My Favorite Spiraea

 

This is the Spirea variety Grefsheim that has been growing in my garden for many years and was multiply propagated by a piece of a branch pressed into the soill. This is wonderful to see in late spring - early summer, when its small ball-shaped buds open on one warm night. I go to the front garden and see a white bush that looks like a snow one.

Grefsheim flower buds are laid on the shoots of last year. Flowering begins in the second year of the shoot's life. They are characterized by the formation of numerous shoots. Pruning this type of spiraea reduces to removing completely (after 7-14 years) obsolete shoots.

Spirea are good mellifluous plants. They can be used for bouquets or arranging bouquets of other flowers.
Spirea has a high phytoncide activity, which increases its sanitary-hygienic role in improving the environment.

Do you ever grow spirea in you garden? What variety do you love most?

Art of the Jewel

Today I'd like to show you the collection of jewel. The author is Paula Crevoshay, she is a master of her craft, artist and designer of many wonderful jewels. The richly colored they are the product of her deep understanding of mineralogy, gemology, the work of carving and cutting stones.

Minerals and gems she uses in her work are naturally occurring inorganic solids made of chemical elements that have bounded together in a specific patterns. The most common gems that Crevoshay uses are:
gold, 
sapphire (rainbow colors),
tourmaline (green-blue-red),
diamond (steel gray, white, blue, yellow, orange, red, green, pink to purple, brown, and black),
amethyst (pink),
tsavorite (bright green),
ruby (dark red),
rubelite (from red to shocking pink).

Paula Crevoshay is inspired by nature. Therefore her jewelry often takes the form of a plant, insect or animal. Natural processes create minerals, and she cuts, polishes and sets gems in her masterpieces.

Sapphire Montana was discovered by gold miners curious about the small colored stones clogging up their equipment. It's known for its rainbow array of colors. It took Crivoshay several years to gather enough Montana sapphire to create the pink flower.

 

Main tourmaline has one of the widest rangers of any mineral because of this it was confused with other gems. Main tourmaline is known for its green hue though it can be any color.

This jewelry collection was presented at the Museum of Natural History in Los Angeles in 2019. I hope you enjoyed these amazing things and you probably would have chosen something for yourself :-))

Click to enlarge the photos to watch the jewelry.

Begonia Tuberous

I have two Begonia Tuberous, a white double and a red double ones. For winter time I usually keep Begonia tubers in dry soil pots occasionally watering them. Begonia Tuberous tolerates well winter storage. This year in early March I opened pots with them and saw that several young shoots emerged from the tubers. In April the shoots grew up fast and even gave first flowers indoor. 

Tuberous begonias bloom throughout the summer, mostly in shady spots where few other plants can grow. They are often used as container plants on patios and porches, in hanging baskets and as bedding plants. I always choose a protected windless spot. For most of the day, the plants will be shaded so that the sun does not hurt them. But they need a good indirect light at another time.

I noticed Begonia roots develop from the bottom, sides and top of the tuber, and stems sprout from the top. Once stems have reached 3 - 4 cm, it's time to pot the tubers into larger containers, or in permanent summer tubs.  

I try to accustom the plants to outdoor conditions moving them on a warm day to a shaded,  sheltered place, like a balcony.  At night I bring them back indoor until the temperature has cooled. 
I know Begonia is a tender plant and needs warm weather to be planted in the garden. Therefore I am in no hurry to transfer my plants outdoors. Here it is growing in a container near the pond.

Have you grown Begonias Tuberous before? What is your experience?