Hibiscus Tea

 

So, my favourite flower is blooming like crazy this summer! I am so lucky...went and getting more in the hope that this trend can continue!
So, now, to put it to good use (not that its beauty is not use enough, but, it's time to lower the cholesterol!)

(This recipe is taken from http://mideastfood.about.com/od/drinkscoffeetea/r/hibiscus.htm)

Ingredients: 

• 1 cup dried hibiscus flower
• 1 cup sugar (granulated) - add more less for taste
• 8 cups cold water

Preparation:

Sift through dried flowers for stems and discard. Place dried hibiscus in cold water and allow to sit for 1-2 days, or until the color has faded from the flowers. Strain the juice through a fine sieve. Toss the flowers and other thick excess you have strained.

Add sugar and stir. You can either heat this up on the stovetop or in microwave or serve chilled. Some people like to add lemon wedges or grate orange zest to add to the flavor. You can also store in the refrigerator for about 5 days.

Instead of sugar, you can try honey and instead of lemon, try lime!

Natural vibes!!

waiting for my sunflowers...

Houtsuki - 法月

BUT..what is this in English??? Desperately trying to care for this pretty plant, but in the few days I have had it, fruit flies have flocked to it and it won't survive if I don't find its English name and learn what to do with it!

gaaarrr

the guy in the shop kindly wrote down the 2 plant names that I was buying that day

What is this??

Have just found out - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Physalis_alkekengi

Gosh, I have some research to do now!!!

I have also found out that there is a HOZUKI fair next week in Asakusa!!! I shall try and go!!
http://www.asakusaguide.jp/funky/column01.html

caterpillar invasion !

OK, this isn't really a 'kemushi', it's a caterpillar that will no doubt turn into a beautiful butterfly once we have released it into the wild, but you ain't gonna be a butterfly on our time buddy!

This is 'Sansho' 山椒　that he is eating - a Japanese or Aisian pepper plant! It's adds a nice flavour to our cooking...but only without the caterpillar!

Tomatoes

 We have been enjoying the home-grown TOMATOES of late!!! OMG - Soooooo Yummmm

  

Getting green again!

YUM!

Can't cope, won't cope - we have moved away from the noise and the dirt and found a little piece of zen in a big city of crazy! Lucky. I am back in the garden, hubby is watching his tomatoes, and Elbi is happy rolling on the rug! Time for a deep breath...no more avoiding main roads and hiding on the back streets! Now, we are already there! Suddenly, the city is do-able again!! YOKATTA!

I wasted no time planting those sunflower seeds....!

Even the spider plant is happy!
Cuttings galore for many more plants!

This year's hibiscus! Fingers crossed she survives!

Cherry Blossoms 2013! So beautiful!

Sunflowers!

Even with a rainy season here, I shall not be beaten!

And to think I was SO excited when the seeds sprouted......

But, now that the flowers are out....YAY!

Monday

Pre-typhoon, cloudy Tuesday morning

Pre-typhoon, rainy Tuesday afternoon

Wednesday morning in post typhoon sunshine!

Thursday!

The pots of sunflowers are growing well (large & small seeds) and my sunflower patch....well, I shall have to wait and see. Yesterday, they were fine...

Pre-Typhoon

Post-typhoon

But, today, not so! These little critters were on there today chomping away....

Caterpillars

Can you see the kemushi peeking out??

And, last week, I caught the old kemushi having a go at a leaf...It's a wonder these have survived at all! The garden is so enclosed that it's a delight for woodlice, ants, mozzies and so on...eeek!

.....A few days later and I think the typhoons have passed!

The sunflowers at the front are blooming nicely and the ones at the back are actually bending and stretching towards the sun! Let's hope they flower as that was where last year's sun(non)flower was.....

My neighbour wasn't convinced about planting seeds in pots.....!!!

Oh, how I love the sunflower!!!!!

Flowers!

Last year, I couldn't believe the joy of 'The flower'.

Living in the countryside for the first time, I have never seen so many flowers out and about. I was so amazed that I wanted to preserve them, so I tried to dry them. This worked for a while, but it is so time consuming and this year, time is even more precious, so we are keeping them fresh!

The first poppies have appeared around the lake and I was cheeky enough to steal one. However, even weeds are helping to make the house look so much prettier!!

チャーミーレイ　

poppy by the lake

poppy by the lake

 This one has a long way to go before it looks like anything I have seen at the flower shop. But, we have two flowers on these lovely plants (charmirei) that I almost ruined last year. I had planted them outside, but my neighbour gave my strict instructions to re-pot and move indoors! Good job I listened to her!!

Sunflower-CRAZY!!!

The sunflower seeds have gone crazy! Let's hope they continue to grow and actually flower this year!!

Decorating the house!!

flowers galore!

And recycling bottles!

Sunflower 2012

So, last summer, I managed to watch my sunflowers grow and grow but not flower. (See this picture - The flower-less Sunflower)

I am determined to not let it happen again.

I bought a couple of packets of small seeds from the wacky shop up the road, then, remembering that I have hoards of seeds for Mimi, our hamster, I took her dinner and planted it!

It rained all day yesterday so I haven't been looking after the plants so much, but I took a peek today and was soooo excited to see that some of the seeds have sprouted or are in the middle of actually sprouting!! I think I a excited as a child would or should be! But, it's my first time at starting from scratch, so I am allowed.

Sprouting & sprouted.

There is another pot too, so hopefully this summer, we will be living in a jungle once again!

Harsh Winter

It's certainly a lot colder in the countryside and we have learnt the hard way that you need to be prepared and brace yourself.

Next year, despite my paranoias, I want a kerosene heater. We bought some electric radiators this year, but, with the fan heaters, there is a lot of electricity being eaten up and we cannot use all together without it all blowing the fuse. So, for the past few months, we have literally been gathered, huddled and wrapped up in the living room staying warm and minimising any visits to rooms not heated.

Still, now we are finally reaching the end of March and we have rays of sunshine! We also have lots of Spring showers, but I would rather forget about that!

 

 I have been able to get back out in the garden, which, to me, is like a new feng shui release.On the bank holiday, I planted some spinach seeds that I found on sale in a quaint, cute local store (I shall have to upload some pictures as no words can describe its uniqueness), as well as some pansies.

Up on the balcony, we have a big cactus surviving happily and this plant, bought last year, and its magically starting its own cycle again. Apparently, it is a plant native to Japan and is seen wild in Gunma prefecture.

 

Today, I threw some sunflower seeds in some planters to see what would happen. I just want to see green and colour, even if there is nothing much. I also got talking to the neighbour again (she is my expert on matters of the garden). She ever so kindly gave me a cutting of this blossoming tree. She called it Obai, although, i can't seem to find a translation for it, so shall just enjoy its cute beauty as it flourishes.

Thank heavens for sunshine.

Periwinkle

I have learnt a few things today and this particular fact is one I must quickly blog lest I forget.

Nichinichi sou (日々草） or Periwinkle (catharanthus roseus) is the flower I have mentioned a fair few times here.

This was before I put them in a window basket.
They are now back in the big bucket with a few flowers reappearing!

I bought another one the other day for 100yen, now I know why. It is a summer flower, and will soon die. but, not fear there, because, I was given some and killed them a little while re-potting them and that what a few months ago. They are sturdy enough to last a little longer, I am sure.

Can you see? Middle right..no flowers just yet...

So, my mystery has finally been solved. I know the name (all I needed to do was ask!)

And, hopefully the seeds will fall and the flowers shall return next summer too!

It's the little things like this that make my day!