SKY AND EARTH

This interesting plant mainly grows in Greece and Turkey in wild. It is also called Christmas rose. It contains Glucosides (Hellebroside and Hellebrine ) and Saponines (Helleborine) . These substances give smiler actions like the glucosides of Digitalis Purpurea . Plant has medical value in cardiology . It is used as heart stimulant . However HELLEBORUS NIGER IS VERY TOXİC . IT IS ADVISED NOT TO BE USED UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES.

Strawberry Tree........very attractive evergreen of Mediterranean region. However , picture above is taken on Blacksea coast of Istanbul close to Boshphorus enterence. After an exteremely dry summer conditions of Istanbul in 2007 , fruit production of strawberry tree was remarkably high compare to other years . Plant has interesting features ; -very tolerant to industrial pollution.... -fruits of current year and the flowers of next year fruits can be seen at the same time on the tree in November and December -it is drought tolerant....can be planted in places where water is short . Strawberry tree is withstood temperatures down to -16 without injury . It also salt tolerant ....amazing... -fruit is very tasty especially this year in Blacksea region contrary to lot of report say fruit is tasteless . Some reports say fruit contain about 20 % sugars and it seems that sugar percentage is highly correlated with high summer temperatures. Latin name Unedo refers ' I eat one on

I welcome this tropical and sub tropical plant to Istanbul . Grown in a pot at 7th floor . It is a fun plant to grow. First year didnt bloom I pruned then in second year it bloomed and produced pod. Seems to be very demanding for water so I irrigate and it responded well to persistent irrigation. Yet literature says it is highly resistant to drought. So next year I will treat it with minumum water. I keep observing this tropical plant in Istanbul. Additional information is also curious.. Wood has rich in Mahogany color and fairly heavy hard and durable . Its wood calls Sabicu wood which valued in shipbuilding !! Another note...salt resistant...

Again I have difficulties for exact identification of this particular variety . Found coastal area of Blacksea around Istanbul and planted in pot in my terrace . My guess is Crocus Albiflorus (Spring Crocus) . White midrib is very indicative characteristic of it.. İnfact the one I am demonstrating here has a faint white midrib .There is also Autumn Crocus (Crocus Nudiflorus)leaves appear in spring and die before flowers appear in October.More than 40 different crocuses species can be found in Turkey . İt is a very popular plant and its Turkish name (Cigdem) is given to girls very often..Seed propagation is a tedious process. They can be collected before the capsule splits and immediately sow in cold frames .They stay there two years before planting out. So it needs lots of patient. That reminds me Digitalis and its tiny seeds. That also requires two long year to bloom..But I can tell.. it worths to see Digitalis blooming. In Turkey corms of certain varieties can be added to dis

This beautiful plant blooms end of May .Its flower is bright yellow and bundle of stamens .It is very easy to recognize and identify this particular species. In The Royal horticulture Society's Encyclopedia, anther (tip of the stamen) of Hypericum Calycinum is red . Dr. Turhan Baytop'sA Dictionary of Vernacular Names of Wild Plants of Turkey , anthers are yellow as in the picture given here. A bit confusing .. I must note it here that variety Hypericum Cerastioides' anters also yellow . More careful identication is needed at this point. Comments are welcomed .Another confusing point is dwarf varieties like full sun Hypericum Calycinum thrive in partial or deep shade. The one I am presenting here is a drawf one. So name stays a bit controversial .From Bulgarian border to Province Kastamonu seem to be its natural habitat. Locally Kantaron oil extracted from it. It is useful for wound healing.This particular plant was introduced in England at the end of 17 th century.

Digitalis purpurea is one of my favorite plant . From seed to flower needs 2 years and in that respect needs a lot of patience and well caring especially the first year . It occupıes pots for two years and for a terrace garden this is difficult to handle . Yet it is absolutely marvelous plant when blooms and certainly it worths to wait 2 long years .It blooms in early summer and on stem bloom moves upward . Blooming season can extend up to one month .Beside being very beautiful it is an important medical plant and very well know. One may find many reading about it..So I dont write medical use of in detail . It is used in modern medicine to increase force of contraction in congestive heart failures. Elevates blood pressure in weak heart . It is lethally toxic therefore must be used under the doctors survaillance. First-year rosette type of digitalis leaf can be mistaken with the leaves of Comfrey with fatal results. So special attention must given to this plant. Literature notes

VIOLA RIVINIANA (Common Dog Violet) As I mentioned in previous article , my terrace garden has a collection of 200 plants . Mostly from the Marmara region. Some I brought from southern part of Turkey and very few from inland .So I observe all of them carefully , their growing habits and their biological clock .One of the very first plant flowers in spring is a Viola Riviniana (Common Dog Violet) . Its flower is a true marvel , heavily veined lowest petal surrounded by bearded petals. Zoom in and enjoy the details. I enjoyed this first spring flower on my terrace and literature says it is also edible except yellow species which may cause mild cathartic.How you use it in your kitchen...Experienced horticulturists and gourme lovers say that it can be add to salad or cooked green . As soup thickener , wow nice way to express . From dried leave tea can be made . In France flower parts can be added into candies. And it is good to know that it is rich in vitamin A and C .Viola Odorata

I transplanted Scilla Bithynica bulbs into pots 7 years ago and since then every year exactly the same time it has bloomed as a pleasant surprise and it gave me the same pleasure each time with it beautiful deep blue small flowers . One of the earliest bulb to flower in late March except Galanthus . But they are in the same pot so I enjoy both of them at the same time . When Scillia blooms there are still some Galanthus . Next year I will record exact blooming time of these flowers and I share the information here . The place I dug the bulbs is Blacksea coastal forest area . It likes the places where water table is high . Yet it naturalises extermely well . S. Bithynica has 3-5 flaccid , linear basal leaves of 18-20cm , which distinguish it from Scilla Bifolia which has 2 semi-erect broadly linear basal leaves . Both widely spre ad in Blacksea coastal area under forest . Most Scilla species are poisonous . But toxic constituent of Scilla Bithynica is not known however it can be ass

Mentha Longifolia is one of the permanent plant of my terrace . With its silvery frosted green leaves gives the velvet feelıng when touched .It grows under any plant and very decoratively cover the pots . Leaves are narrow but when young more oblong . Identification of the mints can be quite difficult simply because they are very variable and easily hybridized . In literature Longifolia smell noted as unpleasant or at least some people say so . However the one , I have , has very soft spicy smell of mint compare to regular mint which smells sharply . Therefore identification needs special attention. As I observe on my terrace flowers attract more bees and insect that other plants. There is always a very high traffic on this particular plant. Some varieties like Mentha longifolia subsp capensis with its strong smell can be used as mosquito repellent if it is rubbed onto the body. legend and history of the mint in Greece , Asia Minor and middleeast in general is also fun to read . Hist

Greater Stitchwort.... Remind me needlepoint lace of a beautiful bride ..Delicate and innocent and purity in its bright white. Long time ago I brought it from the forest of Blacksea coastal area . It was only a stem and planted in my terrace pots. It has been the most rewarding transplanting ever. Now every spring I enjoy this natural needlepoint and it gives me great joy. They look beautiful in all pots but one in particular impresses me more than other..I have a marvelous Wisteria Sinensis at south side of my terrace and under it covered by Stitchwort and run down from the pot. These two bloom almost same time joyful purple up and pure white down . It is a showcase itself. On my terrace Stitchwort start to bloom in late March and continue in late May. Leaves are suprisingly hard despite the fact that plant overall look fragile and weak and almost rootless. Notice the leaves narrow and tapering from the base. Stems are brittle yet has power for multiplication , spread on the ground

Dayflower is a very proliferous plant. Almost all the pots of my terrace have it. it grows under any plant . Once enter the soil there is no way to get rid of it..It keeps coming years and years . It is like a pest , persistent and stubborn , but I like it a lot and keep it in certain pots . Bright blue simple flower stay on the plant only one day. Kids laugh at it because flower looks like Mickey Mouse..it is funny..fun plant to have it around. Always healthy and susceptible to no pest .That amazes me. A bright blue dye can be obtained from blue petals. They contain pigment of Comelinine and Flavocommeline . It has three petals lower one is white and smaller that blue ones . So I suppose that one has no pigment . How two petals have and third one doesn't , is very curious . Its scientific name was given by a Dutch Horticulturist means that ancient Greek or in China or in India and Arab world of medicine had not known .!! I highly doubt about it . I am sure it had been known unde