If your garden has seemed different in recent years—that familiar buzz much quieter, the air less colourful and alive—it's probably not your imagination. Bee and butterfly populations face alarming declines worldwide. That's a scary thought, considering that most of the crops we eat rely on these (formerly) frequent visitors. It's true that no one person can single-handedly restore the monarch butterfly and reverse the honeybees’ downward spiral. But as we work on the larger issues at play, like climate change and widespread pesticide use, pollinators need safe spaces to feed and find mates ..read more

Gardening is a terrific way to get children involved with nature. It has the power to teach children about the beauty of flowers and vegetables, whilst also teaching them valuable life lessons like patience and self-confidence. It equips them with critical skills which can help them in other areas of their lives. Below are some of the main benefits children can experience by helping in the garden. Engage all the senses With gardening, kids can touch and feel the dirt, seeds, flowers, and leaves, see the vibrant colors and varied sizes of the plants, hear the sound of the vegetable when it’s ..read more

Hydrangeas are like the spring’s pom pom, cheering on the season. Blooming from the spring to the fall, this flower is so beloved, it even has its own holiday! Hydrangea Day is celebrated on January 5th, which is perfect since it is a time of year when the beautiful Hydrangea Endless Summer is in full bloom! If you are looking at growing your own Hydrangeas at home, read the following tips and tricks on how to plant and care for them, specifically the Hydrangea Endless Summer: Appearance The Hydrangea Endless Summer is a deciduous shrub, growing in a rounded shape. Its glossy, dark green le ..read more

While your garden is peaking its bloom and being filled with vibrantly coloured flowers during this spring season, it is precisely the right time to create a stunning bouquet from the fruits of your labour, so you can enjoy the sights and smells of the garden inside your home as well. It only takes one gusty wind or heavy summer rain to destroy your beloved blooms anyways. Cutting guarantees that at least some of your flowers will be spared that cruel fate! Another reason to cut your flowers: It encourages more flowering on your plants throughout the summer months and even into early Autumn ..read more

It’s that time of the year again where the green industry plays an important role in reminding people about the importance of planting trees. Arbor week has been celebrated since 1800, founded by a lover of nature – J Sterling Mortin and his wife were distressed by the lack of trees in Nebraska & quickly planted trees, shrubs, and flowers in their own yard to start with. “Trees were needed as windbreaks to keep soil in place, for fuel & building materials, & for shade from the hot sun,” says daff.gov.za It is the year 2021 and we are still encouraged to plant trees for reasons th ..read more

By line: Nolo Ndhlovu How many times have you walked past a house in a lovely neighbourhood and all you could smell was the aroma of the food being cooked that almost makes you feel like asking for a seat at that dinner table because whatever spices they’ve used are calling you and your stomach begins to growl. We don’t know about you, but we always aim to fill our homes with the comforting smell of food, and we also know for sure that fresh herbs add extra tenderness & extra pleasantness to any meal. Benefits of growing your own herbs 1. Saves money – no more buying from shops unless yo ..read more

Byline: Nolo Ndhlovu Absolutely any one can master patio or container gardening! These are words that will make beginner gardeners dance with joy, especially if you know nothing about gardening! Most plants aren’t finicky about the type of pots you plant them in, you must simply remember to give them space to spread their roots. Container or patio gardening is a benefit for everyone – those with enough land to grow out a beautiful garden with pot plants placed in a shaded area or balcony gardening for those who have limited space but would like to create a beautiful quint plant filled portio ..read more

There is nothing nicer than walking in your garden, soaking up the sun, smelling all the different fragrances of the flowers and hearing the bees humming away. One specific plants comes to mind when picturing this image and it is the lovely Lavender Dentata Elegans. Dancing in the wind with their long dainty stems with a vibrant purple at the top, we now understand why bees absolutely love these shrubs! Malanseuns - Lavendula Dentata Elegans A bushy shrub, with fragrant dark green leaves and dark purple flowers from spring to summer. They love to be planted in the sun where it can take all t ..read more

A status on Facebook shared tips on romantic things guys could do for girls, and buying flowers made the list, obviously! But please, don’t limit the plant buying to roses and lilies – girls like different types of plants for their different types of personalities – so our tip would be to study the lady and find the right plant!  Think of when you had to gift someone special in your life, and maybe plants saved you from walking into a hospital room empty handed or helped maintain business relationships because you once gave them Cylamens. Maybe you were in some kind awkward moment with a ..read more

The title of this article reminds us of a short children’s book by Lizzy Rockwell. The first few lines of the book say, “I am a plant eater. Plants reach out for the sun; they grow in the ground. I eat different parts from different plants, sometimes I eat the leaves, other times the roots, bulbs, stems & flowers too.”    We love this little story because it teaches our children of food that grows from the ground is nutritious, while they are still young. We know now that eating is learnt behavior, children watch us like we did our parents. Let’s go back a million years ago when ..read more