or kefir bottles
-          knife for cutting glass
-          sandpaper
-          clear multi-purpose glue
-          colorful autumn leaves
-          tealights

How to

Cut off the bottom of the bottle using knife for cutting glass. Put the bottle in the sink and carefully pour a small amount of boiling water into the bottle - the glass will break and the bottom will fall off. Grind the edges of the bottle with sandpaper. Be sure to wear safety gloves while doing this.
Prepare fresh, colorful autumn leaves. Stick them to the outer side of the bottle. You can mix red and yellow leaves so the final effect will be even more beautiful. Carefully glue the edges of each leaf. Leave for 24 hours to let it dry. Dried glue should create air bubbles!

Space of the tealights, cover them with lanterns and wait for the evening to come. Ta-dah!
It's also a great idea for upcoming Halloween!

Author of this post: Łukasz Skop that is blogging at Bez Ogrodek or see at FB 

November 22, 2013

Mysterious Callisia fragrans

Today is a sharing day. Like every day in your lives, because every day you share something or you share your life with others. Whether you are married or single. If you are single and sad today, don’t be. The paradigm of family as the only real close people is ending. You need to get little bit more open and let friends to your life. I mean real friends. People that will support you even you call them in the middle of the night.

Today is a sharing day and I will share what I have learned about the plant I asked the other day to help in identification. It’s worth it.

Thank you so much for helping me to identify the plant on the picture and enlightment that follows. My special thanks go to Rosekraft, Vi and Claude.

I would like to introduce to you her majesty CALLISIA FRAGRANS. A plant rarely to buy in the flower shop or nursery. If you live in 9+ zone it may grow outside, below 9 it can grow only indoors.


As I first saw Callisia fragrans, whithout knowing the name, I was told about it strong remedy to different health problems and the comparison to ginseng in that aspect. My research shows that there really is something special about it. 

1. The first source I’d like to share:
“I have a very healing plant I wanted send to you but I decided ask first if you need it, just as thank you gift to you wonderful souls. First the story. More then a week ago I finally bought cooper pipes. I did put together my CB. It was on back porch, was raining and i not know where to place it yet. On Sunday I made a hole in the flower bed and decided move whole CB ... long story... almost killed myself it was so heavy. It was about 10 am in the morning, I could not turn my body, bend, I could not do any healing work on myself, my whole back was off, in pain.
Now I am sitting in pain and thinking that I am not going pay those doctors, how I can go to work and work and what can I do. First thing came to my mind my plant. I used it many times before and it would take 3-4 days to take care of any inside pain.

Now the plant name is CALLISIA FRAGRANCE. We have many books in Russia about that plant and its healing abilities. “
If youwant to read more click here.  

2. Second is scientific source – results of the research made by one of the universities:
“Callisia Fragrans Family Doctor PlantThe phenomenal healing effect is explained by the bioactive substances contained by the plant. Callisia Fragrance fights various kinds of infection, stimulates metabolism, improves circulation and immune system, purifies the body. Also, it relieves pain, heals wounds and even tumours. In addition, it tackles indigestion and breathing problems. This resource is a guide on using the plant for medical purposes.It is not only a decoration plant, it has wide medicinal use in Europe and Russia. Active biological substances that are in Callisia fragrans can struggle with any types of infections, stimulate metabolic processes, strengthen immunity and circulatory system, has positive influence on growths. Substances from steroid group contained in Callissia fragrans give it these wonderful possibilities. Because of the presence of biologically active substances Callisia Fragrans (Golden tendril) can help fight various diseases. The whole plant posses curative compounds, juice is the same throughout the plant, although it's higher concentration in the stem.'Золотой ус' Zolotoy us’.”


3. On one of the blogs the author is writing:
“Before leaving Aunt Luba initiated us into the methods of making Basket Plant extract which, as she said, “cures everything, and boosts the immune system.”
Basket Plant – (Callisia fragrans). Also known as золотой ус, or “golden whisker” in Russian.
How tomake an extract you can learn by clicking here. After clicking look n thebottom of the page.

Recommended further reading Peterson Field Guide to Medicinal Plants and Herbs of Eastern and Central North America, Third Edition (Peterson Field Guides)

November 1, 2013

Could you help to ID this plant?

I was told it's a kind of ginseng or rather ginseng like herb. From the description I've heard it made me really curious what it really is. Have you seen it maybe?


Recommended further reading Encyclopedia of Herbal Medicine: The Definitive Home Reference Guide to 550 Key Herbs with all their Uses as Remedies for Common Ailments

October 29, 2013

Propagating basil from cuttings - experiment results

Remember when I started those basil cuttings? It was 5 weeks ago. You may see it here.
After 4 weeks first tiny root appeared and frankly I was not sure whether it's a root or not. Today, 5 weeks after I am sure my basil cullings are rooting!
In the meantime I was noly adding water, not exchanging with fresh one.


My recommendation is clear. Propagating basil from cuttings works. If you can do it, still this autumn, save your overmatured basil plants by taking cuttings. This way it's possible to enjoy your own basil entire winter.  



October 18, 2013

10 vintage botanical prints - new arrivals


New arrivals of beautiful prints at Natural Atelier. All originate from XV - XVIII century. Each one in the size of A4 – 210 x 297 mm or 8.27 x 11.69 inches.

Do YOU like it ?

Xoxo
Ewa

October 13, 2013

Nature comes to city in delivery truck by Banksy

Banksy brings nature to the streets of New York. Witty idea in delivery truck. According to the author's website, delivery truck appeared last weekend and tours New York City - everyday different place.
Artist turned the truck into a garden oasis, inspired by John Steinbeck's classic novel The Grapes of Wrath.


The audio guide on the artist's website says: "The artist claims to have been inspired to create this piece after listening to a poem by Keats. Sorry, I misread that… the artist was p***** when he made this and it's incomplete."


Photo courtesy of BanksyNY.com

October 10, 2013

Ageing landscaping grass

This beautiful grass was grown long enough. Was it really? This is probably some kind of pennisetum, but who knows how old?
Have you seen it before?


October 4, 2013

4 Photos of Racing Topiary

She saw these bikers and she didn't know what to think... like it or not? It's interesting way of decoration, but why??
What do you think? 

Further recommended reading The Art of Creative Pruning: Inventive Ideas for Training and Shaping Trees and Shrubs


Further recommended reading The Art of Creative Pruning: Inventive Ideas for Training and Shaping Trees and Shrubs

September 28, 2013

Giant pyramid garden and freemasonry...

Long, long time ago, in the eighteen century she discovered a mysterious link between the pyramids in English landscape gardens and the secret Freemasonry society...

Pyramids or similar to pyramid-like forms in the early English landscape design in gardens like Cirencester, Castle Howard, Stowe, Rousham, Studley Royal, Castle Hill, appeared at very early stage, long before the later eighteenth century archaeological explorations of ancient civilizations, thus is sometimes understood as an expression of freemasonry ideals of the garden's owners.

She found out there is an interesting link between the landscape garden in England 1710 and 1730 and the period of the European Enlightenment and diffusion of Freemasonry in England and Europe. 

In this period many landowners and intellectuals were freemasons. Also many famous figures like Alexander Pope, Arbuthnot, Edward Harley, the Earl of Chesterfield, James Addison, Richard Steele, Jonathan Swift, James Thomson, Lord Burlington, Lord Cobham, William Stuckley, Lord Montague, Voltaire and Montesquieu. 

She also discovered that as Freemasonry develops in this period of time a focus for intellectuals, politicians, the gentry, artists and architects, as natural result there was an exchange of beliefs, aesthetic values and ideas between English and European intellectuals. Those intellectuals who had links with freemasonry secret society or were part of it, were also strongly linked with the development of the arts, including landscape architecture. 
Don't you think it would be interesting to research the connections between Freemasonry and the early English landscape garden?

Below photos were taken during Floriade garden show 2012. This interesting and pretty construction that adds interest to the flat surface of the garden, clearly revokes pyramids. Does it have any other meaning?
What do you think?






September 19, 2013

Vegetable sloping garden idea

This vegetable sloping garden idea is taking strawberries on the lowest bed. I like it. And asparagus on the highest one.
Do you like it?



September 15, 2013

Handy, handsome portable outdoor fireplace...

This portable outdoord fireplace in rusted steel seems to me very handy and very stylish. Additionally vertical twin storage for wood doesn't take too much space. Isn't it great idea?   



More rusted steel design ideas you may find while clicking here.

September 12, 2013

How to grow basil from cuttings

Constant supply of basil in the winter time – that’s my goal this year. I have checked internet and found out that some of the garden magicians grow basil from cuttings. I have never done it before. Usually I buy ready seedings or grow basil from seeds.

The idea of growing basil from cuttings and starting this before winter seemed to be puzzling to me, far more easy and faster than growing from seedlings. Trying if this works will be exciting, especially now when it’s time to cut off the basil from garden before the first frost will kill it. 

Another way to keep basil through the winter is trimming it heavily and taking home - I've done it one year with great success.

Current basil was fading away already, so I made fresh pesto from leaves, but also from part of the stems I took basil cuttings.  Removed majority of leaves and placed them in a fancy liqueur glass by sunny windowsill – that is suppose to guarantee 100% success rate. Fancy glass including of course…

This is done exactly same as I’ve done with brugmansia cuttings taken  in the autumn as well.

Will keep you posted if it rooted or what else happened.

Would you give it a try, as well? 

September 10, 2013

One... two... three... barbed wire laughs with glee...

Barbed wire garden deco would be the last thing I would think of.
This one looks surprisingly nice.
But....
Do YOU think it's safe?


KEEP READING - MORE GREAT STUFF IN OLDER POSTS