This birdfeeder is worth its weight in gold. Monday, 19 February 2018 08:59
People love attracting birds to their gardens because they bring life, movement, bird song, and hours of joy. Here the Red Bishops and the little Cape Sparrows vie for space, but somehow they all manage to get their share.
Hanging Baskets Friday, 02 February 2018 16:14
Summer hanging basket for semi-shade.Hanging baskets overflowing with flowers are hard to resist!
Have you ever admired a lush hanging basket bursting with blooms but simply thought it a bit overpriced? Well, not really, a well-designed hanging basket in full bloom has probably taken months of care to get it to a sellable size, and this is labour intensive too, so if you can afford one of these ’ready to go’ beauties, spoil yourself, you’re worth it!
Million Bells Thursday, 25 January 2018 14:53
Cabaret Cherry Rose Calibrachoa. Picture courtesy Ball Horticultural CompanyMillion Bells is rather like a miniature petunia on steroids!
Million Bells (Calibrachoa syn Petunia) are short lived perennials which are often planted as summer annuals in South Africa - growing and flowering at an amazing rate! They bloom abundantly all spring and summer, until the first frosts, and in warm frost-free regions can flower all year round.
Gardenia is delighfully scented Tuesday, 23 January 2018 10:26
Gardenia augustaWarm summer breezes will waft the scent of Gardenia throughout the whole garden, much to the delight of everyone.
There are many cultivars of Gardenia augusta, including groundcover, dwarf and medium-sized varieties, so there’s a gardenia for every size garden. All the cultivars also grow beautifully in containers, so even if you only have a small patio or balcony garden, you can plant a Gardenia.
Chillies are not only good to eat! Sunday, 14 January 2018 11:40
Chillies are stunning in a simple wooden container. Chillies make great gifts for all occasions, gifts you can easily make at home and which don’t cost the earth either! To make them special requires only a little flair of your own, so let your imagination run wild and use whatever items you have around the house that can be re-cycled. Red chillies are perfect gifts to give for Christmas, and here a wooden crate is decorated with a red ribbon, but once the chillies are added the magic happens – it’s just that simple!
Sutera is creating quite a buzz! Monday, 08 January 2018 13:32
Sutera "Bermuda Sky" Picture courtesy www.newplant.co.zaSutera, with its profusion of delicate flowers all summer long, is creating quite a buzz amongst gardeners!
Sutera, Bacopa - Chaenostoma cordatum (= Sutera cordata)
Sutera remain firm favourites with gardeners around the world for their ease of growth and profusion of flowers throughout spring and summer.
Amaryllis just need a little TLC Wednesday, 13 December 2017 14:32
Amaryllis Blushing Bride. Picture courtesy www.hadeco.co.zaWith just a little TLC, Amaryllis will delight you with their gorgeous blooms year after year.
Popular for their festive, oversized flowers, amaryllis bulbs are commonly sold for the Christmas holiday season. Varieties include single flowered, double flowered and miniature’s, ranging in colour from red to salmon, orange, white and pink, with many varieties having stripes or contrasting edges.
Round Up Summer Colour Tuesday, 05 December 2017 11:00
RudbeckiaAsk any experienced gardener and they’ll tell you that no garden bed is complete without a representative of this group of annuals bringing their particular brand of hardy good cheer. Dianthus is one of those all-rounder’s that satisfies, no matter your priorities. If it’s a colourful show you’re after these little stunners can be coaxed into flowering throughout the year!
The Bladdernut tree is tidy Tuesday, 28 November 2017 09:47
Diospyros whyteana fruit & pods. Picture courtesy Malcolm Manners - see his flickr pageThe Bladdernut tree makes a truly attractive and tidy subject for any garden and is especially suitable for small gardens.
Bladdernut, Swartbas, Mohlatsane, munyavhili, umTenatane, uManzimane (Diospyros whyteana)
SA Tree No: 611
Zantedeschia hybrids are easy to grow Tuesday, 14 November 2017 09:08
Zantedeschia 'Jack of Hearts' Picture courtesy BLOOMZ, New ZealandZantedeschia hybrids are easy to grow and offer gardeners a vast array of rainbow colours to enjoy.
Arum Lily, Calla Lily, Pig lily, Kleinvarkoor, Witvarkoor, mohalalitoe, magapule, intebe, ihlukwe, ilabatheka-elimhlophe, ilabatheka-omhlophe (Zantedeschia)
Today a new generation of Zantedeschia hybrids have been bred from our original indigenous species; not only for their spectacular fashionable colours but for their sheer flower power.
Attracting wildlife to your garden Thursday, 02 November 2017 10:07
Attracting birds and other wildlife to your garden can be so simple!
Many indigenous as well as exotic plants can be incorporated into your garden design to attract wildlife, and it doesn't matter how large or small your garden is; if you follow a few simple guidelines you will soon be rewarded with the delightful sound of birdsong, and the fleeting beauty of a flitting butterfly or busy bee.Because of the continual expansion of our urban areas into the natural environment, city gardens, parks and open areas have become vital in sustaining wildlife; and it is possible - with a bit of planning - to create both a beautiful and sustainable sanctuary for birds and other wildlife in our suburban gardens.
Gardening in the Western Cape Wednesday, 18 October 2017 13:32
Cape Agulhas Dune Fynbos - Overberg. Picture courtesy South African Tourism. Visit their flickr pageThe beautiful Western Cape draws millions of visitors each year, and foreign investors are snapping up valuable properties in the Province. For many South Africans it’s a favourite holiday destination, with many even moving to the Province to retire or seek a better quality of life.
Summer Show Stoppers Monday, 09 October 2017 07:49
Salvia farinaceaHailing from around the globe, including several indigenous varieties, Begonias come from a massive genus consisting of more than a thousand species. With over ten thousand documented hybrids there is an almost confusing array to choose from. When it comes to long lasting, outdoor colour however, there is little to be confused about. Begonia semperflorens or bedding Begonias and its numerous cultivars, are just the thing to brighten up those dull areas in the garden.