Add some indoor festive colour for Christmas!
Illuminate your indoor space this Christmas with vibrant houseplants, notably the iconic Poinsettia and dramatic Amaryllis. Originating from Mexico, Poinsettias, with their colorful leaf bracts, bring festive cheer indoors and can transition to the garden for winter blooms. Amaryllis, boasting crimson trumpet blooms, captivates with minimal care and a stunning presence, making it a delightful addition to your holiday decor.
Fragrant Phlox
Originating in America and Canada, Phlox ‘Paniculata’ is a stunning addition to gardens, boasting vibrant blooms in shades of salmon, blue, white, lavender, pink, and purple. Beyond its beauty, Phlox attracts bees, butterflies, and nectar-eating birds with its sweet scent. The plant’s seasonal dynamics, optimal growing conditions, and propagation methods make it an ideal choice for gardeners. Varieties like Phlox Drummondii and Wild Phlox offer diverse options for compact and wild garden landscapes.
A Modern Rock Garden
Transform your outdoor space with xeriscaping, a water-wise landscaping technique that creates a stunning, low-maintenance, and environmentally sustainable garden. This approach involves strategic use of rocks, careful soil optimization, and efficient watering systems like drip irrigation. Choose between formal or informal ‘rock garden’ styles and select from a variety of drought-tolerant plants. Enhance the aesthetics with well-chosen focal points and soften the landscape with minimal-watering grasses for a beautiful, eco-friendly haven.
Timeless Peonies
Peonies, with their enchanting blooms and aromatic allure, captivate gardens and floral displays. Cultivating patience is key, as these plants take up to three years to yield a profusion of flowers, rewarding the gardener with enduring beauty. Originating from Japan and China, peonies thrive in well-drained soil, benefiting from careful planting and nutrient-rich environments. Regular care, including pruning and strategic watering, ensures their vibrant longevity, while container-grown peonies demand additional attention for optimal growth.
November in the Garden
Embrace summer with vibrant gardening endeavors! In the flower garden, sow Marigolds, Petunias, and more, while nurturing Lavenders and exotic climbers like Star Jasmine. Prune Fynbos and roses for a flourishing display. In the vegetable plot, sow Beetroot, Carrots, and friends, employing ‘companion’ plants for pest control. Herbs like Sweet Basil and Rosemary add aroma, and fruitful delights like Raspberry thrive. Transform your garden into a summer oasis of beauty and bounty. Happy gardening!
August in the Garden
In August gardeners thoughts turn to preparing their outside spaces for Spring and Summer. Fresh shoots will be starting to emerge as the garden moves toward a new season, so here are a few tasks to help prepare your garden for the coming season when it will burst into life!
Wildflowers are important!
South Africa has some gorgeous wild flowers that aren’t just beautiful to look at, they play an important role in the environment, helping to keep the soil healthy and providing pollination for wildlife.
Gardening for changing times
Most gardeners are, by now, well aware of climate changes, loss of natural habitat for wildlife and erratic weather patterns. However, how we garden can have a positive effect on our planet, whatever outside space you have, whether it’s a large or small garden, a patio or a balcony. Environmentally-friendly gardening really is all about taking a garden back to nature.
Flowers are the language of love. A Romantic Garden for February!
Flowers are the language of love, especially on Valentine’s Day, and by planting up borders and containers with heavily scented perennials and climbers you will be setting the scene for a relaxing, quiet haven to sit and enjoy a cool drink and a welcome breathing space from busy lives Birds, bees and butterflies will also […]
To do or not to do – Jobs for spring garden
The Winter to Spring transition is a key time to prep your garden for the year ahead. To avoid any mistakes, here are a few top do’s and dont’s to get started! Best bit of advice, if you’re not sure, don’t! Do/ Sow or plant out lettuce, tomatoes, Swiss chard, basil, rocket, borage, celery, melon, […]