Urginea maritime Life-Death-Life dance

The flowering bulbs you can see in the pictures, were dug out and forgotten in the garden. Kept dry in shade for few months. Nobody bothered them. They didn’t ask for anything. But let’s admire Life  stronger than Death.
Look at those impressive flowers growing  randomly in different directions, trying to reach the light. They don’t care what we think about them. Just bloom profoundly.

When she looked at them, she understood how powerful symbol and how great reminder it is about that something special inside of us that we often abandon and forget. About our creativity, intuition and instincts which should be cultivated, but get abandoned freely or under pressure.  Sometimes they are swept under the rug or pushed deep into the 55th brain fold – but not seeing it, doesn’t mean they are not there. They are never forgotten by your body, soul and spirit. They will pop out in the least expected situations, in the least expected place.

Still she admires the dance of Life-Death-Life in herself and Nature.

Bulbs in the pictures are Drimia maritime or Urginea maritime (synonymus) known by several common names, including squill, sea squill, sea onion, maritime squill or red squill. 

 In Islamic culture it is referred to as "cemetery onion". Known since ancient times in Egypt, red squill was called "the eye of Typhon", in Arab countries it is planted on graves in Greece to this day there is still a custom of giving the onion sea to celebrate the New Year. Red squill comes from the Mediterranean region, where it grows in dry, sandy places, mainly on the coast. 

Recommended further reading Lonely Planet Portugal (Travel Guide)

I came across “the event” few days ago in Portugal, in the garden located on thyme, rosmarinus and lavender scented hills of the Algarve.
Aren’t they beautiful?

Xoxo,
Ewa

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If you don’t want to miss my next posts Subscribe to Ewa in the Garden by Email and don’t forget to click the confirmation link you will receive by e-mail.  Ewa Szulc is the garden designer, blogger and founder of the page EwaintheGarden.blogspot.com. She makes beautiful gardens, offers garden coaching lessons and garden design to help you to beautify your garden, make it healthier and organic. You can contact her at http://EwaintheGarden.blogspot.com 

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Ewa Szulc is the garden designer, blogger and founder of the page EwaintheGarden.blogspot.com. She makes beautiful gardens, offers garden coaching lessons and garden design to help you to beautify your garden, make it healthier and organic. You can contact her at  http://EwaintheGarden.blogspot.com 

Recommended further reading Lonely Planet Portugal (Travel Guide)

Read also: P. Allen Smith's Bulb Garden: Colorful Blooms & Lush Foliage (P. Allen Smith Garden Home Books)

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’.”

You may read more about it by clicking here.

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)

Chinese hibiscus flowers galore

It looks that by accident I have discovered it's secret to profused and continuous flowering of chinese hibiscus (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis) and I want to share it with you today.
Since I applied it last spring (11 months ago) it flowers almost continuosly and let's me enjoy sometimes up to 19 flowers at the same time. There were about 3 breaks 1-2 week long, but the total impression is it flowers almost every day, though each flower only lasts for a day or two.

Chinese hibiscus has it all :) beautiful vibrantly-colored, four to eight-inch-wide, showy flowers, beautiful glossy evergreen leaves and proper height - not too small, not too tall (in nature it grows up to 2,5-5 meters). Perfect for indoor blooming plant. And this is why enjoy it. Look at the photos only and probably you will agree.

Last spring, while preparing the potting mix for tomatos I have decided that I will use the same for my chinese hibiscus.
Mix was simple - just added natural composted manure in 1:1 proportions.  So simple. If you would like to do the same don't use the fresh one - it will burn the plant. It has to be composted for few months.

The effect? Flowers, flowers, flowers, flowers... entire summer, autumn and winter.

It flowers on new growth, so it's good to prune the tips in spring and summer to increase flower production. To keep mature plants growing vigorously, prune out about 1/3 of the old wood in spring.

Today there is still snow outside, but I can still enjoy these amazing flowers.

Do you also grow it?

Aruncus dioicus miserable flowers?

Are you also wondering why your Aruncus dioicus is having poor ecru colored flowers? I was wondering for some time why only 2 out of 7 plants I have invited to my garden, are showing off with their beautiful, white, fluffy flowers, while the rest 5 are sadly resembling same beauty.

This week I have discovered that Aruncus dioicus is 'dioecius' - which means females are separated from males. Ecru and more ascetic flowers are male and we don't want that in our garden. Female flowers are white and fluffy - and yes, we want them in our garden. Do you see the difference between flowers on both pictures?

I wonder why the sellers don't specify that. Actually why should I need male poor flowers in my garden, while there is no use of it? No fruits, nothing. Shops should supply only females with their beautiful feathery flowers. You can also spend your money better – right?

Aruncus dioicus - goat's beard - bride's feathers.