Category: Annuals

Growing up

No matter what the weather – come winter or summer – rain or shine – seeds will grow!!! I still get excited when I see my seeds sprouting!! It has taken two weeks for them to go from seed to sprouts! The amazingness of nature!! So every two weeks I should be sowing seeds! Wow, I would have a harvest garden for all to envy! I still have to get to that perfect balance of harvesting food from my garden to sustain us on a daily basis and some for the family and lots for the chickens and compost heaps. I know that with all the knowledge I have gathered since gardening and blogging, I can have this perfectly harmonious vegetable garden. But it still takes enormous effort, energy and time to get the balance right! I am just pleased that I can have this piece of paradise that I call my garden (and home) and that I can share it and what I grow in it will those I care about! I have grown up, along with my seeds, and through my failures and my achievements I am still here! I still make time to go and listen to my plants and play with the chickens and to enjoy heaven on earth – come rain or shine!

[one_half]Sweet Rocket[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Kale[/one_half_last]

It is so interesting to see the seedlings of Kale – Chinese Cabbage – Sweet Rocket all look alike. I was not aware that Sweet Rocket was of the same family!!

I have been looking for Kale seeds for ages!! I am excited to grow it because of all the power-packed nutrients and it looks pretty! This is what I found in my research:

Kale is a nutritional powerhouse and is beneficial to your health in many ways. One cup of kale has zero fat and only 36 calories and is high in vitamins and antioxidants. You can eat this green raw or cooked.

Detoxification and Weight loss

The fiber (5 grams in one cup) and sulfur in kale aid with digestion and liver health. The Vitamin C it contains hydrates your body and increases your metabolism, leading to weight loss and healthy blood sugar levels. The fiber in kale also lowers cholesterol.

Strengthen your Immune System

Kale’s impressive concentration of nutrients strengthens the immune system and fights viruses and bacteria. Kale has more iron than beef, making it a great source of this valuable mineral for vegans and vegetarians. It helps more oxygen get to your blood and greatly helps those who are anemic.

Healthier Hair, Skin & Nails

The healthy balance of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids keep your body strong, healthy and beautiful from the inside out. Kale’s concentration of major nutrients gives your skin’s health and appearance a boost.

See Clearly and Stand Strong

Kale’s Vitamin A content helps keep the eyes from optical disorders that come with age. It also helps store vitamins in the retina. The calcium and vitamin K and D keep your bones strong.

Anti-inflammatory

The omega-3 fatty acids in kale help fight and alleviate arthritis, autoimmune disorders and asthma. The vitamin C content helps relieve stiff joints.

Fighting Disease

Kale, like other dark green veggies, may be helpful in preventing various cancers such as colon, prostate and ovarian. Its abundant vitamin K content is important for bone health, forestalling the effects of osteoporosis. And the folic acid and B6 provide cardiovascular support and prevent heart disease.

[one_half]Peas[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Seedlings in trays[/one_half_last]

In my seedling trays are: Kale, Chinese Cabbage, Sweet Rocket, Swiss Chard, Peas and Cos Lettuce.

Arugula, also known as Sweet Rocket or Garden Rocket, is a nutritious green-leafy vegetable of Mediterranean origin. It belongs within the Brassicaceae family similar as mustard greens, cauliflower, kale…,etc., and has the scientific name: Eruca sativa.

Fresh rocket is a very good source of folates. Like kale, salad rocket is an excellent source of vitamin A. Carotenes convert into vitamin A in the body. Studies found that vitamin A and flavonoid compounds in green leafy vegetables help protect from skin, lung and oral cavity cancers.

This vegetable also rich in B-complex group of vitamins such as thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin B-6 (pyridoxine), and pantothenic acid those are essential for optimum cellular enzymatic and metabolic functions.

Fresh rocket leaves contain good levels of vitamin C, a powerful, natural anti-oxidant. Foods rich in this vitamin help the body develop resistance against infectious agents (boosts immunity) and scavenge harmful, pro-inflammatory free radicals from the body.

Salad rocket is one of the excellent vegetable sources for vitamin-K, which has potential role bone health by promoting osteotrophic (bone formation and strengthening) activity. Adequate vitamin-K levels in the diet help limiting neuronal damage in the brain; thus, has established role in the treatment of patients suffering from Alzheimer’s disease.

Arugula leaves contain adequate levels of minerals, especially copper and iron. In addition, it has small amounts of some other essential minerals and electrolytes such as calcium, iron, potassium, manganese, and phosphorus.

WOW!! I am growing a powerhouse of goodness!!

Have a Happy Gardening Day! xxxxxx

Tags garden, organic garden, seeds, vegetables, veggie garden, veggies

Annuals Barbie's garden Gardening Home page features Perenniels

Dull garden?

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 lifeless but to my surprise, not all was lost (to the weather and the chickens!) I have been able to pick something from the garden and there were some happy blooms longing for someone to take notice ……. !

my new feverfew

Using quince sticks to hold up the granadilla plant – or the other way around! Chasmanthe and Powis Castle surrounds.

[one_half]Tree bursting with lemons![/one_half]

[one_half_last]Guavas on the way – lots this year[/one_half_last]

[one_half]Tomatoes still growing[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Chillies always available[/one_half_last]

[one_half]Violas love the cool and the rain[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Love the broad beans from last year[/one_half_last]

Tansy always a useful plant to have in the garden – best pesticide!

[one_half]Gerbera never fails! Happy flowers![/one_half]

[one_half_last]Fully at home here! That’s Tara.[/one_half_last]

[one_half]The winter lilly is coming back[/one_half]

[one_half_last]My blonde tomatoes producing still[/one_half_last]

[one_third][/one_third]

[one_third_last][/one_third_last]

[one_half]Swiss chard always welcome[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Veggie patch abit damaged, but producing[/one_half_last]

[one_half]Have new beginnings on the way[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Ripening on the sunny back deck[/one_half_last]

[one_third][/one_third]

[one_third_last][/one_third_last]

So you see, through all the dull rainy and wintery weather, the garden still has a lot of magic!!

Happy gardening xxx

Tags flowers, garden, lemon tree, organic vegetables, plants, vegetables, veggie garden, veggies

Annuals Barbie's garden Gardening Home page features Perenniels

What’s growing in my backyard

Post author By Barbara
Post date May 3, 2013
11 Comments on What’s growing in my backyard

After a week of work committments, my head has hardly moved away from the computer. This has left me with the feeling of “cabin fever”! I was so pleased that we had a holiday on Wednesday – International Workers Day (Labour Day) – and I was NOT going to spend another moment sitting! I was in the garden, playing with the newbie chickens and Skollie (who has calmed down quite abit!) and filling holes and racking leaves. Just your normal “getting-back-the-garden-feel” activity! All was looking quite alive and still a few flowers around. There was some new growth too!! Here are some photos of the back garden activity!

Dietes Grandiflora is blooming

Here, the Dietes is amongst flowering Stevia. Now stevia is used as a natural sweetner. I add the leaves to my herbal tea. It has a distinct taste, but the benefit of a non-sugar sweet is always a bonus!

The busy bees are still harvesting the nectar! Hey – leave some for me!

I love the Mexican Petunia in this patch of the garden. I think it prefers the cooler months in my neck of the woods!

One of my favourite favourites! Borage is growing again. This is a self-seeded plant!

I like Tansy alot – it is soft and gentle and the bees also love it. I can cut it down and within a week or two it is back! The leaves are the best in making a natural pesticide. I make a tea with Tansy and Artemesia! Works really well! I also add some soapy water!

I was worried the Ice cream bush would not last the hot days of summer, but here it is!! Bushy and beautiful. I love the colours and these change as the seasons move on.

As you can see under the Ice Cream bush I have a patch of re-planted thyme and my new solar light. I have 2 dozen of these in the garden and they light the way when I need last minute herbs for dinner!

Oh wow! My Chasmanthe is growing!! Can’t wait for these to flower! This is their first grown since I planted them last season. They are bulbs that grow every year.

My grasses are in their autumn colours now – I really like this yellow look!

I hope you have lots growing in your garden.

Happy gardening xxxx

Tags bulbs, flowers, gardening, grasses, plants

Annuals Barbie's garden Gardening Home page features Perenniels

Mid-Autumn in Two Gardens for Garden Bloggers Bloom Day

Post author By Barbara
Post date April 15, 2013
4 Comments on Mid-Autumn in Two Gardens for Garden Bloggers Bloom Day

The weather is changing and so has the gardening energy. The tempo has died down to a slow pace. The time to reflect and review has set in. The blooms that have decided to stay are still delighting the soul.

Here’s what’s blooming in Barbie’s garden in April 2013

The enthusiasm has been packed away and replaced with a more relaxed view of where to go from here. Funny, that autumn always brings this out in me. I reflect on my ordinary life and see so much magic, but I tend to miss it at the time. So I am grateful for the few pleasures and the few blooms that hang around. Enjoy them with me.

[one_half]My Tansy bush is back to life[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Violas in full bloom – so pretty[/one_half_last]

[one_half]Tomato blossoms – signs of things to come[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Fennel-as pretty as a flower[/one_half_last]

Just loving my roses – not many flowers, but the feeding and mulching has brought lots of buds!

[one_half]The Calibrachoa is always blooming![/one_half]

[one_half_last]The chicks are not fussed by the limited blooms[/one_half_last]

An artistic view of the roses in my garden! Used a fancy lens!

[one_half]This is done with a 500mm lens[/one_half]

[one_half_last]This is done with PhotoShop![/one_half_last]

Happy Bloom Day to you all!!

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 February! 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

Annuals Barbie's garden Gardening Home page features Perenniels

Earth Day clean up

I normally miss all these important dates – like “Earth Day” and “Water Week” and read about them in the news paper I lay in the chickens bedding weeks later. So I decided that Earth Day (wednesday, 20 March) was my day in the garden. I spent time cleaning up and looking at ways to help the Earth in my own backyard. We have been thinking of adding a greywater system for the fruit trees and the non-edible garden and to harvest rain water for the veggie patches. More and more we are seeing water as a precious commodity that one day will be too expensive to use in the garden. So that is the plan for this year and to go solar as well will make a big difference to our electricity bill. I already have solar garden lights lighting the paths and creating glowing fairies in my trees.

So much to research and plan, but all good and necessary if we want to contribute to healing mother Earth.

Ok, back to the garden clean up.

The Back Garden

[one_half]Before[/one_half]

[one_half_last]After[/one_half_last]

[one_half]Before[/one_half]

[one_half_last]After[/one_half_last]

[one_half]The area is looking all neat now[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Cleared the walk area[/one_half_last]

Here I added indigenous shrubs – Confetti Bush (Coleonema Album) the lime green bush in the centre of the photo and Salt Bush (Rhagodia Hastata) the silver round leafed bush behind the Irises. Both can be trimmed to create round balls – kinda cute.

[one_half]Need a bench in this area now[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Such a nice part of the garden[/one_half_last]

[one_third][/one_third]

[one_third_last][/one_third_last]

[one_half]Cleared and neat with new stones in the back[/one_half]

[one_half_last]The Grenadilla vine is now happy here[/one_half_last]

[one_half]This bed needed lots of clearing[/one_half]

[one_half_last]The Tea Tree filling this area[/one_half_last]

The Front Garden

[one_half]New Dietes-mulched and fed to conserve water[/one_half]

[one_half_last]New Carex grasses to replace dried ones[/one_half_last]

[one_half]Waterwise and indigenous Dierama[/one_half]

[one_half_last]New feature for this cleared area-still deciding[/one_half_last]

[one_third][/one_third]

[one_third_last][/one_third_last]

Well, everything looks great now – fed the garden with Neutrog BOUNCE BACK and mulched all the beds with bark to conserve water and to neaten up the area. I am ready to have the family over for the BIG Easter Egg Hunt this coming weekend!

Have a great week and happy gardening xxxx

Tags flowers, foliage, garden, gardening, grass feature, grasses, plants

Annuals Barbie's garden Christine's garden Gardening Home page features Miscellaneous Perenniels

Early Autumn in Two Gardens for Garden Bloggers Bloom Day

Post author By Barbara
Post date March 17, 2013
12 Comments on Early Autumn in Two Gardens for Garden Bloggers Bloom Day

The cooler days are slowly replacing the swelter of summer. The refreshing rains in March will give the Two Gardens a welcome time out! This is the time to reflect and review – what is coming up this season and what can we look forward to.

Here’s what’s blooming in Barbie’s garden in March 2013

I have started early with all the cleaning and cutting and digging and clearing. I feel ready for the cooler march weather and I can start sowing my new seeds for the winter. But there are still some really pretty blooms in my garden – you might have seen them all before, but they still delight me.

My new Dietes I bought and planted this week are blooming!

[one_half]I still love this forever bloomer[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Gerbera[/one_half_last]

[one_half]Roses always delight![/one_half]

[one_half_last]Still blooming – Fuchsia[/one_half_last]

[one_half]Newly trimmed Hotlips Salvia[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Barrow full of blommies[/one_half_last]

Mexican Petunias are blooming with my Gaura

[one_half]My Leopard Tree is looking gorgeous![/one_half]

[one_half_last]My whirling butterflies[/one_half_last]

[one_half]Euphorbia in bloom[/one_half]

[one_half_last]My white Salvia[/one_half_last]

[one_half]Tansy cut back and already blooming again[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Another view of Tansy and Salvia[/one_half_last]

I still think this useful medicinal plant is pretty in bloom – Bulbinella

[one_half]Loving this bed with Peach and Blueberry too[/one_half]

[one_half_last]My flowering Potato Bush bed is also all tidy[/one_half_last]

[one_third][/one_third]

[one_third_last][/one_third_last]

[one_half]Squash flowers all over the place![/one_half]

[one_half_last]New patch with Yarrow and Bulbinella[/one_half_last]

About Garden Bloggers Bloom Day

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

Annuals Barbie's garden Gardening Home page features

Garden Bloggers Harvest Day in March

Post author By Barbara
Post date March 6, 2013
16 Comments on Garden Bloggers Harvest Day in March

The summer has past and we are going into autumn this Garden Bloggers Harvest Day in March and the veggie patches of Two Gardens will be in the middle of refurbishment. We will be seeing the last of the lettuce and the summer veggies. Now is the time for clearing out the old and anticipating new growth!!!! The weatherman is still slinging heatwaves at us, so let’s see what we have been busy with this month!

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

The baskets full of veggies have come to an end – pity! But we are still able to harvest some delicious tomatoes and sweet basil. The Lemon tree is bursting with fruit – this is a treat for me because there is so much we do with lemons!! I grew my first cucumber – and it was delicious!! I see a few more on the vine so we look forward to lots more. The veggie patch is bare and this month I will be clearing and feeding the soil. Not much to show but at least it is an assortment of goodies.

[one_half]Cucumber starts off like this![/one_half]

[one_half_last]And ends up like this-in a plate![/one_half_last]

[one_half]Oh look! An eggplant too[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Need to get a few recipes for this![/one_half_last]

Sweet basil is still growing strong!

[one_half]Tomatoes are small but delicious![/one_half]

[one_half_last]Small Blondekopf Tomatoes[/one_half_last]

[one_half]Onions – I usually grow red ones[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Peppadew chillies galore[/one_half_last]

Lemons for Africa!

[one_half]The tree is full of lemons![/one_half]

[one_half_last]Lots of lemon juice in there![/one_half_last]

[one_half]Butternut squash still growing[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Hubbard and Butternut squash harvested[/one_half_last]

[one_half]Figs are coming to an end[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Lemon Balm, Oreganum and Thyme [/one_half_last]

Oh look – I can also harvest something else ……..

[one_half]Hi girls – you busy?[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Who laid the extra egg?[/one_half_last]

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, organic garden

Annuals Barbie's garden Gardening Home page features Perenniels Trees

Front garden activity

This has been such a busy weekend in the garden for me – no longer could I stand the disheveled look and the hanging, overgrown bushes. I had the energy and the will-power to get it right! With my boots and gloves on, I got out the lawn mower, edge trimer, wheelbarrow, sheers and spade! The neighbour was thunderstruck! She could not believe that I did it all single-handedly! I even had time to fetch more apricot pips and a new (old) bench that was given to me by my best buddy! Thanks for the new addition to my front garden – it stands proudly and awaits friends to come and rest awhile!

[one_half][/one_half]

[one_half_last][/one_half_last]

[one_half][/one_half]

[one_half_last][/one_half_last]

I absolutely love it – it fits perfect into my style of garden. Thank you again and we both wait for your next visit!

The front garden is looking good – the one Leopard Tree had a burst of growth this summer – the other always seems to be 6 months behind!

[one_half]My Leopard Tree in the Grass feature[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Grass feature looking dried out![/one_half_last]

[one_half]Barrow of flowers managed through summer[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Grass mowed and edges cleaned[/one_half_last]

[one_third]Leopard Tree One[/one_third]

[one_third]Leopard Tree Two[/one_third]

[one_third_last]New Bench[/one_third_last]

I am exhausted but pleased with the clean up! Now I need to feed the garden. I have placed an order for Neutrog (organic fertilizer). I have found it the best and gives my garden a burst of new vooma! Can’t wait!

Happy gardening xxx

Tags garden, grass feature, lawn, Leopard Tree, organic garden, pond plants, trees

Annuals Barbie's garden Christine's garden Gardening Home page features Perenniels

Late summer in Two Gardens for Garden Bloggers Bloom Day

Post author By Barbara
Post date February 15, 2013
10 Comments on Late summer in Two Gardens for Garden Bloggers Bloom Day

When the heat ebbs and the lazy afternoons have been replaced with plans to re-do the beds, then you know that summer is going to be replaced real soon. February has always been the best month of summer, but it looks like this summer was really short!

Here’s what’s blooming in Barbie’s garden in February 2013

I am really keen to yank out all my used and dead foliage and get my beds ready for the winter garden. I have very few colourful blooms and hardly anything new to show you. There are still the roses and salvia that keep up a great show! I love the Gaura this year, reseeding itself and the small Violas have been a great help in keeping the veggie patch cool this summer.

Happy Valentine’s Day – My garden gives you a Heart – what a surprize – from my Yarrow!

[one_half]This is something new-Soapwort[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Soapwort (Saponaria officinalis)[/one_half_last]

[one_half]Gaura self-seeded itself! Looks pretty here[/one_half]

[one_half_last]The last of the Fuchsia [/one_half_last]

Still a lovely flower to photograph – it has been scorched this summer – shame!

[one_half]My Aunty Henna rose did well this summer[/one_half]

[one_half_last]My calibrachoa et al in the wheelbarrow[/one_half_last]

[one_half]My salvia – white and hotlips[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Salvia hotlips loved the summer heat[/one_half_last]

Roses are still blooming – these are steadfast and reliable

[one_half]Love the Peppadew plant-looks like red flowers[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Back side of the salvia, roses and fuchsia[/one_half_last]

[one_half]Squash flower[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Cucumber flower[/one_half_last]

[one_half]Oreganum in flower[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Another Oreganum in the raised bed[/one_half_last]

[one_half]Pretty Violas[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Small daisy heads of the Fleabain[/one_half_last]

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

Here’s what’s blooming in Christine’s garden in February 2013

I’ve unfortunately neglected my garden over the last few weeks and was both happy and dismayed when I took a walk through yesterday to take a few photos for this post. I used to be able to ignore the garden and not much would change … but now as my garden is maturing the growth this summer has been nothing short of amazing. Gone are the bare patches and walls, to be covered with … well, lots and lots of growth. Some pretty and some not so pretty. Lots of work to cut back, control and clean up. There’s not much to show off but here are some of the flowers gracing my garden right now …

[one_half]The lovely Iceberg Rose still blooming[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Cute Marigolds are taking over[/one_half_last]

[one_half]This has grown HUGE this year![/one_half]

[one_half_last]I have masses of these too this year[/one_half_last]

[one_half]An unknown volunteer – only one[/one_half]

[one_half_last]There’s a pot under there somewhere[/one_half_last]

[one_third]The lovely Lavender[/one_third]

[one_third]Dietes bicolor (Peacock flower)[/one_third]

[one_third_last]Cordyline and Alyssum[/one_third_last]

[one_third]I love the colour contrast here[/one_third]

[one_third]Oxalis (four-leaf clover)[/one_third]

[one_third_last]Love the Salvia and grasses[/one_third_last]

[one_third]Covering some copper pipes[/one_third]

[one_third]Brinjal Black Beauty flower[/one_third]

[one_third_last]Brinjal Black Beauty yummy![/one_third_last]

[one_third]Love all the grasses[/one_third]

[one_third]These look beautiful this year[/one_third]

[one_third_last]The Salvia are gorgeous[/one_third_last]

[one_third]Oops! signs of neglect[/one_third]

[one_third]Its more beautiful in reality …[/one_third]

[one_third_last]Did I mention I love these?[/one_third_last]

About Garden Bloggers Bloom Day

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

Annuals Barbie's garden Gardening Home page features Perenniels

Garden Colour

I have been in a gloomy mood of late, with my favourite chicken not doing well. Buffy has been suffering from Bumblefoot and had a major operation in December on both her feet. But alas, it is back – regardless of all the medication and the scrupulous cleaning of her feet and her New Hen House and the daily wrapping of her feet. The Vet warned of this and that it could possibly go systemic. Well, I fear this could be the case. Difficult in walking and she has pretty much stopped eating – I can manage to get soft food in – she likes porridge and yoghurt and blueberries. Shame – so I have been dismal these past two weeks and my garden has not given me joy – but wait……… what is all this interesting colour.