Show Garden Awarded Gold

Our garden, Flourish, won the annual Plantland Crowthorne show garden competition.

We showcase the use of indigenous plant material and the brilliant red Aloe 'Fire Chief' enhances the sense of warmth around the firepit.

Monster Worm

I noticed that my Zantedeschia aethiopica (Arum lilies) were being eaten by something.  When I investigated I found this monster worm so well camouflaged, munching away.  Most of the leaves have been eaten and if I hadn't removed him, the plant would be totally destroyed.

Cladding

I recently worked on a project where the client had planter boxes that needed plant material to be added to them.  I suggested that the client clad the planter boxes to finish them off as the paint was chipping and they were starting to look worn.  My suggestion was approved, and here are the comparison photographs:-



Before the cladding



After cladding and planting

 Attaching cladding is a simple process which makes a huge difference to the finish.  There are many products available so you can get various looks and finishes.

Gem Squash

Following my unsuccessful butternut crop last year, I made a conscious choice to avoid experimenting with the Curcurbita (pumpkin) family in my vegetable patch and resorted to purchasing my supplies.

To my surprise, I noticed a plant growing in October.  It had germinated from a seed that escaped from my compost bin so I decided to leave it and see what would happen.

Early in December the first flowers appeared and after my pumpkin fly experience I didn’t hold high expectations.  When the fruit began forming I realised that I was actually growing gem squash!

Three months later, the fruit have survived and I am about to eat my first harvest.

I wasn’t too sure when they would be ready to harvest so I did some research and uncovered an interesting fact.  Did you know that gem squash is unique to South Africa?

I’ve also learnt that if planted at the beginning of spring, it is unlikely to be attacked by pumpkin fly.  Also, given that my garden now contains a lot more plant material which attracts numerous pollinators, I did not have to go through a manual pollination exercise. 

As you can see in the photograph, the leaves have white spots on them.  This is a bit of mildew which is common with this crop during humid weather which we've experienced in the last couple of weeks.  I'm not too concerned about it as the crop is almost ready.

The gem squash plant is easy to grow but needs a lot of space as it sends out long vines.  My plant has spread itself over 5m².  The plants thrive in rich, well drained soil in a sunny spot.   Once planted, the soil must be kept moist and you can expect to harvest around 70-90 days.  The fruit is ripe and ready to be picked when the skin is too hard to pierce with your fingernails.

Spring Lawn Treatment

We performed a spring lawn treatment in our garden in the middle of September and 7 weeks later can show the results.

We have Kikuyu lawn in our garden which naturally dies back in the winter.  We watered it twice in winter in order to let it go through this natural process. 

Just after winter

The lawn treatment started by mowing the lawn on the lowest possible setting.  We then followed up with a scarifier to remove the dead thatch.  It seems like such a harsh process as the ground was almost bare at the end of the process.  It is a very dusty job so it's advisable to wear a dust mask and goggles. 



Scarification in progress



Scarification removes organic material from around the base of the grass plants that can prevent dense grass growth and can encourage the growth of fungus and bacteria.  It is best carried out at the beginning of spring so that the grass is actively growing and will fill any spaces created in the process.  If growth is slow there is a higher risk that the gaps will be filled by weeds.



The scarification was followed by aerating the soil.  We performed this manually with garden forks.  If you have a larger lawn area it’s much easier to use a spiked roller.  We then applied an organic fertiliser and added top dressing.  We completed the process with a deep watering.

7 weeks later we have a healthy, green lawn and our neighbours honestly say that the grass is greener on the other side!



7 weeks later



Diascia integerrima (Twinspur)

My garden survived winter and two hail storms and as the summer colour bursts forth at an alarming rate I watch for daily changes as each day greets me with a new blossom.

I’ve discovered one of the most under-rated indigenous plants which had been a star performer in my garden – Diascia integerrima (Twinspur).  The books speak about this plant having flowers throughout summer and autumn.  My collection has given me a constant display of the stunning salmon-coloured flowers since the day I planted them on 25 April 2011.  The plants have also grown and spread to cover a considerable area.  It is certainly a plant that should have a place in every garden and is available in shades of pink, orange and white.

Despite its delicate appearance, Diascia integerrima is a hardy perennial which is low maintenance, drought tolerant, frost resistant and grows in full sun or semi-shade.  It is seldom attacked by pests and is a great filler plants for mixed herbaceous borders.  It is also suitable for hanging baskets, containers and rockeries.  It grows about 30cm high and has a spread of 40-50cm.  It is naturally found in rocky sites and among streamside thickets.

Interestingly, this plant is pollinated by a specialized genus of bee, Rediviva, whose forelegs have evolved to as much as three times their normal length in order to reach into the spurs of the flower, to harvest the fatty oil produced by the glands.  This modification is restricted to the females.  Upon landing on a flower, she will insert her elongated front legs into each hollow spur and probe the ends for the oil-producing elaiophores.

Natural Bonsai

Whilst I admire the skills and creations of those who practice the Japanese art of growing a bonsai, a part of me feels disturbed by the procedure of purposefully stunting the growth and potential of what could be a magnificent tree with many uses.

Two years ago, my husband and I collected seeds from 6 different species of Acacia.  We went through the process of germinating and planting specimens, watching them develop and noting the different growth patterns.

From the onset, we noticed that one of our Acacia sieberiana (Paperbark) saplings was a little different.  He battled to burst forth from the hard casing protecting the seed and, in the process of shedding off the covering somehow got damaged.

We fed and nurtured all the plants with the same treatment.  Whilst all the others grew straight stems at phenomenal a rate, this little one grew very slowly with a twisted trunk.  Despite being weak and warped, he continued growing and developing himself.

Where similar plants grown for commercial purposes would have long ago been discarded, we kept this treasure and now have ourselves a natural bonsai without going through the practice of wiring his trunk to give it an artistically misshapen appearance.

The other plants are now towering young trees up to 3 metres tall and I hope they will grow into
magnificent specimens fulfilling many purposes like providing a home to wildlife, enhancing the air and providing shade.  Incidentally, my garden is far too small to grow a full size Acacia sieberiana , so, whilst I cannot benefit from sitting under the shade of my bonsai, I have the privilege of using him as the centre piece on my patio table.  I still have my view on the practice of creating bonsai, but I can now appreciate one of the advantages of owning one.  Most importantly, I played a part in creating him and did not give up on the joy of watching him reach for the sun.