Gardenig in Greece. Tips & Guides

Last month, writing on the topic of blackberries for Lubera, I made the observation that the British don’t have a tradition of foraging. It made me wonder again when and why we lost it (which I started wondering when I was writing about Sea buckthorn on FB for Lubera). So far I haven’t found a definitive answer – ethnobotanists spend a lot of time exploring the reasons for loss of traditional/indigenous knowledge about plant use, but generally focus on societies where it is being lost now, and where there is hope of conserving it.

Throughout history, herbs and spices have been extremely popular, used as medicines and aphrodisiacs as well as making their way into dinner. A plant that the Romans (and ancient Greeks and Egyptians) would have been familiar with was Silphium. They thought it was the finest of all seasonings, as well as a top notch medicinal plant. The Romans got a taste for meat from animals fed on Silphium, and it seems that the herb may well then have been grazed into extinction. It never seemed to make it into cultivation. Another possible explanation of Silphium’s disappearance is that a change in the Mediterranean climate meant it could no longer thrive, and died out naturally. According to Pliny, the last known Silphium plant was given to Emperor Nero as a gift.

Aldrin and Armstrong blasted off from the Moon in the Eagle lander at 17:54 UTC on 21st June, after spending 21 hours and 36 minutes on the lunar surface. They were carrying 22 kilograms of samples, including 50 rocks, fine-grained lunar “soil” and two core tubes that included material from up to 13 centimetres below the Moon’s surface.

In December 2019, I had the idea that I would like to try growing heritage salad leaf varieties in the Hydroponicum. Looking through the Heritage Seed Library Catalogue, I chose:

Klas Flärdh, Lund University and Paul Becher, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences

Header image: Artemis-1 on the launch pad at Kennedy Space Centre. NASA

Header image: Rimma Bondarenko/Shutterstock

Cacti are gaining a strong following from houseplant admirers, thanks to their unique spiny skin and attractive twisty shapes, which make them look like they were sculpted by mother nature personally to show how creative she could be! And, if you too want to grow them in your home, start with these 25 low-care and most popularindoor cactus plants.

Nature is rich with symbols that hold deeper meanings beyond their physical existence. Bumblebee stands out as a creature, where its presence, behavior, and characteristics have always spiked the interest of people! Let’s have a look at Spiritual Meaning of a Bumblebee and its interpretations across cultures and beliefs.

ANNIE SCHLECHTER

Plants have unique natural abilities to emit different chemical substances. With them they repel or attract specific insects. Flowers bring a pretty sight and a pleasant fragrance for us. However, for pests they often pose a life threat. That’s why such plants can perfectly serve as a replacement for the synthetic insecticides, as long as you know how to use this to your advantage.

The almighty rose can easily be dubbed as the queen of flowers. It’s one of the most popular plants to give but it’s also an easy way out of the flower shopping hassle around St. Valentine’s Day. However, there is different types of flowers for Valentine’s day or any other cheerful celebration.

Herbs to make a bouquet garni can be grown at home and used later for cooking. All these herbs you can grow in the garden or on a suitable windowsill. The ingredients for our basic Bouquet Garni are the herbs Parsley, Thyme, Bay and a clove of Garlic. Tie them together with undyed string. Then add other herbs that are specific to the dish you want to cook.

Extraordinary Leaves by Armytage and Schrader is available from amazon.

I wanted something to look forward too and another trip to Madeira seemed appropriate. For the time being a virtual trip to this garden paradise of an island must suffice.

Marsh mallow (Althaea officinalis) is a hardy herbaceous perennial, the root of which was once used to flavour the sweets of the same name. Grown and used for thousands of years for a wide variety of medicinal and practical uses, marsh mallow is found from western Europe to central Asia in damp habitats such as marshes and riverbanks, coastal regions and salt marshes – hence its name. A substantial plant, marsh mallow can grow up to 1.8 m in height and spread, forming a clump of mid-green leaves, shallowly lobed at the edges, which are softly hairy on both sides. Stems clothed with pale pink or white flowers are borne from midsummer to autumn and are very attractive to butterflies.

Don’t know about Burning Rosemary Benefits? Well, then, don’t miss a captivating read, especially if you’re growing this aromatic culinary herb in your garden.

Aldi

Marion Brenner

Earth stars (Cryptanthus species) are different from most bromeliads. They are terrestrial which means they are grown in rich, organic soil. Cryptanthus means “hidden flower” in Greek because the flowers are produced between the leaves and are not easily seen. The common name, earth star, was given because of the shape of the plant. They come in a variety of different shapes, colors, patterns, and sizes.

Bearded irises (Iris germanica) are some of the easiest and most beautiful perennials to include in your landscape. The name of this genus comes from Iris, the Greek goddess of the rainbow, because the flowers range in a wide variety of colors.

Fresh berries taste great straight off the bush; however, sometimes we just need variety. The following recipe for cheesecake bites makes an exciting base for berries of all sorts. They are no-bake, quick, and super tasty!

Butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa) is a beautiful native wildflower that is an excellent source of pollen and nectar for beneficial pollinating insects. The genus name Asclepias is derived from the Greek god of medicine, Asklepios, and the species name means a tuberous, taproot.

While I’ve spent a fair amount of time tending to outdoor plants, my experience with indoor plants was relatively non-existent. The curiosity of the feline members of my household was such that having plants or even cut flowers was not prudent. After one incident with a broken glass vase, I decided cats and indoor plants did not make a good combination.

Florist cyclamens (Cyclamen persicum) are a wonderful gift to give on Valentine’s Day. The name cyclamen is derived from the Greek word ”Kuklos” (meaning circle) due to the plant’s circular growth habit. Cyclamens are believed to have originated in the Middle East. In Mediterranean cultures, cyclamens are symbols of empathy and devotion and are traditionally planted in Islamic monasteries and churchyards.

Wild or false indigo (Baptisia species) is the perfect Mother’s Day gift, whether your Mom is a newbie, seasoned green-thumber, or someone who simply enjoys flowers that come back year after year around Mother’s Day. These gorgeous herbaceous perennials are native to the eastern U.S. and comprise 20 species and naturally occurring hybrids that produce spikes of pealike flowers that come in blue, white, yellow, purple, and pink.

Bright and tasty is what the month of May represents. Sunny skies bring in National Strawberry Month. A time of year where this sweet red fruit is in season and is used within many recipes from smoothies to pies, to preserves to salads and beverages.

Scarlet swamp hibiscus (Hibiscus coccineus) is in the Malvacea family and is native to the Southeastern US. Hibiscus in Greek and Latin means mallow, and in Latin, coccineus means scarlet. Plant geeks, like me, are fascinated with knowing the meaning of scientific plant names.

I remember the first time I saw a calla lily (Zantedeschia aethiopica). I was watching an old Katherine Hepburn movie, “Stage Door.” She swept into the room with an armload of calla lilies and, in her breathless voice, exclaimed, “The calla lilies are in bloom.” Ever since then, the classic beauty of calla lilies has fascinated me. The genus, Zantedeschia, was named in honor of the Italian botanist Giovanni Zantedeschi. The common name, calla, is derived from the Greek word for beautiful.

Pineapple lilies (Eucomis species) are one of my favorite summer flowering bulbs. These attractive perennial bulbs originate from South Africa, and the long, strap-like green or burgundy foliage adds a tropical and textural flair to the garden setting. There are more than 10 species of Eucomis, with new hybrids constantly being developed by breeders. The first pineapple lilies were exhibited at the Chelsea flower show in England in 1760. Eucomis ‘Sparkling Burgundy’ is one of the most well-known pineapple lilies with purple foliage and was introduced by Plant Delights Nursery in 1983.

Want to spice up your holiday decorations this year? Creating a holiday garden gnome from a tomato cage is an activity that can include all ages and become a family tradition. All you need is a tomato cage or cages, zip ties or floral stem wire, greenery, a stocking hat and mittens, a nose, and yarn or Spanish moss for a beard.

A tour of Rosedown Plantation in St. Francisville, Louisiana. The house was built in 1834 and was completed by May 1835. It was the home of Daniel and Martha Turnbull.

Lizard’s tail (Saururus cernuus) is a perennial native to Eastern and Southeastern North America. Don’t you just love that common name, lizard’s tail? The scientific name, Saurus cernnus, is derived from the Greek word sauros, meaning lizard, and oura, meaning a tail, thus the common name.

I SEE PERPETUAL, DEEP LAUGHTER IN GOURDS. For that reason, all are welcome at my place; in fact, one moved in with me a few winters ago and hasn’t budged since. Meet ‘Bule’ (pronounced boo-lay). With seed-catalog season imminent, it seems like a good time for introductions to such great (if oddball) botanical companions. Ready to get acquainted?

THIRTY-SOMETHING YEARS into life as a vegetarian, I have consumed more potatoes than I can even imagine, and eat them several times or more a week. So how to make them different, and special? Memories of a favorite Greek restaurant I frequented decades ago sent me looking for a recipe for patates riganates, roasted potatoes with the flavors of lemon, garlic and oregano. Here’s how I make it, and some variations:

Called “the mystery plant of the herb world” by The Rodale Herb Book, “oregano” is the common name for a small multitude of plants that are mostly useless in the kitchen. Among them are many true oreganos, in the genus Origanum, and also many plants that aren’t. Mexican oregano (Lippia graveolens) is a relative of lemon verbena, not oregano. Cuban oregano (Coleus amboinicus) is a succulent that tastes and smells somewhat like oregano and makes a good houseplant. It is used like oregano in Cuban cuisine. Italian oregano thyme, a member of the genus Thymus, also has the familiar oregano scent.Among the true oreganos there are choices for great beauty, like O. vulgare ‘Aureum,’ a golden-leaved form. (My sorry plant was probably just plain O. vulgare—not even pretty like the golden kind.) Sweet marjoram, a kind of oregano known as O. majorana, is more the stuff of French cuisine, and an excellent culinary herb. Pot marjoram, O. onites, is also savory-flavored.But if you want to cook with the classic oregano taste, you want to try Greek oregano, O. heracleoticum, which is a pungent