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Why do the Chinese drink tea?

Why do the Chinese drink tea?
🌱 Why do the Chinese drink tea?

  • πŸƒ It actually has to do with the Chinese theory of the five elements - wood, metal, fire, water, and earth:

木 金 火 ζ°΄ 土

  • πŸƒ Tea comes from a plant - Camellia sinensis - the Tea Leaf Tree - that is used to make all true teas: green, black, white, and oolong. The Tea Tree contains the element of wood (木) 🌳

  • πŸƒ When it's roasted in a cast-iron pan, it gains the element of metal (金) πŸ₯£

  • πŸƒ Then it's dried over fire, adding the element of fire (火) πŸ”₯

  • πŸƒ When it's brewed with boiling water, the element of water enters (ζ°΄) πŸ’¦

  • πŸƒ Finally, tea is poured into a clay vessel, symbolizing the element of earth (土) 🍯

  • πŸƒ In this way, all five elements - wood, metal, fire, water, and earth - come together in a single cup.

  • πŸƒ The plant grows slowly and can thrive in containers or frost-free gardens with sun to semi-shade.


πŸ›’ Grow your own tea

πŸ“šLearn more from previous posts:
Tea facts
How to grow your own tea?
Where does the tea come from?
Instructions how to make tea from tea leaves (PDF)

#Food_Forest #Remedies #Fun_facts

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The Tree Everyones Talking About: Variegated Mahoe

Hibiscus tiliaceus Variegatum - Variegated Mahoe

Hibiscus tiliaceus Variegatum - Variegated Mahoe

Hibiscus tiliaceus Variegatum - Variegated Mahoe flowers

Hibiscus tiliaceus Variegatum - Variegated Mahoe flowers

Hibiscus tiliaceus Variegatum - Variegated Mahoe leaves

Hibiscus tiliaceus Variegatum - Variegated Mahoe leaves

Hibiscus tiliaceus Variegatum - Variegated Mahoe young tree

Hibiscus tiliaceus Variegatum - Variegated Mahoe young tree

πŸ€ The Tree Everyone's Talking About: Variegated Mahoe
  • 🌳 Hibiscus tiliaceus Variegatum is the must-have tree of the year - and for good reason! This stunning, fast-growing beauty delivers shade in just one season, with a more compact, umbrella-like shape than its wild cousin, the standard Mahoe (that grows into a very large tree).
  • 🌳 Variegated Mahoe's eye-catching foliage is a show in itself: splashes of red, white, green, and pink create a living kaleidoscope. The blooms are just as magical - starting yellow and deepening to orange and red as they age.
  • 🌳 Perfect for Southern gardens and hot-climate landscapes, the Variegated Mahoe is low-maintenance, colorful, cool and cooling, and endlessly rewarding. Everyone wants it, and once you see it, you'll understand why!


πŸ›’ Add color, shade, and tropical flair to your garden with Variegated Mahoe

#Trees #Discover

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Plant your tree

Plant your tree
🌳 Plant your tree

"Even if I knew that tomorrow the world would go to pieces, I would still plant my apple tree." - Martin Luther

🐈 PeopleCats.Garden 
#PeopleCats #Quotes

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How to Plant a Tree - A Fun Guide

How to Plant a Tree - A Fun Guide
🌳 How to Plant a Tree - A Fun Guide
  1. Dig a Big Hole

    2. Start by digging a hole 2-3 times the size of the pot. Make sure it's deep enough to give your tree's roots room to grow. Remove any sandy dirt or rocksβ€”replace them with rich, nutrient-packed soil to help your tree establish.

    2️⃣ Place the Tree Just Right
    Gently remove your tree from the pot and place it in the hole. The base of the tree (where the roots meet the trunk) should sit slightly above ground level (2-3"). Avoid covering the trunk with soil to allow for proper air circulation and to promote a healthy tree.

    3️⃣ Mound the Soil
    Add nutrient-rich soil around the roots, then toss in a handful of granulated fertilizer. With the leftover soil, build a little mound around the tree to form a "bagel" shape. This will help water stay around the roots and give your tree a strong start.

    4️⃣ Add Mulch and Water
    Spread mulch around the tree, but leave a small gap around the trunk. Water generously to settle the soil and give your tree a refreshing drink. Water by hand daily for the first couple of weeks or until you see new growth. After that, you can rely on sprinklers.

    ⭐️ With these simple steps, your tree will be off to a great start!

    πŸ›’ Go plant shopping to excersize your green thumb and make our planet better

    πŸ“šLearn more:
    How to plant a tree: care of mail-order plants and detailed planting instructions (PDF)

    #How_to #Trees #Discover

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What does a mature Champaka Tree look like? Practical Growing Guide

Joy Perfume tree (Magnolia champaca)

β˜€οΈ What does a mature Champaka Tree look like? Practical Growing Guide.
  • 🏡 Champaka, or Joy Perfume tree (Magnolia champaca) is the most desirable perfume tree for Southern landscapes - and a Signature Plant of Top Tropicals! You can see several of these beautiful trees around our B-Farm in Sebring, including the one right by the office front door.
  • 🏡 The flowers are used to make the world's most expensive perfume, Joy - and they smell like fruity bubble gum… you won't be able to stop sticking your nose in this flower! The Joy Perfume Tree blooms on and off year-round.
  • 🏡 The Champaka tree has a striking columnar shape and becomes very bushy and full when established - whether in a pot (with a proper fertilizer program) or in the ground.
  • 🏡 The lemon-lime, light green leaves are lush, soft, and tropical-looking, with a unique and beautiful color!
  • 🏡 Champaka trees begin flowering within 2-3 years from seed.
  • 🏡 Singing birds love this tree and in Spring make their nests in its bushy crown.
  • 🏡 The tree is relatively cold hardy and can withstand light freeze for a short time once established. Make sure to provide regular watering for Champaka tree.
  • 🏡 We have beautiful Champaka trees in all sizes:

3 gal pot: 3-4 ft tall - ready to bloom within a year, can be shipped
7 gal pot: 5-6 ft tall - ready to bloom, can be shipped
15 gal pot: 7-8 ft tall - have already bloomed, pick up or delivery*
25 gal pot: 10 ft tall - have already bloomed, pick up or delivery*
* Free delivery for qualified orders

πŸŽ₯ These Champaka trees in the video are 5 years old (3 years in the ground) and already bloomed for the last 3 years!

πŸ›’ Claim Your Joy Today – Own Your Perfume Champaka!

πŸ“š Learn more from previous posts:

#Perfume_Plants #Container_Garden #Trees

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Thinking outside of the box

Thinking outside of the box
πŸ•― Thinking outside of the box

"Don't think outside of the box. Think of what you can do with the box."

🐈 PeopleCats.Garden 
#PeopleCats

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What is better than Apricot? Tropical Apricot!

Pitomba, Eugenia luschnathiana - The Tropical Apricot Tree fruit

Pitomba, Eugenia luschnathiana - The Tropical Apricot Tree fruit

Pitomba, Eugenia luschnathiana - The Tropical Apricot Tree fruit

Pitomba, Eugenia luschnathiana - The Tropical Apricot Tree fruit

πŸ‘ What is better than Apricot? Tropical Apricot!
  • πŸ‘ Looking for a small, ornamental fruit tree with big flavor? Pitomba (Eugenia luschnathiana) - The Tropical Apricot Tree - is a Brazilian gem that's as beautiful as it is delicious.
  • πŸ‘ This slow-growing evergreen reaches 15-20 feet, with glossy dark green leaves and a striking light brown trunk. In spring, it bursts into white and yellow flowers, followed by apricot-colored fruits ripening from May to July.
  • πŸ‘ The fruit is juicy, aromatic, with a flavor and texture similar to apricots. Rich in vitamin C, minerals, and dietary fiber, Pitomba is perfect eaten fresh or turned into jams, jellies, and juices.
  • πŸ‘ Pitomba grows best in full sun, likes acidic soil, and appreciates regular water and feeding. Whether in the ground or in a pot, it’s a stunning and fruitful addition to your edible landscape.
  • πŸ‘ Why grow Pitomba?

🟑Unique tropical fruit with apricot-like flavor
  • 🟑Beautiful, compact tree for small yards or containers
  • 🟑Fruits in 2–3 years from seed
  • 🟑Cold-hardy to the upper 20s (Β°F) once mature. Grows in USDA zones 9–11 or indoors with winter protection
  • 🟑Traditional medicinal uses in Brazil for colds and digestive health


πŸ›’ Buy Pitomba to add a small fruit tree with big flavor to your yard

#Food_Forest #Fun_Facts #Discover

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Fragrance, color, and hummingbirds - all in one tree

Lilac Tree (Lonchocarpus violaceus) flowers

Lilac Tree (Lonchocarpus violaceus) flowers

Lilac Tree (Lonchocarpus violaceus) flowers on a branch

Lilac Tree (Lonchocarpus violaceus) flowers on a branch

Lilac Tree (Lonchocarpus violaceus)

Lilac Tree (Lonchocarpus violaceus)

🌳 Fragrance, color, and hummingbirds - all in one tree
  • πŸ’œ Looking for a fast-growing, elegant tree with year-round beauty and seasonal magic? Lilac Tree (Lonchocarpus violaceus) is a fragrant fountain of color!
  • πŸ’œ The Lilac Treeis a stunning evergreen native to Africa. Reaching 25 feet tall, it forms a graceful, fountain-like shape with lush, architectural foliage.
  • πŸ’œ In late summer and fall, this tree bursts into fragrant lavender to purple-blue blooms that fill the air with a scent reminiscent of lilac.
  • πŸ’œ Butterflies and hummingbirds flock to the flowers, bringing your garden to life. Long, slender seed pods follow, adding unique texture.
  • πŸ’œ Cold hardy to the 30s F for short periods, it's perfect for USDA Zones 9–11. Whether you're after fast growth, tropical charm, or simply a breathtaking flowering tree, the Lilac Tree checks all the boxes - graceful, fragrant, and irresistible.


πŸ›’ Add Lilac Magic to Your Garden

#Perfume_Plants #Trees

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Do good

Do good
πŸ” Do good

"While you are young, strong, and full of energy, never tire of doing good! Happiness does not exist, nor should it. If life has meaning and purpose, that meaning and purpose are not in our happiness but in something more rational and greater. Do good!" - Anton Chekhov

🐈 PeopleCats.Garden 
#PeopleCats #Quotes

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Plant Smarter: Grow Your Own Brain Boosters - Part 2

Ginkgo Biloba

Ginkgo Biloba

Turmeric (Curcuma)

Turmeric (Curcuma)

Moringa

Moringa

Piper betle (Betel Leaf)

Piper betle (Betel Leaf)

Piper sarmentosum (Vietnamese Pepper Leaf)

Piper sarmentosum (Vietnamese Pepper Leaf)

Coconut tree with fruit

Coconut tree with fruit

Longevity Spinach

Longevity Spinach

Katuk

Katuk

🧠 Plant Smarter: Grow Your Own Brain Boosters - Part 2

🧠 Memory & Cognitive Support (Brain Boosters)
Edible Plants and Herbs:

Continued from previous post ‴️
  • 🟑 Ginkgo Biloba - Improves blood flow to the brain, supports memory and concentration.
  • 🟑 Turmeric (Curcuma) - Contains curcumin, a powerful anti-inflammatory compound shown to protect neurons and boost memory.
  • 🟑 Moringa - Loaded with antioxidants, may protect brain cells and support cognitive function.
  • 🟑 Piper betle (Betel Leaf) - Traditionally used as a mild stimulant. Contains compounds that may improve alertness and support mental clarity.
  • 🟑 Piper sarmentosum (Vietnamese Pepper Leaf) - Used in traditional medicine for anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective effects.
  • 🟑 Coconut Oil - Contains MCTs, which may fuel brain cells directly, especially beneficial in age-related cognitive decline.
  • 🟑 Cinnamon - is inked to improved memory and brain function. The tree's powerful scent comes from cinnamaldehyde, a natural compound with medicinal properties.
  • 🟑 Green Leafy Vegetables (like Longevity Spinach and Katuk) - High in folate, vitamin K, and lutein, all linked to better memory and reduced cognitive aging.


πŸ›’ Give your brain what it craves, shop tropical brain boosters: Fruit Trees & Herbal Plants

#Food_Forest #Remedies #Discover

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