Our quest for wellness and beauty has taken us far and wide. The journey has taught us to value the extraordinary potency of plants humans have relied on through the ages. Aloe is nature’s ultimate healer and rejuvenator. The world over, users revere aloe for it’s numerous properties. Healing, detoxifying, anti-inflammatory, Anti Bacterial, Anti-Viral and Anti-Parasitic – and those are only the ways in which aloe helps in maintaining personal wellness.
Maybe it’s their chubby shapes or simply the fact that you can go a whole week without watering them, but I'm a total sucker for a succulent!
The trendy little plants started invading households everywhere as DIY terrariums became more popular. Their simple geometric shapes, wax shined skin, and bright blooms make succulents an awesome visual inspiration.
Succulents make fantastic patterns perfect for duvets and leggings, scarves and T-shirt and just about any other product. But I think the absolute best part about these succulent designs is that the upkeep for a mug or a tee is about as low maintenance as the actual plants!
It is a very attractive succulent indigenous to South Africa which needs little attention, and thrives in most soil types and in most weather conditions. The juice from the leaves is used in creams, and can also be applied to eczema, burns, rashes, fever blisters and stings etc. I often use it on cuts and scrapes I might pick up while working in the garden.
A painting of an Aloe ferox in my garden. Each winter my aloes put up
the most spectacular show of orange, brightening up the dull winter
landscape. I can feel the season is turning already, gets lighter much
later in the mornings and soon (well, roundabouts June/July) I’ll be
blessed with their beauty again.
An Echinopsis hybrid. Columnar or Torch cactus. Native to the Andes
Mountains, South America. It has withstood many a winter’s frost. The
other cactus is wishful thinking on my part!
Euphorbia cooperi (or Lesser Candelabra Tree, Transvaal Candelabra Tree,
Bushveld candelabra euphorbia), is indigenous to South Africa. Found in
KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, Gauteng and Swaziland up to Messina in the
Limpopo Province, prefers well-drained soils and is mostly found in
rockier places, often on granite outcrops and in rock cracks or in
wooded grassland and thorny scrubland, in planes and in steep hillsides
on north-facing slopes. This spiny succulent grows 4-7 m tall and
produces small yellowish-green flowers in spring and summer.
Cactus - Cereus jamacaru - Hardcover Journal
The Peruvian Apple Cactus, Cereus repandus (syn. Cereus peruvianus), is a large, erect, thorny
columnar cactus found in South America as well as the nearby ABC Islands
of the Dutch Caribbean. It is also known as Giant Club Cactus, Hedge
Cactus, cadushi and kayush. With an often tree-like appearance, the
Peruvian Apple Cactus’ cylindrical grey-green to blue stems can reach 10
meters (33 ft) in height and 10-20 cm in diameter. The nocturnal
flowers remain open for only one night. Unfortunately this plant has
been declared an unwanted “invader” in South Africa due to it’s
fast-spreading habit. (Incorrectly referred to as Cereus peruvianus in South Africa.)
Hardcover Journal - open
Die Kaktus Cereus peruvianus (of Een-nag blom) is ’n boomagtige
kaktus, partymaal tot 10m hoog, wat vir net een nag van die jaar
asemrowende wit blomme voort bring. Ongelukkig is hierdie kaktus as ’n
ongewensde indringerplant verklaar in Suid Afrika as gevolg van hul
gewoonte om uiters vinnig te versprei. Daar is groot verwarring oor die
eintlike naam van hierdie kaktus, aangesien Cereus vir heelwat
kaktussoorte gebruik word. Die spesienaam, peruvianus, dui aan dat dit
endemies is aan Peru, maar dit is ’n botaniese fout. Hierdie plant is
eintlik endemies aan Brasilië, Uruguay en Argentinië.
Aloe ferox (also known as the Cape Aloe, Bitter Aloe, Red Aloe and
Tap Aloe), is a species of arborescent aloe indigenous to Southern
Africa. It is one of several Aloe species used to make bitter aloes, a
purgative medication and also yields a non-bitter gel that can be used
in cosmetics.
Indigenous to South Africa, Aloe ferox is unique in the concentration of
its active ingredients and the versatility of its application.
Indigenous to South Africa, Aloe ferox is unique in the concentration of
its active ingredients and the versatility of its application. Plants
have been part of the traditional healing practices for
centuries. Historical evidence taken from ancient archives show that
African aloes have been used since Egyptian, Roman and Greek times in
treating the likes of burns, sunburn, injuries to the skin, stomach
ailments and to protect skin against the elements.
There are more succulent designs to follow so if you're a succulent-lover, please make sure that you stop by again!
