Walking around corfu

[kevin-beverly]

HI

Sagebrush

Artemisia 

Is a large, diverse genus of plants belonging to the daisy family Asteraceae, with between 200 and 400 species. Common names for various species in the genus include mugwort, wormwood, and sagebrush. Artemisia comprises hardy herbaceous plants and shrubs, which are known for the powerful chemical constituents in their essential oils. Artemisia species grow in temperate climates of both hemispheres, usually in dry or semiarid habitats. Notable species include A. vulgaris (common mugwort), A. tridentata (big sagebrush), A. annua (sagewort), A. absinthium (wormwood), A. dracunculus (tarragon), and A. abrotanum (southernwood). The leaves of many species are covered with white hairs.
It is native to Europe and Asia and has naturalized much of the world; it is fairly common throughout the UK.

leaves are green on top and white underneath, they have pointed tips and purplish stems. They are deeply lobed and have an aromatic scent, similar to rosemary or sage.
Artemisia species grow in temperate climates of both hemispheres, usually in dry or semiarid habitats. The small flowers are wind-pollinated.

Scientific classification
Kingdom:   Plantae
Phylum:   Tracheophytes
Clade:   Angiosperms
Clade:   Eudicots
Clade:   Asterids
Order:   Asterales
Family:   Asteraceae
Subfamily:   Asteroideae
Tribe:   Anthemideae
Genus:   Artemisia
L.
Type species
Artemisia vulgaris

Artemisia species are found on every continent except Antarctica, and have become part of many ecosystems around the world as a result. Below is currently a partial view of the importance of Artemisia species in ecosystems around the world.

HABITAT
Wasteland and disturbed land beside busy tracks and on untended grassy roadside verges hot dry
: Most Artemisia species prefer a sunny spot (at least 6 hours of direct sunlight) to develop their best foliage color and maintain a compact growth habit, but can tolerate part shade. Soil: Plant Artemisia in poor to moderately fertile, well-draining soil.

Nursery starts can be put in the ground in the spring as soon as the soil is soft enough to be workable. Tease out the root ball and dig a hole just big enough to accommodate it. Place the plant in the hole so that the top of the root ball is even with the ground and cover the roots with soil, gently tamping it down to provide stability before watering.
A hard cutback of the plants in summer can be beneficial to encourage new growth of previously suffering plants
grows 2-4 feet tall and wide. The plant flowers from mid to late summer with greenish-white blooms.

HISTORY
very important species in the history of medicine, formerly described in medieval Europe as "the most important master against all exhaustions". It is a species known as a medicinal plant in Europe and also in West Asia and North America.
traditionally used as a remedy for a variety of complaints, especially those of a gynaecological nature, and so the wormwood genus bears the name of the Greek goddess of childbirth, Artemis. The specific name derives from apsínthion, the Greek term for the plant.
Artemisia I (flourished 5th century bce) was the queen of Halicarnassus, a Greco-Carian city in the ancient district of Caria (in southwestern Anatolia), and of the nearby islands of Cos, Calymnos, and Nisyrus about 480 bce.
Artemisia led a fleet of ships to the island of Cos to slaughter the Coans, but the gods intervened. After Artemisia's ships were destroyed by lightning and she hallucinated visions of great heroes, she fled Cos. However, she later conquered the island.
The genus was erected by Carl Linnaeus in 1753. The name Artemisia derives from the Greek goddess Artemis (Roman Diana), the namesake of Greek Queens Artemisia I and II.[6] A more specific reference may be to Artemisia II of Caria, a botanist and medical researcher (also a queen and naval commander), who died in 350 BC.









                                               



The entire plant is toxic if ingested. And to PETS


Landscape Gardens Parks Patios pots Artemisia tea can be prepared with the flowers or leaves of this plant. Some chemicals contained in Artemisia herba-alba seem to kill parasites and bacteria.


used for the treatment and prevention of fever, chills and malaria, in traditional and modern medicine (Hien and white 1993)
Parasitic infections such as roundworms, pinworms, tapeworms, hookworms, and flukes. There is some evidence that taking an Artemisia herba-alba water extract might reduce symptoms and cure pinworm infections in adults and children after 3 days of treatment.
There is not enough information to know if Artemisia herba-alba is safe.
Some people involved in a research project that studied Artemisia herba-alba experienced lowered blood pressure and lowered heart rate. The significance of these effects is unknown.
Artemisia herba-alba for cough, stomach and intestinal upset, the common cold, measles, diabetes, yellowed skin (jaundice), anxiety, irregular heartbeat, and muscle weakness.

[kevin-beverly]

HI
I remember that Vivian posted a photo of Bee eaters so i done a bit of a investigating

European Bee Eaters

Merops apiaster

containing three genera and thirty species. Most species are found in Africa and Asia, with a few in southern Europe, Australia, and New Guinea. They are characterised by richly coloured plumage, slender bodies, and usually elongated central tail feathers. All have long down-turned bills and medium to long wings, which may be pointed or round. Male and female plumages are usually similar.
Most bee-eaters are gregarious. They form colonies, nesting in burrows tunnelled into vertical sandy banks, often at the side of a river or in flat ground. As they mostly live in colonies, large numbers of nest holes may be seen together. The eggs are white, with typically five to the clutch. Most species are monogamous, and both parents care for their young, sometimes with assistance from related birds in the colony.

Bee-eaters may be killed by raptors; their nests are raided by rodents, weasels, martens and snakes, and they can carry various parasites. Some species are adversely affected by human activity or habitat loss, but none meet the International Union for Conservation of Nature's vulnerability criteria, and all are therefore evaluated as "least concern". Their conspicuous appearance means that they have been mentioned by ancient writers and incorporated into mythology.As their name suggests, bee-eaters predominantly eat flying insects, especially bees and wasps, which are caught on the wing from an open perch. The insect's stinger is removed by repeatedly hitting and rubbing the insect on a hard surface. During this process, pressure is applied to the insect's body, thereby discharging most of the venom.

Domain:    Eukaryota
Kingdom:    Animalia
Phylum:    Chordata
Class:    Aves
Order:    Coraciiformes
Family:    Meropidae
Rafinesque, 1815
Genera
Nyctyornis
Meropogon
Merops

The bee-eaters are morphologically a fairly uniform group. They share many features with related Coraciiformes such as the kingfishers and rollers, being large-headed (although less so than their relatives), short-necked, brightly plumaged and short-legged. Their wings may be rounded or pointed, with the wing shape closely correlated with the species' preferred foraging habitat and migratory tendencies. Shorter, rounder wings are found on species that are sedentary and make typically short foraging flights in denser forests and reed-beds. Those with more elongated wings are more migratory. All the bee-eaters are highly aerial; they take off strongly from perches, fly directly without undulations, and are able to change direction quickly, although they rarely hover.

HABITAT
 typically nest alongside rivers in the countryside, woodlands, meadows, and even on farmland. In Africa, they can be found in the savannah, forest, shrubland, and grasslands. European bee-eaters often live in arid or semi-arid environments.

SUBCONTINENTS
China, Spain, Portugal, France, Finland, United Kingdom, Albania, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Denmark, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Montenegro, Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland, Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, Tunisia, Western Sahara, Belarus, Moldova, Russia, Ukraine, India, Sri Lanka, South Africa, Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, DR Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Yemen, Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Cyprus, Georgia, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, Czech Republic, Macedonia

HISTORY

The European bee-eater was formally described by the Swedish naturalist Carl Linnaeus in 1758 in the tenth edition of his Systema Naturae under its current binomial name Merops apiaster. The genus name Merops is Ancient Greek for "bee-eater", and apiaster is Latin, also meaning "bee-eater", from apis, "bee".
In Greek mythology, the Theban Botres was fatally struck by his father when he desecrated a ritual sacrifice of a ram to the god Apollo by tasting the victim's brains. The god took pity on him, turning him into a bee-eater.
The Ancient Egyptians believed that bee-eaters had medical properties, prescribing the application of bee-eater fat to deter biting flies, and treating the eyes with the smoke from charred bee-eater legs to cure an unspecified female complaint


Bee-eaters of both sexes alternate between being breeders and helpers in their clan. Each bird lives in an extended family with members of four overlapping generations. They appear to recognize parents, siblings, offspring, friends, and nesting neighbors, likely from voice recognition.

These birds have been found to live up to 4.6 years

Population number
According to the IUCN Red List, the total population size of the European bee-eater is around 14,000,000-25,250,000 mature individuals. In Europe, the breeding population consists of 2,800,000-5,050,000 pairs, which equates to 5,600,000-10,100,000 mature individuals. Currently, this species is classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List and its numbers today are stable.



https://waldridgenaturalist.blogspot.com/2017/05/a-waldridge-naturalist-in-corfu-last.html

[kevin-beverly]

HI

If you are on a walk around the small villages near Arillas look in the locals gardens NOT walk around the garden just look over the fence line look at the pots tubs a old tin you can see array of plants gorwing

Spinach

Spinacia oleracea 

 Is a leafy green flowering plant native to central and Western Asia. It is of the order Caryophyllales, family Amaranthaceae, subfamily Chenopodioideae. Its leaves are a common edible vegetable consumed either fresh, or after storage using preservation techniques by canning, freezing, or dehydration. It may be eaten cooked or raw, and the taste differs considerably; the high oxalate content may be reduced by steaming.
It is an annual plant (rarely biennial), growing as tall as 30 cm (1 ft). Spinach may overwinter in temperate regions. The leaves are alternate, simple, ovate to triangular, and very variable in size: 2–30 cm (1–12 in) long and 1–15 cm (0.4–5.9 in) broad, with larger leaves at the base of the plant and small leaves higher on the flowering stem. The flowers are inconspicuous, yellow-green, 3–4 mm (0.1–0.2 in) in diameter, and mature into a small, hard, dry, lumpy fruit cluster 5–10 mm (0.2–0.4 in) across containing several seeds.
As opposed to the great majority of the flowering plants or plants used as vegetables, spinach is a dioicous plant, meaning different plants can have either female or male flowers The flowers are small, green and unattractive to pollinators. Rather, pollination occurs via wind anemophily, for which the pollen has evolved to be very small and light so it can be carried large distances, often miles away.

Kingdom:   Plantae
Clade:   Tracheophytes
Clade:   Angiosperms
Clade:   Eudicots
Order:   Caryophyllales
Family:   Amaranthaceae
Genus:   Spinacia
Species:   S. oleracea
Binomial name
Spinacia oleracea

HABITAT
Spinach is native to Asia and a common crop throughout the world. It may escape from cultivation, and is sometimes found in waste areas, gardens and dumps in scattered locations
These compact plants (up to 20cm/8in tall) are handy if space is tight and they can be grown in containers too. Spinach is also a useful crop for cooler, shady spots in early or late summer, out of midday heat. It needs full sun at other times of year. 
Spinach is quick to grow, but needs fertile soil that doesn't dry out. It does best in milder temperatures (ideally 15–20°C/60–70°F), as cold or hot, dry conditions can cause it to start flowering prematurely (bolting), putting an end to harvests. Sow in light shade in warmer weather to keep it cool, and water regularly.
There are two basic types of spinach with either smooth leaves or crinkly (savoy) leaves. The smooth types are normally grown for freezing and canning because they grow faster, yield more and are easier to clean.
The genus Spinacia consists of only two spinach species: Spinacia turcestanica and Spinacia oleracea. However, only the Spinacia oleracea species is grown as a leafy green vegetable. There are numerous Spinacia oleracea varieties with new spinach cultivars added each year.

HISTORY

Spinach (Spinacia oleracea) is a hardy annual related to beets and Swiss chard that has been used by humans for a long time. Native to southwest Asia, it was first cultivated in Persia (Iran) over 2000 years ago and used by the Chinese in the 6th century.
Spanakopita is one of Greece's signature dishes. It is ubiquitous all over the country, but some of the most famous versions come from the northwestern region of Epirus. Historically master foragers, Greeks in that region and beyond, have used wild greens as the backbone of their diet. It was only a matter of time before they started finessing them into pies. But when did the actual spinach arrive? Spinach originated in the Middle East and merchants brought it to Spain. Finally, during the Byzantine Empire it arrived in the rest of Europe. Farmers in the area that comprises present-day Greece discovered that they could cultivate this leafy green very easily.
Like the arrival of spinach in Greece, phyllo emerges during Byzantine times, and with it come the pies that it makes become a cornerstone of Greek cookery. Phyllo is a basic dough with flour, salt, water, olive oil, and sometimes yeast or another leavening agent like baking powder. It's an easy dough to make, but one that takes time and finesse to roll out. The quickest way to make the pies today is to use commercially produced phyllo. All you have to do is brush each paper thin layer with olive oil or butter to create an incredibly satisfying pie.
If you don't want to seat down in a restaurant, you can taste many kinds of traditional pitas.
The most famous one is called Tiropita, a sort of puff pastry filled with Feta cheese, but are delicious also other pitas filled with spinach, ham and cheese or minced meat.

The comics and cartoon character Popeye the Sailor Man is portrayed as gaining strength by consuming canned spinach. The accompanying song lyric is: "I'm strong to the finich [sic], 'cuz I eats me spinach. This is usually attributed to the iron content of spinach, but in a 1932 strip, Popeye states that "spinach is full of vitamin A" and that is what makes people strong and healthy










NONE

Tubs,Pots, Culinary, Drinks

Spinach Is A Superfood
The leafy greens like kale and spinach in green smoothies are a great source of vitamin K1. Research has shown that people with a high intake of vitamin K1 are have a lower risk of bone fractures, osteoporosis, and decreased bone mineral density. Leafy greens are much higher in vitamin C than other vegetables.
The leaves are used for food and to make medicine. As a medicine, spinach is used to treat stomach and intestinal (gastrointestinal, GI) complaints and fatigue. It is also used as a blood-builder and an appetite stimulant. Some people use it for promoting growth in children and recovery from illness.
Calcium:
Magnesium:
Iron:


Prevents Cancer
Spinach has a high source of zeaxanthin and carotenoids that can flush out the free radicals from your body. These free radicals make your body prone to many diseases including cancer and as a result, spinach is said to prevent cancer. So all you need to do is to consume spinach and prevent yourself from stomach cancer, mouth cancer and oesophagus cancer.

Reduces Blood Sugar
Aids in Good Bone Health
Aids in Weight Loss

Good For Your Eyes
Spinach benefits for eyes are evident through the antioxidants found in it, lutein and zeaxanthin, which contribute to good eyesight and protect against issues like cataracts, age-related macular degeneration, and other eye problems. Additionally,The vitamin A found in spinach, benefits in maintaining mucus membranes that are essential for normal eyesight.

Reduces Hypertension
Has Anti-inflammatory Properties
Keeps Your Brain Functioning Normally
Prevents Anaemia
Prevents Acne

Natural Anti-Ageing Properties
Premature ageing is one of the most common problems that most youths are facing today. However, spinach comes loaded with antioxidants that have the tendency to destroy and prevent free radicals that cause premature ageing. Consuming spinach on a regular basis will benefit your skin and give it a shiny texture. Instead, it will rejuvenate your skin and make you look younger and healthy.

Spinach leaves have a long-standing reputation in folklore medicine for their diverse medicinal uses. Spinach has been used traditionally to address skin issues such as ringworm, scabies, and leucoderma (skin whitening). Additionally, it has been associated with potential benefits for urinary calculi (kidney stones) and may aid in controlling symptoms of urinary tract infections.

[vivian]

Still loving this page, having a injection in both shoulders in a couple of weeks, so might be able to get more pics on. ( If I an remember how to do it)xxxx

[kevin-beverly]

HI
As we all are getting older walking for some of us its hard work especially up to Akrotiri to see Nikos and family
My question is instead going up the footpath over looking the north beach or the road past Annas studios
I have heard there is a short cut to the top a footpath near Mathraki Apartments

can someone help a old git me

kevin

[Eggy]

Wanna borrow my walking stick?? ( got wheels on the end )
Negg

[kevin-beverly]

 

HI Vivian

I think you use this short cut to the top and go into San Steff

kev

[vivian]

We certainly do, It depends where your staying as to weather or not is quicker. But it is defintuly quicker. I will try to do a map and put it on tomorrow

[vivian]

I have made a map on paper but dont know how to get it to you, with it being on paper. Do we still have privet message on here, cant seem to find it on new layout. Love Viv & Pete

[kevin-beverly]

Hi Vivian

You sent me two messages this morning but nothing containing in the message

Kev

[kevin-beverly]

HI

This plant can be found at the back end of Arillas the TRIA end woodland


Eared willow

Salix aurita

Is a species of willow distributed over much of Europe, and occasionally cultivated. It is a shrub to 2.5 m in height, distinguished from the similar but slightly larger Salix cinerea by its reddish petioles and young twigs. It was named for its persistent kidney-shaped stipules along the shoots.
A deciduous shrubs and trees of diverse habit, with simple leaves and tiny flowers in catkins, male and female usually on separate plants. Some are valued for their brightly coloured winter shoots, others for their foliage or showy male catkins branching shrub Salix aurita is an introduced shrub that is native to UK Europe from Norway south and east to Portugal, Black Sea, Crimea and Macedonia.

Kingdom:   Plantae
Clade:   Tracheophytes
Clade:   Angiosperms
Clade:   Eudicots
Clade:   Rosids
Order:   Malpighiales
Family:   Salicaceae
Genus:   Salix
Species:   S. aurita
Binomial name
Salix aurita

Spring flowering  dense, many-flowered catkin on a short, small-leaved stalk. Individual flowers in axils of catkin scales, small, lacking perianth. Catkin scales small, hairy, with dark tip. Stamens 2 base of filament hairy, anthers yellow. Pistil formed from 2 fused carpels, ovary grey-hairy.

Leaves Alternate. Stalked, stipulate. Stipules persistent, large, kidney-shaped, and with saw-like margins. Leaf-blade 2.5–5 cm (1–2 in.), obovate, with bent apex, wavy and entire or small-toothed margins, dark dull green, sparsely hairy, and wrinkled above, greyish, downy, and prominently veined beneath. Vein pairs 7–9.


HABITAT
Swamp margins, damp scrubby meadows, mire patches on rock outcrops, shores, forest and field margins, roadsides. Likes full sun. Tolerates a wide range of conditions except chalk.
May–June. Flowers before coming into leaf.

The branches of eared willow point in different directions giving the shrub a somewhat "messy" general appearance. Older twigs are brownish-grey, usually hairless, and ridged beneath the bark. Young shoots are reddish-brown, fairly delicate, and sparsely hairy or hairless. Eared willow flowers before coming into leaf. It is very common in Southern Finland, and it grows on various kinds of sites.

Plants have an extensive root system and are used to stabilize waste tips and old slag heaps. The seeds are very light and so can travel some distance in the wind. The plant is therefore able to find its way to areas such as cleared woodland where the soil has been disturbed. Seedlings will grow away quickly, even in exposed conditions and the plant will provide good shelter for the establishment of woodland plants. Thus it makes a good pioneer species and, except in wetter and moorland-type soils, will eventually be largely out-competed by the other woodland trees. Its main disadvantage as a pioneer plant is that it has an extensive root system and is quite a greedy plant, thus it will not help as much in enriching the soil for the other woodland plants as other pioneer species such as the alders, Alnus species

The genus Salix in Europe is usually considered to be a difficult and confusing group for classification and identification , Rechinger 1992, Skvortsov 1999). The main reasons for this are: (1) genetically-based morphological polymorphism, (2) phenotypic plasticity (3) the prevalence of hybridization (4) differences in taxonomic opinion. Although some willows (such as S. pentandra L.) are rather uniform, other species are highly variable. Salix myrsinifolia is a good example of a species that shows extensive polymorphism: notably in leaf indumentum (hairy to glabrous) and leaf shape (narrowly to broadly elliptical). Although willow polymorphism is rarely formally tested in common garden experiments it is likely that much of this polymorphism is genetically based as different morphs can be found mixed in populations, having developed under the same environmental conditions.

Willows also exhibit phenotypic plasticity, such that even different plants of the same clone can look quite different, particularly if coppiced. Coppice shoots and their leaves can be very different from those of normal branches. However, probably the most remarkable and problematic aspect of willow taxonomy is the great ability for willows to hybridize. Crosses between quite unrelated species occur and many hybrids have a high degree of fertility. A recent study has shown that widespread hybridization is sufficient for chloroplast capture to occur even when species boundaries are maintained













NONE

Large gardens, parks, In landscapes, The tree's wood is soft and flexible, making it ideal for use in the manufacture of baskets, furniture, and other wooden products. Growing in harsh and difficult environments, as many willows do (they can be found within the arctic circle, on mountains and even in the desert), Salix species have often been utilized as an emergency food source. They are, indeed, often a highly favoured food source for birds and mammals and, whilst few species would lay claim to culinary excellence for humans, the young shoots and inner bark are both edible eaten either raw or cooked.
We have no specific information for this species, but the inner bark can be eaten fresh or it can be dried, ground into a powder and then added to cereal flour for use in making bread etc. It has a very bitter flavour, The young shoots are also somewhat bitter and not very appetizing - unless you are really hungry of course

The bark, twigs, leaves, leaf buds, and flower buds of all Salix species contain phenolic glycosides, particularly salicin and salicortin (which breaks down when the plant material is damaged to produce salicin). The quantity of these compounds can vary greatly between species, and even within geographical races of the same species. Taste is a simple test to ascertain levels of these compounds - the more bitter the flavour, the more compounds it contains[407
].
Salicin has several valuable medicinal properties. In particular it is an effective antiinflammatory and pain reliever, and is also a valuable febrifuge.
Modern medicine has used salicin as a pathway to producing the common pain reliever aspirin and, until a totally synthetic pathway of producing the medicine was discovered, several Salix species were harvested on a commercial basis to obtain salicin.
Many Salix species have a history of traditional use (not always documented). All parts of the plant can be used, but the bark is more commonly employed. Their pain-relieving and antiinflammatory properties make them useful in the treatment of verious conditions including headaches, neuralgia and joint pains, whilst they can also be very helpful in the treatment of fevers

[kevin-beverly]

HI
If you are new to Greece and walking around the Town or local shops and see a BLUE DOT on gifts i try and tell you

The Mataki, or blue eye in English, is a very common symbol in Greece. Meghan Markle often wears one, sometimes in the form of a pendant with a blue topaz eye, but she has also been seen wearing a delicate gold evil eye bracelet.
 They are hung on the walls of shops and houses, in cars or they are worn as jewelry. The symbolism of Mataki is to protect the wearer or the place where it is located from "kako mati", the evil eye! The evil eye is a spell of bad energy
The Greek traditional belief of the evil eye dates back to at least the 6th century BC, the Classical Antiquity, or the time period that encompassed the Classical Era in Ancient Greece, when it commonly appeared on drinking vessels. During this time, the Greek civilization was at its intellectual peak. A common theme in literature at the time was that the eyes were a source of deadly rays that could bring harm to others. Plutarch, the Ancient Greek writer, is one of those who wrote about this concept. The belief in the evil eye tended to spread as Alexander the Great brought the Greek culture to the East.
The Greek Orthodox Church has recognized the kako mati since the establishment of the faith. The church calls it Vaskania (pronounced Vas-ka-nee-a) and has a special prayer made especially to help cure those who have fallen under the curse.
It is found in many cultures in the Mediterranean region, the Balkans, Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Central Asia, South Asia, Africa, the Caribbean, and Latin America, with such cultures often believing that receiving the evil eye will cause misfortune or injury, while others believe it to be a kind of supernatural force that casts or reflects a malevolent gaze back upon those who wish harm upon others (especially innocents). The idea appears multiple times also in Jewish rabbinic literature.Different cultures have pursued measures to protect against the evil eye.
The Light Blue: Color of the sky – symbolizes truth and therefore it provides direct protection against the evil eye, while the dark blue color symbolizes water as it is an universal solvent.

The evil eye is part of the Greek culture, deeply ingrained among Greek people. It is believed that the evil eye can strike anyone at any given moment. The evil eye is the belief that someone can catch the evil eye curse or Matiasma from someone else's jealous compliment or envy. If a person has caught the evil eye they will usually feel bad physically or mentally. Or in simple terms bad things happen. For example, perhaps there was an occasion that you were dressed up and someone told you that you looked nice. A few minutes later you spilled coffee down the front of yourself. Or maybe someone commented on how beautiful your new vase was and a while later it fell to the ground shattering into a thousand pieces. Greeks also believe that children are especially vulnerable to the evil eye and that it can cause hurt and illness. When babies are born, Greeks will have a blue eye pinned at the top of the pillow from the moment they are born. And if you come down with sudden horrible headaches, weakness or illness but you can't find logical explanation for your strange state, Greeks will say you have been evil eyed or "Matiasmenos". Meaning the eye have been placed upon you. This is the belief of the evil eye in simple terms.
So you have been affected by the evil eye, now what?? In every Greek home there are Greek blue eye charms everywhere. We also have a few at home. They are beautiful and an wonderful gift to receive or give, a true symbol of love and protection towards another person or family.

Generally speaking, the Greek Eye charms are placed in homes, offices, cars, schools, on your clothing, on your body to protect yourself from the evil eye. The eye is said to reflect the evil around you. The charms come in the form of decorative wall hangings, necklaces, bracelets, rings, kolomboi worry beads carried by most Greek men, wall art, pillows, etc.

Other ways to get rid of the evil eye is to consult with usually a Greek grandparent, who knows the prayers to relieve you. The Greek evil eyes are cast away through the process of Xematiasma. First the healer says the prayer with mention of your name. Then they take a deep dish full of water and let a drop of olive oil fall into the water, performing the sign of the cross three times and spits in the air three times. Another way to ward off the evil eye is spitting.

Spitting it is believed to chase away the evil and misfortune. For example: when someone talks about bad news (deaths, accidents, etc), the others listening to the news should slightly spit three times saying "ftou ftou ftou".  Another example regarding spitting is that when someone compliments your baby or child or even an adult for their beauty, successes or fortunes, that person giving the compliments must also spit three times on the complimented person so that he doesn't give him the evil eye and he is also reassuring the recipient of the compliment that they mean well in their compliments.

The Greek Eyes are truly beautiful, so if having them in their life gives them a bit of extra protection, why not!!!!

[kevin-beverly]

HI

This plant can be found on Corfu i know it exis in Kassiopi


Glossy Abelia

Abelia × grandiflora

 Is a hybrid species of flowering plant in the honeysuckle family Caprifoliaceae, raised by hybridising A. chinensis with A. uniflora.
Other common names  "abundant flowers". "Abelia",
The Latin specific epithet grandiflora means "abundant flowers". "Abelia", the common name and genus name, honors Clarke Abel, physician and naturalist who collected seeds and plants on a British expedition to China in 1817.
It is a deciduous or semi-evergreen multistemmed shrub with rounded, spreading, or gracefully arching branches to 1 to 1.8 m (3.3 to 5.9 ft) tall. The leaves are ovate, glossy, dark green, and 2–6 cm (0.8–2.4 in) long. The fragrant flowers are produced in clusters, white, tinged pink, bell-shaped, to 2 cm long. Unlike most flowering shrubs in cultivation, the species blooms from late summer to well into the autumn.
The genus currently includes six species native to China, Taiwan, and Vietnam.

Abelia × grandiflora was first raised in 1886 at the Rovelli nursery at Pallanza (now Verbania), on Lake Maggiore in Italy. It is used as an ornamental plant in specimen plantings in gardens, or in a mixed border with other shrubs. Though relatively easy to cultivate, it is not fully hardy, and requires a sheltered position in full sun. Abelia prefers moist, organically rich soils with good drainage. Propagation is by cuttings. This plant is still widely listed in Australia and the UK under the name Abelia. The variegated cultivar 'Hopleys', with pale pink flowers and growing to 1.5 m × 1.5 m (4 ft 11 in × 4 ft 11 in), has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit

Kingdom:   Plantae
Clade:   Tracheophytes
Clade:   Angiosperms
Clade:   Eudicots
Clade:   Asterids
Order:   Dipsacales
Family:   Caprifoliaceae
Genus:   Abelia
Species:   A. × grandiflora
Binomial name
Abelia × grandiflora
(Rovelli ex André) Rehder (1900)
Synonyms
Abelia rupestris var. grandiflora Rovelli ex André (1886)
Abelia × rupestris Späth (1892), nom. illeg.
Linnaea × grandiflora (Rovelli ex André) Christenh.(2013)

 Prefers full sun to partial shade, and will flower best in full sun. In areas with hot summers, it's best to give your plant some afternoon shade to protect it from the harsh sun.
The flowers are the most distinctive feature of Abelia grandiflora, with an abundance of delicate, funnel-shaped blooms that are about 1 inch (2.5 cm) long. The flowers are usually pink or white, and they have a sweet, honey-like fragrance that attracts bees, butterflies, and other pollinators.

HABITAT
Glossy Abelia is of horticultural origin, resulting from a cross between Abelia chinensis and Abelia uniflora, both originating in Asia. It tolerates dryness and frost and should be exposed to the sun. It has no preference as to the soil type. It is used as an ornamental plant in specimen plantings in gardens, or in a mixed border with other shrubs. Though relatively easy to cultivate, it is not fully hardy, and requires a sheltered position in full sun.
Preferred Climate Subtropical can grow in the UK  has become naturalised arround the world . Abelia x grandiflora has been in the Australian plant trade for 50 years a new plant
hybrids, was placed in the honeysuckle family, Caprifoliaceae, in 2013.















Abelia has no toxic effects reported.
Cats & Dogs No part of the Abelia plant is known to be poisonous to dogs. Any large amounts ingested will likely cause stomach discomfort and potentially vomiting but will not harm the dog.



Landscape, Parks, Gardens, Hedge, ornamental shrub on its own to stand out From late spring until fall the Glossy Abelia is covered with slightly-fragrant, bell-shaped white flowers with a hint of pink that is great for attracting pollinators like bees and butterflies., foundation plant, shrub border, planted along a steep bank for erosion control, or it can be clipped into a hedge. If using as a hedge, be sure that the top of the hedge is clipped narrower than the bottom to allow adequate light to reach the bottom foliage.





Not much INFO
Medicinally, the seeds of A. grandiflora, along with buffalo milk, have been used in India to treat hematuria.

[kevin-beverly]

HI

Bracken

Pteridium

Bracken is thought to be the most common plant in the world and is found on all continents except Antarctica. In the UK, they thrive in woodland. Bracken is a common sight in the British countryside in woodland and heathland across a wide range of soils and climates.
The group includes about 10,560 known extant species

 Is a genus of large, coarse ferns in the family Dennstaedtiaceae. Ferns (Pteridophyta) are vascular plants that have alternating generations, large plants that produce spores and small plants that produce sex cells (eggs and sperm). Brackens are noted for their large, highly divided leaves. They are found on all continents except Antarctica and in all environments except deserts, though their typical habitat is moorland. The genus probably has the widest distribution of any fern in the world.
The word bracken is of Old Norse origin, related to Swedish bräken and Danish bregne, both meaning fern. In the past, the genus was commonly treated as having only one species, Pteridium aquilinum, but the recent trend is to subdivide it into about ten species.
Like other ferns, brackens do not have seeds or fruits, but the immature fronds, known as fiddleheads, are sometimes eaten, although some are thought to be carcinogenic.

Pteridium (the bracken) is a genus of common and widely distributed ferns throughout the world. The variation patterns of morphology in the genus are highly complex and no consensus has been reached among taxonomists regarding the number of species as well as subdivision of the variable species. To address the question of how many species and subspecies of Pteridium occur in Asia, 75 populations were sampled in Bolivia, China, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico and Peru. Sequence data of three chloroplast DNA regions, rps4-trnSGGA, rpl16 and trnSGCU-trnGUCC and the genotype data of three microsatellite loci were collected. The newly generated sequence data combined with the sequences already available from GenBank for samples from all over the world were subjected to several phylogenetic analyses and species delimitation tests. The results support recognition of two diploid species, P. aquilinum in the Northern Hemisphere and Africa and P. esculentum in South America and Australia. Evidence was found to recognize one Asian tetraploid species, P. semihastatum. The Eurasian occurrences of P. aquilinum can be further subdivided into subsp. aquilinum occurring in Africa, Europe and Asia Minor; subsp. japonicum occurring from East Asia to eastern Europe; subsp. wightianum occurring from central China to Malesia (Malay Peninsula, New Caledonia, New Zealand) and northern Australia. The North American subsp. latiusculum was also found in India. Some local "species" recorded in Flora of China likely represent hybrids between subsp. japonicum and subsp. wightianum.

There are about 12,000 different types of ferns in the world. They are different from other plants because they do not produce flowers or seeds. Fern fossils have been found that are around 360 million years old! The plant sends up large, triangular fronds from a wide-creeping underground rootstock, and may form dense thickets. This rootstock may travel a metre or more underground between fronds. The fronds may grow up to 2.5 m (8 ft) long or longer with support, but typically are in the range of 0.6–2 m (2–6+1⁄2 ft) high. In cold environments, bracken is deciduous and, as it requires well-drained soil, is generally found growing on the sides of hills.

Fern spores are contained in structures found on the underside of the leaf called sori. The linear, leaf-edge pattern of these in bracken is different from that in most other ferns, where the sori are circular and occur towards the centre of the leaf.

Equisetopsida (Sphenopsida) 1 order, Equisetales (Horsetails) ~ 15 species.
Psilotopsida 2 orders (whisk ferns and ophioglossoid ferns) ~92 species.
Marattiopsida 1 order, Marattiales ~ 150 species.
Polypodiopsida (Filicopsida) 7 orders (leptosporangiate ferns) ~ 9,000 species.

Kingdom:   Plantae
Clade:   Tracheophytes
Division:   Polypodiophyta
Class:   Polypodiopsida
Order:   Polypodiales
Family:   Dennstaedtiaceae
Genus:   Pteridium
(Pteridaceae)
Species

HABITAT

They grow in a range of habitats including rainforests, temperate forests, coastal dunes, and even along roadsides.
Bracken ferns prefer to grow in areas with high rainfall, although they can also survive in soils that do not hold water very well.

I hear you say do ferns grow in Greece or on Corfu well the answer is yes

HISTORY
In medieval times, dried ferns were often hung in homes because it was believed they would protect the dwelling from being struck by lightning. During this time they were also planted to dispel negativity. Ferns have also been documented as a friend of the fae folk and is associated with planet Mercury.
Pterido- comes from the Greek pterís, meaning "fern." This Greek word is derived from the word ptéron, meaning "feather." (Ferns do look a bit like feathers, after all.)

In Irish folk history Nechtan. King of Munster, outwitted Bres, King of Ireland over the paying of taxes. Bres was told that to cure his wife's infertility he should drink mammoth quantities of milk, so he got his supply by taking all Irish households 100 cans of milk from each hornless dun cow. Dun cows are a greyish brown and Nechtan owned rather a lot of that colour of cow so, to evade the milk tax, he built a big fire of bracken and mixed the ash with flax seed and water, smearing it onto the cows to turn their coats black so that they didn't get counted. Other versions of the tale have him driving the cows through burning bracken fires so that their fur gets singed black, but all have the bracken in them. It is likely that both the rubbing of the ash into livestock's coats and the fumigation with smoke were general practices at the time to deter insects.









NOT IN GREECE


NOT IN GREECE



They may release spores that may result in poisoning due to oral ingestion. They may contain toxins that can damage the health of humans and animals. If people with compromised immunity, like those with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) from inhaling fern spores, can develop mold infections in the lungs.


Gardens parks Landscape Pots Tubs Ferns are not of major economic importance, but some are used for food, medicine, as biofertilizer, as ornamental plants, and for remediating contaminated soil. They have been the subject of research for their ability to remove some chemical pollutants from the atmosphere.
What role does bracken fern play in the ecosystem? Where the fronds of mature bracken ferns arch over the ground, they create a suitable microclimate for small vertebrates and invertebrates living on the ground. Small animals can shelter underneath bracken fern fronds.
 providing shelter for mammals, reptiles, amphibians, birds and insects. It is a food source for many caterpillars, including those of the brown silver-line, small angle shades, orange swift, gold swift and map-winged swift moths.
Bracken Fern's extensive rhizome system helps prevent soil erosion, making it valuable in regions prone to erosion and landslides. It contributes to the stability and health of ecosystems.


In ancient Chinese medical books, there are records that bracken can dispel heat and diuresis, and treat hiccups. The leaves and rhizomes of Bracken are widely used in diseases such as hypertension, rheumatoid arthritis and eczema, and is a traditional folk medicine

Root - cooked. It can be dried and ground into a powder The root is very fibrous so traditionally it was baked after being dried, the outer skin was peeled off and the roots pounded into a powder with sticks so that the inner fibres could be removed  The dried root will store for years. The root contains 60% starch. The dry weight content of starch is between 43 and 72%

The young shoots are diuretic, refrigerant and vermifuge. They have been eaten as a treatment for cancer. The leaves have been used in a steam bath as a treatment for arthritis. A decoction of the plant as been used in the treatment of tuberculosis. A poultice of the pounded fronds and leaves has been used to treat sores of any type and also to bind broken bones in place. The root is antiemetic, antiseptic, appetizer and tonic. A tincture of the root in wine is used in the treatment of rheumatism. A tea made from the roots is used in the treatment of stomach cramps, chest pains, internal bleeding, diarrhoea, colds and also to expel worms. The poulticed root is applied to sores, burns and caked breasts

[kevin-beverly]

HI

You can see this plant in gardend for show

Blue grass

Festuca glauca

Other Common names include blue fescue, blue mountain grass, and grey fescue. It was originally described by French naturalist Dominique Villars.
 is a species of flowering plant in the grass family, Poaceae. It is a commonly cultivated evergreen or semi-evergreen herbaceous perennial.
 Small ornamental grass, its fine leaves are steel-blue all year round. Neat, compact and rounded, it tucks into borders and baskets to provide colour and cool the soil; and the colour is a perfect match for the broader-leaved Carex Blue Cascade and Blue Wave. Very low maintenance once established.
F. glauca is a perennial clump-forming ornamental grass noted for its glaucous, finely-textured, blue-gray foliage. The foliage forms a dome-shaped, porcupine-like tuft of erect to arching, needle-like 9-ribbed blades, radiating upward and outward to a length of 140–180 mm. Light green flowers with a purple tinge appear in terminal panicles atop stems rising above the foliage in late spring to early summer, but inflorescences are not very showy. Flowers give way to puffy wheat-like seed-heads.
The genus name Festuca means 'straw', and is a name that was used by Pliny the Elder. 'Festuca' also refers to a rod used to manumit Romans from slavery to freedom.
The species name glauca is derived from Latin and means 'with a white or greyish bloom', or 'glaucous'. It is a cognate of the word 'glaucoma'

Kingdom:   Plantae
Clade:   Tracheophytes
Clade:   Angiosperms
Clade:   Monocots
Clade:   Commelinids
Order:   Poales
Family:   Poaceae
Subfamily:   Pooideae
Genus:   Festuca
Species:   F. glauca
Binomial name
Festuca glauca

HABITAT
 Meadows, roadsides, old pastures, and riversides on moist, rich soils, especially on loamy and heavy soils. Native to northern Europe east to Central Asia and south to Caucasus and Asia Minor.
It's perfect for growing in a rock garden, where it teams well with a wide variety of rock plants. It's also suitable for using in container displays. For best results and to develop the most intense foliage colour, grow Festuca glauca in well-drained soil in full sun.
 It tolerates dry and low nutrient soils. Plant in a full sun for best foliage colour. It will also grow in a lightly shaded position. Will tolerate drought, neglect and lack of nutrients but prefers regular watering.
The grass is short lived  rarely lives past three to five years unless it is divided, so this is a must-do.) Here's how: Pry the plant up out of the ground with a shovel or a garden trowel.

With around 780 genera and around 12,000 species, the Poaceae is the fifth-largest plant family, following the Asteraceae, Orchidaceae, Fabaceae and Rubiaceae. native to the temperate regions of both hemispheres.



DO NOT GET CONFUSED WITH THE USA BLUE GRASS KENTUCKY BLUE GRASS Poa pratensis HARD TO TELL APART








No toxic effects reported and pets


ornamental and turf grasses and pot tubs in dynamic and eye-catching landscape design. parks, in rock gardens, groundcover in borders,


Unknown medicinal uses