Sunday 17 August 2008

Flowers in the House...

Nasturtiums growing on my neighbours side are tumbling over the fence, They are very welcome.

Nasturtium (literally "nose-twister" or "nose-tweaker"), as a common name, refers to a genus of roughly 80 species of annual and perennial herbaceous flowering plants in the genus Tropaeolum ("Trophy"), one of three genera in the family Tropaeolaceae. It should not be confused with the Watercresses of the genus Nasturtium, of the Mustard family. This genus, native to South and Central America, includes several very popular garden plants, the most commonly grown being T. majus, T. peregrinum and T. speciosum. The hardiest species is T. polyphyllum from Chile, the perennial roots of which can survive underground when air temperatures drop as low as -15°C (5°F).

Tropaeolum species are used as food plants by the
larvae of some Lepidoptera species including Dot Moth and Garden Carpet. A very common "pest" found on Nasturtium in particular is the caterpillar of the Large White (Cabbage White) Butterfly.
The Nasturtiums receive their name from the fact that they produce an oil that is similar to that produced by
Watercress (Nasturtium officinale), from the family Brassicaceae.

Cultivation and uses
In cultivation, most varieties of nasturtiums prefer to be grown in direct or indirect sunlight, with a few preferring partial shade.
The most common use of the nasturtium plant in cultivation is as an ornamental flower. It grows easily and prolifically, and is a self-seeding annual.
All parts of the plant are edible. The flower has most often been consumed, making for an especially ornamental salad ingredient; it has a slightly peppery taste reminiscent of
watercress, and is also used in stir fry. The unripe seed pods can be harvested and pickled with hot vinegar, to produce a condiment and garnish, sometimes used in place of capers, although the taste is strongly peppery. The mashua (T. tuberosum) produces an edible underground tuber that is a major food source in parts of the Andes.
Nasturtiums are also considered widely useful
companion at many cucurbit pests, like squash bugs, cucumber beetles, and several caterpillars. They had a similar range of benefits for brassica plants, especially broccoli and cauliflower. They also attract black fly aphids, and are sometimes planted in the hope of saving crops susceptible to them (as a trap crop). They may also attract beneficial, predatory insects.


Folk art cushion with stylised flowers, wool cross stitch on canvas.


Sumptuous cross stitch on tablecloth.


Edelweiss and...

Tulips...



One of Empress Josephine's Roses, Rosa Damascena Coccinea.
Antique P.J. Redoute Print.



Pot plants on tablecloth, cross-stitch.


Majolica bowl made by L.

Antique English linen on chair.


Believe it or not:
Socrates 469/470-399 BC surveying the goods on a market stall remarked:" What a lot of things a man doesn't need."

Organic tip of the week.


Lavender oil is an essential oil obtained by distillation from the flower spikes of certain species of lavender. Two forms are distinguished, lavender flower oil, a colorless oil, insoluble in water, having a density of 0.885 g/ml; and lavender spike oil, a distillate from the herb Lavandula latifolia, having density 0.905 g/ml. Lavender flower oil is a designation of the National Formulary and the British Pharmacopoeia. Like all essential oils, it is not a pure compound; it is a complex mixture of naturally occurring phytochemicals, including linalool and linalyl acetate.

Therapeutic uses
Lavender oil, which has long been used in the production of
perfume, can also be used in aromatherapy. The scent has a calming effect which may aid in relaxation and the reduction of anxiety. Also, lavender can be used to prepare for meditation because it balances mind and body, promoting a sense of stillness.
It may also help to relieve pain from
tension headache when breathed in as vapor or diluted and rubbed on the skin. When added to a vaporizer, lavender oil may aid in the treatment of cough and respiratory infection.
Lavender oil may also be used as a
mosquito repellent when worn as perfume or when added to lotions or hair products.

Medicinal uses
According to advocates of
alternative medicine, lavender oil can be used as first aid and to treat a variety of common ailments.
The diluted or undiluted oil may be used as an antiseptic and pain reliever to be applied to minor burns and insect bites and stings. Use only small quantities when it's directly apply to your skin. It is best applied on a wet cotton wool pad to the infected area.
For the treatment of
sunburn and sunstroke, 10 drops of oil can be diluted in 25 ml of carrier oil. (Note: This is not an effective sunblock.) When added to chamomile, lavender oil may be effective on eczema.
To create a
massage oil which may be effective in the relief of joint and muscle pain, 1 ml of oil can be added to 1 oz. of carrier oil and rubbed liberally on the affected area. To create a chest rub for relief of asthmatic and bronchitic spasm, 1 ml of lavender oil and 5 drops of chamomile oil can be added to 10 ml of carrier oil.
As a treatment for
head lice, 5-10 drops of oil can be diluted in water to produce a hair rinse, while a few drops of undiluted oil can be added to a fine comb to eliminate nits.
As far as serious ailments, researchers at the
University of Wisconsin-Madison have found that lavender oil may have played a role in the reduction of advanced mammary tumors in lab rats. Research is on-going for potential breast, ovarian, pancreatic, liver, and prostate cancer treatments.[However lavender should not be used within the first three months of pregnancy.
Wikipedia


Thank you for your visit; happy days.
Copyright T.S. Yesterdaytodayandtomorrow in my Garden.
Photos T.S.

21 comments:

Mother Nature said...

Titania,
I adore the fine needlework. Every piece is a treasure.

Katarina said...

That tablecloth with cross-stiched flowers is fantsastic - and so are the other pieces of handicraft as well! Just imagine how many hours it takes to complete a tablecloth like that...
The scent of lavender is not only calming - it's also a very agreable scent.
/Katarina

Pia K said...

This made sound strange but Nasturtiums has never appealed to me, perhaps I got an overload of them when a child since my mother (and other relatives) adored them. I love orange, in flowers and elsewhere, and more with age, but these flowers...not so much.

And even if I think lavender is both pretty to look at as well as smell, it has quite the opposite effect of calming on me, I get wide awake and not relaxed at all. I never make the mistake of putting lavender oil in my bath if I want to relax before I go to bed...

Call me athwart:)

Unknown said...

Wouldn't I love to have my neighbour's flowers tumbling over my fence too?! I've always loved nasturtiums mainly because they need very little care.Your posts are full of interesting information. I loved the exquisite needlework--the bowl is also very pretty!

Linda said...

The crochet patterns are beautiful, and I love nasturtiums, especially the bigger ones that climb.

I have an award for you, please come by my blog and pick it up!

Anonymous said...

Hey, lieben Dank für Deinen Kommentar. Ich bin gleich auf Gegenbesuch. Aber sage mal, wie kommt es das Du aus Australien so gut deutsch schreibst? Wenn mein englisch nur sooo gut wäre!!! Dein Blog gefällt mir sehr, sehr gut und ich werde bestimmt noch einmal kommen.
Ich wünsche Dir eine schöne Woche und liebe Grüße Barbara
PS. Skandinavien ist einfach wunderschön!!!

Lavender and Vanilla Friends of the Gardens said...

Donna, thank you for stopping by and your nice comment.

Katarina, I appreciate your comments. Yes you are right, "both" are very therapeutic.

Pia, thank you for your comment, no, I wouldn't say that!!

Thank you Kanak, as always a lovely and uplifting comment.

Thank you Linda, I have responded on your blog.

Danke Barbara, ja das war eine schoene Reise. Ich bin in der Schweiz geboren. Danke fuer dein Kommentar und es waere schoen wenn wir wieder voneinander hoeren wuerden.

Helga said...

Hallo Titania,
Kapuzinerkresse haben wir auch im Garten. Ich gebe sie in den Salat, in Kräuterbutter und würze einen Essig mit ihnen.Ich liebe diese Blüten. Leider wachsen sie nur im Sonner und müssen jedes Jahr neu ausgesät werden.
L.G.
Helga

Hill upon Hill said...

A lovely, little wander. I love lavender.

murgelchen said...

Hallo Titania,
schon bin ich da. Schön ist es bei Dir, in einer ganz anderen Welt.
Mit lieben Grüßen
Helga

Sisah said...

Da könnte ich mithalten, Tithania bei Deiner Hauspflanzensammlung ;-)...allerdings sind meine Hauspflanzennadelarbeiten nicht durch meine Hände entstanden, sondern meine Mutter- inzwischen 82-hat mich bis vor kurzem reichlich bestickt, behäkelt ;-)Ich hätte gar keine Ruhe dazu.
Ja, Du hast recht, Lavendel ist ein Schätzchen.Ich habe mal wegen Migräne an einer Studie der Berliner Charité über die Verwendung als Heilmittel teilgenommen, , das sich damit befasste.

Rowena said...

I've got a lot of catching up to do on blog posts since getting back, but I'll take your post here as a sign that Edelweiss is a flower that I should consider planting next year. We spent time hiking in the Alps and I always hope to be able to see stella alpina or edelweiss in bloom but so far no luck. I know that in Italy it is illegal to pick the flowers but I imagine that some people are simply born thieves, law or no law.

Great informative post on nasturtiums and lavender. Whenever I have a headache I open my little pouch of dried lavender flowers and take a deep whiff...it works wonders!

Barbara said...

Wunderbare florale Schätze zeigst du uns. Hast du die schönen Stickereien und Häkelarbeiten gemacht? Ich liebe auch den Lavendelduft, sei es in Oellämpchen, in Duftsäckchen oder im Lavendelzucker! Die letzteren mache ich selbst aus dem eigenen Lavendel.
Liebe Grüsse, Barbara

Lavender and Vanilla Friends of the Gardens said...

Helga, danke fuer deinen Kommentar. Die Kapuzinerli wachsen hier ueber den Winter in den Fruehling, versamen sich und verschwinden bis zur naechsten kuehleren Zeit. Ich liebe diese Pflanzen auch sie haben so etwas heimeliges an sich.

Lavender and Vanilla Friends of the Gardens said...

Danke murgelchen fuer deinen Besuch.

Lavender and Vanilla Friends of the Gardens said...

Wie wunderbar fuer dich Sisah, schoenen Handarbeiten von deiner Mutter fuer dich gearbeitet zu erhalten. A real treasure!
Danke fuer das Bsuechli.

Lavender and Vanilla Friends of the Gardens said...

Thank you Rowena, it always needs a bit of unwinding after the holidays. I am sure you had a great time hiking in the alps; such a beautiful area.

Lavender and Vanilla Friends of the Gardens said...

Liebe Barbare, danke fuer dein Bsuechli. Ja, ich hatte eine Zeit wo ich viele Handarbeiten gearbeitet habe. Ja, Lavendelzucker ist fein und die kleinen Lavendelsaeckli sind immer sehr beliebt. Es ist auch schoen die Sachen selber herzustellen; ein Akt der Zufriedenheit und Freude.

Ingrid said...

Hey Titania,
you are showing us very fine needlework, inspired by garden and
nature. I also like my garden and
walking in the nature, especially in wood.
Greetings from Germany,
from Ingrid

Hort Log said...

Lavender is my favourite aromatic oil. I use this in my jeep and can certainly attest to its calming effect....though I feel much calmer driving home than to work....

Kate said...

Titania,

Love all the information on lavender!!! All the needle works and arts are so beautiful, especially, 'Pot plants on tablecloth, cross-stitch'. Wish I could see the whole tablecloth! If there is a pattern available for this please let us know! Keep up the good work and stay blessed :)

Kate