It is easy for the home gardener to germinate seeds in trays, or containers. You can control the growing conditions and create a micro-climate, that gives the young plants the best protection. Once the seedlings are big enough, they can then be transplanted, into a prepared bed, or into pots, with potting soil. The trays can be used again, for other seeds, as long as they are washed well in between plantings.

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Home Grown Seedlings

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Foxgloves are beautiful flowers. The botanical name for the Foxglove is Digitalis Purpurea and the Latin word Digitalis, refers to the finger, or digit like shape of the flowers. The word Foxglove, originated in England, but contrary to popular belief has nothing at all to do with foxes.

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Foxgloves Are Beautiful Flowers

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We certainly have aroused the attention of our readers, with a few of our articles, on natural remedies, harmless formulas and medicinal properties of plants. It seems there are thousand of people, who are shying away from chemicals, toxins and drugs and opting for natural alternatives, instead. Some readers have contacted us with their natural remedies and tricks to combat pests in the garden. Dulcie Bradley, from South Africa, wrote in and gave us a whole page, of natural remedies and old housewives’ tips. Thank you Dulcie.

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More Natural Remedies For Garden And Home

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There are many beautiful plants, flowers and trees, that are indigenous to South Africa and some adapt well to being grown in gardens. We look at one such variety, the Spekboom. The Spekboom (Portulacaria Afra) is commonly referred to as the Porkbush, or Elephant’s food. The literal translation, from Afrikaans, means the Bacon Tree. This succulent is a favourite food of the Elephants, in the Eastern Cape region, but can be eaten by humans as well. This plant has a very refreshing, tart smell, in the morning, but becomes rather unpleasant smelling, by late afternoon. Although it is best known in the Eastern Cape, it can also be found growing on the Eastern shoreline of  Mocambique and there is also some growth, which extends in a narrow strip, up in to the Limpopo province. The exact extent, of this plant, historically, is not well documented.

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The Spekboom Plant

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Just to take a break from the technical aspects, of writing informative gardening articles, I thought, as a welcome and light hearted change, I would share with you, a poem I saw recently, in a magazine. It was originally written by Chogyam Trungpa and compares life, to the seasons of the year.

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Seasons

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To some folks, gardening and lawn care is tedious and a high maintenance chore, but don’t fret, because there are basic gardening and lawn care techniques, that you can start with and follow as you begin your journey to a greener environment.

If you want a healthier lawn, here are some simple tips to start with:

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Basic Gardening And Lawn Care Tips

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Before rushing ahead and starting a new vegetable garden, there are a couple of factors to consider. You should first decide what you are going to plant, how big a patch for each type of vegetable, whether you will just plant once, or whether you will make staggered plantings, for a longer duration of crops. Then you need to work out how big this vegetable garden needs to be, where you will put it, whether it gets enough sun and rain, whether it needs to be fenced off, to keep animals out, whether you are going to use fertilizer and chemicals, or if you want to stay away from the chemicals and try organic gardening, with natural substances.

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How To Prepare A Vegetable Garden

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There are many types of plants that can be grown indoors. Some need very little care, while others need more TLC. As with anything, the better the preparation and maintenance, the better the end results, but there are a few basic guidelines, which, when followed, will produce happy and healthy indoor plants.

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Basic Requirements For Healthy Indoor Plants

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Today, we take a look at one of South Africa’s all time favourite plants, the Hydrangea. These are found in most gardens and in most areas. They are commonly known as The Christmas Flower. The Hydrangea originated in Asia and grows into rounded bushes, reaching heights of around 2 Metres. Although they flower throughout summer, they are at their best during mid-summer.

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Hydrangea Plants

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If it’s the first time you have a lawn to care for, don’t commit the same mistake, that most first time owners are guilty of. Mowing isn’t just the simple act, of cutting the grass short. Mowing is practically a science, for the more serious gardeners and if you don’t follow the established rules for mowing, you might end up with a lawn, that looks more like a grass covered burial plot, than anything else.

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Mowing And Caring For Lawns In The US

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