Innholdsfortegnelse for April 2024 i SA Garden and Home

ED'S LETTER In putting this issue together, I was lucky enough to tour a boutique hotel in Kwa-Zulu Natal called Ammazulu African Palace, led by the passionate manager Alta du Plooy. As she explained the history behind this impressive building and the treasures that lie inside (which you can see for yourself on pg 38), I was shocked that I had lived most of my life no more than 20 minutes away and never stepped inside. It served as a reminder that there is always benefit to being a tourist in your home country, even for places that really are down the road. There is so much culture, history and heritage to soak up right outside our doorsteps, if we take the time to look. This issue's theme was inspired…

Here, a mischievous monkey clambers up a chandelier; there, stately giraffes twirl their necks about a candlestick; and over on a table in the corner, elephants form a graceful, sculptural pyramid. Flowers and leaves take new form as tureen hand grips, while the elegant head of a crowned crane makes a unique handle for the lid of a sugar bowl. Everywhere, there is a feeling of delight in the marvellous abundance and fantastical variety of the natural sphere. This is the wonderful world of Ardmore, where makers of sculptures, ceramics and decor items infuse a sense of African joy and splendour into everything they create. The Ardmore journey began almost 40 years ago when the brand's Founder and Creative Director, Artist Fée Halsted-Beming, was living and working on a farm…

WHAT YOU'LL NEED TOOLS • Compound mitre saw/circular saw • Pencil and measuring tape • Forstner drill bit for wood (45 mm) •Power drill • Orbital sander with 100 grit sanding disc MATERIALS • Tea light candles • Pine post or block of pinewood at your desired length – in this project a length of 518 mm was used • Wood stain, black craft paint and paint brush • Spray paint (white) • Masking tape • Safety gear, eye glasses/goggles, gloves, dust mask and appropriate safety gear when using power tools and paint products with fumes CUTTING LIST Use an offcut wide pinewood post, or cut a pinewood post to the desired length you wish to custom-make. In this DIY project, a pine post of 67 mm (thickness) x 94…

BULBINE Bulbine frutescens Hardy and drought-resistant, bulbine has long been used by traditional healers for various ailments. One of the easiest to grow and most forgiving plants, it's ideal for a water-wise garden. Droughtresistant, it prefers welldrained soil in full sun. Using Bulbine's fleshy leaves produce a viscous sap with many uses. It's particularly good for treating skin problems such as sunburn, eczema, cold sores, itchy skin and rashes, dry skin and insect stings. Split a fresh leaf and apply the gel directly to the skin (the cut leaf will seal over and can be used again). SPEKBOOM Portulacaria afra Indigenous to semi-arid regions, this fleshy succulent has seen a boost in popularity due to its ability to absorb relatively large amounts of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, thereby helping…

Diet, just like for ourselves, plays a crucial role in our pets’ health and happiness. Forget one-size-fits-all solutions. Pets have specific dietary needs that vary based on age, breed and activity level. A high-energy Border Collie requires a different nutritional profile than a laid-back Persian cat. A balanced diet ensures they receive the optimal amount of protein, fat, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals to thrive. Proper nutrition promotes healthy growth, a robust immune system, a lustrous coat and ample energy levels to chase hadedas (or that elusive red dot!). It can even help prevent weight gain, a growing concern among our increasingly pampered pets. LEFTOVERS We all know those pleading eyes that melt our resolve. Resisting the urge to share a bite of your meal with your furry companion can be…

Neighbourgoods Market: This cool market with venues in Johannesburg and Cape Town showcases local designers and artists with crafts for your smaller home finds such as special crafted candles, vases, tablecloths and books to fill your bookshelf. Rosebank Sunday Market: This market in Johannesburg has been popular for a long time. You can find all kinds of things here – arts, crafts and tasty homemade food goods. It's the perfect spot if you're looking for handmade decor and want to meet local artists. I Heart Market: If you're in Durban, check out the I Heart Market. A go-to market for local artisans to showcase their products. You can find all sorts of treasures here, from home accessories to trendy fashion items. It's a real gem for locally made goodies!…

Dais cotinifolia The pompon tree sports vibrant pink flowers, the highlight of the summer in South African gardens. This indigenous tree is popular not only for these blooms, but for its compact size, and they're easy to plant in most gardens. They are commonly used as street trees, particularly in the Western Cape. Buddleja saligna Known as the false olive for the shape of its leaves, this hardy evergreen is a must-have. Its delicate white flowers cover the tree in spring and are a magnet for birds and butterflies. Its adaptability means you can plant it almost anywhere and it will thrive, becoming a low-maintenance addition to your garden. Podocarpus latifolius Our national tree, the real yellowwood, is a slow grower but worth the wait. Their branches form a canopy…

PLANT SPRING BULBS If you purchased your spring bulbs last month, April is an ideal time to start planting. Planting now allows the bulbs to establish roots in cooler, moist soil before winter sets in. This period is necessary to stimulate spring growth, so it's vital not to plant too early or too late. Popular choices include tulips, daffodils, hyacinths and irises. PLANTING TIPS Soil Prep: Start with welldraining soil to prevent bulb rot. If your soil is heavy, incorporate some sand and compost to improve drainage. Depth and Spacing: Plant bulbs at a depth of two to three times their height, and space them about twice the bulb's width apart – the instructions should be on the packaging. This spacing allows for adequate growth and prevents overcrowding. In containers,…

Top Tip Time saver: If you are in a rush and don't have time to soak and cook your beans, just use a tin of each variety instead. CHICKEN AND SUGAR-BEAN BREDIE WITH HOME-MADE CHAPATIS TOTAL TIME 2 hr 30 min + SOAKING OVERNIGHT SERVES 6 CHICKEN AND SUGAR-BEAN BREDIE ¾ cup red speckled beans, soaked overnight ¾ cup white kidney beans, soaked overnight 6 skinless chicken pieces, on the bone onion, chopped 3 garlic cloves, minced 2 green chillies, chopped 2 tsp ground coriander 8 tomatoes, chopped 50 g sachet tomato paste 2 tsp sugar 2 bay leaves 2 potatoes, chopped CHAPATIS ¾ cup cake flour ¾ cup nutty wheat flour 1 tsp salt 1½ tbsp vegetable oil ½ cup + 1 tbsp water 1 tbsp butter, melted TO…

Homemade treats are a thoughtful way to show your pet you care. Overripe bananas mashed with peanut butter (xylitol-free, of course!) are a crowd-pleaser for dogs, or you can try this recipe. But even homemade treats are for occasional enjoyment, not a replacement for a balanced diet. Keep them bite-sized, and adjust portion sizes based on your pet's weight and activity level. Ingredients 1 ripe banana, mashed 1 cup whole wheat flour ½ cup rolled oats 1 tablespoon unsweetened applesauce 1 egg Ingredients 1. Lightly grease a mini waffle iron. 2. In a large bowl, combine mashed banana, flour, oats, applesauce and egg. Mix until well combined. 3. Pour batter into the waffle iron, filling each section about ¾ full. 4. Cook for 3-4 minutes, or until golden brown and cooked through. 5. Let…

The dream came to Peter Amm in the year 2000, after owning land bordering the Krantzkloof Nature Reserve for nearly 40 years. He approached Architect and friend Kevin MacGarry, and together, they designed this architectural marvel perched on a hill in KwaZulu-Natal – Ammazulu African Palace. amaZulu refers to the Zulu people, or as an adjective, “pertaining to the Zulu people, or their culture or traditions’. Add Peter's surname to that (Amm), and you get Ammazulu. The property is now a boutique hotel dubbed the African Palace, providing a sensory experience like no other. From above, you'll see the curved building follows the kidney shape of the properly, a solution to maximise space and develop the magnificent building Peter envisioned. ‘The contractors won a Master Builders award for the construction,…

STREET FOOD: BURRITOS AND BUNNY CHOW, AMAGWINYA OR HOT DOGS? No. I mean the free food growing in the cracks in our pavements, along the verges outside suburban homes, on street corners and unkempt edges in car parks. Once you start looking, it's astonishing how much nutrient-dense food is available all around us. I get terribly excited when I spot anyone foraging. In early summer there are often women collecting amaranthus and lamb's quarters on the edges of the park near the police station. I have noticed some of the waste pickers harvesting watercress in the Windermere Park stream. Those in the know, know. Some may disagree with me, but I think that trees hanging over garden walls into the street are fair game. If the walls were not so…

Children will get a kick out of completing these tactile, all-season activities that merge imagination, creativity, botany and a little bit of practical magic. You also don't need acres of garden to dig in – if you happen to have a sunny windowsill, you're good to go. With an emphasis on upcycling and sustainability, each of these easy projects is designed to encourage kids to engage with nature, not tech. As well as the fun of getting their hands dirty, the bigger reward lies in watching something grow that they have nurtured themselves, thereby encouraging them to care for and appreciate all forms of life. Tips Water the cotton as and when it feels dry to the touch. When the sprouts are around 20 cm tall, they can be transferred,…

How to get from Cape Town to Simon's Town on a budget, and safely? Your best bet, of course, is the Southern Line train. It's just R16.50 for a one-way ticket on MetroPlus, good value, and from Muizenberg onwards it snakes along the ocean front, giving fabulous views and the fresh sea air. But that's a non-stop fare. To hop off along the way means buying a new ticket for your next destination – they're priced in terms of distance. The best bet may be a week ticket: for just R135, you can travel to your heart's content for seven days. If you take it in one go – Cape Town central station to Fish Hoek – it takes just over an hour. And then there's the 20-minute shuttle up…

Some of the best chats you ever have with your children are when you're in the car. Something about you focusing on the road and not looking at them, or them not having to look at you, makes conversation easier. It flows freely, and you can ask them things that would normally irritate them (though I am not saying there are no eye rolls coming from the passenger seat), and they are strangely more open to telling you things about their lives, both day to day and in their inner world. This trick even works on teenage boys. The usual conversation when my son was newly in high school: Me: How was your day? Him: Fine. That's it. But on the weekends, when we'd drive off on an adventure somewhere,…