Find Us:
Cosmos in the Garden
  • Blog
  • Gallery
  • Publications
  • About me
  • Ask Jarek
  • Polski

Watercress

6/30/2013

0 Comments

 
Picture
There are books where watercress is referred to as  a... poisonous plant. Not a very encouraging recommendation for this  exceptionally savoury herb. Watercress has been around humans  for centuries despite that nasty label, though.  And not in vain.  As recent studies suggest, its fleshy leaves  contain an abundance  of minerals, vitamins, antioxidants, and some other stuff which is hoped to possess  curative properties against lung cancer. This recommendation sounds far better  than the first one and those who have tried watercress salad or  soup could also say something about the taste. The tangy flavour has few matches neither does the rate the small seeds turn into full grown plants.  If you have a damp spot in your garden and nothing wants to grow there, think about watercress. It will. 


Read More
0 Comments

Rose Petals Cheesecake

6/28/2013

2 Comments

 
Picture
A great  country-style cheesecake with a hint of rose essence. Although the rose petals in sugar constitute a minor ingredient on the list,  their impact on the taste buds is beyond description. How to prepare rose petals in sugar is presented in the second post of the blog. Who did it, now can bake the cheesecake. Who did not, still can bake it, the only difference is that  the taste of the cake will be easier to describe in earthly comparisons.
The recipe also contains pureed cooked pumpkin. If you do not have fresh pumpkin you can use the  canned kind, or simply skip it substituting it  with  the same amount of  pureed cooked potatoes.  As all recipes I know, this one is also subject to changes and alterations driven by brave imagination without which cooking or baking are not art anymore. 


Read More
2 Comments

Sweet William 

6/28/2013

4 Comments

 
Picture
No one knows why this ornamental plant became sweet william. There are legends which try to relate the common name  name of Dianthus barbatus to different famous or unknown people, but none of them seem to be credible. Sweet william is sweet indeed. Cultivated for centuries for the beauty and strong smell of its flowers,  it has acquired a very characteristic flair related to  a slightly old-fashioned style which now belongs to the  time of our great grandmothers and their gardens . Well, being old enough I could say, it belongs to our childhood filled with unforgettable aromas of vacation, country gardens, sunny and carefree days. Enjoying popularity for many many years, today sweet william has become a little less important than it was  in the past. I hope, it will not fade into oblivion and I count on more famous people to hype this graceful plant the way Catherine Middleton did. She included sweet william in her wedding bouquet and it is not a legend. 


Read More
4 Comments

 Genuine Beauty of Mock Orange

6/26/2013

0 Comments

 
Picture
I am a little late with this post whose protagonist is Philadelphus, an unusual flowering specimen.  The last flowers  have just faded away although in Scotland the first buds are ready to open.  Philadelphus -  a perfect combination of snow white colour of gracefully shaped petals and captivating perfume lets no-one indifferent. Even those who do not usually notice flowering shrubs will definitely smell the alluring  inimitable  aroma. The common name of the shrub tries to find a noble comparison between orange blossoms and that of Philadelphus. In a way this trial is justified but only to some extend: the strength. But the characteristic undertones of the mock orange aroma seem to be more refined and subtle, just like architecture of the flowers which very often goes totally unnoticed. But it does  deserve a closer inspection.  Let not the fragrant essential oil  make you blind to the design of the  mock orange flowers. 


Read More
0 Comments

Kombucha quenches all thirst

6/24/2013

0 Comments

 
Picture
When the scorcher is unbearable kombucha should be the first choice to think and act about. Nothing is as good at bringing relief to our thirsty mouth than that  cold fizzy tea. Yes, kombucha is tea although the following description what happened to that tea does not sound very appetising. It is all because of that  SCOBY (to decipher the acronym click on kombucha in the opening sentence) and the way it looks although the way it works is more familiar and  easy to accept. Why? Because kombucha is a result of fermentation carried out by some human friendly microorganisms, in this case bacteria and yeast. Their symbiotic relationship needs tea in order to thrive but their aim is  to grow as jelly-like kombucha mushroom, the drink is just a by-product. The mushroom looks weird but the drink as by-product is just great!


Read More
0 Comments

Cosmic Garlic

6/21/2013

0 Comments

 
Picture
I feel slightly ashamed  for the title of this post; sounds too obvious , I know.  It is all because the ornamental garlic I would like to present here leaves very little to the imagination. Or... my imagination is not flamboyant enough to create other comparisons than 'cosmic' or 'fireworks. Of course this spectacular plant is not to be blamed, not at all. As a matter of fact it could be studied  by students of architecture what ingenious patterns exist in the world of flowers and inflorescences.  Ready to copy. Allium schubertii - the Latin name of the hero embodies the creative aspect of nature which made us think: Why this way? It is only a plant, does it have to be so awesome? The garlic knows the answer. 


Read More
0 Comments

Elderflower Liqueur

6/20/2013

2 Comments

 
Picture
Black elder is not famous for its odour, I would say it's rather infamous. Ivory white tiny flowers form quite spectacular inflorescences  which a lot of people admire from a safe distance not to be attacked by the very intense smell they give off.  However, the slightly repelling characteristic of this handsome bush should be overcome if we want to discover and relish new tastes and aromas. Believed by some ancient cultures to be a sacred plant empowered with magic, black elder offers new ways in culinary experiences both with its flowers in the spring and black berries in the fall. Let's take advantage of the last flowering inflorescences and make a delightful liqueur full of... magic.


Read More
2 Comments

Rose petals in sugar

6/17/2013

0 Comments

 
Picture
One of the  English names  for Rosa x  centifolia is the cabbage rose. With all due respect,  it does not reflect the old-fashioned charm of this very old rose which has been in cultivation for centuries now. But it does reflect the overall shape of the flower  which  resembles ... a cabbage but wonderfully scented with rose oil. There are a lot of cultivars of the hundred petaled rose ( a literary translation of its Latin name), mostly pink or magenta in colour. They bloom only once a year  producing a profusion of flowers and the time is just now. After having enjoyed the  perfume of  the fragrant flowers we  can  put them  to good use making rose petals in sugar. 


Read More
0 Comments

Jacqueline has started blooming

6/17/2013

0 Comments

 
Picture
I have a lot of roses in my garden. Each variety affects  the senses  with  a different force and message.  Today  I whispered to myself a well-know quote seeing the first flowers of Jacqueline du Pre: "A rose is a rose is a rose" , so was Jacqueline du Pre, a genius cellist who stopped playing her beloved cello far too early.




Read More
0 Comments

First Post

6/13/2013

0 Comments

 
Picture
I would like to start off inviting everybody to visit my blog as often as possible. The idea is that different energies create a fantastic and powerful mixture which can stimulate growth, flowering and fruiting.  These three conditions provide description of the essence of this blog whose name refers to the universe as well as a charming plant called Cosmos; hence its picture in the header. 

Cosmos meant as the universe symbolizes order, harmony, simplicity, an ideal contradiction of chaos. Just like the graceful petals of cosmos flowers...



Read More
0 Comments
    View my profile on LinkedIn

    Author

    I was destined to be born gardener. In order to become a professional  one I had to enjoy years of studying at various  schools and  universities...  read more

    Archives

    Kwiecień 2015
    Styczeń 2015
    Grudzień 2014
    Październik 2014
    Wrzesień 2014
    Sierpień 2014
    Lipiec 2014
    Czerwiec 2014
    Maj 2014
    Kwiecień 2014
    Marzec 2014
    Luty 2014
    Styczeń 2014
    Grudzień 2013
    Listopad 2013
    Październik 2013
    Wrzesień 2013
    Sierpień 2013
    Lipiec 2013
    Czerwiec 2013

    Categories

    Wszystkie
    Annuals
    Biennials
    Bulbs
    Corms
    Country Gardens
    Country Gardens
    Dry Decorations
    Fall
    Flowering Shrubs
    Flowering Shrubs
    Flowering Trees
    Flowering Trees
    Flowers
    Food
    Forrest
    Grains
    Grasses
    Herbs
    Leaves
    Meadows
    Orchards
    Other
    Perennials
    Potted Plants
    Rhizomes
    Roses
    Shade
    Shrubs
    Spring
    Summer
    Trees
    Tubers
    Vegetables
    Vines
    Winter

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.