What to Prune Now

With the long summer months slowly passing into the cooler and calm autumn days, it is time to take stock of your garden with your pruning tools at hand.

Birds of a Feather

Why every garden needs a bird feeder

Easter Basket

Turn your garden bits into an upcycled basket just in time for the children to enjoy hunting for Easter eggs.

Masters Of Shade

There are not many plants that can turn shade into a fairy landscape of dainty flowers in a season when most others are over it. Plectranthus will do just this!

Local Treasures: Gazania

Although South Africa has many treasured indigenous flowers, only one actually goes by the common name of ‘treasure flower’, and that is our beloved gazania.

Working And Playing With Nature

In an era where small gardens are the norm and our footprint has an impact on the planet, there is a lot to think about when designing a garden. The topics at the top of the list are water scarcity, food security and destruction of habitats – all big deals if we want to exist in harmony with our world.

The Malaise Of FOPB!

Living remotely from others leads to a bigger reliance on remotes and their confusing buttons. It is terrifying if you suffer from FOPB…

Autumn Splendour

Fiery shades of red and orange make for a bold autumn display.

The Allure Of Lavender!

This herbaceous plant, a member of the mint family Lamiaceae, is so famous that its common name is even used to describe a colour. Most of us will associate the term lavender with a gentle shade of light purple that symbolises elegance, refinement, serenity, purity and luxury – the latter two probably due to the Latin word ‘lavare’, which means to bathe and to wash. One can just imagine how the conquering and decadent Romans bathed in bunches of lavender sprigs and flowers, draped their newly washed togas over the bushes to permeate them with the fresh smell, and stacked dried stems of leaves and flowers in dark corners to repel plague-infested fleas!

A Haze Of Purple

The evergreen ribbon bush, a compact shrub with dull-green leaves and abundant spikes of two-lipped deep purple flowers with darker purple spots, is a selection derived from Hypoestes aristata and was developed at the Walter Sisulu National Botanical garden. It carries the apt varietal name of ‘Purple Haze’ and is widely cultivated in gardens all over the country.

Growing Winter Veggies Successfully

Winter feels like a Cinderella season in the veggie garden, but it really isn’t. Did you know that there are almost as many winter veggies as there are summer ones?

Fern And Bromeliad Fever

Specialising in indigenous and non-indigenous ferns and epiphytic ferns such as staghorns and imported bromeliads.

Indigenous Medicinal Herbs For Winter Ailments

How to use medicinal herbs Most herbalists caution that herbs are not a silver bullet. Herbs help to support and strengthen the body’s own systems and ability to heal itself, restore balance and ultimately health. Using fresh or dried leaves in a tea or tincture is usually the safest way to administer herbs.

3 Superfood Trees

Plant the following fruiting trees in your garden or even in large containers in a sunny courtyard and you will have very healthy and tasty produce at hand.

On Top Of The World In Paradise

This gem of an indigenous garden is worthy of a visit, if you love wildlife or gardens.

Luminous bokbaais

If you are a fan of vygies and similar plants, you can have swathes of these flat-growing succulents in flower every season if you plant different species, both indigenous and exotic, which are available as both annuals and perennials.

Time For Wild Hyacinths!

We told you in January that planting bulbs would be a great trend in 2021, so March is a good time to kick off your annual bulb planting quest with the indigenous wild hyacinths, also called Cape hyacinth, Cape cowslip and, more botanically correct, Lachenalia. Between South Africa and Namibia there are more than 120 natural species (some of which are sold in flower by specialist nurseries), but there are also many desirable hybrids bred by commercial bulb growers that are readily available in bulb form from the end of February.

What To Do Now March

Aeoniums are commonly called tree houseleeks, which is an indication that they form substantial side stems topped with their typical fleshy rosettes. They are also described as subtropical plants, and so require more water and less arid growing conditions than other succulents.

Top 10 Roses

There are over 150 rose species and thousands of hybrids, so compiling a Top Ten is something of a challenge. Here we have chosen some of our favourites, which we feel are essential for any good rose garden.

Veggies Are At The Frontline Of Health

Eating healthily to keep healthy and maintain a good level of immunity is as much of a strategy in this time of Covid-19 as wearing masks, social distancing and sanitising.

The Gentle Giant Among His Roses

A lifetime love affair with roses has shaped this expansive farm garden.

How To Extend The Harvest Of Baby Marrows

By March baby marrows are usually at the end of their productive lives, with most leaves covered in powdery mildew. Pulling them out is almost an act of kindness.

SPECTACULAR GEM

Magnolia grandiflora ‘Little Gem’

Preserving cauliflower

If cauliflower was a stock to trade, some would have made millions in the last few years as the humble cauliflower became one of the most versatile cruciferous vegetables in the kitchen. With an increase in the popularity of flexitarian, vegan, gluten-free, keto and plant-based diets, cauliflower is no longer only baked into a cheesy casserole, but spiced and grilled as ‘steaks’ on a braai, mashed, riced, sauced, powdered, blended and made into pasta or a crispy pizza base. There are not many vegetables that can do all that!

Mushroom plant

Mushroom plant (Rungia klossii) is a bushy perennial with crisp, mushroom-flavoured leaves that are good for adding to salads or for cooking. Steam just before serving so that the leaves don’t lose their fresh green appearance.

A passion for roses

For five generations of gardeners, maybe more, Ludwig Taschner has been the friendly face of rose growing.

Gone And Lost!

I knew we were heading for a rough ride on the day that it was announced that the ordinary Sweetie Pie chocolate was going to be discontinued, and later when I heard about a proposed sugar tax!

The Gardens Of Stone Cottage

“We knew Bedford and its special magic, so it was our first port of call when we were looking for our new home. Stone Cottage sat on the edge of the village, overlooking the mountains, and with the best sunsets in Bedford.”

Offbeat Outdoor Spaces

Create an outdoor space that fits your garden and you.

The Sweet Taste Of Spring Herbs

The arrival of spring is always a cause for celebration. Goodbye brown, frosty gardens, cold mornings, and nippy evenings. Hullo, sunshine, long days, and the fragrance of herbs as gardens burst into life.