Garden Blog - Top Tropicals
Date:
Cats in the
Garden.
Cat Breed: The Norwegian Forest Cat - Skogkatt
By Alex Butova, the Witch of Herbs and Cats
Meet the cats around us - they're our friends, protectors, and magical
mascots. They keep us healthy and can even save us in emergencies...
Winter brings a special time called the Solstice. It's when the earth
pauses its yearly cycle and starts a new one. This magical moment marks the
beginning of something enchanting...
Let's begin with the Norwegian Forest Cat. It's a mysterious and northern
feline friend, also called Skogkatt. It's like the wildcats in Scandinavian
fairy tales...
Skogkatt's favorite flower
What's Skogkatt's favorite flower in their homeland? Viking Poms, small yellow daisies. But in more southern regions, Daisy Trees - Montanoa - serve as substitutes, reminding them of their distant Northern homeland.
Montanoa atriplicifolia - Tree Chrysanthemum, Tree Daisy - one of the most impressive winter bloomers.
Date:
Five most useful edibles for your Food Forest
Tired of mowing a boring lawn? Use your yard instead of being used by your yard - grow edible landscape! Below are several plants that made our life happier and meals healthier. Besides, these are fun to grow! Try them out:
1. Hibiscus
sabdariffa - Flor de Jamaica, Karkade Sorrel - Flowers are used to make
a tea "Agua de Flor de Jamaica". Medical studies show that it lowers blood
pressure and has diuretic effects. The pleasant flavor is on the tart side
similar to a cranberry juice. We make this cold tea every day - perfect for hot
summer. Full sun.
2.
Gynura procubens - Longevity Spinach, Cholesterol spinach - one of the
Superfoods, and there are many claims that it lowers cholesterol. We use it in
our cooking all the time and so far we are all alive! Full sun.
See recipe >>
3.
Sauropus androgynus - Katuk, Tropical Asparagus. Delicious young shoots,
one of the most popular leaf vegetables in Southeast Asia. In Vietnam, people
cook it in stews and soups. It is among only a few flora containing vitamin K.
Full sun or semi-shade.
Learn more >>
4. Cymbopogon citratus - Lemon grass: Versatile performer in the kitchen where it can be used in teas, beverages, herbal medicines, Eastern inspired soups and other dishes. Full sun or semi-shade.
5. Lippia dulcis - Aztec Sweet Herb, Sweetleaf: Mexican herb with incredibly sweet leaves that can be eaten from the plant like candy or tossed into fruit salads for an unusual addition. It has been used since the time of the Aztecs for coughs and colds. Tastes great, can be used by diabetic patients. We add this herb to Karkade or Mint tea as a sweetener. Shade or semi-shade.
Date:
Cat of
the Month:
Winter Adventure of Lisa the Cat
After publishing the story about Skogkatts - Norwegian Forest Cats, we received inquiries about Lisa, if she is available for adoption? Luckily, Lisa now has her wonderful sweet home in Sweden, so unfortunately for those who fell in love with her, she is not adoptable. But Lisa's life story wasn't all that sweet and simple! Rather thrilling and adventurous. So we decided to share her story with you...
By Alex Butova, the Witch of Herbs and Cats
"...Lisa, who illustrated our story about Skogkatt Cat Breed, lives with my daughter Vanda, along with her family: husband Vitaly and two children - Max and Maria. They live in Sweden. Lisa is 13 years old now. About 10 years ago, Lisa had a heartbreaking adventure almost ended with a tragedy... But luckily, she made it through. However, since then, she can't jump high and sometimes walks funny, sways and limps... And here's what happened..."
How to make healthy food taste delicious? Longevity Spinach Super-food Recipes
Longevity Spinach recipe
Gynura procubens (Longevity Spinach, Okinawa Spinach)
- ☘️ Gynura procubens (Longevity Spinach, Okinawa Spinach) is one of the Superfoods, known for its longevity-promoting properties in traditional medicine.
- ☘️ Native to Indonesia, commercially grown in China. It is a relatively hardy perennial that once planted, you will have these healthy greens for many years!
- ☘️ Both the stems and the leaves are edible and nutritious, can be eaten raw or cooked. They have a unique flavor with a faint hint of pine, and will add a beautiful aesthetic element to cuisine.
- ☘️ This green is also known as cholesterol spinach, and there are many claims that it lowers can cholesterol.
- ☘️ Perfect for hot and humid climates unlike traditional Spinach that only grown in cooler areas. It will thrive in any type of soil, any type of light other than dark shade, and is pest-free.
- ☘️ Very adaptable to container gardening and even grows well on a windowsill.
- ☘️ The leaves and young shoot tips can be steamed, used in stir fry, tempura, stews, and soups. Just add them at the very end.
Check out the recipes⬇️⬇️⬇️
📚 Gynura: Longevity Spinach Superfood Recipes
🎥 Best Hot Weather Spinach Crops - Longevity and Okinawa Spinach
🛒 Plant Longevity Spinach and live long
#Food_Forest #Recipes #Remedies
🏵 TopTropicals
Date:
Meet PeopleCats of TopTropicals. Cat of the Day: Sonya, the Co-Author
In our previous newsletter, you met our editor/photographer tandem - Tilda & Marina. Today we introduce our columnist assistant - Sonya. For the past decade, this True Norwegian Forest Cat has been a great helper and inspirational co-author for Alexandra, TopTropicals website writer and social media blogger.
Alex has been with TopTropicals since Day One (2003). In 2011, she got Sonya, a 3-month old kitten that someone kicked out: at that young age she already had quite a temper of a real Wild Cat. No one wanted to adopt her and Sonya was doomed to suffer a street life... So Alex invited her in the house... and it took her many months to teach Sonya some good manners! And Sonya turned into a beautiful and affectionate Purrrson as well as became the Boss in the house (what a surprise, duh) and Alexandra's dearest life companion. Sonya also discovered her talent in writing plant stories for TopTropicals, sitting on Alex's shoulder and whispering into her ear while she is typing Sonya's horticultural tips. And when Alex stares at monitors for more than 5 hours, Sonya lays on her keyboard saying: "Now get up and get some stretch lady! Let's go re-pot some plants for a change!"
We will be following up on Sonya's creative work, and you will hear from her again soon...
Check out and more Cat of the Day stories.
![Best Hot Weather Spinach Crops - Longevity and Okinawa Spinach](
<iframe class="ttBlogFrame" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/2umYNrSjb5U" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share"></iframe>
<script type="application/ld+json">{
"@context": "https://schema.org",
"@type": "VideoObject"
,
"uploadDate": "2024-07-16T19:07:16Z"
,
"@id": "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2umynrsjb5u",
"license": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/",
"acquireLicensePage":"https://toptropicals.com/license.htm",
"creditText":"Top Tropicals",
"creator": {
"@type":"Person",
"name": "Tatiana Anderson",
"@id": "https://toptropicals.com/html/toptropicals/tatiana_anderson.htm#person"
},
"publisher": {
"@type": "Organization",
"@id": "https://toptropicals.com#organization",
"name": "Top Tropicals",
"logo": "https://toptropicals.com/img/core-img/logo_600.png"
},
"copyrightNotice":"Top Tropicals",
"name": "How to make healthy food taste delicious? Longevity Spinach Super-food Recipes.",
"description": "How to make healthy food taste delicious? Longevity Spinach Super-food Recipes - video.",
"thumbnailUrl": "https://img.youtube.com/vi/2umYNrSjb5U/hqdefault.jpg",
"embedUrl":"https://www.youtube.com/embed/2umYNrSjb5U"
}
</script>
<script type="application/ld+json">
{
"@context": "https://schema.org",
"@id": "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2umynrsjb5u",
"isPartOf": [
{ "@id": "https://toptropicals.com#organization" },
{ "@id": "https://toptropicals.com#webpage" },
{ "@id": "https://toptropicals.com#website" }
]
}
</script>
){kind=link}
Date:
PeopleCats Botanical Garden Grand Opening
Guided tour with Mark Hooten
Top Tropicals Garden Center is pleased to invite you to visit our new PeopleCats Botanical Garden on the grounds of Top Tropicals in Ft
Myers. It is named in honor of the relationship with our beloved Cats, who we treat like People. You'll see our Garden PeopleCats roaming the property. As a matter of fact, they rule
the garden!
The Garden has many mature trees and plants so you can see what they look like before your purchase them in our Garden Center. And of course, our
PeopleCats will be guiding you in the Gardens!
Photo above: blue light in the forest - TopTropicals Garden Ghost, the spirit is always watching!
Date:
How to grow a happy Moringa Tree
Q: We purchased some tropical edible and medicinal plants from you in August this year. I have a question pertaining to our Moringa tree. When we purchased it, it was about two foot tall. It has put on tremendous growth and is now a little under ten foot tall. My question is, should a Moringa be losing lower leaves at this point? The bare limbs are still green and the top looks to have healthy green leaves.
A: Thank you for choosing our Moringa tree, and sharing the picture. It's great to see that your tree appears healthy and happy - it's a resilient plant. Given the relatively dry Fall we've experienced this year, a little extra water can make a significant difference.
Here are some suggestions to ensure your Moringa thrives:
Watering: While Moringa is generally drought-tolerant, during dry periods, in addition to relying on your lawn sprinkler system, add some extra water with a hose. Adequate moisture is crucial for maintaining healthy foliage.
Pest Control: Moringa is not only a nutritious plant for humans but also attracts pests that appreciate its medicinal properties :) If you notice insect damage on the leaves, consider spraying with Neem oil or using an over-the-counter systemic insecticide containing imidacloprid or a similar ingredient.
Seasonal Behavior: Moringa trees are semi-deciduous to deciduous, and their leaf-shedding behavior can vary depending on the climate. In Florida, for instance, it's common for Moringa trees to shed leaves in the Fall. However, this is a natural process, and you can expect new growth in the Spring.
Fertilizing for Vigorous Growth: To promote the most vigorous growth of your Moringa tree and other plants in your garden, consider implementing a fertilizing program. If using dry, slow-release fertilizers, apply them only during the active growth season: from March through November. If you're looking for a year-round solution, liquid amino acid-based formulas like Sunshine Boosters can be a great option. You can easily add them to your watering routine or use injectors like The Robuster for convenient and consistent feeding. If you're planning to expand your garden with other medicinal plants or an edible forest, The Robuster smart fertilizing system is an excellent choice, offering the most efficient, care-free way to nourish your plants with natural nutrients throughout the year.
This garden doubled the size during just one season under the Robuster care.
Did you know that you can eat and drink Hibiscus plants?
Hibiscus sabdariffa - Flor de Jamaica
Hibiscus sabdariffa - Flor de Jamaica
Hibiscus sabdariffa - Flor de Jamaica
Hibiscus sabdariffa - Flor de Jamaica
Hibiscus sabdariffa - Flor de Jamaica
Who doesn't adore hibiscus flowers? But guess what? Some hibiscus species are not only gorgeous but also surprisingly practical. They can jazz up your garden and your dinner plate!
Hibiscus cannabinus - Salad Hibiscus - flowers and leaves used in tasty healthy salads and teas.
Hibiscus sabdariffa - Flor de Jamaica, Karkade Sorrel, Roselle - flowers and used for famous beverage "Agua de Flor de Jamaica" and Karkade Tea.
Hibiscus acetosella - Cranberry hibiscus - cranberry-colored flowers and leaves are also tasty and healthy in salads and teas.
Grow your edible flower landscape in no time!
📚 Learn more, with recipes: Most useful Hibiscus plants
🎥 YouTube video: Jamaican Hibiscus Tea: what's in it?
![Jamaican Hibiscus Tea: what's in it?](
<iframe class="ttBlogFrame" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/D_WSnmNhrTM" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share"></iframe>
<script type="application/ld+json">{
"@context": "https://schema.org",
"@type": "VideoObject"
,
"uploadDate": "2024-05-22T19:05:56Z"
,
"@id": "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d_wsnmnhrtm",
"license": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/",
"acquireLicensePage":"https://toptropicals.com/license.htm",
"creditText":"Top Tropicals",
"creator": {
"@type":"Person",
"name": "Tatiana Anderson",
"@id": "https://toptropicals.com/html/toptropicals/tatiana_anderson.htm#person"
},
"publisher": {
"@type": "Organization",
"@id": "https://toptropicals.com#organization",
"name": "Top Tropicals",
"logo": "https://toptropicals.com/img/core-img/logo_600.png"
},
"copyrightNotice":"Top Tropicals",
"name": "Did you know that you can eat and drink Hibiscus plants?",
"description": "Did you know that you can eat and drink Hibiscus plants? - video.",
"thumbnailUrl": "https://img.youtube.com/vi/D_WSnmNhrTM/hqdefault.jpg",
"embedUrl":"https://www.youtube.com/embed/D_WSnmNhrTM"
}
</script>
<script type="application/ld+json">
{
"@context": "https://schema.org",
"@id": "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d_wsnmnhrtm",
"isPartOf": [
{ "@id": "https://toptropicals.com#organization" },
{ "@id": "https://toptropicals.com#webpage" },
{ "@id": "https://toptropicals.com#website" }
]
}
</script>
){kind=link}
🛒 Shop Edible Hibiscus
#Food_Forest #Remedies #Recipes
🏵 TopTropicals
Top Tropicals is now in Telegram!
TopTropicals.com - the World's leading authority on tropical plants - is now in Telegram. If you grow a tropical garden or indoor collection of rare plants, this is your channel!
Join to get exclusive updates on tropical gardening:
Fun Facts and Nature Wonders
🌺 How to make your plants flower and stay happy
How to get the biggest fruit crop
🏆 Sweepstakes and Contests
Butterfly and Container Garden
Food Forest
⚜️ Perfume Plants
🍲 Exotic Recipes and Remedies
...and of course, your favorite -
🐾 PeopleCats in the Garden!
JOIN and share with friends! 👇
🏵 TopTropicals
We Grow Happiness
Longevity Spinach Superfood Recipes: how to make healthy food delicious
Can healthy food taste delicious?
Healthy Longevity Spinach... It tastes like... spinach? You can add it to your salads, but let's face it, you can only eat so much of a salad. So try it cooked - you will be so surprised and want to eat it every day!
🍳 Eggs with Longevity Spinach
You will need:
🌿 Longevity Spinach or Okinawa Spinach: 2 handfuls
- 1 cup Bacon (optional), sliced or chopped, or: 2 tbsp Olive or vegetable oil
1 large Onion, sliced in semi-rings
1 sweet pepper, red or yellow, sliced
3-5 cloves garlic, chopped (optional, to taste)
5-6 eggs
1 cup ground beef or turkey/chicken (optional), or mushrooms
½ cup shredded cheese (regular or Parmesan)
salt and pepper to taste
🌶 Sweet Chile Sauce (optional. Tastes great with this dish!)
- 🍷 a glass of your favorite wine or cocktail to enjoy your dinner
Preparation time: 10 min
Makes dinner for 2
Open detailed recipe
🛒 Order Longevity Spinach
#Edible_Forest #Recipes
TopTropicals.com
We Grow Happiness