Category: Christine’s garden

Dominated by large trees on a medium sized property, my garden is very shaded. With no “full sun” areas I have to plant shade and partial shade loving plants. I love shrubs and flowers including cammellias and azaleas but bougainvillea and Irises are my favourite and getting these to thrive is a challenge …

Too pretty to eat

Hi Barbie – I was very inspired by your post about the Edible Flowers in your garden. It got me thinking, how many edible flowers do I have in my garden? Your list is really very comprehensive and includes some flowers I did not know were edible.

I’ve been watching a lot of MasterChef series lately and am always charmed by the look of the dishes that use edible flowers in their plating, but have never ‘tried this at home’. I’m starting to get the whole attraction of decorating a dish with edible flowers, so armed with my camera I went to investigate what flowers I could use to impress guests at my next dinner party.

I was amazed at just how many I have …

[one_half]Sweet little Coriander flowers[/one_half]

[one_half_last]The Waterblommetjies in my pond[/one_half_last]

[one_half]Borage is a popular one[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Lavender … I always have plenty[/one_half_last]

[one_half]Salvia – Really? People eat them?[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Jasmine – could be nice with rice[/one_half_last]

[one_half]Chrysanthemum are pretty[/one_half]

[one_half_last]White Violas are lovely[/one_half_last]

[one_half]Tiniest little violets I’ve ever seen[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Mint – smells wonderful[/one_half_last]

[one_half]Cute little blue pansies[/one_half]

[one_half_last]The common Marigold[/one_half_last]

[one_half]Dianthus – who knew they were edible[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Flower on the purple pepper[/one_half_last]

Some that are not flowering right now …

[one_half]Day Lily – Do people really eat them?[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Apple blossoms are pretty[/one_half_last]

[one_half]and Lemon blossoms are so fragrant[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Four leaf clover – oxalis[/one_half_last]

A few others I’m not showing here are Impatiens, Fuchsia, Sweet Basil, Nasturtium and Begonias amongst others. I’m not sure I’d use many of them in cooking though but I’ll give a few a try.

What Edible Flowers do you have growing in your garden? And do you use them for cooking?

I would love to see a chart made of every single “edible flower” with a photograph, full name and “best used in …” info. A fun project if people from all over the world contributed. Hmmm…. I’ll make the chart if people send me info and once complete I’ll share it.

Happy Gardening
xxx

Tags edible blossoms, edible flowers

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Mid winter in Two Gardens for Garden Bloggers Bloom Day

Post author By Christine
Post date July 16, 2012
27 Comments on Mid winter in Two Gardens for Garden Bloggers Bloom Day

It’s the coldest winter we’ve had in the Western Cape here in South Africa for as long as we can remember. There’s snow on the mountains nearby and everybody is talking about how cold it is. The promised storms we were warned about passed us by and hit further inland with snow falling in places in South Africa where it has never snowed before. Around here we had a lot of rain, fairly strong wind but not much else to get excited about. Gardening between downpours has started again in earnest as we prepare for spring and look forward to sunny skies once again.

There’s not a lot blooming in either of our gardens right now but lets see what we can show on this very cold winter’s Bloom Day.

Here’s what’s blooming in Christine’s garden in July 2012

I’m really surprised at how many blooms I was able to find for this Garden Bloggers Bloom Day. Some of my plants seem to think it’s nearly spring and while there are no mass displays of beautiful flowers, it seems at least one of each has decided to excite me with a few blooms to show me whats coming in the next month or two. A single Iris, of all the ones I have planted has a single massive stalk with four stunning blooms! I can’t wait for the rest to wake up and start to flower. And the Tulips (that I vowed not to plant again) are starting to open … and now I’m so glad I planted them again. They really are a joy to behold.

[one_half]Can you believe this Iris?[/one_half]

[one_half_last]A low growing Camellia[/one_half_last]

[one_half]The gorgeous Tulips[/one_half]

[one_half_last]A new addition; Nemesia Nesia white[/one_half_last]

[one_third]A pretty pink Camellia[/one_third]

[one_third]Strobilanthes and Impatiens[/one_third]

[one_third_last]No bloom, but beautiful colour[/one_third_last]

[one_third]The stunning early Iris[/one_third]

[one_third]Some early flowering Azaleas[/one_third]

[one_third_last]A perfect Tulip bloom[/one_third_last]

[one_half]One of many new blooms; Osteopermum[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Last of the roses – pre-pruning[/one_half_last]

[one_half]This Clivia alawys blooms first[/one_half]

[one_half_last]New Tibouchina looks good here[/one_half_last]

That’s it from Claremont in Cape Town, lets see whats happening in Barbie’s garden in Philly …

Here’s what’s blooming in Barbie’s garden in July 2011

I have been stung by the flower bug this week because I went nursery shopping to bring some colour to my garden for Bloom Day (yes, I have to admit this!) I have two empty beds that needed “dressing” so with no further ado, here are the new additions as well as what is really blooming in my garden!

[one_half]Brachycombe-purple daisy[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Arctotis-On Fire[/one_half_last]

Argyranthemum – Daisy Bush – this grows to 15cm in height so it makes a lovely border flower

[one_half]New addition-Chasmanthe[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Marigolds for the veggie paych[/one_half_last]

[one_half]New Lobelia bushes[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Carnations will be new to my garden[/one_half_last]

My little wonder meadow – with tons of different flowers

[one_half]Lamiums everywhere-is name correct?[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Phlox in all sorts of colours[/one_half_last]

[one_half]Marigolds and Phlox[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Lots of Alyssums in the meadow[/one_half_last]

[one_half]Gentle blooms – look like buttercups[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Hey – these are new![/one_half_last]

The Cleomes still shine bright over the meadow

[one_half]Some interesting “weeds”[/one_half]

[one_half_last]These little daisies are all over the fields[/one_half_last]

The front garden needed some colour, so I added Decorative Kale to the bucket trio – my hubby’s choice for the garden! I love it when he gets involved!

[one_half]The last rose of winter[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Fuchsias are about to bloom[/one_half_last]

[one_half]Deadly Night Shade still in my garden[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Violas a feature in my veggie patch[/one_half_last]

The heirloom Broad Bean flower – exquisite!

[one_half]Marigolds and Violas live in the veggie patch[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Gerbera and Alyssums[/one_half_last]

[one_half]Gladiola[/one_half]

[one_half_last]The Azaleas are blooming![/one_half_last]

[one_half]I still think the meadow wins![/one_half]

[one_half_last]Blooms and blooms and blooms![/one_half_last]

Even though the weather is cold and wet and miserable, the garden still offers delightful blossoms and blooms.

Happy Bloom Day!

About Garden Bloggers Bloom Day

Join Carol and friends over at May Dreams Gardens to see what other gardeners around the world have blooming in July and then pop over to ‘Garten Blogger Blüten im Juli‘ over at Seepferds Garten for the German version of Garden Bloggers Bloom Day! And if you haven’t joined yet and have some blooms you’d like to show off, please join in the fun of showcasing your blooms! We’d love to see what YOU have blooming in your garden right now!

Thank you for joining us!

PS: Please join us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter – we’ll be so happy if you do!

Happy Gardening!
xxx

Tags garden bloggers bloom day

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Disaster struck (the story of the overgrown Bougainvillea)

Post author By Christine
Post date July 13, 2012
9 Comments on Disaster struck (the story of the overgrown Bougainvillea)

We’ve had our fair share of stormy weather, but this was not a weather related incident. This was all about the Bougainvillea deciding it had enough of being trained up a trellis, growing thick and powerful and then planning its escape …

Before … a happy space to while away the day

When I bought this house there was sort of mirror mosaic on the wall which we were not fond of. But I respect the “Feng-shei”-iness I suspect was behind this placement and design so was reluctant to rip it off the wall. A solution was a trellis for the two Bougainvillea to be trained up and over, which not only covered the ‘mirror art’, but the plants would eventually be trained to ‘tumble’ over the garage roof (which is right behind this wall). So that’s what I did and the Bougainvillea grew and grew. And They Grew!

18 Months later …

[one_half]Here’s how we were growing …[/one_half]

[one_half_last]After the collapse …[/one_half_last]

[one_half]Most of the Bougainvillea removed[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Look at them thorns![/one_half_last]

[one_half]They attacked me as I cut it away[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Revenge of the Bougainvillea – thorns[/one_half_last]

[one_half]Sans Bougainvillea …[/one_half]

[one_half_last]before: Avec Bougainvillea[/one_half_last]

So there it is. Back to the ugly wall now waiting for a less aggressive creeper to be planted because I don’t want another fight with a Thorny B. And I think as soon as the weather is better, its time to “re-do” this bed. It could use an overhaul. Come on Spring …

Happy gardening … or if you are in South Africa, beware the storms predicted this weekend and stay warm!

xxx

Tags bougainvillea

Barbie's garden Bloggers Harvest Day Christine's garden Gardening Home page features

Garden Bloggers Harvest Day in July

Post author By Barbara
Post date July 5, 2012
12 Comments on Garden Bloggers Harvest Day in July

Winter Blues are deep set this month as we start off on our seventh Garden Bloggers Harvest Day this 5th day of July 2012 in the southern hemisphere, and the gardeners of Two Gardens have very little to show off. All the gardening magazines highlight the fact that we should be harvesting our cabbages, cauliflowers and broccolis, but this is far from happening. Well, the temperatures have been rather cold and we have spotted snow on the nearby mountains. So time off in the veggie garden has been authorized!!

Let’s see what can be harvested from Barbie’s Garden this month

With the great care taken last month, all the seedings are sitting well in the veggie patch, but far from gracing our tables this month. I am still harvesting swiss chard from last years plantings so this is a huge reward. I know that this coming season I will be so flooded with leafy greens, that I could open my own veggie market! For the first time I have sown various baby leaf lettuces in my raised beds, so this month will be the ‘calm before the storm’, so to speak! Let’s see what will burst forth this coming spring…..

In the raised beds …

[one_half]Baby leaf lettuces[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Lots and lots of greens[/one_half_last]

[one_half]This is tatsoi – I think![/one_half]

[one_half_last]Will have a plentiful harvest soon![/one_half_last]

In the veggie patch …

[one_half]The organised veggie patch[/one_half]

[one_half_last]All companion planted for better results[/one_half_last]

Here you can see the English Spinach in the centre rows, beetroot above this as well as celery, then the broad beans next to the trellis. I have chamomile surrounding the cauliflower and a fennel or two. In between I have planted some violas and stuck some bulbs in there too for some ‘pretty’. I have a small rosemary in the corner and hope my lemon verbena will flower again. Oh, and a potato managed to re-seed itself – see it?

[one_half]Here you can see more clearly[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Here I have a pepadew chilli-very sweet![/one_half_last]

The fruit Trees…

My beautiful lemon tree – bursting with lemons!

The guavas are ripening and are sweet and delicious. These have the soft white flesh inside and I read that they are full of great health benefits. This attractive fruit is a real storehouse of nutrients. If it is “An apple a day keeps the doctor away” in Europe and Americas, it must be “A few guavas in the season keeps the doctor away for the whole year”.

In the Herb Patch…

[one_half]Celery and chamomile have re-seeded and taking over! But some flowing bulbs too.[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Thyme and Mint with parsley in background[/one_half_last]

That’s all for this month – What’s growing in your Veggie Patch this month?

About Garden Bloggers Harvest Day

Please join us on the 5th of every month and show us what you’ve harvested. Whether you have a massive vegetable garden or grow a few herbs in pots or just pick a few peaches from a tree … we’d love to see! It’s all about sharing our experiences, photographs, successes and failures as we “learn to grow”.

So prepare a post on your blog about what you harvested this past month, link up to us at The Gardening Blog and then, add your link to the Mr. Linky below so we can all visit your blog and “share in your harvest”. And leave us a comment! We LOVE hearing from you!

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Tags garden bloggers harvest day

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Foliage in my wet winter garden

Post author By Christine
Post date June 24, 2012
15 Comments on Foliage in my wet winter garden

After Barbie showed us her winter garden I thought it was about time I ventured out into the garden between downpours to take a few photographs so I too can show you my wet winter garden. This weekend it has rained pretty much non-stop here in the Newlands valley where I live. Its been cold and chilly and I have not been inspired to do any major garden projects. We’ve been staying indoors, keeping warm and reading the odd gardening book. On my walk-about today I realised that it’s all about the foliage at the moment – and the Camellias of course, but I’ve gone on and on about them in the last few weeks, so today I will focus on the foliage and the promise of things to come …

[one_half]View to my back gate – a burst of red[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Its wet, wet, wet everywhere[/one_half_last]

[one_half]Red foliage of the Nandina peeping through[/one_half]

[one_half_last]The Freesias are coming up in the back garden[/one_half_last]

[one_half]There is colour in the new grass garden[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Cape thatching reed looks wonderful[/one_half_last]

[one_third]Irises getting ready for Spring[/one_third]

[one_third]The colour on Nandinas[/one_third]

[one_third_last]The wet wintery Alley-way[/one_third_last]

[one_third]Rain drenched Murraya exotica[/one_third]

[one_third]Nandinas up against the wall[/one_third]

[one_third_last]Rain, rain, go away …[/one_third_last]

[one_half]Ixia bulbs coming up in the grass garden[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Ixias in a moveable pot for a sunny bed[/one_half_last]

[one_half]The Tulips are doing well in moveable pots[/one_half]

[one_half_last]I’m growing Dutch Irises for picking[/one_half_last]

[one_half]Sweet Babianas growing in a pot this year[/one_half]

[one_half_last]More new Irises are coming up[/one_half_last]

[one_half]More Tulips in pots for Spring[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Look! All the new buds on the Jasmine[/one_half_last]

I’m joining Christina for June Foliage Day who says her garden looks as if someone went crazy in it with a blow torch!

I hope you enjoyed the walk through my winter garden.
Happy Gardening
xxx

Tags foliage, foliage follow up, garden bloggers foliage day

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Camellia is fifth of my Twelve

Post author By Christine
Post date June 22, 2012
12 Comments on Camellia is fifth of my Twelve

My shade garden in the middle of winter would be dull indeed if it were not for the bursts of colour provided by the Camellias known as ‘The Empress of Winter’. Another fabulous foundation plant in my garden, Camellias are wonderful evergreen shrubs or small trees that provide seemingly never-ending large blooms in hues of white, pink and cerise, even red. Any post I do in winter seems to feature at least one or two of these beauties. This year the red Camellia is holding onto its saucer sized blooms for weeks on end providing much-needed cheer and colour where otherwise there would be … well nothing!

Diana of Elephant’s Eye asks us to profile our twelve favourite plants. The ones we could not do without in our gardens. Camellia is a foundation plant in my garden – due to all the shade I would not have a colourful winter garden without them. They also require very little attention and reward me with what I consider “sophisticated colour” starting in April all the way through to August. This month Diana profiles Juncus – which she grows in her pond.

The genus Camellia comprises more than 250 species. Among the ornamental species, the Japanese Camellia (Camellia japonica) (which despite its name is also found in Korea and Eastern China) and Camellia sasanqua are perhaps the most widely known, though most camellias grown for their flowers are cultivars or hybrids.

[one_third][/one_third]

[one_third_last][/one_third_last]

I consider Camellias “investment” plants. You know how they talk about “investment dressing”? That designer coat with the high price tag that is considered a justifiable expense because it will last for years and years? Well that is how I view my Camellias. A higher price tag than the average plant, Camellias will grow and mature, getting better and better every year until one day … you might have a specimen or two to rival the amazing Camellias at Vergelegen Wine Estate (The outstanding collection of over 1000 Camellia bushes at Vergelegen have been recognised as an International Camellia Garden of Excellence by the International Camellia Society). I’ve seen 30-year-old Camellia trees that are absolutely magnificent in full bloom. There is nothing quite like it.

According to the Royal Horticultural Society, Camellias are one of the most popular winter and spring-flowering shrubs. Although they need acid soil, they are easy to grow in containers of ericaceous (acidic) potting compost. Mine are all in the ground, and I have lots of them. Camellias are woodland plants that grow best in shelter and light shade, although with careful watering they can be grown in sunny positions. They prefer free-draining conditions, with plenty of organic matter, such as leaf mould, incorporated into the soil. I make sure mine are well watered and always have plenty of mulch.

[one_half][/one_half]

[one_half_last][/one_half_last]

[one_half][/one_half]

[one_half_last][/one_half_last]

[one_half][/one_half]

[one_half_last][/one_half_last]

Useful Links for Camellia lovers:

The International Camellia Society Website
Camellias by the Royal Horticultural Society
Fall Blooming Camellias at Carolyn’s Shade Garden

What are your favourite plants? The stalwarts that provide the backdrop to your garden?

Diana of Elephant’s Eye invites you to write a plant portrait each month. “I challenge you, in 2012, each month choose a plant. Archived pictures of flowers, berries, autumn leaves, wildlife endorsing your choice. Start fresh – what will be your signature plant?” Join Diana and friends on the 3rd Friday every month and showcase one of your favourite plants and see what others have chosen as theirs!

In January I profiled Carex evergold as my signature plant and in February I raved about the Pittosporum eugenioides ‘Variegata’. In March it was Dietes grandiflora and in May it was Clivia that was featured. Next month we will look at the bulbs I love so much. Come back and see!

Happy Gardening
xxx

Tags camellia, My Garden of Twelve

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Two Gardens in Winter for Garden Bloggers Bloom Day

Post author By Christine
Post date June 15, 2012
21 Comments on Two Gardens in Winter for Garden Bloggers Bloom Day

The stunning red Camellia, size of a side plate

It is taking a little more effort in June to put together something interesting from our Two Gardens this winter. Even though the foliage and the surrounding trees and shrubs are not looking too shabby, the blooms are timid and don’t seem in the mood to show their faces. We have captured a few hidden gems and hope to impress a few of you this Garden Bloggers Bloom Day!

Here’s what’s blooming in Barbie’s garden in June 2012

I have not spent enough time cultivating blooms to give an impressive show this month, but the few sunny days we have in between the cold Winter showers has kept a few beauties from hiding all together. Because of the way our house is positioned, we have a lot of dew during the winter days and it never really dries out and the air is icy when the sun has set. So when the sun is out there is a short window of warmth that penetrates the garden and the house. Let’s see what we can find …

[one_half]Erigeron bloom – a lovely ground cover[/one_half]

[one_half_last]A pretty strawberry flower[/one_half_last]

[one_half]Tansy – coming or going? not sure![/one_half]

[one_half_last]First bloom for my Mexican Petunia[/one_half_last]

[one_half]The only Lobelia still standing-bad chickens![/one_half]

[one_half_last]Euphorbia[/one_half_last]

[one_half]Winter Meadow showing promise of blooms[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Cleomes still blooming – amazing![/one_half_last]

[one_half]Nasturtiums popping up everywhere![/one_half]

[one_half_last]Winter roses are looking lovely.[/one_half_last]

Here’s whats blooming in Christine’s Garden in June 2012 …

You have to really look hard for blooms in my garden this winter. Without the Camellias my winter garden would be very drab but it is still a joy to see a hint of spring to come as all the bulbs are emerging and are looking strong and lush. Don’t let the photographs fool you – it might look like I have lots going on, but in reality it is only the camellias you would notice if you popped in for a visit today. All the other blooms are hiding shyly behind them …

[one_half]The pretty Brachycombe daisy[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Lavender blooms going strong[/one_half_last]

[one_half]Hidden behind the Camellias[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Also hidden … you have to really look[/one_half_last]

[one_half]The splendiferous Camellias![/one_half]

[one_half_last]Salvia and daisies in a sunny spot[/one_half_last]

[one_half]These bloom here all year long
[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Winter prettiness … little white daisies[/one_half_last]

[one_half]Borage bursts into bloom! I love it[/one_half]

[one_half_last]The last of the “Mona Lavender”[/one_half_last]

Looky look! What have we here … Witoogie having a feast

That’s all Folks!

About Garden Bloggers Bloom Day

Join Carol and friends over at May Dreams Gardens for Garden Bloggers Bloom Day in May to see what other gardeners around the world have blooming in their gardens today or see Seepferds Garten for the German version. And if you haven’t joined yet and have some blooms you’d like to show off, please join in the fun of showcasing your blooms! We’d love to see what YOU have blooming in YOUR garden right now!

Thank you for joining us!

PS: Please join us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter – we’ll be so happy if you do!

[note_box]If you are new to blogging and want to get involved in a Garden Blog Meme, see the list of Garden Blog memes we recommended.[/note_box]

Happy Gardening!
xxx

Tags garden bloggers bloom day

Christine's garden Gardening Home page features

Surprises in the pond

At the end of February I wrote about my plans for giving my pond a bit of a make-over. I got as far as adding a few new plants to the pond and then … well Autumn came, it got cold, with that my enthusiasm waned somewhat and I decided to wait for Spring before I continue. But the plants have started to grow …

[one_half]Some of the new pond plants[/one_half]

[one_half_last]My favourite, the Cyperus Papyrus[/one_half_last]

[one_half]Cyperus Papyrus reflected on Alocasia[/one_half]

[one_half_last]The Cannas are growing fast …[/one_half_last]

[one_half]This has trebled in size already[/one_half]

[one_half_last]The bubbling water features[/one_half_last]

So waiting for Spring was not on Mother Nature’s agenda as far as my pond goes. For the first time in nearly five years, my three little goldfish have multiplied … they must be enjoying all the extra greenery in the pond. And it looks like all the babies are going to make it. They’re growing larger by the day, becoming very confident and darting around and putting on a show for me instead of hiding under rocks when I approach. Such fun to watch! I’ve counted about 9 new ones so far. I will try to get some photographs of them soon.

I added a few Waterblommetjies (Aponogeton distachyos) bulbs to the pond in May. Also known as ‘Cape Pond Weed’, for those of you that are unfamiliar with this South African native, I’ve added some notes and a link below. These bulbs were the easiest thing to plant ever … just throw the bulbs in the pond and wait about two weeks and …

Ta Da! The first Waterblommetjie gets a flower

[one_half]The little plant after 2 weeks[/one_half]

[one_half_last]A closer view of the bulb[/one_half_last]

[one_half]The first Waterblommetjie flower[/one_half]

[one_half_last]The flower opens more on day two[/one_half_last]

So I realise they are not as showy or magnificent as Lotus Blossoms or Water Lilies, but here in my pond, they GROW!

Waterblommetjies (Aponogeton distachyos) – The long, oval shaped leaves float on the water, but it is usually the flowers standing up out of the water above the leaves, that attract attention. Waterblommetjies flower in profusion during winter and spring. Large areas of water in the western, southern and eastern Cape are covered with their sweetly scented, white flowers. The flower is interesting in that it is really a forked inflorescence bearing tiny, white, one-petalled flowers with brown anthers. The flowers are also the edible part. Bees are very attracted to the flowers and may be one of the main pollinators. Aponogeton distachyos occurs naturally in the winter rainfall areas of the Cape. It is adapted to growing in ponds and vleis which dry up in summer. The dormant tubers sprout again as soon as the pools fill in autumn. (Information courtesy of PlatzAfrika).

Tags pond plants, waterblommetjies

Barbie's garden Bloggers Harvest Day Christine's garden Home page features

Garden Bloggers Harvest Day in June

Post author By Barbara
Post date June 4, 2012
23 Comments on Garden Bloggers Harvest Day in June

Winter starts us off on our sixth Garden Bloggers Harvest Day this 5th day of June 2012 in the southern hemisphere, and the gardeners of Two Gardens have been hit hard with the “flu blues” and “sinus struggles” the past week, but on the mend. Even though our winters are not that harsh, they can be wet and stormy. This threatens our delicate seedlings in our vegetable and herb gardens planted in autumn. The winter seeds that we could sow in May were beans, cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, spinach, swiss chard, beetroot, carrots, and onions. Let’s see what our vegetable and herb gardens look like in June.

Let’s see what can be harvested from Barbie’s Garden this month

My June basket is looking miserably empty, I’m afraid! But the prospect of a winter harvest is looking promising. I have spent the best part of two weekends cleaning, pulling, raking, digging, and planting. I am happy to say my seedlings have had a good start on my deck and are now put to bed in the veggie patch. Here we can see the newbies and how they have been placed with the companion planting method.

[one_half]Broad beans, coriander (behind)[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Tomato, cucumber, and strawberry pots[/one_half_last]

[one_half]Coriander seedlings[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Cucumber – Ashley[/one_half_last]

The veggie patch has been cleared for the new seedlings. The only remaining plants are the lemon verbena (my soldiers who keep the bad bugs at bay), sage, some flowers for pretty, the chilli plants and a few swiss chard plants that are looking sad but still proudly producing.

[one_half]Chilli – all year round[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Celery – seeds itself![/one_half_last]

My broad beans are ready for planting. These are heirloom seeds and the beans are purple but turn green when cooked! This will be fun to eat!

[one_half]And here are the new seedlings[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Companion planting method used[/one_half_last]

And my fruit trees…..

[one_half]Guava tree is full[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Lemon tree is full![/one_half_last]

My herbs are all looking and tasting beautiful – parsley, sage, thyme and mint. The only one I’m missing is Basil – soon, soon!

Let’s see what can be harvested from Christine’s Garden …

I’m not as organised as Barbie … sigh. So I don’t have much to show in the veggie department, except for something that is brand new in my garden … Waterblommetjies! Waterblommetjies (Aponogeton distachyos) are used in South Africa to make a type of stew called Waterblommetjiebredie. Cooked with onions, mutton or lamb and a few leaves of the local sorrel it makes a delicious stew. Mine have just started growing, so I won’t be making the stew anytime soon, but I thought this was a bit more interesting to show than repeats of my usual veggies.

[one_half]Waterblommetjie (Aponogeton distachyos)[/one_half]

[one_half_last]The flower of the Waterblommetjie[/one_half_last]

[one_half]My Garlic bulbs are coming up[/one_half]

[one_half_last]I love the Fennel plant [/one_half_last]

[one_half]Borage – so rewarding to grow[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Lots of herbs ready for picking[/one_half_last]

That’s all for this month – What’s growing in your Veggie Patch this month?

About Garden Bloggers Harvest Day

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Christine's garden Gardening Home page features

My Winter garden

The stars of my winter garden are without question, the Camellias. Looking particularly beautiful this year, the big red Camellia in my back garden has just opened her first blooms and is covered in buds waiting to open. Tucked in amongst other plants and taller growing shrubs are the smaller Camellias shrubs, some of which are flowering for the first time this year. Their lovely pink flowers draw attention to the lower growing foliage, all of which is looking lush thanks to the rain.

If you look closely there is a hint of things to come. All over the garden the spring bulbs are starting to wake up pushing their first leaves through the soil. Last years bulbs are forging ahead and newly planted bulbs are coming up, competing for attention. It’s a reminder that for everything there is a season …

I’ve been battling a bit to find ‘blogworthy’ things in my garden. We are having lovely winter weather right now, cold and crisp with sunshine and … my favourite … no wind! But a fair amount of rain has left some of the ground in my garden sodden and this makes gardening not entirely pleasant. I may need to look at the drainage in certain areas if it gets a lot worse.

The “Two Gardeners” have both been sick …flu, sinusitis and then in case the first bout was not enough, flu again. We’ve both been out of commission, so visits to our friends’ blogs have been minimal. We promise to visit you again now that we are up and about.

I will be linking this post to Helen of The Patient Gardener who hosts End of Month View. This monthly meme is where garden bloggers share their garden views for the end of the month.

I leave you with these lyrics …

From the day we arrive on the planet
And blinking, step into the sun
There’s more to see than can ever be seen
More to do than can ever be done
There’s far too much to take in here
More to find than can ever be found
But the sun rolling high
Through the sapphire sky
Keeps great and small on the endless round

It’s the Circle of Life
And it moves us all
Through despair and hope
Through faith and love
Till we find our place
On the path unwinding
In the Circle
The Circle of Life

(Lyrics by Tim Rice, music by Elton John)

Tags camellias