Gardening in Africa: March 2009

Tuesday, 24 March 2009

My New Garden: Progress 1 - Jan - Mar '05

It is apparent that no lifetime is long enough in which to explore the resources of a few square yards of ground.

- Alice M. Coats

After having completed the initial layout and set up of my new garden last year, things are starting to look a bit better now at the beginning of 2005, and with all the holidays being finished and things starting to get back to normal again, the work-in-progress can be continued. Must say, the holidays were a nice break, kept me out of the sun during December and as I loathe wearing a hat, as soon as cooler days start setting in, I'm in the garden like a shot.

JANUARY 2005 -

After a wonderful rainy season, some of the trees are already flowering - the Acacia Karoo delighted with it's fat thorns (a sign of lots of water) and beautiful yellow pom-poms.

In the area where I decided to make an indigenous grass area, all the grasses were also seeding and flowering.

The Indigenous grasses flowering

February 2005 - garden taking shape and pathway actually becoming visible!

February, and everything taking shape very nicely.

The sword ferns enjoying the shade under the White Karees

March 2005 - Grasses at the edge of the pathway, which will soon be beautiful!

Added some old dead logs and more rocks which really started attracting insects and lizards...

A seed from the Black Karee took root next to the log...

Placed some rocks next to the Echevarias...

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Saturday, 21 March 2009

My New Garden: Progress 2 : April to Aug '05

"Tread softly!" a signpost in my garden reads: "Your feet are killing me!"

The Garden on a quiet April night

Thank heavens this 2005 Winter seemed extremely mild, because our area, Tarlton, gets severe frost regularly, wiping out anything that's remotely marked as frost-tender, and by beginning-July most of the trees already had blossoms and tiny leaf buds.

The lawn is taking a bit longer and it's amazing that, no matter how much you water, with the first rains, no matter how little, everything springs to life.

The White Karees have done well this summer and are well-prepared for the coming winter.

Even the Euphorbia pulled through

July and mid-Winter - things are looking decidedly dry. the lawn is dry and yellow and didn't even put up a fight against the severe frost we're having.

It's August, spring is looming and the Sword Ferns and Hen & Chickens were almost wiped out completely.

Some of the Acacias look worse for the wear, but tiny green leaves are already sprouting!

I forgot to move My Old Man cactus under-roof, but didn't seem to mind the cold and even seems a couple of centimeters taller, but the frost got the one Coco Splumosa, below.

These little Phormiums are truly wonderful, don't seem to get affected by cold, wind, water or drought. Must actually plant some more of them.

The old peach tree, which I didn't have the heart to remove, was already covered in pink blossoms early in July and now, in August, already has most its leaves.

Tool tip

Properly maintained quality garden tools are a joy to use and can last for generations. And, like most things, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Regularly cleaning and oiling your garden tools will prevent rust, keep them sharper, and allow the handles to stay strong. Start by giving your tools a good scrubbing to remove any mud and grit from the blades and handles. Dry with old towels, then set them aside overnight so they dry completely to avoid trapping moisture. Using a clean rag, apply lubricating oil to both the wooden handle and the metal blade. Rub the oil into the surface then wipe off any excess. The oil will help prevent rust and condition the wood to keep it from absorbing water and prevent cracking. After the handle has dried, apply a second coat of oil to the wood if needed. Tools with fiberglass or composite handles will only need a good cleaning.

Wildlife Tips

PUT UP AN OWL BOX : Owls aren't common garden visitors for most, but if you know they are around, it's worth providing extra nesting sites. General Owl boxes are bigger than ordinary bird boxes. They're shaped according to the needs of the species. Barn owl boxes are large and square, or sometimes triangular, with a ledge outside the entrance for young owls to stand on. Barn owls like to nest in a solitary tree on the edge of woodland, between 3 and 5m above the ground. Keep out cold drafts by facing all owl boxes away from prevailing winds. It also makes it easier for parents to fly to the entrance. If you fix the owl box to a tree, use a strap to keep it in place so you don’t damage the trunk. As with all nest boxes, do not disturb the box for cleaning until you are sure that the young have left. Tawny owls in particular can be aggressive when protecting their young. Don’t be disappointed if your box stays empty for the first year. Birds often choose a nesting site during the autumn, winter or early spring. Leave the box where it is for the winter and it could be a nice dry place for birds to roost when the weather’s bad. Please do not unnecessarily disturb the birds and never remove any eggs from the nest.

Leave those leaves! I know many gardeners don't like the 'messy' look of fallen leaves, but they have a lot of benefit to wildlife and your garden. Many wildlife species live in or rely on the leaf layer to find food and other habitat, including toads, shrews, earthworms and many insect species. From a gardening perspective, fallen leaves offer a double benefit. Leaves form a natural mulch that helps suppress weeds and at the same time fertilize the soil as they break down. Why spend money on mulch and fertilizer when you can make your own?

More about me

I've been gardening ever since a child, when I spent time with my father in his vegetable garden. But my fascination with Echeverias started in the 1980's, when my father gave me a pot with five Echeverias, which turned out to be E. imbricata. At first I wasn't much interested in them and planted them in some obscure corner of the garden and completely forgot about them. How great was my surprise when, a couple of months later, I noticed that they had spread and made a beautiful display - I was hooked!

It is utterly forbidden to be half-hearted about gardening. You have got to love your garden whether you like it or not.

- W.C. Sellar

Pages

Tuesday, 24 March 2009

My New Garden: Progress 1 - Jan - Mar '05

Saturday, 21 March 2009

My New Garden: Progress 2 : April to Aug '05