At every turn, you can find a gem of a flower or you can hit a gremlin!! Today was my day! I stuck my head out on this cold day and to my surprise found lots to photograph! So my post today was suitably named “What’s Hot and What’s Not!” Let me show you what I found ….. WHAT’S HOT: Lemon season!! Love them for salad dressing and for Lemon Cordial! WHAT’S [...]

Just a quick post to show the new seedlings growing. I can see the difference between the kale and the chinese cabbage now with the second set of leaves (I am sure they have a more scientific name) coming through. I am excited about the kale – I saw a recipe with kale and it looked so scrumptious!  With so much nutritional value, it can only be a great addition to any [...]

All seems bleak and colourless when you are forced to stay in bed with a bad flu. It has gripped all I know here in the Western Cape and with the weather as miserable as it has been, I did not have a hint of guilt. But the garden has taken a beating and after the hail storm, I though I would have nothing left. I though all would be dull and [...]

After the heat of yesterday and the windy morning, I finally ventured out into the garden to see what needed tending. Besides the blown-over trellis and the build-up of weed, I was amazed to see lots of new growth and happy flowers. I am amazed at how much a garden can really give you when you offer some love and care.  I treasure the surprises and the jump-for-joy moments, like the new [...]

I have not been getting the “spring is a coming” feeling! I have been so preoccupied with work and family birthdays and just feeling cold these past weeks in August that my poor garden has been so neglected. I have to admit that the “feeling has not been there”. I gave my favourite hobby a break. But the blooms are happily awaiting spring, regardless of the absent gardener. I have seen new [...]

Remember my gorgeous new Lemon and Lime trees I planted in July? (you can see the post about them here). What a pleasure it was today to find the first ever fruit on my new Lemon tree! Both trees have been covered in blossoms for weeks already and today I found a good size fruit on the lemon tree. Both trees are covered with what I think is the beginnings of fruit [...]

For the longest time my Darling Daughter has been asking me to plant a Lime tree. She uses limes in cooking, a lot. One of her specialities is Thai cooking. On a holiday to the Far East, she and her other half did a course in Thai cooking and on their return all sorts of previously not heard of ingredients found their way into my pantry and fridge as well as “limes” [...]

I have to brag about my lemon tree that is looking FABULOUS! As you know, I have been nurturing this tree – pest control, fertilizing, deep watering, composting, mulching and pruning. And it has proven successful. Have a look at how green and lush it is and there are lots and lots of lemons! I have to admit though that the Nastirtium seeds you gave me I only now planted underneath it! [...]

I was trying to come up with a good Title for this post that would describe the nature of it at a glance and I couldn’t decide whether “Operation Lemon Tree” or “Lemon Tree Rescue” would be more appropriate. The gist of it is that my poor Lemon Tree has been under attack by black, green AND woolly aphids and other things I could not identify. Since January I’ve been trying to [...]

I took a stroll around the garden and the veggie patch this evening and I was pleasantly surprised with all the healthy growth happening – my trees and my veggies. We had a heavy down pour after that really hot day last week, so my garden was so thankful. It got a good soaking and it shows! My little guava tree is all bushy and bright! Maybe this year we will have [...]