Pineapple Sage FlowersAmong the most intriguing of the sage family members, pineapple sage is simply spectacular in late summer when in full bloom, with its masses of tubular blood red flower spikes contrasting perfectly against the bright green, fuzzy leaves. And, if you are mad about collecting herbs you are sure to have at least one plant growing somewhere in your garden or in a pot, just for the pleasure of brushing against it, or grabbing and crushing a leaf as you pass by to inhale the refreshing scent.  Nothing smells anything like the sweet, soft pineapple fragrance that this herb imparts.

Philodendron Xanadu 'Havana' Picture courtesy www.kazimingi.co.zaGrown both indoors and outdoors for their lush evergreen foliage and dramatically lobed leaves, philodendrons add a lovely tropical ambiance to any garden or indoor space. Because of their low-growing and clumping growth habit, the dwarf varieties make handsome, low maintenance specimen plants for the garden and an ideal groundcover underneath large trees. If planted in large drifts they have a dramatic impact on large landscape areas like office parks, schools, colleges etc. The tree philodendron is only recommended for large gardens, where it can be used to great effect if combined artfully with other tropical plants. It can also be impressive if potted for use in large halls, malls, offices or homes.

CalendulaNo garden should be without calendulas at this time of year; it’s the only way to guarantee a little burst of sunshine when the weather fails you!  Whether it’s a sweep of golden blooms or a vivacious display in a pot, calendulas are a golden ray on a cold winter day. What’s more, even the most inexperienced of gardeners can grow them easily.

Picture courtesy Nick WarnerDiscover what the people of the Mediterranean region have known about fennel for centuries, their many creative uses for this summer vegetable will have you falling for fennel! Many people are familiar with fennel only in the form of the seeds which are found in various spice blends, where they're hidden away amongst the other flavours. As a result, the first time they're exposed to fresh fennel, the mildly liquorice-like flavour can be a surprise. Like Marmite, or black jelly beans, fennel is something that you either love or hate, but if you fall in the love side, fennel will inspire you to try recipes from around the world, some that you would probably never even have imagined. Whether it’s starring in a salad, braised to melting perfection, or crumbed and fried until golden, this super-star is just simply delicious!

June is an interesting gardening month and the shortest day and longest night is on June 21, after which the days gradually start getting longer, but very slowly at first so that you hardly realise it! In the warmer regions, after about three weeks, you will notice that many plants have begun to grow again - spring in Durban starts in late July! In the warmer subtropical regions of the country the temperatures are perfect for gardening now, so while the rest of us freeze, why not get stuck into your garden and implement all those changes you planned on doing last summer, but just never got around too.