BUTTERFLY GARDENS



Belenois aurota (Brownveined white)

These flying jewels bring your garden to life their delicate beauty is the inspiration of many.It is important to understand the life cycle of a butterfly. Many gardeners poison them while they are still in their larval stages, these caterpillars are often perceived as 'nasty worms’. If a butterfly garden is what you want then be prepared for many hungry caterpillars devouring your host plants foliage. Thankfully leaves grow back so let the caterpillars nibble away the rewards are well worth it. When the caterpillars are fully grown they will search for a safe concealed spot in which to pupate. This is when the metamorphosis takes place after a few weeks out emerges a butterfly!

larva  of the Citrus Swallowtail butterfly

Citrus Swallowtail butterfly

 Many butterflies have specific plant choices and will only survive if that specific host plant species is present. Others have a wide variety of plants that they feed from and will even adapt to exotics. A large variety of indigenous plants endemic to your area if possible is needed to attract our jeweled friends. Not only will you be creating a butterfly garden you will be helping the butterflies re-establish themselves, with all the exotic gardens and harmful chemicals that are sprayed to keep them perfect many species have become endangered. By planting a butterfly garden you will be creating your own miniature nature reserve.

Over December I went hiking at Golden Gate nature reserve it is here I came across probably the most spectacular butterfly garden I have ever seen. It was alive with activity plants were covered with wings and colors’ sat in this special place for ages watching this magical sight.



Natures butterfly garden



Acraea horta (Garden Acraea)

A selection of trees that will attract butterflies to your garden.Vepris lanceolata (White iron wood), Clausena anisata (horsewood),Calodendrum capense (Cape chestnut),Ptaeroxylon obliquu(sneezewood),Zanthoxylum davyi (Knobwood). Acacia Karroo (Sweet thorn) this tree attracts an amazing variety of butterflies.With one these trees in your garden the butterflies will soon be regular visitors. This is only a small selection from a list of many different varieties that you can choose from.

 

Charaxes butterflies on a Vepris lanceolatta

(Clausena anisata) Horsewood

 (Calodendrum capense) Cape chestnut


A few of my favourite plants that attract butterflies to the garden are Plumbago auriculata (Plumbago) this will attract the Common Blue (Leptotes pirithous) and short-toothed blue (Leptotes brevidentatus) as well as the Blue banded Swallowtail Butterfly.

Blue banded Swallowtail Butterfly on Plumbago auriculata



 

Common Blue (Leptotes pirithous)



 Plectranthus species attract a whole range of butterflies.Protea caffra (Natal sugar bush) Pennington's Protea-butterfly (Capys penningtoni) and Russet Protea-butterfly (Capys disjunctus).Asystasia gangetica (creeping foxglove) this little ground cover lures a whole array of butterflies. These plants are only a few selected from a large list I would recommend you buy 'Bring Nature back into your garden by Charles and Julia Botha" this book has a detailed list of  plants and the butterflies they attract and really is a valuable source of information when beginning your butterfly garden.

Capys penningtoni (Pennington's protea) female. [photo Steve Woodhall ©]

Precis orithya madagascariensis (Eyed pansy) one of the butterflies that is attracted to the Plectranthus species

Citrus Swallowtail butterfly (Princeps demodocus)

We have so many beautiful species of butterflies in South Africa it is up to us to make sure they are still here for our children to enjoy it is time to rethink the way we garden .Humans are butterflies most lethal enemy they have no defense against the destruction of their indigenous habitat that has been replaced with green deserts of poison covered exotic plants.

African Monarch

References

 Wessa Durban branch,Treknature, Calflora,Biodiversity explorer, Reflections Eco Reserve,Natures world of wonder South Africa,Wildlife photography blog,Redbubble,Bring Nature back into your garden by Charles and Julia Botha

BRING YOUR GARDEN INTO YOUR HOME THIS CHRISTMAS



Succulent wreath

 Another year draws to an end. With Christmas around the corner I was was thinking of how we can bring our garden into our home during this festive season. I searched the web and had a few inspired ideas of my own. Instead of rushing off to stores and buying decorations why not make your own original organic decorations? This succulent wreath looks better than any plastic store bought one and much more Eco friendly.If you lucky enough to be by the sea why not make a wreath out of drift wood, or unusual twigs.

an unusual wreath made with terracotta pots!



A Clematine wreath


I love this idea it is unusual and attractive. Instead of air plants you could put dried seed pods in the balls, or fill half the ball with a little water and place red and white roses inside!

Glass ornaments with air plants



place red and white flowers inside for a more festive feel

 We have a huge selection of amazing succulents in our country that really are not used to their full potential. These little water wise beauties make beautiful eye catching decorations!




Succulent ornamental ball

 During these hot summer holidays why not pick a few herbs and berries from your Organic Vegetable herb gardens and make them into ice cubes to decorate all those Christmas cocktails with.

Ice blocks that will glam up any drink

Fill your home with a festive aroma.Oranges studded with cloves not only smell fantastic but will also look wonderful as center pieces in glass vases or bowls.

Oranges studded with cloves

Make your own Christmas table centerpieces with recycled objects from your home and garden. Tin cans cleaned and filled with flowers from your garden create a rustic charm. Small terracotta containers can be transformed with a bit of red ribbon , rosemary and white candles.

disguise your tin can by wrapping twigs or cinnamon sticks around it

What is Christmas without a Christmas tree. Instead of those drab plastic trees why not use one of our indigenous beauties.Get a big terracotta tub and plant it up with an indigenous tree of your choice then plant it in your garden afterwards.Or if you choose the right kind of tree leave it in the pot and place it on your patio so it is ready for the next festive season. Here are a few of my favourite indigenous Christmas trees. What are yours?



Podacarpus henkelii



Gardenia Thunbergia

 

Links: vi.sualize.us, haute-hostess.com, flikr.com, weddingfresh.blogspot.com, thepaintedhive.blogspot.com, libp.blogspot.com, MathaStewart,beeskneesbungalow.blogspot.com,marylenalynx.blogspot.com,potterybarn. Grow Wild.

SOIL THE STUFF OF LIFE

The first step to a successful garden is getting the soil right.



Bark chip mulch always looks good 



With our hot African sun mulching is vital. We are coming to a stage where every drop of water counts. Mulching retains the moisture in the soil. Mulching can be incorporated into the design of you garden whether you are going for contemporary, Informal, Formal, Oriental there is a mulch for each and every style and taste.



Rocks and pebbles create a contemporary feel they also bring in an exciting texture



Living mulches these are ground cover plants they come in an array of colours, textures and shapes the choice is vast. What is wonderful about this choice of mulching is that the plants successfully smother weeds as well as pulling the design together. Pebbles, different coloured gravels, shells and bark chips are just a few of the options if you want to bring another texture into your garden. Whichever mulch you choose it is an essential part of the garden

Arctotheca calendula works well as a living mulch

Working in the maintenance industry bought to my attention that most gardeners have an obsession when it comes to turning the beds and making sure that not one leaf dare be left in them. Both of these practices are very bad for your soil. Turning the beds disturbs the plants roots as well as causing dormant weed seeds to surface and germinate. It also upsets the balance in the soil. Leaves that have fallen onto the bed are one of the best things that could happen in terms of improving and feeding the soil. In fact we should be putting as many as we can onto our beds. As the leaves decompose they make the most beautiful rich and healthy soil. The end result is humus this is made up from all that broken down matter, now you have a soil that is like gold dust to gardeners. Healthy soil equals healthy plants.

Adding a little helping hand. Our company does not use chemical products. Most chemical fertilizers leech the soil of its nutrients and all the hard work that has been put into obtaining healthy humus rich soil is lost. Plants can also get burnt and die off if to much fertilizer is applied. We prefer to go the Organic route by using Neutrogs Organic fertilizer range. It may smell for a day or two but the results are amazing. Another product that works wonders for plants is Fertlies this fertilizer comes from earthworm castings, these amazing creatures are soils miracle workers. There are a number of companies that sell these worms with wormaries that can fit into any space big or small. Whether you want to feed you house plants or your whole garden. All you need to feed them is your kitchen waste how simple is that .In return you get the most amazing liquid fertilizer which will give you strong healthy plants that the neighbours will be envious of.

Resources: Arctotheca calendula image from www.plantzafrica.com

 

CHILDREN'S GARDENS

Children explore the world with their senses

Every garden should have a section set aside just for the children. A magical place where their big imaginations can run wild.

SIGHT

 Colour is very important bright splashes of it! Annuals are brilliant for children's gardens not only do they come in an array of colours but many are fun and capture little ones inquisitive minds. I have childhood memories of opening and closing the mouths of snapdragons and making daisy chains.

Antirrhinum 'Snap dragon'

Peeping from the flower beds these garden objects will trigger any child's imagination and make the garden space that much more magical and fun.

Fairy sculptures a must for a little girl’s fairy garden

Tiered of the same old garden pots, mass produced sculptures and old fading garden gnomes,I went on a search for something a bit more unusual.

The princess and the frog

mushrooms popping out from flower beds



fun garden lighting



Garden elves

peeking from the flowers sits a fairy upon a mushroom

       NATURE

Bring the birds into your children's garden with bird feeders. Feeding the birds will become a fun activity as well as spotting all the new birds that come visit the garden. Little boys love hunting for bugs so don't kill any creepy crawlies on sight leave them and create an Eco garden. Bug boxes are a great way to get your child involved with nature and learning about all the insects that are beneficial to the garden.

Creative bird houses



Bug Boxes



SOUND

 Children are attracted to water. What is better than dipping your fingers into a fish pond or water basin.Watering the little seedlings that you have planted with your own watering can. Nothing is as fun as getting dripping wet in the sprinklers! Some fun water features are wishing wells and shallow basins with little ornamental creatures on the side.When installing water features always consider the safety aspect first.Depending on age there should always be adult supervision.Wind chimes also add sound to the garden as well as different textures such as gravel pathways.



Fun rustic cats and a wishing well

FUN AND ADVENTURE

Jungle gyms and climbing frames are always great fun. I remember spending hours in the garden building forts from branches and banana leaves.I thought this jungle gym was very clever as it incorporates the fun of climbing a tree with all the elements of a traditional metal jungle gym, the best of both worlds.

An fun and imaginative jungle gym

 

A secret fort

A PLACE OF MY OWN

Children love growing things and getting their little hands dirty. Give them a little space of their own in the garden where they can grow their own plants. Choose a sunny area with good soil and plants that are easy to grow with fast results strawberries,sunflowers, beans, pansy's, spinach, radishes and carrots are just a few a great variety of plants. Not only will this space encourage your children to work in the garden but growing their own vegetables will help them explore their taste buds and get them to eat that spinach which is normally hidden under their fork!



'Children have a natural affinity towards nature,dirt,water,plants,and small animals attract children's attention for hours, days, even a lifetime.' Robin C Moore and Herb H Wong

Resources. Friends of the west end, Life is a garden, most beautiful flower.com. To make you smile therapy garden, spottedcanary.com, Goin Pottin,Whisk this