Azaleas are the blaze of colour that brings warmth to the cooler months garden. These divine mass flowering plants will do well for many years but they do need a little TLC to look their best.
Read MoreAzaleas
Fennel
Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) is actually part of the carrot family. It has yellow flowers and light green feathery foliage (just like a carrot). The whole plant can be eaten. It is native to The Mediterranean but it grows easily all over the world.
Read MoreGoing Potty
Best Practices for having a Potted Garden
Read MoreThe Winter Lawn
Transform your patchy lawn into a lush green paradise with these expert lawn care tips. Learn how to aerate, use soil wetting agents, fertilize, and control weeds organically. Say goodbye to unwanted invaders and welcome a healthy, vibrant lawn just in time for Christmas. Get ready for backyard cricket and envy-inducing lawns with our comprehensive lawn care guide.
Read MoreCamellia Japonica
Do yourself and your garden a favour and treat yourself to a Camellia Japonica. These glorious plants are sometimes called the Rose of Winter.
Read MoreMould and Essential Oils
in Aromatherapy
Don't let Mould take over your home during these heavy rain periods and damp air days. This blend doesn’t just mask the musty, damp mould odour, but also eliminates the cause.
Read MoreSpathiphyllum
Perfect Indoor Plant, this plant is an understory plant of the rainforest and basically requires very little light (hence its common name 'Dungeon Plant') and very low water. Which is probably why it was so popular.
Read MoreAglaonema
Aglaonema, what’s not to love? Spectacular Foliage Colours, Fabulous Indoors Plant, Grows well outside in Full Shade but can tolerate a little sun, Great for Pots or Gardens, Tolerates Dry Conditions
Read MoreStephanotis floribunda
Want a plant that is classy, lush green, tropical looking and has a heavenly scent. Stephanotis floribunda is the plant for you.
Read MoreClove Tree
Clove trees botanical name is Syzygium aromaticum. Clove are native to the Maluku Islands in Indonesia, but they have naturalised in many warm countries including Mexico, Kenya and Sri Lanka. Did you know that clove comes from the Latin word 'clavus', which means nail because cloves look like little nails! It has been in cultivation since 200BC!
Read MoreAll about Strawberries
Strawberry! Fragaria sp.
This relative of the Rose has delicate runners with charming flowers in white and shades of pink that makes Strawberries an attractive option for pots and baskets. Let’s be honest though we don’t grow strawberries for the flowers, we grow it for the delightful fruit that comes after the flowers!
Read MoreAfrican Blue Basil
This is new plant to me but I am falling in love with all its qualities - African blue basil (Ocimum kilimandscharicum x basilicum 'Dark Opal')
This was my original plant. Two years later, this plant is two metres wide and about a metre high. I think it’s one of my favourite plants.
The story goes that in 1983, owner of the Ohio owner of Campanion Plants, noticed a basil plant growing in the pathway between two other basil plants - green-leaved East African basil (Ocimum kilimandscharicum) and 'Dark Opal' basil.
The Ocimum kilimandscharicum is a large growing Perennial basil, with a beautiful camphor scent perfect for pesto making. This basil comes from the forests of Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda which means it can handle some shade.
Dark Opal is know for its compact growth and dark rich purple growth. This is also known to make an amazing red pesto.
The really amazing thing about the African blue basil is that it doesn't produce seed. That's right you can only produce it via cutting.
The African Blue Basil has taken on the prettiest qualities of its parents without the failings. It grows to about 1.5m and has lush bluish green leaves with purple lines through the centre. The new growth has a slightly darker twist. The flowers are the prettiest mauve colour.
African Blue Basil grows very similar to a normal basil. Plant in fertile soil in garden or a pot. It can grow in semi shade or full sun. Give it a nice trim to enable it to grow thick and busy. Fertilise regularly with a complete liquid fertiliser, like Triple Boost and about every three months with a complete organic fertiliser, like Organic Link.
This basil is perennial so it will continuously flower but it doesn't go lanky and to seed like normal sweet basil. This beautiful plant can be used as edible ornamental as it never dies down like normal basil can. It can be killed off by heavy frosts so please put it in a protected spot.
The flowers, leaves and young stems are edible. I've read that some people find the flavour a bit too camphory, but I find it has a rich, mellow flavour. I have been told it makes the best pesto as not only does it taste great but it holds its beautiful green colour and does not go brown like crushed sweet basil can in pesto.
Now we all know I love food so anything scented and edible to a perfect addition in my garden.
Now to find someone to make me that pesto!!
Patchouli
Patchouli is a bushy herb with dark green leaves and small, slightly fragrant pale pink-white flowers. It can get to around 1m in height. It loves a warm part sunny position and dislikes cold winters (protect from frost).
Read MoreScented Magnolias
No fragrant garden is complete without the popular Port wine Magnolia, Magnolia figo, and it’s sister Magnolia Coco.
Read MoreLemon Balm
Melissa is the Greek word for "honey-bee." It was traditionally used by the ancient bee keepers. They used to rub the crushed leaves on the beehives to encourage the domesticated bees to return to their hives. They also believed that the lemon balm would also bring new bees to the hive.
Read MoreThe Autumn Vegetable Patch
Some us can get gardening bored by beginning of March. We want to play but know it's to early. There are a number of things you can be doing to get your vegetable patch up to scratch so when the ‘autumn' weather starts you’ll be ready.
Read MoreVegetable Garden Checklist
Quick guide to creating your own vegetable garden and growing your own food
Read MoreWinter Vegetables
Autumn, Warm Days, cool nights. Perfect for vegetable planting.
Read MoreWhy you don't grow food from scraps!
I know the current trend is growing fruit and vegetables from scraps. I would never recommend growing anything from scraps or seeds from fruit and vegetables you buy from the shops. .
Read MoreWhat is Companion Planting?
Why attracting some insects to your garden is beneficial for the whole garden's success.
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