SOUTH AFRICA
Botanical tables
DECEMBER 2018 On sale 26 November – 18 December 2018
DIY: bring the woodland indoors
Festive decor from the garden
Gift Guide
Mini-garden with terrariums
COMPANIONS Other countries 33.04 INCL VAT
herbs for holiday entertaining
Air plants
HOW TO
R38
7
for roses
Gardening
need more than air Find out how to care for them
GROW healthy snacks
at the seaside
Welcome S
o here we are at the end of another year! To inish of your gardening year and get you into the holiday spirit we have compiled a bumper issue! We’ve included everything from Christmas gifts to a DIY planter that brings that earthy woodland feel indoors – you’ll be looking for fairies and gnomes when you’re done. This simple DIY will also make a great gift, so get started! And if building your own wooden container sounds like too much hard work then give our terrarium feature a try! We also feature an amazing garden from the Garden Route in this issue. We’ve featured many of Graham von Hoesslin’s gardens in The Gardener and Die Tuinier, but for the irst time I had the pleasure of walking through one accompanied by Graham. First of, what a privilege it was to spend time with him, and to get a better understanding of where Graham’s passion for plants comes from. We often ohhh and ahhh at oversees designers and their ability to create amazing gardens, but folks, we have such talent locally! Rarely do we get to see the work of someone who understands both design AND plants – how to combine a selection of plants in a seamless tapestry that complements the environment and the style of the home. Thank you Graham for such a splendid day! In addition to this spectacular coastal garden, we delve into how to create your own seaside garden with wind-resistant and
salt-resistant plants that will give you loads of colour. And because the festive season is all about food, we tackle the issue of holiday snacking, done healthily. It’s not too late to grow our top ive quick, easy and delicious veggies – you’ll thank us in January when you have to get into that work outit again! Holiday celebrations are obviously on everyone’s mind, be it what we are going to eat, who will be coming over for lunch, and how we are going to decorate the Christmas table. This year Wendy and Izolda applied their creative minds to creating Christmas tables with a botanical lair (of course). They came up with ive gorgeous possibilities that you could copy or just be inspired by, from a mossy forest loor to a hot Mexican iesta! Folks, it’s that silly time of year, but I hope that everyone will be putting up their feet a little, enjoying some family time and a lot of R and R. Be safe, always wear your seatbelt, use sunscreen, and be sure to lay lat on the grass and gaze into the blue sky at some point over your holidays. Whatever you do, don’t forget to relax – we all deserve a little time out! Happy holidays and God bless,
Tanya and Garth clothed by:
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Contents in the garden 4 6
December 2018 create
garden decor and DIY
Trusty Trio 3 great summer-lowering shrubs
59
Gift guide Choose a special something for the gardener in your life
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Beauty and creativity This home by the sea is complemented by a garden that is both practical and gorgeous
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Dreamy tables from the garden Setting the table for a feast can be great fun, and you can use what you have in the garden
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Roses’ many bedfellows Companion plants for roses need to be carefully picked for success
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Caring for air plants They cannot live on air alone! Your rose garden In a class of their own: Apricot roses! Proudly South African Hilliardiella aristata: Beautiful silver vernonia – ideal for summer borders
Subscriptions
Celine van der Westhuizen Dinnie Gildenhuys
Tel 031 003 0940
Email subs@thegardener.co.za Publisher Lonehill Trading (Pty) Ltd Editor Tanya Visser Assistant Editor Anna Celliers Managing Editor (Editorial enquiries) Wendy Moulton 031 003 0940
Take the woodlands indoors Replicate the forest loor with this DIY and pot recipe in one
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Food gardening • Seven herbs for holiday entertaining, with recipes for each • Grow healthy snack vegetables • December garden tasks
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Nursery school: Part 6 Sow the seeds of a lifelong love for nature with these playful projects
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Terrarium gardens No space? No problem! December in your garden Here is a quick checklist to remind you what to do in the garden in December
Design Gillian O’Donoghue, Vincent Goode Photography Tamlyn Redman DIY Expert Garth Demmer Advertising Jonathan Gouws 031 003 0940 jonathan@thegardener.co.za Advertising Mokete Maepa 031 003 0940 mokete@thegardener.co.za
Assistant to the Editor Cindy May Wang 031 003 0940
Oice Administrator (Enquiries) Nokuthula Zuma 031 003 0940 nokuthula@thegardener.co.za
Copy Editor Stephen Smith
The Garden Show Adele de Welzen
Copyright subsists in all work published in this magazine. Any reproduction or adaptation, in whole or part, without written permission is strictly prohibited. The Gardener will not be held responsible for any omissions or errors. Unsolicited material will not be accepted.
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Subscribe to The Gardener and save! Lunar gardening guide
Stoep Stories with Anna Celliers Cosmic gifting
Team Assistants Kelsey Bonnet, Stephani Green Editorial contributors Alice Spenser-Higgs, Anna Celliers, Gerald Schoield, Graham Duncan, Ilona Thorndyke, Ludwig Taschner, Tanya Visser, Tinus Oberholzer, Wendy Moulton, Izolda van der Merwe Editorial Head Oice 64 Old Main Road, Botha’s Hill PO Box 184, Botha’s Hill 3660 Telephone (031) 003 0940 Telefax 086 758 3105 e-mail: info@thegardener.co.za
TRUSTY TRIO
3
great summer-lowering shrubs
S
ummer gardens throughout most of the country are luxuriant with trees and shrubs in full growth. Many produce an abundance of blooms during the heart of the growing season, adding to the allure of these warm months. The lowers are ofset by a background of greenery that is often in stark contrast to winter and spring, when so many blooms appear before the new spring leaves. Shrubs perform many important functions in the garden, including creating a permanent foundation to give the landscape shape and form. Flowering shrubs add a little extra to the entire garden when they’re in full bloom.
Brunfelsia undulata
Hydrangea macrophylla
Pavetta lanceolata
(white yesterday, today, tomorrow) This is a most handsome evergreen shrub that grows best in dappled shade. Of upright habit and clothed in simple glossy green leaves, these plants need to planted in a prominent spot in order to be appreciated. White flowers with a long tube and wavy petals are produced along the length of the growth tips of each branch in summer, and sporadically at other times. They are very conspicuous and sweetly scented at night, adding to the allure of this notable plant. As the blooms age they turn yellow and eventually brown before withering and dying off. Sadly, these brunfelsias are not always readily available in the commercial plant trade, so if you do come across any be sure to take one home with you.
(Christmas rose or mop-head hydrangea) Deemed by many gardeners to be amongst the showiest of all lowering shrubs, hydrangeas are important components of many summer gardens around the country. They thrive in cool, moist climates and prefer morning sun and afternoon shade. Large lower heads in shades of blue, pink or white prevail during mid-summer. The colour of the blooms is inluenced by the levels of available aluminium in the soil, which changes pink lowers to blue. Talland dwarf-growing hybrids are on ofer, so ensure that you plant suitable hydrangeas for your garden’s needs. Hydrangeas are worth persevering with in many diferent climatic conditions, even if they have to be planted in pots.
(weeping bride’s bush) A large evergreen shrub or sometimes small tree of local origin that blooms from November to January. Narrow, dark-green leaves adorn the multi-branched shrub with issured grey bark. It is a versatile plant that grows in sun or light shade and can be used for illing in gaps or creating a screen under trees. Terminal clusters of white lowers smother the bushes for a spectacular display over the festive season. Each cluster is comprised of many small tubular lowers with stigmas protruding above the tubes to create a pincushion efect. Black fruit follows the lowers. Pavetta lanceolata is one of the showiest of our indigenous white-lowering shrubs. It grows in a wide range of climatic conditions.
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GIFTS GALORE! Spoil yourself or someone special with a gift for or from the garden.
Moonlight calendar The Moonlight Calendar is an informative visual guide to South African Lunar Phases, the Lunar Zodiac and to Gardening by the Moon. This annual, poster-size calendar is produced by Ilona Thorndike, who compiles The Lunar Gardening Guide for The Gardener and Die Tuinier magazines. It is the primary reference point for learning how to keep in tune with the moon’s cycles – either by phase, sign or fertility mode, on any day of the year. It is particularly useful for gardeners, farmers, ishermen, planners, photographers and naturalists. The Moonlight Calendar features: z The shape of the daily moon; z The exact times of the four main moon phases; z The exact times the moon changes zodiac signs; z A colour-coded chart showing the fertility rating of every day; z A brief gardening-by-the-moon guide to what should be done during which signs and phases. To order your Moonlight Calendar e-mail ilona@moontime.co.za
Get what you want, from STIHL Tell your family what you want: STIHL HSA 25 cordless shrub shears! With cordless shears you can work anywhere you need to, plus the 10.8V lithium-ion battery has an uninterrupted running time of over 90 minutes, making it ideal for smaller gardens. It has a shrub cutter attachment and a grass trimmer for edging. Two low-vibration reciprocating blades ensure double-punch slicing performance of around 2000 double strokes a minute, tackling stems and branches up to 8mm in diameter with a clean, precise cut – and with no tiring physical exertion. Visit www.stihl.co.za for other must-have gift ideas for this festive season.
Out of gift ideas? Consider Gardena watering accessories. Gardena offers a wide range of spray guns, nozzles and lances for every application in the garden. The new watering accessories deliver frost resistance for sustainable quality and convenient ergonomic designs with an on/of trigger and low control. The spray guns are ideal for cleaning as well as ine-mist irrigation. In addition to hand-held spray guns, Gardena ofers an outdoor portable garden shower that is simple to install and guaranteed fun during hot summer days. Attractively packaged and well-priced, these products make ideal gifts. www.gardena.com/za 6 I www.thegardener.co.za
Gardening gifts galore! For all your gardening gifts this festive season visit www.tanyavisser.com. There you’ll find something special for every member of the family (even the fur-kids!) ready to be delivered to your door. www.tanyavisser.com
The perfect edge With PermaEdge you can give your garden the perfect edge and keep your garden in perfect shape. PermaEdge is a hardwearing, bendable, galvanised steel garden edging product that easily interlocks to create metre upon metre of perfectly edged lawns, flower beds, paths and driveways. From as little as R85 per metre you can ensure the only thing spreading in your garden is cheer. www.permaedge.co.za
Beautifully crafted for life The Moulton Mill Range of tools and accessories is the ultimate luxury gardening gift for that very special gardener in your life. www.mangomooncc.co.za www.toplinetools.co.za
Glove up Keep the hands of your gardening friends and family well protected this season with these soft and durable his-and-hers gardening gloves from Mango Moon and Topline Tools. www.mangomooncc.co.za www.toplinetools.co.za
20% gift coupon from us All digital subscriptions for The Gardener, Die Tuinier, Grow to Eat, Let’s Braai, Kom Ons Braai and The Open Gardens of South Africa magazines from the 26 November to the 31 December 2018 will receive a 20% discount when using the COUPON CODE: XMAS GIFT Visit www.thegardener.co.za to activate.
Modular wall garden Transform a boring wall into a lush wall garden in seconds. This fun, practical planting system is ideal for growing herbs and plants near the kitchen, and is small enough to fit easily on balconies and small spaces, including indoors. Available at garden centres countrywide. Call 011 794 2316 or email info@ballstraathoff.co.za for a local supplier.
Silicone Waterproof LED Solar Lantern The UltraTec Silicone Solar Lantern is a tough and breakresistant silicone ABS LED light. It is waterproof for use outdoors in any weather conditions, and is rechargeable by solar energy or via the USB port. It is ideal for travelling, to use on boats, while camping or hiking, in gardens, pathways, parties, on the table or as a child’s night light. www.yuppiechef.com
Skinny laMinx Soft Bucket This versatile Soft Bucket can be used for everything from decorative covers for planters to keeping desks tidy or bread rolls warm. Available in various designs. www.yuppiechef.com
Le Creuset Herb Planters Use these 14cm planters to grow small flowers to brighten your windowsill, or herbs to add fresh flavour to home-cooked meals. A drainage hole and saucer ensure that the soil maintains the perfect moisture levels. Available in 15 different colours. www.yuppiechef.com www.thegardener.co.za I 7
FEATURE GARDEN
Beauty and
This home by the sea is complemented by a garden that is both practical and gorgeous.
TEXT Izolda van der Merwe
creativity
GvH Landscapes www.gvhlandscapes.com E-mail: graham@gvllandscapes.com Phone: 072 289 2938
W
hat turns a house into a home? It may start with a house and a dream, but so much has to happen before you can call your house a home. I realised this after visiting the House de Bruyn in Brackenridge, Plettenberg Bay. With nearly 360° vistas, my breath was taken away by the contemporary design of the home and the clever use of space, incorporating the surrounding landscape in every area of the garden. The garden really begins with the beautifully planted verge, followed by soft perennials that greeted us as we entered the driveway, a mass of pelargonium tumbling over the retaining wall, interplanted with groundcovers and spots of colour. As an architect with a vision, and who has an expert understanding of space and nature, Stephen Westraadt set about designing this beautiful home. Being an avid collector of botanical stamps, and researching the plants portrayed on each of his stamps, he has an extensive knowledge on lora. It was this understanding that allowed him to appreciate the importance of merging a building with its surrounding habitat, forming a dwelling that will complement the landscape and not seem overly intrusive. Having being involved in
OPPOSITE PAGE: The meandering garden lows effortlessly into the surrounding fynbos, creating a place where you can rest and enjoy nature. ABOVE: The verge is welcoming, setting the trend for the rest of the garden. RIGHT: A curved lawn edge and walkway lead into the meditation area. Large trees were brought in to create a natural screen. the industry for over a decade and designing many homes in the area, Stephen took aspects of estate living into consideration, as well as the climate, and also headed up the build as project manager. The owners of House de Bruyn had been admiring the gardens created by GvH Landscapes in the area, so Stephen contacted Graham to work with them in achieving their idyllic garden. Graham has travelled the globe, and his appreciation and understanding of plants and space is evident in every one of his gardens. Since this particular garden is just 640m2, the home and garden design were intimately interconnected and each space was created for maximum efect, forming synergy between indoors and outdoors. The soil at Brackenridge is low in nutrients and the natural soil proile for the area comprises a thin layer of topsoil and a very www.thegardener.co.za I 9
FEATURE GARDEN
ABOVE: The meditation garden viewed from above. LEFT: Mass planting of erigeron softens the hard edges of the walkway, leading the eye around the corner into the meditation garden RIGHT: The golden thread in the entire design is the repetition of similar hard landscaping materials. Although the garden rooms are distinct in their planting style, this creates a clever design element, complementing the architecture of the home.
heavy layer of subsoil clay and rock. Graham has a irm philosophy that good soil equates to good plant growth, and with this principle in mind he imported truckloads of topsoil and compost to add to the garden before planting even began. Then with every hole dug, bonemeal and Atlantic Bio Ganic slow-release organic fertiliser were added to the soil. Graham knew that with the harsh conditions and strong, salt-laden winds from the Indian Ocean his plant selection had to tough and well suited to the environment. As I walked along the lawn alongside the driveway, my vision was led into the main garden and the hills of Robberg Nature Reserve that lay beyond. To the left the staircase leading to the upper level pool area is softened by a mass of plumbago. In front, stepping down into the lowest level of the garden, a tapestry of lowering groundcovers, herbaceous plants and shrubs invites you to take time out on the bright salmon-coloured bench. With a pallet of mostly indigenous and endemic plants, Graham has created a beautiful balance between colour and texture. The pathway is lanked by santolina and a golden sedum as yellow as the sun. This meandering path leads onto the magniicent, innovative lawn. Three terraced lawn platforms create a perception of space, and with strong angular lines running from the 10 I www.thegardener.co.za
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main axis of the home the bold architectural lines are mirrored in the garden. From the top loor of the home the lawn can be viewed as an abstract artwork, but Stephen tells me that each terrace was created with a speciic function in mind. When the family have visitors there is ample space for groups to each enjoy a section. Toddlers could be crawling on the soft lawn on one while pre-teens enjoy a friendly game of cricket on another, and the parents could entertain friends on the third. A space inspired by the French architect Bernard Tschumi, associated with deconstructivism, this is the ultimate deinition of where form meets function. Each terraced boundary line joins into the soft, curved lowerbed at the far side of the garden, where large trees were installed to create an instant screen between the garden and its neighbour. To soften the angular lines, Graham planted santolina hedges along each lawn terrace. Replicating the pathway from the main garden, a curved wall and walkway invite you into a secluded area of the garden as a sea of erigeron, bellowing over concrete pavers, curves its way to the front of the home. All along this path the garden is relected in the expansive windows of the main entrance hall and staircase, allowing the home to seamlessly merge with the outdoors, while the planting mirrors the home’s interior colour scheme. This house exempliies how to craft a lawless transition between modern architecture and garden design, and at the same time be a welcoming home. It allows light and form to balance both living spaces, and in doing so the beauty and creativity of these areas are timeless.
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PL ANT GALLERY
There are a number of challenges in choosing plants for a coastal garden like this one. Here are some great choices for this climate and these toughconditions: Carex buchananii ‘Red Rooster’ Common name: Red rooster sedge Growth size: 60cm x 60cm Flowers: Insignificant blooms in summer and late summer. O It prefers full sun, but can be grown in partial shade. O Plant in moist, well-draining soil. O Needs a medium amount of water and should not be overwatered. O Because of the bronze to red colour, it combines well with other annuals and perennials. O Disease and pest-resistant, hardy and low maintenance.
Pelargonium peltatum Common name: Ivy-leaved pelargonium Growth size: It can reach a height of 2m or more. Flowers: Modern varieties flower repeatedly throughout the year. The most prolific flowering occurs in spring and again in autumn. O One of the hardiest pelargoniums available, it has a spreading habit that makes it ideal as a groundcover and for hanging baskets. O They are mostly resistant to fungal diseases. O Flowers in abundance and flourishes in coastal gardens in temperatures that are warm and dry, planted in full sun to light shade. O Medium to low water consumers. Allow the soil to dry out completely between watering. O Plant in well-draining soil (they hate wet feet) enriched with compost. They are hungry plants that require fertiliser regularly to produce flowers.
Santolina chamaecyparissus Common name: Cotton lavender Growth size: Mound-like bushes growing to 60cm tall and slightly wider. Flowers: Golden flower heads about 1cm in diameter in summer. O A compact-growing shrub with fine, feathery white or grey leaves. O It is an excellent filler plant for dry, sunny positions and is also an attractive low hedge plant. O It needs full sun and alkaline soil with no added compost. O The remains of flowers must be cut off as soon as they are spent, to prevent them from damaging the foliage as they decompose. O Clip to shape in spring. O Water once a week after planting to develop a good root system.
Scabiosa incisa Common name: Cape scabious Growth size: 60cm tall x 40cm wide Flowers: Light purple, mauve or white flowers that bloom from September to December. O Can be grown in sandy soil in coastal gardens. O An indigenous perennial with a bushy growth habit. O The plants are very versatile, hardy and coldresistant, and will grow throughout South Africa. O Plant in full sun in sandy, well-drained soil enriched with compost. O Can survive short periods of drought, but its best to water regularly to keep them lush. Feed regularly during spring and summer.
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PL ANT GALLERY
Cerastium tomentosum Common name: Snow-in-summer Growth size: 10cm high and spreading outwards Flowers: Masses of white, star-shaped flowers in late spring and early summer. O A vigorous, carpet-like groundcover with small, slender white or grey leaves. O Excellent for rock gardens, for planting in between paving and as a general groundcover. O It tolerates extremely cold weather. O Plant in any well-draining soil in full sun. O No pruning required and generally pest- and disease-free.
Phormium ‘Apricot Queen’ Common name: New Zealand flax Growth size: 1.2m tall x 1.5m wide Flowers: Tubular, red flowers in summer O Grown for the apricot-tinted, paleyellow strappy leaves, with green and bronze edges. O Plant in full sun or partial shade in moist, fertile, well-draining soil. O Remove any dead or damaged leaves in late spring and apply a balanced fertiliser to promote new growth. O They may need winter protection in very cold climates. O Require a medium amount of water.
Sedum rupestre ‘Angelina’ Common name: Angelina stonecrop Growth size: 10 – 15cm tall and 45 – 60cm wide. Flowers: Clusters of star-shaped yellow flowers in summer. O Fast-growing groundcover.
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O
O O
The more sun the more golden in colour it will be. If planted in shade it will turn lime green. Plant in moderately fertile to poor, well-draining soil. Drought-tolerant succulent plant. Attracts butterflies.
Verbena x hybrida Common name: Garden verbena Growth size: Many different shapes and sizes are available. Flowers: Blooms in a vairety of colours in clusters throughout summer and autumn. O Technically perennials but grown as annuals. O Plant in full sun in the garden and in containers. O Water well and grow in well-draining soil that is not too fertile. Too much fertiliser promotes more leaves than flowers. O Use trailing varieties for hanging baskets and over garden walls. O As the blooms fade, cut back the whole plant by ¼ for a new flush of blooms in a few weeks time.
Convolvulus sabatius Common name: Blue rock bindweed Growth size: Trailing perennial 20cm in height. Flowers: Purplish-blue flowers in summer to autumn. O Plant in a sheltered, sunny position in well-draining soil. O Perfect for containers or raised beds. O Pruning encourages new growth and flowers. O Generally disease free. O Easy to grow with occasional watering.
Setting the table for a feast can be great fun, and you can use what you have in the garden. From contemporary green and white to flamboyant colour and country flair, we show you some ideas on how to achieve the perfect tablescape for summer entertaining.
Dreamy tables
from the garden
STYLING Izolda van der Merwe, Wendy Moulton, PHOTOS Tamlyn Redman
BOTANICAL TABLES
OPPOSITE PAGE: A feast for the senses with edible bits to snack on as you go through dinner. TOP RIGHT: This exuberant bunch of lowers comes straight from the garden in shades of cream, pink, orange, blue and purple, which combine to form a rich tapestry of colours that is perfect for a Roman feast. A silver vase and silver candlesticks add to the opulence. MIDDLE LEFT: For the plate setting we chose contrasting blues, and for a touch of glamour a dark red orchid set on a purple cabbage leaf.
ROMANTIC FEAST
MIDDLE RIGHT: Dark glassware adds to the mood of the table. BELOW RIGHT: The centrepiece can double as the irst or inal course of the banquet. It is illed with textures, vibrant colours and light. Fruit like grapes, blueberries, nectarines and granadillas combine with baby red cabbages and baby tomatoes, some kept whole and others sliced in half for another dimension of colour. Beads, baubles, lowers and candles inish it of.
Food that would suit this lavish setting would be something along the lines of a traditional Roman feast, such as oysters, boiled eggs (to soak up the wine), olives and goat’s cheese as a starter, meat roasts (especially suckling pig!), ham with igs, venison and game birds cooked with spices and herbs for main. Accompaniments to this could include fennel salad, mushrooms, leeks and carrots, and for dessert, honey and nuts with fruit and pastries. www.thegardener.co.za I 17
BOTANICAL TABLES
Calming pastel shades make this table a soft and inviting space. It’s relaxed and perfect for a garden setting.
ABOVE: We repurposed an old metal hanging basket by spraying it with bronze spray-paint, hanging it upside down and adding ribbons and daisies to make a delightful chandelier for the table.
COUNTRY GARDEN
ABOVE RIGHT AND FAR RIGHT: Watering cans in pastel shades make perfect receptacles for lowers and greenery picked from the garden. The haphazard way the lowers are placed in the container adds to the country feel. A soft botanical-print tablecloth, candleholders and a few baubles tie the centrepiece together. BELOW LEFT: For the place settings we used pale pinks, serviettes tied with string and curved glasses to complement the theme. BELOW RIGHT: A dash of bright colour was added to the clear glassware in the form of pink-spotted paper straws.
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BOTANICAL TABLES
TREASURES FROM THE TROPICS The shapes and designs of large tropical leaves were the inspiration for this contemporary table design, and this is right on trend at the moment.
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Tip A gold pen and a few leaves make great nametags.
RIGHT: The centrepiece for this green and white scheme sits on a large Strelitzia nicolai leaf. Our other leafy material was then rolled into cylinders and stapled into place. Small lowers, baubles and leaves wrapped around the candles complete the design. BELOW: The plate settings are plain white to contrast against the leafy green palm leaves beneath them, and we painted artist boards with leaf patterns. The glassware holding candles add to the atmosphere.
If you feel that the art boards are a bit much for you, take a leaf from the garden, trace the outline on the board and simply ‘colour it in’ with paint. You can add the names of the guests to the boards and give them out as party gifts.
BOTANICAL TABLES
The vibrancy of Mexico and the style of Boho-chic from the bohemian and hippie fashion eras was the inspiration for this tablescape, which is an explosion of colour.
ABOVE AND RIGHT: The centrepiece for this table is a selection of cacti and succulents in terracotta pots, along with a selection of bright bowls and containers with all sorts of designs mixed together on a redand-yellow botanical print tablecloth. This many contrasting colours, including a few hand-painted imported Mexican tiles, may seem like a cacophony of colour, but it all comes together in this fun and vibrant table. You can almost hear the music and laughter in the background. BELOW: For the sun-loving bright lowers in this design, Gaillardia x grandiflora do the trick. BELOW RIGHT: Stacking diferent colours, patterns and shapes on top of each other gives this plate setting a diferent, multi-dimensional look.
BO-HO CHIC
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BOTANICAL TABLES
MOSSY FOREST This rustic setting is loads of fun to put together.
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ABOVE RIGHT AND LEFT: The centrepiece is a composition of forest materials like bark, leaves, moss, lichen, pinecones (for a touch of Christmas) and moss balls that we made. We used a hessian tablecloth as the background and piled in a few lowers, spray-painted bottles bronze as candleholders, and used some tea light candles to light it up.
ABOVE: For the place setting we used slices of a tree trunk that our dear DIY guy Garth cut for us in the workshop. We opted for wooden knives, forks and spoons, and white and brown plates with a touch of pink in the delphinium lowers. Two twigs glued together make a great nametag holder for this rustic setting. LEFT 1,2,3: A mini forest scene is a great way to add interest to a table, and it is easy to make one. Just ind an interesting rock and glue bits of fern or selaginella, as we did, to the rock with lorist’s glue. Glue on a lower and you’re done. Place small candles on the upside-down glass for more drama.
To make your own moss balls, spray-paint polystyrene balls in a darkish colour. (The white shows through more if there are gaps.) We used the bronze spray-paint that we used throughout the shoot. Then spray the painted balls with artist’s mounting glue, and when it’s tacky press bit of moss to it.
PLANT FEATURE
Roses’ bedfellows Companion plants for roses need to be carefully picked for success.
TEXT Gerald Schoield
many
T
hese days rose bushes are often incorporated into flower borders alongside an array of different companion plants that share the same growing conditions. This is in complete contrast to many traditional rose gardens of yesteryear where roses grew in beds all on their lonesome. By creating an integrated rose garden with various other plants, the lean periods when roses are not in bloom are not nearly as noticeable. The companion plants enhance the roses when they are performing and compensate when they aren’t, a winning formula for year-round good looks.
Obviously all companion plants must be able to cope with the same growing conditions that roses require. Full-day sunshine and plenty of water are the key growing factors for good roses, but selecting other plants to combine with them goes beyond just fulilling the basic growing conditions. These companions need to enhance the roses without detracting from their growing performance. Therefore, they can’t be aggressive in growth habit, can’t grow too large and mustn’t compete with the roses’ root systems below ground. Fortunately there are numerous plants that it this bill, ofering a wide array of choices to
gardeners in various diferent climates. Some of these companions are annuals, other are perennial. Some are grown for lowers whilst others are used predominantly for their colourful or contrasting foliage. Make your own choices based on the overall impact and efect that you desire. In many instances it’s more efective to use just a single plant for under-planting, especially in more formal gardens. Conversely, cottage or country-style gardens combine roses with a colourful array of diferent lowers. Here are but a few plants to consider from the huge range available to local gardeners.
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Annuals Annuals are deined as plants that complete their entire lifecycle within the space of one year (in some instances one growing season), so spent annuals need to be removed and replanted seasonally. Most annuals grow well with roses provided that they are planted in the correct season. Those plants in the list below that lower in winter and spring need to be planted in autumn while summer- and spring-lowering annuals are put in during spring. Sweet alyssum forms a carpet through most of the year, in white or shades of mauve and purple. Antirrhinums or snapdragons are lovely in winter and spring. Larkspurs stand tall and supreme in winter and spring. Lobelias grow best in winter and spring. Marigold plants combat insects and make a spectacular display in summer and autumn. Pansies and violas are the mainstay of the winter and spring display. Parsley is a good contrast plant in the cool season. The numerous forms of petunias are best during the dry part of the year (which difers from area to area). Stocks lend fragrance and height to the winter garden. Virginian stocks can be sown directly under the roses for a splendid winter and spring display. Zinnias cope with the heat and humidity of summer.
Sweet allysum
Lobelia
Antirrhinum
Pansy
Perennials Perennials are described as plants that last for three seasons or more. Because they are longer lasting they require less regular work in terms of replanting. Perennial plants are used extensively amongst roses, especially some of those grown for their grey foliage. Certain types are planted to reduce insect infestations on the roses. Campanulas (belllowers) form clumps with tall lower spikes. Cerastium (snow-in-summer) is a lat groundcover with grey foliage. Chives have interesting foliage and pretty mauve lowers. Gauras always have masses of white or pink blooms through spring to autumn. Geraniums (cranesbills) are low groundcovers with ine foliage. Gypsophila (baby’s breath) combines in a soft gentle manner. Irises or bearded irises have contrasting leaves and spectacular blooms in spring. Lavandulas (lavenders) generally prefer a drier growing environment, but they still seem popular amongst or alongside roses. Leucanthemum (shasta daisies) combine well. Nepeta (catmint) has grey foliage and mauve lowers. Perovskia, commonly known as Russian sage, is a grey-leafed shrub with pale lavender lowers. Phlox of the perennial type is vibrant in summer. Santolina (lavender cotton) has ine grey foliage. Scabiosa (pincushion) has mauve or pink lowers on low, mounded plants. Stachys, commonly known as lamb’s ear, is grown for its furry grey foliage. The many forms of thyme make excellent groundcovers. Tulbaghia (wild garlic) is often used amongst roses to repel insects. 28 I www.thegardener.co.za
Chives
Rose geranium
Gaura
Cerastium
Iris
Santolina
Questions and Answers
Petunia ‘Million bells’
Stocks
Parsley
Zinnia
Q Are there any indigenous plants that can be grown amongst my roses? A Roses are not indigenous, originating from the northern hemisphere. However, there are various indigenous plants that can be grown with roses –wild garlic (Tulbaghia), various grey-leafed helichrysums, watsonias and other bulbous plants like tritonias and sparaxis all work nicely, as does African rosemary (Eriocephalus africanus). Q What happens to plants growing between rose bushes when you carry out winter pruning and spraying? A Many seasonal annuals are removed and replaced around the time that winter pruning and spraying takes place (mid-July to midAugust). Some of the perennials will have died down as well. Cover the plants that need to be protected with plastic or canvas while pruning and spraying is carried out to minimise damage from heavy feet and any spray drift or dribble.
Virginian stocks
Q How do companion plants interact with a layer of mulch placed on the soil surface around roses? A Ultimately the companion plants grow into a living mulch around the roses. When establishing plants, simply move the mulch aside to dig holes for planting. Once planted, spread the mulch layer around the new companions and allow them to grow and develop.
Perovskia
Shasta daisy
Lavendula stoechas
Campanula
Tulbaghia
Q Can I grow herbs and vegetables with rose bushes? A Many rose gardens are under-planted with parsley, chives and thyme, along with other herbs. The most important thing with edibles growing in an environment where plants are sprayed is to observe the safety period between last application and harvest. This varies from chemical to chemical. If you are not sure of these matters, it’s safer to simply use edible herbs and vegetables as ‘ornamentals’ amongst the roses rather than having to worry about the safety aspect. There’s no right or wrong in terms of having roses growing amongst companion plants or being cultivated in traditional rose beds without any competition. The inal choice is ultimately a matter of personal preference or taste, although the size of the garden also afects these decisions. If you, like most of us, live in a small garden, then you’re certain to grow your roses amongst a plethora of companion plants. www.thegardener.co.za I 29
PLANT FEATURE
Caring for air plants TEXT Tinus Oberholzer
They cannot live on air alone!
T
he misconception that tillandsias survive on air alone is probably the biggest reason for these plants dying or people not having success with them. Air plants are fairly easy to grow if the correct growing conditions and care is provided. As with all plants, how much light, water and air they receive are most important, along with what the temperature range is.
Light Most air plants require very high light conditions to grow well, which is why most air plants will not do well indoors. Placing them in your bathroom is therefore not the best idea, and the plants will
not survive for long. Bright light is needed for optimal growth, but the amount of light needed and what the plants can handle is also dependent on humidity and air movement. If the plants are grown in a garden along the coast with constant high humidity and good air movement, air plants may be grown in full sun. In the interior, where humidity is lower for most of the year and temperatures can be fairly high in summer, it is advisable to grow these plants in bright light or morning sun but not full day sun. If grown under low-light conditions the plants will often lose their grey colour and grow to be lanky and soft. In most cases they will eventually die.
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air movement will assist in this and prevent water accumulating in the crown, which can cause rot in some varieties.
Climate Temperature ranges in which the plants are able to grow depend on the species. There are some species that can handle colder conditions in winter, while some will fare better in the hot dry summers. Almost none of the tillandsias will be able to handle frost so be sure to protect them from the cold. In warmer climates, protect these plants from the worst of the heat by ensuring they are grown in a spot that is sheltered from midday sun and has proper air movement.
Where should you grow your air plants?
Water Water is important for any living thing and, as explained in the first article of this series, these plants do require water. The amount of water will depend greatly on the type of tillandsia, but in general the greener the leaf, the more water is required to keep the plant happy. Those plants with more silvery/grey leaves will be able to survive on less water. When watering the plants give them a good spray with the hosepipe or dunk them in water for a short while. The frequency of watering will depend on temperatures and humidity. In colder times once a week should be sufficient. Plants grown in areas with high humidity will probably
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only need to be watered once a week in summer. Those grown in warmer, drier climates will need more frequent watering, as often as every second or third day. The colour of the leaves will go slightly greener when properly watered. Air and air movement is important for these plants as this is something they have in ample quantities where they come from. The lack of air movement is often one of the factors that contributes to the death of these plants when grown indoors. Try and place your plants in a well-ventilated spot for best results. The varieties with bulbous bases and lots of grey scales also prefer to dry out a little and not stay moist all the time. Proper
Having said that they will not survive for long periods indoors, they can be placed in the home for display for a few weeks and then returned to the outside growing area without too much damage to the plants. In cold climates these plants might also be brought indoors during the coldest part of winter to protect from the worst of the cold. Grow your air plants on trees and shrubs or dead branches in the garden, on the patio or, if you have one, a shade house or greenhouse. They are very adaptable and will fare well in a range of conditions. When you grow them in the garden, these plants can be tied to a branch or a wooden trellis with stockings cut into thin strips. The elastic stockings will irmly hold the plant in place until the roots have grown onto the mount/ host, and will eventually just disintegrate, unlike wire, ishing line or twine, which can also damage the plants. Some growers even attach their plants to the host with a quickdrying glue. Be creative and make a feature of your air plants by creating a tree made up of a dry tree stump covered in Spanish moss, wooden hanging baskets illed with air plants all over your garden, or even using wind chimes and dreamcatchers as mounts. Use your imagination‌. You could create a curtain of Spanish moss or by suspending lots of other air plants from a rope, or grow them on a trellis for an interesting alternative to a creeper-clad trellis. There are lots of ways in which to display your air plants to look their best and make your garden and home look great. www.plantae.co.za
PLANT FEATURE
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YOUR ROSE GARDEN
GET THE LOOK
In a class of their own…
TEXT Ludwig Taschner
Apricot roses
Apricot and salmon-pink roses are a pleasing combination, especially when enhanced by splashes of blue delphiniums and an ornate blue urn as a focal point that draws the eye through the bed of roses. The tall-growing Eco-Chic ‘Clocolan’ is the star of the show, edged with the classically pickable blooms of ‘Happy Home’. Just beyond ‘Clocolan’, almost out of sight, is the fragrant, soft-pink ‘Perfumery’ and the apricot-cream ‘Garden and Home’. The last of spring’s yellow and orange poppies add a bit of pizazz! In autumn, when apricot and pink shades are even more intense, this bed will be simply unforgettable.
A
pricot roses are a favourite with gardeners who want the best of both worlds – soft pastel colours that also have an intensity of colour that stands up to our long, sunny days. British gardener Monty Don regards apricot as an elusive colour, and he is right. At the lighter end of the spectrum, apricot mixed with cream and pink produce dreamy specimens like ‘Moonlight Panarosa’, ‘Amarula Profusion’ and the climber ‘Crepuscule’. At the other end of the spectrum, deepertoned apricot roses edge towards bronze, like ‘Marjorie Chase’, or the ‘Easy Does It’ melange of orange, peach, pink and apricot, while the large blooms of ‘Helpmekaar Roos’ take on shades of apricot-cherry brandy. Even the classic ‘Just Joey’ changes with the weather, gaining intensity in cooler weather and autumn days. She is not pure apricot, but a subtle play of shades from creamy petal edges to an intense copperapricot heart. The truest apricot roses are Fairytale roses ‘Clocolan’ and ‘Avril Elizabeth Home’. Both are disease-resistant Eco-Chic roses that produce full, multi-petalled blooms. ‘Clocolan’ grows to shoulder height, producing clusters of long-stemmed cuttable blooms, and needs very little care. ‘Avril Elizabeth Home’ is more compact and suitable for containers, with large, heavy blooms at the end of arching stems. It is a less upright, more informal plant.
‘Avril Elizabeth Home’
‘Nomzamo’
‘Clocolan’
Rose care for December • Water deeply at least twice a week. • If you are at home in December, fertilise with Vigorosa in mid-December.
Using apricot roses The softer apricot shades blend easily with other roses, adding warmth and depth to beds with roses in other pastel shades. For a more exciting efect, use brighter apricot roses, with stronger tones of orange and yellow, to complement reds, blues and purples.
• Spray every two weeks with a spray cocktail of Ludwig’s Insect Spray and Chronos (for a large rose garden). • Keep roses looking neat by removing dead blooms. Cut of the bloom with at least three sets of leaves. ‘Easy Does It’
• Rose bushes that are not performing can be brought out of their summer slumber by loosening compacted soil, adding some mulch, spreading out the recommended dose of fertiliser and watering well – even if you had some good rains. • If you are going away for two weeks or longer, spray with Chronos and Ludwig’s Insect Spray the day before you leave. • Reduce the water consumption of roses while you are away by cutting of all the buds and new shoots. Renew the mulch in the beds to keep the soil cool.
‘Amarula Profusion’
‘Helpmekaar Roos’
• Move roses in pots into the shade or under trees and place the pots in saucers to catch water. www.thegardener.co.za I 35
PHOTO Julian van Jaarsveld Nomzamo Mbatha and Ludwig Taschner celebrate the launch of her rose.
What’s new? The new Fairytale rose ‘Nomzamo’ was unveiled at this years Spring Rose Festival, together with a powerful Panarosa shrub rose called ‘Olga Bothongo’. Both roses epitomise romance, with large, full-petalled old-fashioned blooms that are produced in an endless supply on healthy, glossy plants. ‘Nomzamo’ was named in recognition of actress Nomzamo Mbatha’s humanitarian work with refugees and youth sufering from depression and anxiety. The blooms are a warm salmon apricot, aging to dusky pink. On receiving the rose, Nomzamo said it was always important to ‘stand for something that is greater than yourself’. Introducing Nomzamo to ‘her’ rose, Anja Taschner said that “She (the rose) has got a beautiful female igure. And the pink was so important because the pink is your heart, your warmth, that you give to the world.” The bush is stately and upright growing to shoulder height. To create a focal point, plant three bushes together or make a lowering hedge by planting the roses in a row. ‘Olga Bothongo’ was a surprise 40th birthday present, given to Olga by her husband, Keith, in appreciation for her unwavering support as a wife and mother. French breeder Delbard created this tall-growing Panarosa shrub rose, which has arching stems carrying deep cup-shaped blooms in a mélange of cream and apricot with a touch of pink. Glossy green, disease-resistant leaves cover this 2m-high Eco-Chic rose from top to bottom. This statuesque rose makes a statement planted on its own, as a focal point in a border, or trained against a support on a wall, fence or garden partition.
‘Nomzamo’
‘Olga Bothongo’
PROUDLY SOUTH AFRICAN
TEXT and PHOTOGRAPH Graham Duncan
Hilliardiella aristata
Beautiful silver vernonia – ideal for summer borders
T
he silver vernonia is a striking member of the daisy family Asteraceae. Previously well known as Vernonia natalensis, it underwent a radical name change to Hilliardiella aristata when the genus Vernonia was revised several years ago. Some of the Vernonia species were transferred to the genus Hilliardiella, named after the botanist Dr Olive Hilliard, who studied the Asteraceae of KwaZulu-Natal. Silver vernonia is widespread in the summerrainfall area of South Africa, including the Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, Free State, Gauteng, Mpumalanga, Limpopo and North West, and its distribution extends to southern tropical Africa. It grows in open grassland and on rocky outcrops in heavy soil in full sun, in scattered groups or sometimes in large stands. This erect, clump-forming plant has a perennial woody rootstock and usually grows 80cm – 1m high in cultivation. The plant sends up new shoots in August after the irst spring rains, lowers in early summer (November to December), continues growing until late summer, and dies back completely in autumn. The silvery lance-shaped leaves
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are covered with thin whitish hairs, and the lower heads are produced in lattish, deep mauve or purple clusters, with prominent styles and stigmas. In mid-summer the light, downy white seeds mature and are carried away by wind. Silver vernonia is a very under utilised as a garden plant. It is ideally suited to cultivation in most parts of South Africa, including those receiving moderate frost. Full sun suits this plant best, and it likes a fertile, loamy soil and regular heavy watering from spring to late summer, and easily withstands dry winters. It is not adversely afected by winter rainfall, provided the soil is well drained, and it has adapted very well to the winter-rainfall climate at Kirstenbosch. Its bright silvery foliage stands out beautifully when used in mixed plantings with summer-growing perennials like the bell agapanthus (Agapanthus campanulatus) and the spotted calla lily (Zantedeschia albomaculata), or alternatively when interplanted with winter-growing corms like the small cobra lily (Chasmanthe aethiopica) or evergreens such as the bugle lily (Watsonia pillansii).
Plant them in spring or summer in rock gardens, herbaceous borders or deep pots, and provide a thorough initial watering, after which a heavy watering once or twice per week is suicient. After the stems have died back in autumn, cut them down to ground level, and in areas subject to frost, provide a mulch of dry leaf matter. Once established the woody rootstocks are very long-lived, lasting several decades in ideal conditions. The lowers attract butterlies and honey bees to the garden, which in turn provide food for insectivorous birds. An additional attribute is that the plants are almost never subject to pests and diseases. This species is used in traditional medicine to treat fevers, malaria, coughs and pain, and is also an ingredient in medicines used during pregnancy to ensure healthy mothers and babies. The roots and leaves also have magical uses as charms against lightning. Propagation is by division of thick clumps in late winter, by seed sown in spring, or by tip cuttings taken in early summer. Silver vernonia is not easily obtainable from nurseries in South Africa, but seed is available from Silverhill Seeds (021 762 4245).
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FOOD GARDENING
Seven herbs for holiday entertaining
W
hether your holiday season entertaining is going to be gourmet or casual, here are seven quite ordinary herbs that can help you to produce extraordinary results. Sweet basil, dill, parsley, mint, chives, thyme and origanum are not generally associated with festive fare, but with food trends favouring gourmet burgers, artisanal popsicles and rainbow food, there is a shift away from the traditional sagestufed chicken or lamb with mint sauce. Instead we are talking fresh, fruity and plenty of green stuf (which includes herbs) for summer eating.
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Cool for the pool Artisanal food is a term that we hear a lot, and now it has been extended to popsicles (fruit ices). On hot days, especially at the beach or around the pool, there is nothing better. Artisanal popsicles are homemade ices combining fruit and herbs, like mint with watermelon or strawberry, basil with peach or mango, lemon thyme with grape, orange or pineapple, and dill with kiwi fruit. By using fresh fruit and natural sweeteners (honey) children can enjoy sweet treats without refined sugar. To make Minty Watermelon Popsicles blend 2½ cups of diced watermelon, 1 tablespoon of mint leaves, 1½ cups coconut water, 2 tablespoons lime juice and 1 tablespoon honey. Pour the mix into ice-lolly moulds (available from Yuppiechef ) and insert the popsicle sticks (keep in place with a piece of tape). Freeze for at least six hours or overnight.
Burgers are popular again, but with a difference. They have gone gourmet, to be enjoyed with friends and loads of craft beer. Chop fresh thyme, dill, parsley and chives into the meat for an extra-tasty patty, or stuff a nugget of herb butter into the patty before cooking. Top with a tomato salsa (including chives, origanum and basil) or serve it on a bun spread with fresh tomato and sweet basil. To make four large patties mix 540g beef mince with 2 tablespoons chopped fresh herbs, a bunch of chopped spring onions, 2 minced garlic cloves and 1 beaten egg, and season with salt and pepper. Cook the burgers for three minutes on either side on a grill pan or pan with oil.
TEXT Alice Spenser-Higgs
Gourmet burgers and beer? Who would have thought!
Herbalicious salad If you are tired of the traditional tomato, cucumber, onion and lettuce combo, use herbs to add bursts of flavour with salad greens, adding in nuts and fruit for a saltysweet interplay of flavours. Flat-leaf parsley, torn mint leaves, chopped dill and snipped chives add a medley of lavours to any green salad. For a festive, sophisticated salad, toss in fresh or dried igs or chopped fresh dates for sweetness, and toast walnuts, macadamia or almonds for crunch. Finish of with a light dressing of wine vinegar, olive oil and seasoning, top with shaved pecorino cheese and serve immediately.
, which undance of fruit ab an h it w ilt o are sp sert, or In D ecemb er we ds, use d for des la sa in s b er h h wit can b e combined ur. tensify the flavo even grille d to in d that at pro duces fo o th d en tr ky ic m is a gim r gorgeous and fo t p ce R ainb ow fo o d ex , g in is less than app et generally lo oks e Fruit Skewer s. rawberry), orang st yummy Rainb ow or ry er b p as (r ad red rape On a skewer thre lemon), green (g or le p p ea in (p w , yello it. For extra (melon or orange) urple (grape) fru p d an ) ry er . It eb lu e (b between the fruit es or kiwi fruit), blu av le il as b d an with a fresh mint rved on its own or lavour, alternate se e b n ca at th k or snac is a perfect entrée ip. herbed cheese d u mer, but have yo m su f o e m o it are the ep b side? Make a her Ye llow p e ache s ry u vo sa a as d p epp er ing them d thyme, salt an thought of serv an il as b ed p p o oil, ch Cut the dressing of olive out 15 minutes. ab r fo le g in esh m urs rush the p each fl B . and let the flavo es n o st e th ow n and remove grill flesh side d p eaches in half d an ix m il /o b er e with the h d grill marks hav an ed en ft so e ith until they ar inutes). Serve w m 4 t u o b (a d re app ea al n or as an unusu smoke d gammo t with the braai. accompanimen ith the thought Are you bored w lad, even of serving fruit sa uintessential though it is the q Perk it up summer dessert? eet basil, with a delicious sw ilk and lime mint, coconut m gether dressing. Whisk to coconut 1/3 cup full-cream lespoons milk/cream, 2 tab leaves inely Greek yoghurt, 6 d mint, and chopped basil an e. Spoon the zest of one lim fruit mix of it over a tropical it, banana, chopped kiwifru es, mango and grapes, blueberri tempts the taste anything else that buds. Drizzle over oney and serve. 2 teaspoons of h
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Fish on the braai or oven baked is always a treat, but the secret lies in the flavouring. Whether you are splashing out on salmon or using the local catch, add zest with a lemon-origanum marinade. Finely chop two large handfuls of origanum, add the juice and zest of three lemons, and whisk with 1½ tablespoons of olive oil and 1½ teaspoons of minced garlic. Let the lavours mingle for about 30 minutes, then marinate the ish for 15 – 20 minutes and grill, bake or braai. Another way to combine herbs with ish is to roast the ish with a mix of chopped dill, parsley and chives. Season the ish and lavour it with a drizzle olive oil and lemon, then coat both sides of the ish with the herb mixture. Pour wine around the ish and roast.
Sweet basil does best with morning sun and afternoon shade. Grow in fertile, wellcomposted soil that drains well. For lush leaves water regularly and feed with a liquid feed once a month. Pinch off the white flower heads to prevent plants going to seed. Purple basil and cinnamon basil are also delicious in salad. Dill grows 1m high and needs full sun and wellcomposted soil. Don’t plant it with fennel or tomatoes. The fresh leaves are more flavourful than dried. It attracts beneficial insects.
For the traditionalists A leg or rack of lamb is the ultimate treat as the centrepiece of the festive feast. Smothering it with a herb crust takes flavour to another level. The timing is everything – for a leg of lamb the crust is added about 30 minutes before the end of cooking. For a rack of lamb, which requires less oven time, the crust is spread after the meat has been browned and then cooked on with the meat. Herb crust recipe: Mix 2 cloves chopped garlic, ½ cup chopped lat-leaf parsley, ¼ cup chopped dill, 1 tablespoon mustard and 2 teaspoons crushed cumin seeds with 1 tablespoon oil in a small bowl. Season with salt and pepper. Spread over the lamb. Serve with baby potatoes and a festive salad.
Parsley grows best in fertile soil in sun or semi-shade. It requires consistently moist (but not waterlogged) soil and should be fertilised once a month as it is a heavy feeder. The tastiest leaves are produced in the first growing season, so regard it as an annual and replace every season. Mint is available in a number of flavourful varieties. Plants spread quickly and grow in sun or semi-shade. They like plenty of water, but welldrained soil. For bushy, healthy plants cut back regularly. Check their spread as they can be invasive. Origanum is a low-growing, frost-hardy evergreen herb. It does well in full sun, in wellcomposted soil that drains well. For variety, plant spreading or upright golden origanum and cream-and-green ‘Country Cream’. All varieties are equally flavourful. Thyme or lemon thyme is a hardy, bushy little perennial that grows in full sun, in ordinary garden soil. Regular picking keeps plants bushy and prevents them from getting woody. Also grow French thyme for culinary use. Chives are clump-forming perennials that grow to a height of 50cm, with deep green, onion-like leaves and heads of mauve-pink flowers in summer. Chives grow easily in any soil, in full sun or partial shade and need regular watering. For more herb information visit www.healthyliving.herbs.co.za
FOOD GARDENING
Grow healthy
snack vegetables
D
TEXT Alice Spenser-Higgs
on’t we all love to snack? It’s not always because we are hungry, say the behaviourists who have studied the psychology of snacking. We snack to improve our mood (boredom or comfort eating), as a convenient on-the-go meal or energy boost (school and work lunches), and when socialising, watching television or sport. Recent research has found that millennials are more frequent snackers and that habit will most likely be passed onto their children. The global consumer insight firm Canadean found that 41% of those aged 18 – 24 and 44% of those aged 25 – 34 regularly snack between meals. Despite our best intentions, snacking is here to stay! But what we snack on makes the difference to our health, weight and fitness. That’s why growing our own healthy veggie snacks can help reduce (maybe even eliminate) the consumption of chips, chocolates and other delicious but diabolical treats.
5 delicious snack veggies
‘Snack’ veggies meet all the criteria of snacks – they are crunchy, sweet or savoury, varied, interesting, and easy to eat. They also appeal to the eye, especially the new multi-coloured varieties.
Cherry tomatoes have always been popular as a snack food, but now there are ‘currant’ and ‘grape’ types that are even more ‘snackable’, being extra sweet and lavourful. Small-fruiting tomatoes are quicker to harvest than the large fruit varieties and most varieties are suitable for growing in containers and even in large hanging baskets. Try these ‘Candyland Red’ is a new currant-type tomato. The dark-red sweet fruit is smaller than the cherry tomato, ready to ‘pop’ into your mouth straight from the garden. The plant is tidier than other current-type tomatoes and the clusters of fruit are formed on the outside of the plant, making it easier to harvest. ‘Midnight Snack’ is a new indigo cherry 46 I www.thegardener.co.za
Baby carrots tomato that ripens to red with a glossy blackpurple overlay when exposed to sunlight. This coloration comes from the accumulation of anthocyanin pigments, the same reason blueberries are blue and contain healthy antioxidants. The vines should be staked (an obelisk is suitable), which will encourage it to bear plenty of fruit. It is a quick-maturing salad patio tomato. ‘Patio Choice Yellow’ and ‘Sweet ‘n Neat Scarlet’ are both cherry tomatoes in the Simply Delicious patio vegetable range, while ‘Tumbling Tom’ (red or yellow) is a novel choice for large hanging baskets. Patio tomatoes are hybrids that have been specially bred for growing in small spaces. Plants are strong and compact, with high yields of up to 50 or more tomatoes per plant.
are another super-crunchy snack, and they are ideal container veggies, especially if the garden soil is heavy. Direct-sow seed into troughs or pots that are at least 20cm deep. Thin to 10cm apart. Use regular, ine potting soil, keep moist during germination and water regularly. Try this ‘Parisian Round’ carrots are sweet and round, ideal for lunch boxes. They grow faster than normal carrots because of their shallow root system and are great for poor soil conditions. They can be sown all year round and are ready for harvesting within 50 – 70 days of sowing.
Radishes are the ultimate slimming vegetable because they contain lots of ibre, vitamin C and potassium, and very few calories. Snacking on radishes rather than high fat or sugary foods helps ight hunger pangs but keeps weight of. They have also become more colourful.
B vitamins as well as dietary ibre, vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin K and minerals. These easy-to-grow veggies need space to grow (1m x 1m) and plenty of water, which should be given around the base of the plant. Wet leaves become susceptible to fungal diseases.
Try these ‘Rainbow Mix’ consists of purple, yellow, white and red radishes, and ‘Watermelon’ radish has a whitish-green outer skin, but when cut it resembles a small watermelon with bright pink lesh. The lavour is mild, nutty and slightly sweet. Sow thickly into compost-enriched soil or use a good quality, fast-draining potting soil for containergrown radishes. Keep the soil moist during germination. Use the thinned out small leaves in salads. They are as tasty, but not as peppery as the radish root. Water regularly because radishes need to grow quickly if they are to be plump and crunchy.
Try this Zucchini ‘Easy Pick Gold’ is a compact variety that its into small gardens and even containers. The leaves lack spines, making the golden yellow fruit easy to pick. Fruit is ready for harvest within 32 days of germination.
Baby marrows (zucchini/courgettes) eaten raw are crunchy and delicious, especially when served with a herbed cream-cheese dip. Being low in saturated fat and cholesterol this is an excellent vegetable for low-fat diets, although marrows do have a relatively high sodium content. They are a good source of
Good idea Raid the herb patch and use herbs to make savoury dips that can be eaten with the snack veggies. This will satisfy the craving for salt and adds a greater depth of flavour. Using fat-free cream or cottage cheese will keep the calorie-count down.
Sugar snap peas are a spring or autumn crop because plants do best in cool but sunny weather. Sugar snaps are a cross between the ordinary garden pea and mangetout, which means they can be grown as an ordinary pea, but are sweetest, juiciest and crunchiest if the pods are eaten just as they start to swell. Plant in fertile soil that drains well and water regularly so that plants don’t dry out or the harvest will be afected. Try this ‘Sugar Queen’ is a bushy variety that stays compact, with high yields, producing 10 – 12cm pods that are tender and stringless.
Creamy dill dip
Sage and cottage cheese dip
This consists of 1 cup plain yoghurt, ½ cup mayonnaise, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, 1 tablespoon milk, 2 tablespoons chopped fresh dill, salt, pepper and sugar to taste. Whisk everything together and keep in a covered container in the fridge for at least three hours before serving.
Snip sage (or any herb of your choice) into small pieces and combine 1 – 3 teaspoons with 250g cottage or cream cheese, 1 teaspoon mixed mustard, and milk or cream for texture.
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DECEMBER SOWING GUIDE This general guide should be used in conjunction with your own experience of local conditions and the micro-climate in your garden.
REGION
VEGETABLE
Highveld and KwaZulu-Natal Midlands
Asparagus, bush and runner beans, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, celery, cucumber, Swiss chard
Middleveld (Pretoria and other less frosty areas)
Asparagus, bush and runner beans, beetroot, cucumbers, sweetcorn, bush and trailing squashes, sweet melons, pumpkins, Swiss chard, tomatoes
Eastern Cape and Little Karoo
Asparagus, bush and runner beans, beetroot, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, cucumber, sweetcorn, radishes, bush and trailing squashes
Western Cape (and Southern Coast)
Asparagus, bush and runner beans, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, lettuce, sweet melons, sweetcorn, bush and trailing squashes
Northern Cape and Great Karoo
Asparagus, bush and runner beans, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, cucumber, pumpkins, Swiss chard
Lowveld and KwaZulu-Natal Coast
Nothing to sow
GARDEN TASKS for DECEMBER • Large vegetables (tomatoes, brinjals, squashes etc.) should be watered deeply twice a week while seedlings and shallowrooted veggies (Swiss chard, lettuce etc.) need less water more frequently, even daily in hot December temperatures. • Remove weeds that compete for water. • Renew mulch if necessary. • Manage whitefly and other sucking pests by spraying weekly with an organic insect spray. • Support fruit-bearing tomato stems to prevent the stems from breaking or bending. Use soft ties and loop the tie around the stake and the stem in a figure of eight. • Fertilise fruiting crops when they start to flower and leafy vegetables after picking.
5 minutes to spare Check quick-bearing veggies (such as beans or marrows) each day and harvest so that fruit doesn’t grow too big or too tough.
Good idea... Grow loose-leaf lettuce in the shade of taller plants like runner beans, tomatoes and brinjals.
10 minutes to spare Start sowing cool-season crops (such as cabbage or cauliflower) in seed trays. Keep them out of direct sun but in good light and make sure the soil is consistently moist during germination.
Did you know? Epsom salt (which is hydrated magnesium sulphate) aids seed germination when added to the soil before sowing?
Nursery
School Part 6
Sow the seeds of a lifelong love for nature by introducing your sprouts to these playful and rewarding projects with plants.
TEXT Mandy Allen/Bureaux PRODUCTION Jeanne Botes PHOTOGRAPHS Warren Heath/Bureaux. www.bureaux.co.za
INDOOR GARDEN IDEAS
ROOTS & SHOOTS Put your zero-waste lifestyle aspirations into practice by showing kids that it’s entirely possible – and super-simple – to re-grow new organic vegetables from scraps.
You will need • • •
Small glass container, deep dish or a drinking glass/small pots Soil Garlic cloves/the thick base of a celery
Instructions To regrow celery: •
•
• •
• • •
Once you have used all the stalks on your bunch of celery, place the base in a container, deep dish or glass with clean, roomtemperature water. Leave the container on the windowsill or somewhere where that the base will get gentle sunlight. New leaves should start to grow within five days. Once the leaves are a little bigger, you can transfer your celery base into a pot filled with potting soil. Plant the base in the soil with the leaf tips exposed and place in a spot that gets generous sunlight. Water regularly. After a week or two you should see stalks start to emerge.
To regrow garlic: •
•
• • • • •
Try to buy organic garlic to begin with. This should ensure that it has not been chemically treated, which often prevents sprouting. Fill a pot with potting soil and plant cloves (sprouting or not) around 1 – 2cm down so they are covered. Leave on a sunny windowsill or spot on the balcony or in the garden. Water regularly but don’t soak the soil or the cloves will rot. Your garlic sprouts should start to push through the soil after about a month. After several months you should notice hard, grass-like leaves growing from the centre of the plant. Once these start to curl and brown, your garlic is ready to harvest.
TIPS • • •
In the initial stages of growing celery from the base, keep the water that it is in clear and fresh. The process of regrowth can be repeated indefinitely for both vegetables. Spring onions (also known as green onions) and chives can be regrown by cutting them about ten centimetres from the base of the root and standing them in a glass of clean water on a sunny windowsill.
Get next month’s issue for more projects.
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No space?
L
iving in a small spot on the eighth floor doesn’t mean you can’t nurture plants to your heart’s content. Terrarium gardens are back in vogue – here’s how to create your own miniature biotope. It all began with one Dr Nathaniel Ward, way back in 1829. Ward was a physician in London and, like the rest of the empire, obsessed with collecting things. Colonies, animals, plants – Britain’s
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thirst for all things exotic was in full swing. Transport took a long time, often many months, and most birds, bees and trees didn’t make it to HQ London. Dr Ward kept moths’ cocoons in sealed glass bottles and by accident he found a fern had germinated, followed by some grass. And so the Wardian Case was born.
TEXT AND PRODUCTION: Sven Alberding/Bureaux, Photographs: Micky Hoyle/www.bureaux.co.za
No problem!
MINI GARDENING
Case Closed The premise of Ward’s discovery was simple: to grow plants in closed glass cases, where condensation provided moisture and humidity, while dead leaves and other debris supplied nourishment. Ward found that the longer you kept the containers closed, the better the plants grew – and inally, exotic plants were thriving, protected from the generally unsuitable growing conditions of Victorian-era London. But the Wardian Case wasn’t just a tank of pretty lowers. Since most plants being shipped between continents died from a lack of fresh water and the constant salt spray at sea, the invention was immediately put to good use. Wardian cases were installed on ships to travel the high seas. At irst, tea plants were smuggled out of Shanghai and shipped of to British India, destination Assam. Then rubber trees left Brazil for the colonies of Ceylon and Malaya, starting a massive industry there.
FAST FORWARD With the current trend for all things green and growing, it’s no wonder that the terrarium garden has made a comeback once again. This time it’s not about the frog but about space. More and more people live in small environments confined by urban planning, with little access to proper gardening setups. Terrarium gardens are perfect for mini-landscaping. We kept the lid of for most of our versions here, but it’s entirely up to you if you want to control-freak a Wardian Case or let go in a mini-jungle where the sky’s the limit. Just follow the instructions below and you’ll soon enjoy a biotope in your bathroom.
The frog who loved me The ’70s saw a revival of the case, as what we now refer to as the terrarium garden. While macramé wall hangings adorned the lounge and bell-bottoms swept the disco dance floors, the terrarium garden was another must-have of the decade. However, the essence of the closed case was discarded. Instead of a necessity to keep plants alive, it was more a decorative display in glass; a way to view roots and shoots in a contained environment. And with the supply of oxygen came the obligatory frog. Mostly green and feasting on lies supplied by the kids, he was part of the family and provided endless hours of entertainment for all. 54 I www.thegardener.co.za
HOW TO MAKE A TERRARIUM GARDEN The great thing about terrarium gardens is that they are easy to install and maintain, and light on the bank account too. z
z
z
z
Get started with any glass container of your choice that has an opening that’s big enough to fit your hand through. Clean it properly and rinse off any soap. Begin with a base layer of pebbles, followed by some horticultural charcoal. The charcoal is particularly important in closed cases because it keeps the air clean of any fumes due to decomposing plant material. On top of the charcoal goes a thick layer of potting soil, and voilà, you’re ready to plant. Also try adding some moss in areas between plants to retain more moisture in the soil.
MINI GARDENING
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Cyclamen
Pitcher plant (carnivorous)
What to plant
Coleus
Plants suitable for terrariums must fulfil three basic requirements: they must enjoy high humidity and low to moderate light levels, and they must remain relatively small.
Here’s a list of the top 10 plants that will love a glasshouse: z z z z z z z z z z
Ferns; Selaginella moss; Miniature orchids; African violets; Tillandsias (air plants); Carnivorous plants; Helxine soleirolii (peace in the home); Coleus; Cyclamens and; Pileas
Selaginella
Tillandsia
Helxine soleirolii (peace in the home)
Saintpaulia ionantha (African violet)
Maidenhair fern
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POT RECIPE
Take the woodland indoors Replicate the forest loor with this DIY and pot recipe in one.
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To make the container you will need Timber (shutterboard or any scrap wood) cut to: 2 x 400mm x 150mm x 18mm for the sides 2 x 150mm x 135mm x 18mm for the ends 1 x 400mm x 175mm x 18mm for the base 12 x 35mm x 4mm full-thread cut screws Spray-paint A selection of woodland materials like bark, moss, dried leaves and lichen. Potting soil (mix 4 parts potting soil with a part palm coir) Coarse gravel A selection of low-light plants like ferns and African violets.
Tools
quick
diy
Cordless drill, 4mm drill bit, 10mm drill bit, screwdriver bit, glue gun, tape measure and pencil
Begin by making the container. Drill two 4mm pilot holes through the ends of the two sides and the base.
Screw the sides onto the two end pieces using the predrilled holes, to form a box.
Screw the base into place, then drill a few 10mm drainage holes in the base.
Spray with a dark brown spray-paint that can be painted straight onto the wood container without the need for primer. Allow to dry.
Using a glue gun, stick bits of bark, moss, leaves and lichen to the outside of the container. Plant up with a selection of ferns and African violets, ‌
‌ or any woodland type plants that enjoy low light. When planting we used a layer of gravel, then a mix of potting soil and palm coir at a ratio of 4:1.
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CHECKLIST
2
Euphorbia milii
GO EASY ON YOUR WATER BILL! Our choice of water-wise plants for December can actually be planted together as a tough combo. Use Euphorbia milii as a background row. Fill in with Helichrysum petiolare and inish of with a border of Euphorbia hypericifolia ‘Diamond Frost’ – a great combination for a sunny, hot spot that will give you pleasure for years to come! Crown of thorns (E. millii) is a shrub with prickly stems and bright green leaves. Vivid red bracts surrounding tiny lowers are produced throughout the year, meaning that you will always have a splash of colour in your garden. You can also ind them in yellow or pink. It is an excellent barrier plant and is very pretty when planted en masse. Silver bush everlasting or kooigoed (H. petiolare) is a shrubby plant with grey, woolly leaves and a cascading habit. It is beautiful as a iller plant, as it lends an element of softness. It bears small, creamcoloured lowers in late summer to autumn. ‘Diamond Frost’ (E. hypericifolia) is a tough groundcover that covers itself in masses of small white lowers all year long. It creates lovely soft and lowery pillows in the foreground of mixed beds.
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CLIPPING AND PRUNING Prune all the hedges for neatness, taking care to neaten up below them too, as it can become a hiding place for all kinds of rubbish. If you have a lot of topiary shrubs, give them a light trim and thread some solar-powered fairy lights through them for a festive touch.
r e b m ece
D
© ۯ˼ r¼ ñ
Here’s a quick checklist to remind you what to do in your garden in December.
FILL UP YOUR GAPS
Even lazy gardeners can earn compliments if they spend just one Saturday morning illing some hanging baskets and empty pots around the patio with lowers. Plant these compact annual in pots, hanging baskets and in the foreground of beds that need a quick little facelift: calibrachoas, bedding dahlias, lobelias, French marigolds, celosias, dianthus, and the polka dot plant (Hypoestes phyllostachya) – the latter being a beautiful foliage annual for sun to semi-shade.
Dahlia p Hypoestes
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PEST PATROL
Symptoms of ant infestation are small heaps of fine sand on the surface above the nests on lawns, as well as uneven, dying patches of lawn and uneven paving. Ants prefer lawns that are patchy and in bad condition, so first prize is to ensure your lawn is well-maintained. Spray with a contact insecticide or apply granular ant bait (which will be carried to the nest) to eradicate the nest.
4
SEVEN EASY FESTIVE IDEAS
It’s always the simple and thoughtful touches you do in and around the house that make your guests feel special, and it’s so rewarding and fun too! Light up the garden – String fairy lights all over the garden. Wind them around tree trunks, along the gutters of the house and in the windows of the sitting room. Decorate your garden trees – Hang bright and shiny baubles and other Christmassy things on the branches of your trees. Add some colourful hanging baskets and wind chimes too. Plant bright colour indoors – Fill your house with poinsettias, moth orchids in lower and lowering hydrangeas, which are now in full bloom. Windowsill and tabletop pretties – Tie festive ribbons around the stems of old wine glasses and pop some echeveria rosettes with short stems into them. If you can lay your hands on olive tree branches, 66 I www.thegardener.co.za
ill jugs and vases with them for greenery indoors. You can also arrange foliage that does not wilt easily, like pennygum branches, in vases, or use it to make wreaths to decorate your rooms. These leaves have a lovely fresh smell. Cute little bouquets – Tie bunches of aromatic herbs like rosemary, sage, lavender and mint together with festive ribbons. Also add some cinnamon sticks. Display them in glass jars all over the house. Patio decoration – Fill the pockets of an old shoe bag with potting soil and plant them up with all kinds of trailing succulents or lovely annuals in lower. Small pots of goodies – Paint little clay pots gold or silver with craft paint. Once dry, add a little glue around their rims and dip them in glitter (available at craft stores). When they’re dry, ill them with sweets and nuts.
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LAWN FIXES BEFORE THE HOLIDAYS
Feed the lawn with a specialised lawn fertiliser and water it well before and after application, and then at least twice a week in the early morning. (The best time to fertilise is when it is raining!)
Mandevilla ‘Cosmos White’
For dad
Coleus
To turn the garden’s organic waste, like leaves, grass clippings, and prunings, into compost, dad needs a smart compost bin and handy compost activator to speed things up. To recycle all food waste safely and to improve the quality of the garden soil even more, he will also need a bokashi composter and a packet of bokashi bran or liquid bokashi.
For mom
Mandevilla ‘Cosmos White’ is a lovely climber with big white lowers with a yellow throat. It blooms non-stop and is perfect for the garden, growing over a trellis or an arch, but also stunning on patios and balconies in a pot. This mandevilla requires little water and prefers a location with full sun or partial shade.
7 GREEN GIFTS
e h t o m d n a For gr
r
She will love some colourful coleus hybrids to turn the loor of her shady garden into a tapestry of leaf colour. Coleus plants are regarded as summer annuals since they do not take kindly to cold and frost. They are available in the gaudiest leaf colours and are very easy to grow. Plant them in compostenriched soil in light shade, and do not overwater.
r e h t o r b r Fo
Boys love the macabre, such as carnivorous plants. Beaker plants (Sarracenia), which attract and ‘catch’ insects, are a super choice. They must be kept in a sunny and warm spot in pots containing real peat. The pots must always stand in water at least 2cm deep as the plants like to be wet all the time. Repot them every year into fresh peat and never, ever fertilise them as it can kill them.
For sis ter
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Get her a small icus tree to keep in her bedroom. Ficus trees are very forgiving if you forget to water them now and again, and it is not difficult to keep them happy as long as there is ample indirect light, they are not moved unnecessarily, and they’re not left in a draught. A really smart choice for a discerning teenager is the pseudo-bonsai Ficus ‘Ginseng’.
Ficus ‘Ginseng’
8 CLEAN OUT THE POND Clean out all ponds and water features. Water lilies and other water plants should be at their best now and are readily available, so invest in some new floating greenery and flowers.
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GOING ON HOLIDAY?
•
If you don’t have an automatic irrigation system, ask a friendly neighbour to water your garden in your absence. To make it easier on the watering soul, attach timers and hosepipes to all taps. Also leave instructions for the caregiver to stay well within the water-restriction rules.
•
Group potted plants together in the shade of a tree where they will dry out less quickly and will also be easier to water. Don’t forget to add water-retention granules to all your outdoor pots.
•
Water all indoor plants and place them in the bath on an old blanket that is well soaked. Leave bathroom curtains or blinds open to allow for good light.
Gaura ‘African Compact Pink’
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GENERAL YARD STUFF
Whitefly
• To avoid blight on tomatoes and mildew on cucumbers, squashes and pumpkins, water them early in the morning to give the leaves time to dry of before nightfall.
• Prune rambling roses, feed, water well and add a layer of mulch.
• Give citrus trees their mid-season feed of granular fertiliser. Spread evenly over the drip line 20 – 30cm away from the stem. Mulch and water well.
• Stake dahlias as they grow and keep disbudding them by removing the side buds to encourage large lowers.
• Planting seed potatoes in December and January will produce a harvest in April and May for storing and eating during winter.
• Cut back chrysanthemums to ensure bushier growth and lots of lowering stems in autumn. Mulch with fresh compost and water well afterwards.
• Weed the garden. After weeding place a layer of organic mulch over every last inch of soil. Mulching not only saves water and your time when you’re desperately busy with other tasks, but will also provide a professional and well cared for look and will display existing plants to their best advantage.
• Keep spraying deciduous fruit trees against fruit ly. • Whitely infestations could be a problem on fuchsias. Spray regularly with an organic remedy – ask your local nursery for advice on the right product and spraying sequences (to break their fast lifecycle).
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• Add swathes of gauras, angelonias, cupheas, lavender, Plectranthus ‘Mona Lavender’, bacopas, perennial verbena and pentas – none of these need excessive pampering or watering!
GROUNDCOVER
STOEP STORY
Cosmic gifting If you’re wondering about Xmas gifts for family and friends who are also into gardening, start by checking out their birth dates and Zodiac signs. You might recognise some typical characteristics that can help you to choose the perfect gift. Aries (21 March – 19 April) An Aries is passionate and always on the run, but does not plan well. Therefore they sometimes need the skill of others to do things for them, like creating a new garden – in which case they will start interfering immediately, finish the job themselves and take all the credit afterwards. They are inherently stingy and price conscious. Arians love: Thorn trees, red roses, chillies, mint and Barberton daisies. Taurus (20 April – 20 May) Don’t be fooled by a Taurus’s love of soft pastel colours. Soft hearted and tender souls they might be, but beware! If at any sale you should dare to grab the last item or an unusual plant that the Taurus has had their eye on all morning, she will knock you out cold without batting an eyelid. Tauruses are determined and passionate collectors of objects (even friends), which they will guard jealously. They hate losing! Tauruses love: Frangipani trees, daisies, poppies, foxgloves, sweet peas and exotic fruit trees. Gemini (21 May – 20 June) Geminis are always busy with a new project that will never reach completion, as they get bored straight after the planning phase. They are a curious lot who will relentlessly try to unwrap all your ideas and secrets. Before you know it your idea will be copied in their yards and your secrets will be known to everyone else! Geminis love: Nut trees, cacti, pincushions, bamboo and lawns. They also have a weakness for Buddha sculptures and garden lights. Cancer (21 June – 22 July) Never tell a Cancer a ‘tall’ story. They have excellent memories that enable them to check yesterday’s news against today’s outcome, and if there is just a smidgeon of a diference, you had better run! Cancers are generally softhearted but not very logical. They will, for example, become aggressive if their potplants die after you have repeatedly advised them to simply water them. But they would not have thought to be pro-active and to actually touch the soil to feel if it needs watering. Cancers love: White roses, white pebbles, lilies and jasmines. 72 I www.thegardener.co.za
By Anna Celliers
Leo (23 July – 22 August) It is not a fact but ‘urban legend’ that most chairpersons of clubs, societies, and body corporates (as well as mothers-in-law!) are Leos! They cannot bear disorderly conduct, and because they are dramatic and quite scary they will quickly whip any gathering of difering opinions into line. You can, however, easily seduce them with yellow lowers because under those fighting spirits are thinly disguised warm hearts and soft centres. Spoil a Leo with: Large lowers like amaryllis, sunlowers and yellow roses, as well as citrus trees and aromatic rosemary.
through your garden, and even laugh out loud. Regard this as sour grapes, as everything in their own gardens will be a shambles. A mini-forest is a good example of a garden project that a Sagittarius should not attempt. By the time that they have studied all the trees that would be ideal to plant, they will have found a new project, like building a DIY pergola – which will never be covered in greenery because they will forget to actually plant the climbers around it! Plants for Sagittariuses: Silver birches, lime trees, oaks, weeping mulberries, carnations and mossy plants like Sagina subulata.
Virgo (23 August – 22 September) A typical Virgo will not think twice about climbing a high mountain just to pick you a rare lower that he knows is growing in a specific ecological habitat. Unfortunately he will also not worry about leaving you behind all by yourself on a road well known as a hijacking hot spot for hours while doing so. A Virgo’s garden resembles a miniature and disordered botanical garden. A Virgo will want: Any plant, as long as you can also provide all the other species in its genus!
Capricorn (22 December – 19 January) Expect nothing exciting from any Capricorn – they are conventional souls who hate disorder. When they get stuck into a lowerbed they will graft from morning to night until no leaf is out of place and every grain of sand is accounted for. They create the impression that they are always in control, but they are secretly afraid of failure and always doubt their own abilities. Capricorns love: Evergreen trees like yellowwood and milkwood, ornamental grasses, echeverias and stainless-steel hand tools.
Libra (23 September – 22 October) Libras are like lower bulbs: they remain dormant for long periods and then burst forth vigorously. When this happens, they are fond of repairing what was never broken and changing stuf overnight. None of their eforts will last long as, not unlike politicians, they simply just can’t make a long-term decision and stick to it! Plants for a Libra: A shrub called ‘yesterday, today and tomorrow’ and seeds of love-in-a-mist. Scorpio (23 October – 21 November) Because Scorpios are power hungry and will fight ruthlessly for any quest close to their hearts, they are the ideal candidates for green forums, organisations like ‘friends of the nature reserve’, or any alien-busting committee. They will make you feel guilty about the kikuyu lawn, palms and roses still in your garden. Gifts for a Scorpio: Something strictly indigenous, a moon calendar, and organic fertilisers. Sagittarius (22 November – 21 December) Sagittariuses are not known for their diplomacy. They will make tactless comments while walking
Aquarius (20 January – 18 February) Aquariuses are friendly, honest, loyal and clever, but extremely stubborn. They seem to think they know it all! They love to follow trends and will turn anything (even an old tree stump) into a creative focal point, but they lack practical gardening skills. They cry easily after failing at something. Aquarians go crazy for: Flowering orchids, fruit trees and herbs with a strong lavour, like sweet basil. Pisces (19 February – 20 March) Pisces are born wearing rose-coloured glasses. They are dreamy and romantic and only see the beauty in anything. They weep if a tree is chopped down (even if it is an invasive alien), and never stress about their roses not blooming well. To a Pisces, tomorrow is another day. They trust Mother Nature implicitly, even if she sends a plague of plant-eating locusts! Plants for Pisces: Water lilies, lotuses, willows and all other plants that grow in or next to water.