Caffeine Prevents Twitching Eye

I am a great coffee lover, so it is always great to hear that coffee can potentially do something good for your health, as we are always hearing the negative effects of caffeine on our system.

In a study carried out in Bari Italy, researchers found that drinking coffee could protect against eyelid spasms that in some people leads to blindness. The coffee and smoking habits were looked at for 166 people with blepharospasm which is an uncontrollable twitching of the eye, and in extreme cases, can cause blindness.

At the Department of Neurological and Psychiatric Sciences University of Bari, Italy, a previous study had suggested that smoking had a protective effect on the condition, but in this study it was found that only those who drank coffee were less likely to develop the condition, and one more good thing - the effect was proportional to the amount of coffee drunk. The age that this spasm struck (usually between the ages of 50 and 70) was also found to be greater in patients who drank more coffee and this increased by 1.7 years for each additional cup drunk per day.

Italian research strongly suggested that coffee provided some sort of protective factor, and it was thought that caffeine could be blocking the receptors in the brain associated with the tremor. However, as there was a very low intake of decaffeinated coffee in Italy, no patients who drank decaf could be compared to those who drank caffeinated coffee. I, for one, will continue with my daily dose!

Verbenas

Verbenas are one of the most popular plants for container gardens. They come in a variety of colors inherited from many different types of verbena. Verbena peruviana supplies the red hues, while verbena phlogifolia and verbena incisa contribute to the pink and purple nuances. They grow abundantly in groups of dense umbrella spikes in colors ranging from white through pink, red and purple to blue and violet. They make a spectacular show in containers, in borders or hanging baskets and are relatively easy to care for. The red "Salome" shown in this picture, grows about 12 inches high and has small white eyes.

VerbrnaFacts

• Blooming Season: Outdoors from June to October.
• Family: Verbenaceae (verbena family).
  
• Origin: Original forms, South America.
  
• Location: Sunny.
  
• Potting Soil: All-purpose soil, enriched with slow-release fertilizer.
• Planting: Set young plants 8 inches apart.
• Watering, Feeding: Water abundantly, but avoid standing water. Apply a low dose of fertilizer every two weeks.
  
• Further Care: Deadhead spent flowers regularly.
  
• Pests, Diseases: Aphids, whiteflies, spidermites, thrips, powdery mildew.
• Decorating Tip: The cool tones of verbena look stunning with silvery foliage or flowering plants such as dusty miller.
  

The above information and much more can be found in the very useful book, Container Plants: For Patios, Balconies, and Window Boxes.

What is a Gnudi?

In case you are not in the know, a gnudi is the latest trend in Italian cooking. Gnudi is "nude" in Italian, and is the dish everyone is talking about and trying to order in San Diego restaurants - and with a sexy name like that who wouldn't want to try it?

Well, what is a gnudi? It is actually "naked ravioli", meaning you take the filling out of ravioli - whether it's mushroom and Parmesan, chicken and herb, lobster or beef, and leave off the pasta. This is great news for people like my friend who discovered she was allergic to wheat and had to abandon pasta and bread for good, and spends many tedious visits to restaurants checking on the flour content of food, and asking for burgers without the bun.

If you want to try this delicious concoction, check out the chestnut-butternut squash gnudi with Asian water buffalo ricotta at restaurant 1500 Ocean at the beautiful Hotel Del in Coronado, but if you do go, shirt and shoes are still required!

New Guinea Impatiens (Busy Lizzie)

I've not had to spend too much time in the garden recently, mainly because the weather has been just perfect to keep flowers blooming. Cool and sunny, so there's no scorching sun in the afternoon, and I think we can safely say that the rain is over for this year.

I planted some New Guinea Impatiens a couple of weeks ago, and they are amazing. They are very easy to grow and look spectacular in outdoor landscapes, container gardens like mine, and hanging baskets. These flowers display intensely colored shades of orange, pink and violet. The flower pictured above is called Raspberry Cream.

Impatiens Facts

• Blooming Season: Outdoors from June to October.
  
• Origin: Original forms, tropical East Africa, Sri Lanka, India, and New Guinea.
• Location: Sunny to shady.
• Potting Soil: All-purpose soil, enriched with slow-release fertilizer.
• Planting: Set young plants 8 - 10 inches apart.
• Watering, Feeding: Keep damp during growth period and apply low doses of fertilizer weekly until August.
  
• Further Care: Trim plants now and then to promote branching.
  
• Pests, Diseases: Aphids, whiteflies, mites, slugs.
• Decorating Tip: These plants can be mixed with other container plants, such as ivy, to create a beautiful effect.
  

The above information and much more can be found in the very useful book, Container Plants: For Patios, Balconies, and Window Boxes.