Picture courtesy www.kazimingi.co.zaThis ‘golden oldie’ remains popular with gardeners today for its reliability and abundance of good qualities. Viburnum tinus belongs to the beautiful honeysuckle family, and varies in height from 2 to 3m tall, with an almost equal spread. It is evergreen and fast growing, with a dense rounded crown of shiny, dark green leaves; and in late winter and spring, large flattish heads of pink flower buds appear, opening into tiny star-shaped, pure white flowers. The flowers are followed by clusters of small metallic-blue berries which mature in autumn.

Polygala myrtifoliaPolygalas bloom for a long time in the garden, and are not only charming, but also pretty tough and obliging, growing inland and at the coast. They are low maintenance, water-wise plants, which can be grown in semi-shade and full sun. And, because they also attract wildlife to the garden, polygalas have caught the attention of eco-conscious gardeners around the country.

Members of this large family of plants occur in temperate and warm climates around the world; and include perennials, shrubs and trees. Some of the other common names for them include milkwort and false legume. Although their pea-like flowers resemble those of legumes, polygalas are easily distinguished from legumes by the feathery tuft on their lower petals.

I hope you enjoy this excerpt from my new e-book “Growing Culinary Herbs in South Africa” which is almost complete. I decided it was time to write a book on these little miracles of nature because there is a growing and widespread interest in herbs today, as people rediscover the joys of organic gardening and the health benefits of using herbs daily. For most of us our interest in herbs begins with food and the wonderful flavours and fragrances they bring to our dishes, but growing herbs will not only spice up your life but also reward you with their beauty and wonderful healing properties. Besides, the prices of both dried and fresh herbs at vegetable and grocery stores is incredibly high, and taking into account that these extraordinary plants are some of the easiest to cultivate - it simply makes sense to grow your own!

Cosmos, Cleome & SalviaAll South Africans enjoy some colour in the garden, and especially in summer when we do a lot of entertaining, or simply lazing around outdoors with the family. However, growing plants in the full sun can be challenging, especially if rainfall is unreliable, but it’s doable, providing you select the right plants, and do a little planning beforehand.  Adding colour to the garden need not break the bank either, and you can grow a lovely flower garden simply by sowing the seeds of annual flowers, at the start of the season. If you prefer to start with trays of seedlings, by carefully selecting only high traffic areas of the garden to enhance with colour, you can save yourself a lot of cash. Avoid planting large expanses of flowers, and remember that even a few selected containers or hanging baskets, if strategically placed, will make a huge impact on the overall effect of the garden.

Fuchsias remain one of the most popular shrubs to add interest, and a little tropical flair to cool spots in the garden, or on the patio. With about 110 recognised species, and over 8000 recorded cultivars of fuchsia; from large, upright varieties, to those with a lovely trailing habit, there’s bound to be the perfect one for your garden or small balcony.  The elegant, pendulous flowers are very decorative, and are borne in profusion on cascading stems, throughout year in tropical species. In South Africa, the flowering season starts in earnest in mid-October and continues to March and April, after which the plants are pruned lightly, and the growing cycle continues until the temperatures drop in autumn.  In most regions of the country, if cared for correctly, fuchsias can bloom almost continuously through summer, and well into autumn.