In my list of Things to Do in the Garden in 2012 I mentioned that I want to prune some trees in order to reclaim a portion of mountain view. In the heat of summer we have managed to get that done and I am happy with the result. This is a small corner view as seen from one corner of the entertainment area of our back terrace. It’s a place I [...]

It seems that whenever I add something new, someone new turns up to inspect my garden … A week or so ago when I spotted the little Rooibeksysie (Common Wax-bill) eating the apples in the bird feeder, I asked what I should be doing to attract different and new birds to my garden. One suggestion I got from Clare at Curbstone Valley Farm was to add different fruit and she suggested citrus. [...]

I know I go on a bit about ornamental grasses and how much I love them (are you tired of this subject yet?) and so rather than bore you with another one of my rants on how amazing, spectacular and gorgeous grasses are, I thought today I would show you in photographs why grasses belong in my garden … The Mexican Petunia is a beautiful plant in its own right and looks [...]

I’ve been trying to get a few reasonable photographs of my Geckos to show on the blog. I have always had geckos, and this year there seem to be a lot more than usual around. My geckos only come out at night  – they are around during the day but tend to hide under rocks, behind walls and in pots and whatever else they can find to escape from the heat of [...]

I’m joining Diana at Elephant’s Eye in her monthly “Dozen for Diana” meme. Our friend Donna in New York is calling hers “Simply the Best“, I’m calling mine, “My Garden of Twelve“. So I’ve known about this for a few weeks already and honestly, I’ve started my post for it four times! 4 times I started and four times I deleted. I just couldn’t get it right or feel any real passion [...]

This evening we were sitting on our back terrace, all our pets were out back with us and we were making a fair amount of usual family noise when I spotted out of the corner of my eye what seemed like two very small birds just perched on the Philodendron … just hanging out, seemingly undisturbed by my dogs and cat who were all being quite vocal. On the off-chance that the [...]

This month I’m joining Holley of Roses and Other Gardening Joys in doing a book review on a favourite gardening book from my personal library. From front cover to back, “Grasses – Versatile Partners for Uncommon Garden Design” by Nancy Ondra with photography by Saxon Holt, is a visual feast. Even if you don’t read a word of this book you will be inspired to start gardening with ornamental grasses – the [...]

What would you say about a rose that is always in bloom, always the perfect colour red, is never plagued by bugs or beetles and needs zero water? If that sounds good, how about it has no thorns, needs no fertiliser, thrives in full sun or full shade and will never die? It doesn’t get black spot – or any other spot for that matter and it is immune to all diseases. [...]

As is customary at this time of the month, I’m joining Pam at Diggings for January Foliage Follow Up, a monthly gardening meme where Pam and other garden bloggers showcase the beauty of foliage in their gardens. Lots of casualties here in the scorching summer sun. I’m losing a few Agapanthus to something that seems to be devouring them from the inside out, one of the new Carex is wilting and succumbing [...]

It’s High Summer here in the Cape as we do our eleventh combined post for January’s Garden Bloggers’ Bloom Day. Now is the time we sit back and relax and enjoy the heat and the fruits of our gardening labours. We hope you enjoy our blooms! Here’s whats blooming in Christine’s Garden in January 2012 Thank you for joining me in my Summer garden. I hope you enjoy …   Here’s what’s [...]