What is the meaning of the lily symbol? Physalis is a Chinese lantern. Legend of Physalis Physalis meaning in the language of flowers

It is difficult for shy and romantic natures to express their feelings in words - not only out loud, sometimes it is difficult even to write a letter. That is why in past, more chaste centuries, people used the symbolic language of flowers to express their feelings.

It has become popular again in our time, however, of course, it does not find such wide application as in past times, when young people were completely fond of it. Everyone knew how to compose and decipher the message that this or that bouquet of flowers carried. How convenient it would be if such a language were used even now - after all, it is not difficult to master it, it is universal and would be understandable to everyone, even if the donor and addressee speak different languages.

Where did the language of flowers come from? It originated in the East and was widely used both in the presentation of bouquets and in lyrical works. The language of flowers came to Europe in the 18th century and became very widespread in secular society - it was used at balls, in games and in letters.

The flower language, like any other, has changed over time and adapted to the conditions in which it was used - after all, each locality has its own favorite flowers. Sometimes the symbolism of the flower changed, did not coincide with its original Eastern interpretation. For example, phlox had two interpretations - it could mean humility and consent, but at the same time it was a symbol of fiery passion.

In Russia, the popularization of the language of flowers is associated with the name of the poet and translator Dmitry Petrovich Oznobishin, who published the Persian book Selam, or the Language of Flowers, translated into Russian by him. More than 400 plants were described in this book, each of which corresponded to a certain word or phrase. The book was quite popular, of course, primarily among young people.

Nowadays, giving a bouquet that carries such a message in the language of flowers, you risk being misunderstood. Perhaps you should attach a brief “flower phrase book” to the bouquet? You can attach a book on the language of flowers to the gift so that your flower letter can be deciphered. Or just add greeting card interpretation of some meanings of the language of flowers.

Some interpretations from the language of flowers

Sin .: emerald berry, earthen cranberry, Peruvian gooseberry, strawberry tomato, earth cherry, Jewish cherry, common physalis, alkekengi, Chinese lantern, franche, vegetable physalis, Mexican tomato, nightshade, bladderwort, bubble cherry, puffed cherry, dog cherry, field cherry, moshna, mahunka, mashnukha, mahunka berry, mohurka, sleepy dope, sleepy dope.

People call it earthen cranberries, but it has nothing to do with it. Its fruits are similar to tomatoes, but they are not, although it belongs to the Solanaceae family. Suitable for food without its poisonous calyx, however, it is almost never used in cultivation. Amateur gardeners grow it for both ornamental and medicinal purposes. Scientific medicine as medicinal plant does not use it. And all this is physalis.

Ask the experts

In medicine

None of the species of the genus Physalis is included in the State Pharmacopoeia of the Russian Federation. For scientific medicine, this plant is of no interest. Physalis is not officially used anywhere as a medicinal plant. We only know that it is in demand in folk medicine.

Contraindications and side effects

It is known that toxic substances are concentrated in the vesicle calyx of Physalis fruits. It should be removed before eating the fruit. The plant is contraindicated for people with intolerance to its components, pregnant and lactating women, children, people with high acidity of the stomach.

In cooking

Sweets and jams are prepared from the physalis fruit-berry. With the addition of physalis, sauces and summer salads are made. Its fruits are preserved in the same way as tomatoes. The juice obtained from physalis is used as a dressing for meat and fish dishes. The main rule for the use of physalis in food purposes- removal of a poisonous box from its fetus.

In landscape design

One of the species of the genus Physalis is Decorative Physalis. You can’t eat it in any way, but you can grow a wonderful decorative element on your site.

Classification

Physalis (lat. Phusalis) is a genus of perennial herbal plants of the Solanaceae family (lat. Solanaceae).

Botanical description

Physalis is a genus of large herbaceous perennials (much less often annuals) that have a lignified stem at the base. It is erect, grows up to 1.3 m in height. The leaves of the representatives of the genus Physalis are alternate, petiolate, are sharp and rounded shape. Physalis flowers are bisexual.

Despite the species, salient feature of all physalis - a fruit in the form of a berry, located in a sheath-case, reminiscent of a New Year's Chinese lantern made of paper. Outwardly, the fruit is very similar to a tomato. Such a funny shell-case is obtained by natural fusion of sepals. At first, the calyx after flowering grows faster than the fetus. When the fruit-berry is fully ripe, this cup dries up, and its color changes.

Physalis blooms from May to August, and bears fruit in September. All representatives of the genus Physalis are heat-loving plants, many of them do not tolerate frost at all. It is worth noting that the physalis plant is poisonous. The poison is in the calyx with the fruit. The fruit itself without the calyx is edible. The genus Physalis is divided into ornamental and food plant species. Both grow in Russia.

The most common on the territory of the Russian Federation is Physalis ordinary, or Physalis Alkekengi, or Physalis Franche, or Chinese lantern. This is decorative look plants, it winters in temperate climates and grows from rhizomes every year. The fruits of common physalis, unfortunately, are unsuitable for human consumption, because they have a bitter aftertaste.

Of the food species on the territory of Russia, the sticky-like Physalis can most often be found. The second name is vegetable physalis, Mexican tomato. Another food species that grows in Russia is pubescent physalis, or strawberry physalis. The rest of the food varieties of this plant are grown only by certain breeders, botanists and collectors. the rarest species world of flora.

Spreading

Physalis is found wild in Europe, America, Asia. In Russia, it grows in southern regions. You can see it in the fields, in vineyards, along roadsides (usually in the form of continuous thickets). Physalis is suitable for cultivation, but is used for this purpose very rarely.

Distribution regions on the map of Russia.

Procurement of raw materials

The raw materials are the fruits of physalis. Them long-term storage does not involve any special processing and other manipulations. They begin to harvest raw materials in the fall, it is better at the very beginning, because early autumn fruits acquire a characteristic color. At the same time, their covers brighten, dry out. Already ripe berries fall to the ground. You should know that in dry weather, fallen berries can lie for 7 to 10 days and not deteriorate.

Picking berries, as a rule, occurs gradually, about 1 time per week. It is necessary to start collecting fruits of physalis from already fallen ripe berries, and then move on to well-developed green berries. The main rule for collecting physalis is to have time to harvest before the onset of frost. If for some reason the crop is not harvested on time, frozen berries will not be stored well.

Wet berries should not be picked, it is better to wait until dew or raindrops dry. If there is no choice, the fruits should be thoroughly dried before laying so that they do not deteriorate. It is in this form that the physalis berry is best stored. Picking physalis berries involves making sure that they are not damaged, since it is the whole fruits that can fully preserve the entire storehouse useful substances, and also determine the aroma and taste of each of the physalis varieties.

Physalis berries should be stored in small boxes with ventilation holes, in lattice boxes that can hold about 3 kg of berries. Filled boxes and boxes with berries are placed in cool and well-ventilated rooms, where they need to be stored for 2 months at an air temperature of about +12 degrees. It should be noted that green intact fruits can lie there until spring.

For ripening at a temperature of +25 degrees, the fetus needs 1-2 weeks. During the entire storage period, physalis fruits must be carefully examined, removing ripened fruits and throwing out spoiled berries.

Chemical composition

The composition of physalis is not fully understood, but it is known that the concentration of useful substances falls on its fruits. Physalis berries, outwardly resembling tomatoes, contain vitamin C and some organic acids: citric, succinic, ferulic, coffee, tartaric, malic, and stanovoy.

Also, mucus, quercetin, pectin, tannins, organic compounds, minerals, and oils were found in physalis berries. All these substances are fully contained only in a fully ripe fruit. The calorie content of physalis fruits is low, it is only 54 kcal for every 100 berries. Berries contain a lot of water, they can quench thirst.

In the roots of physalis, alkaloids were found: tropine, tegloidin, kuskggrin, pseudotropin. Carotenoids were found in the leaves: physoxanthin, alpha-carotene, beta-carotene, lutein, zeaxanthin; steroids: campesterol, sitosterol, stigmasterol, cholesterol; flavonoids.

Pharmacological properties

The medicinal properties of physalis have not been confirmed by official medicine, but it is known that the ripened fruits of the plant contain a maximum of useful substances, which, in theory, should provide the body with invaluable benefits. However, they contain alkaloids, endowing them with a certain degree of toxicity. The calyces of the physalis berries are poisonous.

It is believed that physalis berries allegedly lower cholesterol levels, activate the removal of toxins from the body. However, none of this has been scientifically proven.

Application in traditional medicine

Traditional healers from the southern corners of Russia, where physalis grows wild, use it as a diuretic and as a means for epithelizing tissues. According to some reports, physalis has anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects. This is what herbalists from Krasnodar Territory. They use the plant in the treatment of kidney stones, gout and articular rheumatism.

It is believed that Sochi herbalists use physalis in the treatment of jaundice, cystitis and hemorrhoids, pain in the gastrointestinal tract and hemorrhage. In general, in folk medicine, flowers, roots, fruits, juice, dried leaves and gruel from fresh physalis leaves are used. For example, healers from the southern corners of Russia use physalis juice in fresh for healing lacerations and in the treatment of lichen.

Some Russian healers make a decoction of physalis flowers for internal and external use. Also, healers often use a decoction of physalis root to restore the disturbed menstrual cycle, when coughing. For hypertension, some herbalists advise drinking tea based on dried physalis leaves.

In Bulgaria, traditional medicine uses a decoction of physalis for difficult urination, in the treatment of hemorrhoids. In Tajikistan, herbalists boil fresh juice and gruel from physalis fruits, mix it with milk and give it to their children. This is how Tajiks treat their sore throat, stomatitis, laryngitis.

It should be noted that no clinical trials have been conducted in this area with physalis, therefore, all of the above healing properties of the plant are entirely observations from the life of traditional healers, trusting or not which is a purely personal matter for everyone.

History reference

The name "physalis" in translation from Greek in Russian it means “bubble”, which indicates the interesting shape of the box in which the fruit-berry is enclosed. Hence the other name of the plant - bladder.

The largest domestic scientific organization that is actively engaged in research and selection of physalis is VNIISSOK. Also, collections of many varieties and species of physalis are available at the All-Russian Institute of Plant Industry. N.I. Vavilov.

The physalis plant was brought to Russia from Mexico about 50 years ago. We can say that it has been known to Russians for a long time, however beneficial features physalis and his chemical composition not yet fully explored. This explains the lack of interest in him on the part of official medicine. However, for traditional healers, physalis is of great interest, as, indeed, any other plant.

Literature

1. Biological encyclopedic dictionary / Ch. ed. M. S. Gilyarov; Editorial staff: A. A. Baev, G. G. Vinberg, G. A. Zavarzin and others - M .: Sov. Encyclopedia, 1986. - S. 670. - 831 p.

2. Crop production institute // Great Soviet Encyclopedia: [in 30 volumes] / ch. ed. A. M. Prokhorov. - 3rd ed. - M.: Soviet Encyclopedia, 1969-1978.

3. Theoretical foundations of selection. T. III. - Gene pool and selection of grain legumes. - St. Petersburg: VIR, 1995. - 440 p.

4. V. Levanovsky. Finishing Hitler's Deed: The Vavilov Collection Under Threat of Destruction // Skepsis.

5. encyclopedic Dictionary medicinal, essential oil and poisonous plants/ Comp. G. S. Ogolevets. - M.: Selkhozgiz, 1951. - S. 28. - 584 p.

6. Solanaceae // Encyclopedic Dictionary of Brockhaus and Efron: in 86 volumes (82 volumes and 4 additional). - St. Petersburg, 1890-1907.

7. Korovkin OA Anatomy and morphology of higher plants: a dictionary of terms. - M. : Bustard, 2007. - S. 78. - 268, p.

8. Mirkin B. M., Naumova L. G., Muldashev A. A. higher plants: short course taxonomy with the basics of the science of vegetation: Textbook. - 2nd, revised. - M.: Logos, 2002. - 256 p.

There are many languages ​​on our planet, and one of them is the language of flowers. This is a universal language that any nation is capable of understanding - any girl will be delighted with a gift in the form of a flower, no matter what continent she lives on, flowers lowered on a grave in any corner of the earth will speak of sorrow and participation.

True, relying on the universality of the language of flowers, sometimes you can get into an unpleasant situation, because every nation has its own idea of ​​​​the symbolism of a particular plant. So, for example, in European culture white lily is a symbol of sadness, in Russian it is a symbol of innocence, and in the East it is a symbol of joy.

White lily - a symbol of purity

From a sign to a stigma

In nature, there are many shades of a lily, but it is the white flower that is given a special meaning in the culture of various peoples. By the way, the name of the lily comes from the ancient Gallic "li-li" - "white-white". White lily symbolizes purity, purity, innocence.

In Catholicism, the white lily is considered the flower of the Virgin Mary. According to legend, the archangel Gabriel held a lily in his hand when he brought Mary the good news of the immaculate conception. Girls in Catholic countries go to the first communion in a wreath of delicate flowers.

Lilies were respected and revered at all times. The ancient Persians called their capital Susa - “the city of lilies”, the ancient Jews decorated their temples with this flower, the ancient Greeks believed that lilies appeared from the drops of milk of the goddess Hera that fell to the ground.

According to ancient German legends, in the corolla of each lily lives its own elf, who is born and dies with the flower. During the day, the elves sleep, and at night they sway the flowers, making a melodic ringing. The lily flower in Germany symbolized the afterlife and the atonement of sins.

AT Ancient Egypt the lily symbolized the shortness of life. The bodies of girls who died young were adorned with white lilies as a sign of their innocence.

The French kings chose the lily as their emblem. The fleur-de-lis was depicted on their banners and emblems and symbolized mercy, justice and compassion.

By the way, this is where the modern European tradition originates from not giving lilies on festive occasions. With a royal lily, the rulers of the Renaissance began to stigmatize their enemies, dissolute women and traitors. The delicate flower received negative symbolism when it fell on the shoulders of criminals, so now in Europe it is customary to bring white lilies to funerals.

And earlier, among European aristocrats, there was a custom according to which the groom every morning, until the wedding day, sent a bouquet to the bride, where there were always lilies. In Russia, even today it is customary to give lilies for a wedding and as a sign of sincere love.

Bouquet of lilies

Like any flower, lilies are often given to girls. Depending on the color of the lily chosen by the gentleman, the hidden message presented with the bouquet may also change.

The "classic" bouquet of the bride consists of lilies, because their snow-white color symbolizes purity, purity, nobility, majesty. White lilies are given only to loved ones.

If a girl receives yellow lilies as a gift, most likely, this is an attempt by the gentleman to draw attention to herself, such a bouquet emphasizes the originality of the man who chose it.

Yellow lilies are given to the chosen ones by extraordinary men

Be careful with red lilies. Their symbolism is wealth, pride, and sometimes contempt and hatred. A bouquet of red lilies can alert rather than please.

On the night before the crucifixion, the Savior walked through the Garden of Gethsemane. All the flowers sympathized with him and drooped as a sign of sadness. Only the lily was so proud of her own beauty that she did not bow her head, but a blush of shame spread over her petals as Christ passed by. So says the legend.

A bouquet of orange lilies symbolizes the man's interest in the girl, as well as an attempt to find out if she shares the feelings that have arisen on his part. This is a silent question: "Is your heart free?"

The tiger lily is a sign of abundance and prosperity. A bouquet of tiger lilies as a gift to their companion will be chosen by men who are presumptuous and very pleased with themselves and their successes.

lily and man

Lilies can be bought at a flower shop, or you can grow them in your own garden or even on a window. You can surround yourself with images of this elegant flower by hanging a picture in the house, wearing clothes with floral prints or embroidery. You can wear jewelry in the form of a flower or a lily bud. You can even imprint a lily on your body forever by getting a tattoo. After all, a lily flower is traditionally considered a talisman and gives a person not only a unique aroma, but also a powerful energy charge.

Lilies will decorate any interior

According to Feng Shui

Lily - gentle graceful flower with a wonderful aroma that successfully survives in window sill conditions. This flower is grown and bred at home, mainly for aesthetic reasons, but its strong energy dictates certain rules for the placement of flower plants.

Lily brings abundance and harmony to the family, and attracts their soul mate to single people. If you want to improve your personal life, then the lily pot must be placed in the southwestern part of the apartment, since this sector, according to Feng Shui, is responsible for love.

Lilies bring harmony to the house

Lilies, located in the bedroom, are able to increase the sexuality of the couple, since the delicate flower also symbolizes passion. And it is also recommended to have lilies in the house for those who are experiencing separation from a loved one or his loss, because the lily helps to get rid of sadness and torment.

In ancient times, when a woman was a widow, a lily flower was woven into her hair so that sadness would leave her as soon as possible.

In addition, the lily flower has another property - it drives away ghosts from a person's home. According to Feng Shui, lilies should surround your house around the perimeter in order to evil spirits dared not approach. Residents apartment buildings it is recommended to put a lily pot on each windowsill and near front door to reliably protect your home from ghosts.

To protect the house from ghosts, lilies should surround it.

In tattoos

The image of a lily on the human body is traditionally considered a female tattoo, because few men want to decorate themselves with flowers. And the symbolism of the lily is more feminine than masculine. Although often the image of a lily is chosen by the future tattoo wearer not by value, the elegance and beauty of the sketch plays a leading role in the choice.

The lily flower imprinted on the human body symbolizes nobility. Also floral motif, in which the leading role is given to lilies, means innocence, tenderness, fragility, personifies female beauty.

When a lily is depicted surrounded by herbs and flowers, the tattoo symbolizes the sinless soul of its wearer. When one stem crowns several flowers, the meaning of the tattoo is rebirth or immortality.

In the Renaissance, a drawing in the form of a lily stigmatized the body of a woman of easy virtue, so in some cases a tattoo depicting a lily can be misinterpreted

In the interpretation of the meaning of the tattoo, the color in which the lily petals are filled also plays a role. Bright hues associated with cleanliness and daylight hours, dark shades personify passion and night.

Dark lilies symbolize passion

The pink lily symbolizes youth, the white lily symbolizes purity. A tiger lily in a tattoo is a sign of the originality of its wearer, and a yellow one warns others about the proud and even arrogant nature of the owner of the tattoo. Although any tattoo on female body, especially as ambiguous as a lily flower, suggests that someone else's opinion is not important for his mistress.

amulets

Among the Slavs, the lily was a traditional female amulet, its image was used by women in embroidery. Pink lilies surrounded green leaves embroidered on underwear, it protected from all diseases and strengthened health.

The ornament protecting a person was embroidered in a circle on the collar, sleeves or hem of the undershirt. Amulets could not be embroidered for oneself, as well as asking someone to do it. For the amulet to work, it had to be given from a pure heart.

The image of a lily surrounded by a leaf and a bud symbolized the birth, flow and infinity of life. A drop of dew embroidered over a flower is a symbol of fertilization. This ornament gave the owner vitality, strength to continue life, protected from diseases.

A drop of dew over a lily flower symbolized the conception of a new life.

The image of a golden lily kept from adultery, it was a talisman against temptations, it was customary to embroider it on bed linen, most often on pillowcases. The white lily was considered a talisman for good luck.

The negative symbolism of the lily is firmly entrenched in the minds of many people, perhaps Alexandre Dumas was also involved in this, on whose books more than one generation grew up, because the writer paid so much attention to the stigma on the shoulder of his deceitful and dishonest heroine in the novel "Three Musketeers".

Unfortunately, lilies are afraid to give and receive as a gift, attributing delicate flower exclusively funeral and punitive symbols. We hasten to dispel this myth and wish you that your path is strewn with roses and lilies, because this is how well-being was desired in ancient times.

Video - How to arrange a bouquet of lilies

Water lily - a charming and delicate white water lily - is nothing more than the famous fairy tale grass. Rumor ascribes to her magical properties. She was endowed with the ability to protect people, she could give strength to overcome the enemy, protect from troubles and misfortunes, but she could also destroy the one who was looking for her with unclean thoughts.

The Slavs believed that the water lily was able to protect people from various troubles while traveling. Going on a long journey, people sewed leaves and flowers of water lilies into small bags, carried water lilies with them as an amulet and firmly believed that this would bring them good luck and protect them from misfortunes.

There was also a kind of spell on this occasion: "I'm going to open field, and in the open field the grass is growing. I didn't give birth to you, I didn't water you. You were born by mother-cheese earth, you were watered by bare-haired girls, cigarette-rolled women. Overcome-grass! If you had overcome the evil people: they would not have famously thought of me, they had not thought bad things; drive away the sorcerer-slander.

Overcome-grass! Overcome high mountains, low valleys, blue lakes, steep banks, dark forests, stumps and decks. I will hide you, overpowering grass, at the zealous heart all the way and all the way!
Folk names: grass overpower or white overpower, balabolka, swimmer, mermaid flower or mermaid color, water poppy or water poppy, bliskalka, beaver, white hens, water companion, water color, white water lily.
The pitcher is wonderful! This is one of the most beautiful plants. The white water lily has long been considered a symbol of beauty, purity and mercy. These large flowers with a golden mean grow in the still waters of our rivers and lakes. The water lily-nymphaeum is also called the "child of the sun": it lovely flowers open in the morning and close at dusk.



"Blue lotus, or blue water lily (lat. Nymphaea caerulea) is an aquatic plant of the water lily family, a species of the genus Water lily growing in East Africa (from the Nile Valley to the extreme south of the continent), India and Thailand."

About the origin of this wonderful plant there are many legends. They say that she got her name in honor of the nymphs that live, like these plants in the water. As known from Greek mythology, nymphs are the deities of nature: forests, mountains, lakes, rivers and seas. No wonder the flowers named after them are beautiful. In Slavic fairy tales, the idea of ​​water lilies is associated with the mysterious image of a mermaid.

Scandinavian legends say that every water lily has its own friend - an elf, who is born with her, and dies with her. According to popular belief, nymphs live in its flowers and leaves along with little elves. Leaves and flowers serve as boats for these little elves.
Corollas of flowers serve the elves as both a home and a bell.

During the day, the elves sleep in the depths of the flower, and at night they swing the pestle and call, calling their brothers for a quiet conversation. Some of them sit in a circle on a leaf, hanging their legs into the water, while others prefer to talk, swaying in the corollas of water lilies.

Gathering together, they sit in capsules and row, row with petal oars, and the capsules then serve them as boats or boats. The conversations of the elves take place at a late hour, when everything on the lake has calmed down and plunged into a deep sleep.

Lake elves live in underwater crystal chambers built from shells. Pearls, yachts, silver and corals glisten around the halls. Emerald streams roll along the bottom of the lake, dotted with multi-colored pebbles, and waterfalls fall on the roofs of the halls. The sun shines through the water into these dwellings, and the moon and the stars call the elves to the shore.

Switzerland, Goldfish and Lily

The ancient Greek legend about the water lily tells how a beautiful white nymph, inflamed with love for Hercules and did not receive a response from him, turned into a white water lily out of grief and love for him.
In ancient Greece, the flower was considered a symbol of beauty and eloquence. Young girls wove garlands from them, decorated their heads and tunics with them; they even wove a wreath of water lilies for the beautiful Helen on the day of her wedding to King Menelaus and decorated the entrance to their bedroom with a wreath.

The legend of the North American Indians says that the water lily appeared during the collision of the Polar and Evening Stars, from their sparks. These two stars argued among themselves who would get the arrow that the great Indian leader shot into the sky and collided in flight.

According to North German belief, water lilies grew on the site of two dead mermaids, who were killed by an evil nyx (in ancient German mythology - a mermaid) who lived in the lake.
In Germany, it was said that once a little mermaid fell in love with a knight, but he did not reciprocate her feelings. From grief, the nymph turned into a water lily.


"Nymphea Karelian"

According to another legend, water lilies are the children of a beautiful countess, carried away into mud by a swamp king. Heartbroken, the Countess went daily to the shore of the swamp. One day she saw a marvelous White flower, the petals of which resembled the complexion of her daughter, and the stamens - her golden hair.

There is a belief that nymphs (mermaids) hide in flowers and on the leaves of water lilies, and at midnight they begin to dance and drag people passing by the lake with them. If someone managed to somehow escape from them, then grief will dry him up later.

In the distant past, the entire coastal strip of Italy, from Pisa to Naples, was occupied by swamps. There, the legend of the beautiful Melinda and the king of the swamp was born. The legend that water lilies are the children of the beautiful blond Countess Melinda and the ugly, terrible swamp king who kidnapped her. Once upon a time, there was a beautiful Melinda.


on Yandex.Photos

And the swamp king followed her all the time. The king's eyes twinkled as he looked at beautiful girl, and although he was terrible as hell, he nevertheless became Melinda's husband, and a yellow capsule helped him get the beauty - the closest relative of the white water lily, personifying treason and deceit for a long time.
Walking with her friends by the swampy lake, Melinda admired the golden floating flowers, reached for one of them, stepped on the coastal stump, in which the lord of the bog hid, and he carried the girl to the bottom.


""scarlet flower"-2"

At the place of her death, snow-white flowers with a yellow core surfaced. So after the lilies-pods appeared water lilies-lilies, meaning in the ancient language of flowers: "You must never deceive me."


Water lilies, Nikitsky Botanical Garden, Crimea

The pod blooms from late May to August. At this time, next to the floating leaves, you can see large yellow, almost spherical flowers sticking high on thick pedicels.

The capsule has long been considered in folk medicine medicinal plant. Both leaves were used, and a thick, up to 15 centimeters long, rhizome lying on the bottom, and large, well-smelling flowers reaching 5 centimeters in diameter.

They cut off the egg-pod and in order to decorate her dwelling with flowers. And in vain: the flowers of the capsule, like the white lily, do not stand in vases.


small egg

The white water lily is protected by law, as there are very few of them left in the reservoirs of rivers and lakes. The water lily blooms for a long time, from the end of May to August. White lily flowers open in the early morning and close in the late evening.



"Nymphaeums flaunt on our lake. They say that some enthusiast dived from a boat, planted ... Praise be to him. Far from the coast ... But away from vandals ..)))"

If you come early in the morning to the lake, you can observe how these flowers appear from the water. This is an unforgettable sight! Here, from the depths of the lake, something begins to rise, and a large bud appears on the surface.

In a matter of minutes, it turns into a beautiful white flower. There is another one nearby, a little further away ... It is surprising that the buds emerge just before sunrise, and open as soon as Sun rays touch the surface of the water.

You won't find them in the same position all day. From morning until evening, flowering water lilies follow the movement of the sun, turning the floating head towards its rays. At noon they open all their petals. Then their flowers begin to gradually close and the flower looks like an unopened bud.

And here an interesting thing happens: the closed flowers of the water lily begin to slowly sink into the water. These whip-stems, shortening, draw flowers behind them. Water lilies are very fond of the sun, clouds will come in a little and they will slowly begin to close.

The leaf of the water lily is floating like a raft, outwardly simple, heart-shaped and thick, like a flat cake; there are air cavities inside it, therefore it does not sink.


There is several times more air in it in order to hold its own weight, the excess of which is necessary for unforeseen accidents: if, say, a bird or a frog sits down, the sheet must hold them.

I. Zvyagina

01/05/2004 | Visitors: 39781

One aspect of the philosophy of Feng Shui is the doctrine of the five Elements (Elements). All objects of the visible and invisible world can be attributed and characterized through the interaction of embodied types of energy (Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, Water). Such a classification system very successfully combines many important areas for a person, allowing you to use and combine knowledge to harmonize your living space - work with shapes, color, light, directions, aromas, taste, planetary preferences, etc. And undoubtedly, the world of plants opens up a rich field for experiments here. Like all physical objects, plants can be attributed to one or another element depending on their shape, color of flowers and leaves.

Symbols of the element of Fire:

The season is summer; the planet Mars; direction - South; weather - heat; climate is hot; color - red; smell - burnt; taste is bitter.

Fire (Ho) is symbolized by tongues of flame flying up - a symbol of energy that reaches its peak in summer, and then decreases and fades away.

The element of Fire supports the zone of Glory in the magical octagon BA - GUA.

Whether creating a Feng Shui inspired garden or using plants to harmonize spaces in a home (where scale is greatly reduced), it is very important to choose the right plants for the right purpose.

The red color symbolizes passion , activity , dynamics, will , power. It gives a powerful influx of energy, high spirits. This is the color abundance , welfare and happiness .

Purely intuitively, we correct our internal state using mystical properties colors. If we lack confidence and the need for cardinal changes in life is brewing, then in clothes we begin to use a range of red tones, the same is in the interior, accessories. Flowers help to create a special aura of uplift, "pump" us with energy no worse than champagne.

Fire Element Plants

Plants of the element of Fire have red flowers or fruits, spiky leaves, thorns or thorns. Here it is worth noting that this goes somewhat against the generally accepted recommendations to use plants with rounded leaves and flower petals. But always put your intention first - what is more important in your life now - peace, balance or transformation, the embodiment of new ideas and plans.

In the garden, plants of the element of Fire should be used carefully - red is best used in combination with other colors - pale cream, pink.

According to Feng Shui Traditions the Rose(Yin element; symbolism - Beauty) has unique properties and is a good conductor of earthly energies. In the library of the Imperial Palace in Beijing, according to Confucius, there were 600 volumes dedicated to roses. Considerable merit in the popularization of roses belongs to the Empress Josephine, who was one of the first to realize the power of this flower and created beautiful garden from roses in Malmaison - with winding paths, espaliers and arbors, as if involuntarily copied from those prescribed by Feng Shui.

Philippa Waring describes the use of this flower in garden culture according to the traditions of Feng Shui:

"if you ask Feng Shui gardeners with just a piece of land what variety they would choose to boost the Qi in the garden, most will probably point to the elegant, graceful Old Blusb: fragrant, small flowers collected in loose brushes adorn shrub from June to Christmas This rose is popular in the British Isles thanks to Thomas Moore's famous poem "The Last Rose of Summer". chinese roses, it perfectly tolerates temperature fluctuations and will be the finishing touch to any small flower bed. Old Blusb is believed to pair well with azalea, clematis, wisteria - recognized examples of harmony, symbols of Feng Shui - and with its usual height and branch span of 1.2 m, this variety is suitable for any garden plot. Equally beautiful and useful, the plant is all covered pink flowers, the color of which becomes deeper and deeper with time, so that on the bush you can see light and dark pink, as well as pale carmine flowers.

The purest aroma of Old Blusb adds charm to the garden. This variety of roses grows best in full sun (south facing preferred) and loves well-drained soil. The plant does not require special care, however, it is useful to cut off faded flowers and from time to time remove old shoots, cutting them off at the base.

miniature potted roses - A great decoration for your home. But they require careful care and conditions close to the content in open ground. First of all, the rose needs the sunniest window sill, temperature 15-20 °, lighting with lamps daylight within a few hours during a short period daylight hours. Only plastic pots are used to grow roses. They can be put in a ceramic planter, which will be in harmony with the interior. The soil in the pot must be kept moderately moist. The pot can be placed on a pallet with wet expanded clay or pebbles, and the soil itself can be covered with a layer of sphagnum moss. It is useful to spray a rosette more often (but not flowers). At the end of winter, the stems are cut in half. If possible, it is desirable for her to create a period of rest by placing it in a cool glazed loggia, but not to allow the earthen clod to freeze.

Physalis or Chinese lanterns(element: Yang, symbolism: Light). In China, this plant with fruits in bright orange cups symbolizes the light of truth for every generation that comes into this life. This plant, highly valued by Feng Shui traditions, will wonderfully decorate both the garden and the house. is an excellent material for making winter bouquets.

Physalis prefers well-drained sandy soil. It is planted in March-April; in July-August, small white flowers appear, and only by autumn, under the protection of the seed box, fruits develop. Therefore, compact plantings of physalis with other plants that will delight you with flowering in an earlier period.

For decorative purposes, the stems with "flashlights" are cut off before the color of the boxes begins to change, and hung in a warm room.

No zealous fan of Feng Shui can do in his garden without an island of tiger lilies (element: Yang, symbolism: Pride). With success, lilies are now bred on balconies and terraces. Under the planting of lilies allot uchatki in the southern and southwestern zone of the garden. The soil should be well-drained, rich nutrients and processed to a depth of at least 30 cm. Before planting, the bulbs are cleaned of damaged scales, the roots are cut in half. Bulbs are planted in early autumn and the soil is well mulched. During the growing season, they are fed three times: at the beginning of growth with nitrogen fertilizers, during the budding of flowering - with nitrogen and phosphorus, at the end of the growing season - with phosphorus and potassium.

According to the Feng Shui tradition, the leaning tiger lily flowers are the best conductor of Qi in the garden. The lily also looks great in the cut, captivating with the luminous power of orange-red flowers.

Poppy(element: Yin, symbolism: Pleasure) revitalizes and energizes the garden until roses bloom. It looks great in mixed grass lawns, borders and large rock gardens. Fiery red, purple, brick red, soft pink poppy flowers are very decorative and carry an amazing feeling of freshness and uplift.

The poppy loves the sun and thrives in well-drained soil. In autumn, poppies can bloom a second time if you cut off the stems with faded flowers, and your garden will again have pleasing colors on the threshold of winter. Poppy looks good as a cut flower, and seed pods in winter bouquets increase Chi indoors.

Of the indoor plants, the elements of Fire are amaryllis, poinsettia, azalea, coleus, clivia, guzmania, hibiscus, vriesia, pelargonium and a large family of cuctus and succulents.

Calceolaria blooms from June to September and can be a wonderful decoration for a terrace or balcony. Usually grown as an annual in group landings. Needs to sunny place(but the southeast or southwest side is better); needs protection from strong gusts of wind and heavy rains. Abundant and constant flowering of calceolaria is supported by the constant removal of wilted flowers. AT winter gardens and cool rooms can be grown as a perennial (in winter, the temperature should not exceed 17 °).

In summer, calceolaria needs constant (weekly) top dressing with complex mineral fertilizer and high humidity air. Pots with calceoyaria can be placed on a pallet with moistened expanded clay or wrapped in sphagnum moss. Sow seeds 6-7 months before flowering. Can be propagated by cuttings mother plant. A dazzlingly bright, cheerful plant will help create an atmosphere of warmth and comfort in the garden, on the terrace or loggia.

Amaryllis(hippeastrum) an exceptionally showy plant in flowering. When planting, the bulbs are immersed in the soil one third of the height, moderately watered until a flower arrow appears. Watering is gradually increased using warm (about 40 °) water. The most luxurious flowering occurs at the beginning of the growing season, not earlier than March. During the flowering period, the plant is best kept at a cooler temperature. After flowering, the bulbs can be transplanted into fresh nutrient soil; in summer, move the plants to the balcony, to the garden and feed moderately. Autumn for hippeastrum is a dormant period; watering is stopped, the plant is kept in a room with a temperature of 8-10 °.

Fiery colors will provide you not only with plants with red flowers, but also with brightly colored leaves. A luxurious spot of color indoors can be created using modern hybrid varieties coleusa Bloom. Coleus needs good lighting, frequent ventilation of the room and regular, but not plentiful, watering. Water preferably with boiled water. Coleus are propagated by cuttings, which are easily rooted in a moist substrate. The brighter the lighting will be (in summer, it is best for the coleus to be on fresh air), the more luxurious will be the striking velvety color of its leaves. In the interior, coleus can be used in group plantings (by planting several cuttings in a pot; then the bushes are especially lush.

Blooming flowers go on sale in late autumn and winter. Guzmania(The well-known pineapple also belongs to this family). A spectacular plant that can be grown both in the soil substrate and as an epiphyte - on a tree trunk, stone, in glass vessels with hydrogel. Needs moist warm air (preferably closed shop windows, greenhouses, indoor greenhouses), does not tolerate drafts. After flowering, the plant dies, but leaves lateral daughter rosettes for reproduction. It is believed that guzmania, placed in the bedroom, is a natural aphrodisiac that stimulates male potency.

The same applies to another epiphytic plant - vriesii. Spectacular spike-shaped inflorescences adorn the plant throughout the year. Needs warmth (20°), humid air; watering is carried out in leaf funnels, the soil is covered with sphagnum moss. After flowering, vriesia dies, but leaves offspring, which are rooted in a sand-earth mixture with the addition of sphagnum, peat and charcoal.

red accessories, garden paths from red clinker will also help to create an atmosphere of warmth, dynamics and joyful mood. You can create exclusive jewelry yourself by mastering the technique of painting ceramics or carving funny figurines from tin.