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Garden Organics: What's in Yours?Make the garden organic. Say what? It already is. Ok, make the garden organic without adding man-made fertilizer or chemicals. Ah, now thats different. Thats more like keeping it organic.When you vacation at Perleta Magic, you are greeted with fragrance and colour from the gardens, and they are indeed organic. Everything here just grows without our interference, so we don't - interfere. Given the low humidity, water is the only real requirement. Plants like aloe vera, cactii and date palms grow extremely well here.
The complementary choice of colours and trees creates a sense of welcome and peace as well as visually stunning to the eyes - another part of the uniqueness at Perleta Magic. And the olive trees: they're everywhere. Before we had any ideas of buying real estate here and Spain was only a vacation destination, we must have passed hundreds of hectares of olive plantations. All the photos shown on this page are taken here at Perleta Magic; the food photos are of dishes prepared by Jacqui using her own recipes, and photos of the plants and fruit that are in our garden, not a photo-trip through a garden centre. This table represents all of them:
The next part delves into the qualities of the plants, as in what it's good for, and where we've seen it or made use of it. ALOE VERAThe nutritional properties of aloe vera come from the 18 amino acids, minerals and vitamins it contains.
When we were travelling in 2000, I had the most severe sunburn on a Caribbean island, and not a lot of choice of suncreams or sunblocks at the resort. But, beach-vendor guys were selling aloe vera juice and pulp in bottles. Hey, why not? It was a life-saver... cool, deliciously soothing on my sunburnt skin.. aahhh-hh! In the garden in Spain, they are great needing very little care and attention - and have a multiplicity of uses. BIGNONIAPandorea jasminoides, Podranea brycei+ricasoliana, are part of the Bignonia family, which is a huge genus. Trees or shrubs or woody vines or herbs having fruit resembling gourds or capsules. The genus Pandorea is commonly known as Bower of Beauty, Bower Vine; in the throat from the flower are little hairs.An evergreen twiner Pandorea jasminoides is a vigorous plant and flowers best if the roots are restricted in a pot, it also performs better if indoors for at least the colder months. If kept outdoors (on a south wall) it will flower sporadically, with a darker trumpet, and produce a fragrant, jasmine-like scent.
It is a climbing creeping vine with woody stems, glossy, dark green leaves and most showy, bright foxglove-like flowers are produced all summer long. .
Cape Honeysuckle needs very well-drained soil and prefers full sun, but will bloom in filtered light; flowering is best is slightly cooler climates. Bees and butterflies a-plenty visit the flame colored tubular flowers. BOUGAINVILLEAThe actual flower of the bougainvillea plant is small and generally white, but each cluster of three flowers is surrounded by three or six bracts with the bright colours associated with the plant, including pink, magenta, purple, red, orange, white, or yellow. Sometimes referred to as "paper flower" because the bracts are thin and papery. Bougainvillea are relatively pest-free which is a bonus.Bougainvilleas make a lovely display especially in the summer, where flower non-stop and grow new shoots profusely. They can either go outside in a sheltered garden or can be kept in a greenhouse or conservatory provided they are given good ventilation. They are thorny, woody vines growing anywhere from 1-12 meters tall, scrambling over other plants with their hooked thorns. I remember growing up with bougainvilleas in the garden, in the tropical city of Penang, Malaysia. Almost every home had a few, rivalling to outdo each other in terms of the riotous colours of the rainbow. We had mango tree and a few pots of lime trees, but it was the profusion of colour of the bougainvilleas that remained in my constant memory to this day. CHILLIESThe human diet has had some form of chilli peppers from ancient times. The active ingredient in chillies, is mostly concentrated around the seeds; habanero, jalapeno, bird's eye pepper, Scotch bonnet, etc.The Scoville scale is a measure of the 'hotness' of a chilli pepper i.e. hot sauce. Known as chilli sauce, or pepper sauce, North African cuisine calls it Harissa, though it is often treated as a table condiment to be served on the side.
I use sambal belacan (pronounced sam-bal bla-chan), with a lot of South East Asian dishes, especially since I was born and raised in Penang (Malaysia), to give it them a boost. For an added zing, finely chop a chilli and steep in some vinegar, sugar, and lime juice; and drizzle it over the top... the above dish, Salad with Bacon really flies, but adding the chilli really sends it into orbit. DATESPhoenix dactylifera, wild date palm seeds dating back 50,000 years have been found in the Shanidar Cave of northern Iraq. Ancient Egyptians used date palm for beer sweetening, used palm trunks for roofing and leaves for basket making. Leaves provided shade from the sun and shelter from dust storms, were also used for manufacture of sandals for the priests and the temple's workers.Date palm wine is still manufactured in rural areas of Egypt. The date palm tree flourished and was an important source of nutrition in lands with little water and with a severe environment. In later times, Arabs spread dates around South & South East Asia, northern Africa, and Spain and Italy. In Southeast Spain, in the Alicante province, a large date plantation exists including UNESCO protected Palmeral of Elche, an oasis of calm and peaceful tranquillity. It is the largest palm grove in Europe, left as a legacy of the Arabs, and one of the largest in the world, surpassed in size only by some in Arab countries. The 13,000m2 of orchard is in the middle of the Palmeral de Elche and here you can see the famous Imperial Date palm with 8 boughs, within the city of Elche (Elx). It contains more than 200,000 palm trees, mostly date palms. Gooey and luscious, dates can also be chopped and used in a range of sweet and savoury dishes, from tajines (tagines) in Morocco to cookies, sweets and desserts. DRAGON TREEThe Dragon Tree (Dracaena Draco), is a vulnerable plant endemic to the arid, rocky mountain ranges of the Canary Islands, Madeira, and Cape Verde.Native to the Canary Islands, the Dragon Tree is one of the world’s most unique and grand feature trees. With succulent branches and strap-like leaves, thick smooth trunk and blue-green foliage, even when young, Dracaena Draco gives off an appearance few plants can match. Its hardiness make it the perfect plant for any drought stricken lands and suited to Spain's hot and dry climes. Dracaena draco does not display annual rings and age can only be estimated by the number of branch forking occurrences indicating the number of flowering episodes. Some specimens are believed to be up to 650 years old; the oldest is growing at Icod de los Vinos in northwest Tenerife. It's called a Dragon's Blood Tree, because the red latex material is excised and mixed with another compound to make the red lustre varnish used to coat violins. We have a Dragon Tree growing next to the Guest House, if you feel you need some red latex (!). FIG
GRAPESCultivated varieties of grapes (Vitis vinifera) have been grown on a large scale in the Old World since the dawn of history. Ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs show cultivation of grapes, and scholars believe that ancient Greeks, Phoenicians and Romans also grew grapes for both eating and wine production. Some research has been made and the oldest evidence of wine production can be found in ceramic jars at the remains of a Neolithic village in present-day Georgia, dating to around 6,000 BC.The first cultivation grapes in the United States was in California. They were grown by Spanish Franciscan Friars looking to make a sacramental wine for the California Missions. As more settlers came to California, more and more varieties of European grapes were introduced: some for wine-making, others for raisins and some for eating fresh. The most two potent flavonoids found in grapes are: quercitin and resveratrol and their function was as antioxidants. Together with tannins , polyphenols and polyunsaturated fatty acids these grape seed constituents display inhibitory activities against several experimental disease models, including cancer, heart failure. We are fortunate in be in the Alicante area for new wine trails and out-of-the-way bodegas to engender more traffic and gastronomic tours in the years to come. We also get a bountiful crop from the grape vines each year... it's neat to just stroll up to a vine and gobble a handful of fresh grapes.. HIBISCUSThe tropical hibiscus belongs to the Malvaceae or mallow family and is the national flower ('Bunga Raya', Hibiscus rosa-sinensis) of Malaysia. Thousands of colours and combinations of colours, some varieties have blossoms 2" in diameter and others about 5 times the size.Originating in Asia and the Pacific islands, they are noted for their showy flowers, this large genus includes about 200–220 species of family, also includes both annual and perennial herbaceous plants, as well as woody shrubs and small trees.
When we were on vacation in Cuba, every morning I would get a fresh hibiscus flower, plucked for me by the gardener who was tending his gardens, also in Mexico and Maldives - very exotic! HONEYSUCKLEHoneysuckle (Lonicera) are arching shrubs or twining vines, deciduous but some are evergreen. Highly perfumed flowers, there are climbing honeysuckles, which are wonderful draped over pergolas and supports, and evergreen shrubs. Many of the species have sweetly-scented, bell-shaped flowers that produce a sweet, edible nectar. Breaking of the Honeysuckle's stem will release this powerful sweet scent, fruity and warm and gently sensuous, welcome the intoxicating smell of summer.The ancient Roman writer Pliny suggested the use of the honeysuckle mixed with wine for disorders of the spleen. Honeysuckle contains a volatile oil (which includes linalool and jasmone), tannins, luteolin, and inositol. It is used via herbal decoction, syrup, and infusion, tincture. It can be used to make wine, beer, honeysuckle soap, perfume, toothpaste, cosmetics, tea, and spices. ICE PLANTSIce plants (Aizoaceae family) are commonly known as stone plants or carpet weeds, species that resemble stones or pebbles are sometimes called mesems. Ice plants are attractive, with fleshy green leaves covered with small fibers, causing them to sparkle like ice in the sun. They also feature bright yellow, pink, or white flowers and edible fruit (they make it into jam in South Africa).- Aptenia
-Delosperma
JASMINEJasmine (Jasminum) is native to tropical and warm temperate regions of the world. It is enjoyed in the garden, as a house plant, and as cut flowers, endowed with the exotic perfumes. The flowers are worn by women in their hair in southern and southeast Asia.The delicate jasmine flowers are used to make teas, which often has a base of green tea, but sometimes an Oolong base is used. Its oil is calming and relaxing, is used in creams, shampoos and soaps. It is considered to be a great skin toner and conditioner. It even keeps the mosquitoes away, a neighbour who is Spanish picks the jasmine at sundown and puts it in a glass with a little water to ward off mosquitoes. It is Indonesia's national flower called "puspa bangsa", and goes by the name "Melati". It is the most important flower in wedding ceremonies for ethnic Indonesian, especially in the island of Java. Also in Malaysia, Malays and the Indian women with long hair would have jasmine adornments. Both my grandmothers (paternal and maternal) had long hair which they had up in a bun; the ends on the bun were afixed by pins and the flower decorations were always fresh jasmine, the fragrance was out of this world. In Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines and India, you'll see long garlands on jasmine being sold everywhere. MINTFrom Greek mythology the word minthe, was a nymph who was transformed into a mint plant. Mints (Mentha) are cool, fresh, aromatic, almost exclusively perennial herbs.They have wide-spreading underground rhizomes and erect, square, branched stems. Leaf colours range from dark green and grey-green to purple, garden mint has a bright green colour which is my favourite. They are fast growing, extending their reach along surfaces through a network of runners. It grows especially fast one plant of each desired mint is plenty for home use; they may include many varieties that flavour everything from appetizers to desserts. Mint essential oil is an ingredient of many cosmetics and some perfumes, in aromatherapy, in medicine as a component of many drugs, and in shampoo products. Mint tea when we were in Morocco was soothing and cooling on a hot day. And very mint-y. The waiters stuff a whole load of fresh mint leaves into the very ornately steel 'Arabian-nights' teapot. Adding piping hot water and sugar, the mint tea is allowed to steep for 10 minutes. Then comes the practiced hand at pouring little glass-cups of mint tea - it is an art unto itself. LEMONThe exact origin of the lemon (Citrus limon) is unclear but it is suggested that it come from countries of the Middle East and central Asia, and in particular Iran, which is the place of origin of citrus fruits. It is presumed lemons first grew in India, northern Burma and China.It was known for its antiseptic properties and it was used as an antidote, and generally it was used for culinary purposes.
My husband said his Mum always had a lemon drink first thing in the morning. So does my aunt... and they've both got beautiful skin. Hmm, I wonder... OLIVEThe olive (Olea europaea) has been an integral part of life in the eastern Mediterranean from the first stirrings of civilisation. In ancient Greece, athletes ritually rubbed it all over their bodies. Olive oil has been medicinal, an endless source of fascination and wonder and has been more than mere food to the peoples of the Mediterranean.The Minoans used olive oil in their diet, as a cleanser instead of soap, as the base for scents and ointments. Olive oil is a natural juice which preserves the taste, aroma, vitamins and properties of the olive fruit. Olive oil is the only vegetable oil that can be consumed as it is - freshly pressed from the fruit. We tried it ourselves not too long ago, and they're right. In addition to the internal health benefits of olive oil, topical application is quite popular with fans of natural health remedies. Extra Virgin Olive Oil is the preferred grade for moisturizing the skin. Many mature ladies of the Mediterranean countries attributed their longevity and relatively youthful appearance to olive oil, poured on all their food and rubbed into their skin. I've tried Extra Virgin Olive Oil mixed with honey and it does moisturize the skin, have a luxuriant feel and minimises wrinkles - great! ORANGESThe citrus fruits were known in some Asian countries for three or four millenia and oranges were cultivated in China for many centuries they were known to the outside world. Oranges feature in mosaics at Pompeii as unfamiliar fruits. It has become clear that oranges have phytochemicals that some of these have disease-fighting properties, cancer prevention, can protect against heart disease and stroke.Oranges (citrus sinensis) have a vast amounts of vitamin C which has beneficial effects on the skin. As a person ages, skin cells divide more slowly, and the inner skin, or dermis, starts to thin. Fat cells beneath the dermis begin to atrophy, and the underlying network of elastin and collagen fibres, start to fail.
PASSIONFLOWERThroughout Central & South America there grow hundreds of species of Passion Flowers, they are mostly shrubs and vines. The passion fruit is a vigorous, climbing vine that clings by tendrils to almost any support. It can grow 15 to 20 ft. per year. It is generally short-lived (5 to 7 years). These days species of Passiflora have been naturalised beyond their native ranges. For example, Blue Passion Flower (P. caerulea) now grows wild in Spain.The purple passionfruit (P. edulis) and its yellow relative flavicarpa are introduced in many tropical regions as commercial crops. Most species have round or elongated edible fruit from two to eight inches long and an inch to two inches across. The passion fruit or maracuja (P. edulis) is cultivated extensively in the Caribbean, South Florida, South Africa among others for its fruit and juice. The decorative passion flowers have a unique flower structure, which in most requires a large insect like a bee to effectively pollinate. The size and structure of flowers of other Passiflora species is optimized for pollination by hummingbirds, bumble bees, wasps or bats, while yet others are self-pollinating. They are the most amazing and exquisite flower I have ever seen and the passionfruit (P. Edulis) makes exceptional topping for meringues and pavlovas. PEARPears (Pyrus) are native to coastal and mildly temperate regions of the world, from western Europe and north Africa to Asia and about 5000 varieties are available. Three species account for the vast majority of edible fruit production, the European pear in Europe and North America, the Chinese white pear, and the Nashi pear (also known as Asian Pear or Apple Pear), both grown mainly in eastern Asia.A certain species of pears, with white down on the under surface of their leaves, their fruit is chiefly used in France in the manufacture of fermented pear juice, perry cider. Most of the fibre is insoluble, making pears a good laxative. Most of the vitamin C as well as the dietary fiber, are contained within the skin of the fruit. Vitamin C contained in pears be thought of as antioxidant nutrients that help protect cells in the body from oxygen-related damage due to free radicals. Pear juice also contain pectin, a soluble fiber, which helps the body to eliminate cholesterol. Pear is thought to be able to promote cancer prevention and help prevent high blood pressure and stroke. We have a 'nispero' (loquat)tree and we get a bumper crop every year. It is also is known Japanese medlar. PINES and PINE NUTSPine nut (Pinus) harvest, a main ingredient in some versions of pesto, and a subsistence crop that has been part of the diet of people of the American Southwest and Great Basin for at least 7,500 years. Stone Pine which has been cultivated for its nuts for over 6,000 years, and harvested from wild trees for far longer. Pine nuts have been eaten in Europe and Asia since the Paleolithic period. European pine nuts may be distinguished from Asian ones by their greater length, Asian pine nuts are stubbier.The pine nut is an essential ingredient in many dishes and considered a delicacy in some cultures. The pignoli cookie, an Italian specialty confection, is made of almond flour formed into a dough similar to that of a macaroon and then topped with pine nuts.
POMEGRANATEThe pomegranate (Punica granatum) is native from Iran to the Himalayas in northern India, thought to be the gardens on Babylon was known in ancient Egypt, and was cultivated and naturalized over the whole Mediterranean region since ancient times.The branches are stiff, angular and often spiny. Pomegranates are also long-lived. There are specimens in Europe that are known to be over 200 years of age. The vigour of a pomegranate declines after about 15 years, however. The pomegranate has glossy, leathery leaves that are narrow and lance-shaped, and has attractive scarlet, white or variegated flowers. The interior is separated by membranous walls and white, spongy, bitter tissue into compartments packed with sacs filled with sweetly acid, juicy, red, pink or whitish pulp. In each sac there is one angular, soft or hard seed. Pomegranates are packed with antioxidants, which prevent free radicals from damaging cells. Elche is now a major pomegranate growing area - and Perleta Magic is right in the middle of it: hectares of pomegranates everwhere you look. STRELITZIAIs an exotic bloom, the most common Strelitzia planted is the variety with the orange petals and the blue tongue; a common name of the genus is bird of paradise flower. In South Africa it is commonly known as a crane flower.In appearance, it is a like banana plant but with a longer petiole, and arranged strictly in two ranks to form a fan-like crown of evergreen foliage. It's flowers are sensational and are produced in a horizontal position. They are pollinated by sunbirds among others, which use the spathe as a perch to get the nectar from the flowers. This in turn causes the blue petals to open to release the pollen onto the bird's feet. Strelitzias are indigenous to South Africa where it grows wild in the eastern Cape. Here the strelitzias grow between other shrubs along the riverbanks and clearing in the coastal bush. This must be one of the most well-known plants in the world. The fascinating blooms are sold as cut flowers by the million. Our strelitzias are probably not pollinated by sunbirds, being in Spain; you'll see commercial places and roundabouts planted with strelitzias around our area. WALNUTSSince antiquity, the walnut (Juglans) tree is known not only for the edible walnut and the highly prized timber but also for his deep roots in folklore and mythology, and was a symbol of fertility. Exclusive furniture, musical instruments and weapon shafts are often produced with this unique wood species.Walnuts most commonly available in shops are from the Persian walnut, the only species which has a large nut and thin shell. The nuts are rich in oil, but walnut oil is expensive and consequently is used sparingly. Walnuts are also an excellent source of fatty acids, and have been shown as helpful in lowering cholesterol. Rich in vitamin E, an antioxidant, and high in healthy monounsaturated fatty acids, walnuts are a potent anti-aging food and promote skin health. Walnuts help minimize wrinkles by preventing inflammation and promote supple skin. Vitamin E also helps protect the skin from damage from the sun's rays. Nuts are rich in phytochemicals such as flavonoids which are powerful antioxidants. I'd never seen walnut trees before coming to Spain. But now having walnut tree in the orchard it produces a bumper crop every season, and we don't even water it. If you've never had a walnut straight from the tree, it's the freshest you can ever get!
YUCCAYucca species, in the lily family (Liliaceae), are relatively large succulent plants, typically 2-4 metres tall. Yucca are a type of tree lily, like agave, yucca, dracaena or Cabbage trees. They have stiff, perennial leaves notable for their rosettes of evergreen, tough, sword-shaped eaves and large terminal clusters of white or whitish flowers. They are native to the hot and dry parts of the world.Yuccas are widely grown as ornamental architectural in gardens. Many yuccas also bear edible parts, including fruits, seeds, flowers, flowering stems, and more rarely roots. Native American tribes uses yucca as a food, and it has traditionally been used as an arthritis remedy. Indian tribes in the North American (USA) southwest use the yucca's leaves to make soaps and shampoos. Soaptree yucca gains its name from the high content of saponins in the trunk and roots. These soap-like compounds were used for shampoo and soap by indigenous Indians. In northern New Mexico, healers use a tea brewed from yucca leaves to treat asthma and headaches. 'Garden organics' also infers using the stuff from the garden as naturally as possible, to get the maximum amount of benefit out of them... |
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