CATEGORIES

Fixing things in 2025!

One should start a new year by sitting firmly on one's throne, not breaking it and falling off!

Silver staghorn ferns at platinum prices

When we think of a staghorn fern, Platycerium bifurcatum, which can be found in many South African gardens, usually comes to mind.

Tic Tac Toe

Keep children (and adults) busy for hours with this stylish game for the patio.

Let's change the way we think about food

Healthy food is all about preparing fresh ingredients in the simplest (yet tasty) way. Today's balanced diet includes lots of fiber, plenty of fruits and vegetables, and proteins in the form of meat, like lean pork. Keep it interesting, and you can't go wrong.

Grow Wayne's favourite things

Midsummer is when your garden is at its lushest. It's always playtime in the garden, and whether it's lying under a tree or finding more stuff to grow, gardens are our safe space for self-expression and joy.

THE BEST OF SUMMER

Summer annuals offer more than just colour, texture, and variety in a garden.

PLANT A COLOUR explosion!

Angelic angel wings and a dwarf morning glory can keep colour all around you from spring to autumn, and will be back to do it all over again next year...

SAVING TIME in the garden

Just like Jamie Oliver can teach us to cook a meal in 15 minutes, there are ways to garden in 15 minutes or less. Here are some of our top time-saving tips to make gardening easier, quicker and more fun.

FUN PROJECTS for the New Year!

If you want a wow factor for your next party, try revamping a piece of driftwood into something amazing with these few steps.

Evolving for LONGEVITY

A continuously transforming garden has longevity, which is certainly true for the garden at Brahman Hills in the Midlands of KwaZulu-Natal.

FIRE AND Feathers!

On a dreary winter's day, a screen of fiery and feathery leaves puts up a fight against dullness!

GET THE ladies in!

At this time of year, early-flowering shrubs vie with each other to get the most attention. We say: Trust those with female names for frills and butterflies. They go the extra mile to flower their hearts out.

Vegetable Soups and dumplings

Vegetables make the most delicious soups and classic combinations are always a winner.

Yummy sweet potatoes for your good health

Boiled, baked or braaied, sweet potatoes (Ipomoea batatas) are a delicious and healthy winter comfort food. Just a dollop of butter, a little seasoning and you are good to go.

Pretty and functional

If cooking is your main thing, you would probably be more interested in the culinary value of the three herbs and some of their varieties we are describing.

Dried Seedheads & Pods

Autumn and winter are the best times to see what flowers produce the best seedheads that can be left on the plants to feed the birds and bugs and for harvesting for dried arrangements.

SO MANY FACES and so many choices...

Whoever associated a Cotyledon orbiculata (pig's ear) with the ear of a pig obviously did not know about all the varieties and cultivars this species in the genus Cotyledon has.

COLOURFUL Cold Weather WINNERS!

If it comes to a vote, these dependable shrubs will be the top candidates for prime performance in winter and in other seasons...

What makes a garden sustainable?

It is interesting to note that the United Nations defines sustainable development as: “development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs”.

Nurturing NATURE-The Story of Kraal Garden's Transformation

Nestled within Prince Albert's rustic embrace lies a gem that is a testament to the transformative power of human vision and nature's bounty.

A Touch of Class

A cut above the rest and attractive enough to fill all the spaces you can see in your garden or in pots...

Bordering on food aggression!

The economy, fires, drought, Russians, fuel prices, and politicians, dictated what we ate in my youth. The only exception was that Eskom worked...

Quarantining new koi fish

Give your new koi the best start

Big deal GLADIOLI

To get balance in a flower bed, we rely on tall flowering plants to provide height and show off amazing blooms. One of our favourites to plant are gladioli. They might look impressive, come in some gorgeous colours, and are great for a vase, but they are also easy to grow with a few golden rules.

PRETTY FILLER Scabiosa

There are over 70 varieties of Scabiosa (pincushion flower) in both the annuals and perennials categories with arguably some of the best ones local to our country, and excellent pollinator attractors too.

TRIPLE treat

A floral combo that's bursting with colour

CHLOROSIS how to fix it

Chlorosis is not a death sentence for your plants. With prompt identification and the right interventions, you can restore your plants to their lush, vibrant selves.

COREOPSIS 'UpTick'

For an easy-to-grow, tough perennial, with masses of pretty blooms, plant Coreopsis hybrids and watch the bees and butterflies come into your garden.

Decorative Dahlias

With a little basic care, you can grow these showstopping plants in your own backyard with minimal effort.

The beauty of BEGONIAS

For endless colour and a garden that looks vibrant throughout the seasons, these are your go-to choices.