Innholdsfortegnelse for August 2024 i SA Garden and Home

ED'S LETTER With the rising costs of international travel, which seems to become more expensive if you blink at the booking page too long, it's no doubt that heading abroad is a luxury that few South Africans can afford. Since an overseas vacation is not on the cards for many of us this year, we have decided to help scratch that travel itch by bringing the best of the world right to you. It's all about art in our Decor section, starting with two textile artists on the island of Mallorca, Spain and the influences behind their unique and captivating works (pg 22). Staying in Europe, we head to Berlin next, where the co-founders of the art collective Slavs and Tatars have filled their classic Gründerzeitwohnung with art and folklore…

KERB APPEAL…

INSPIRATION Mallorca is famous for its visitors – and the fame of its visitors – as it has played host to a myriad renowned artists, musicians and other creators who have felt the force of the island's natural attractions over hundreds of years. The artist Joan Miró and the poet Robert Graves were among the 20th century's adopters of Balearic island living, while in recent decades, celebrity creatives ranging from Annie Lennox to Stephen Fry have been regulars. But of course there are also many born-andbred Mallorquins, locals who have lived here all their lives, and among them are artists Adriana Meunié and Jaume Roig. Adriana creates textile works, while Jaume makes paintings, sculptures and ceramics. For both of them, the landscape and environment of Mallorca ‘is simply part of…

DIY MATERIALS • Circular saw and track • Orbital sander with 120 grit sanding disc • Power drill • Speed square or right-angled metal measure ruler • Spreader clamps • 1 Door • 1 PAR Pine Timber T44 mm = W69 mm = L2 400 mm (for legs) • 1 PAR Pine Timber T44 mm = W69 mm = L1 200 mm (for legs) • Short wood screws (Full Thread 3.5=13 Quantity 70) & matching driver bit • Wood glue • 4 Flat T shape metal brackets (5 holes) • 6 Small right-angled metal brackets (4 holes) • Paint brush • Interior wood stain or paint colour of your choice 1| Cut door to 1435 mm length to fit a queen-size bed. The door can be cut down straight by…

OPEN GARDENS Livingstone, in Zambia, has always been considered the ‘poor cousin' of Victoria Falls, with a less spectacular view of the falls. But it does have Livingstone Island, and the world-famous Devil's Pool –a swim here is a particular adrenaline rush. It is also less of a tourist town, but its star is rising. We say: get there soon, before it fills up. And just outside Livingstone is where Annabel Hughes Aston has planted her massive food garden. She is the creator of ‘bush gourmet' cuisine, developed by fusing wild edibles and indigenous Zambian ingredients with locally grown seasonal garden produce. Annabel is also the powerhouse behind the award-winning Elephant Café restaurant on the banks of the Zambezi River, 10 km upstream from the falls. The tented, open café…

RECIPES Top Tip You can adjust the harissa paste if you want it to be less spicy. Top Tip Make your own homemade slaw using a mixture of red and white cabbage, beetroot, carrot and celery. Vegetable tagine TOTAL TIME 1 HOUR 14 MINUTES SERVES 4 2 tsp olive oil 1 large red onion, chopped 2 garlic cloves, crushed 4 baby eggplants, halved lengthways 500 g pumpkin, cut into thin wedges 2 tsp each ground cumin, ginger, coriander ½ tsp ground cinnamon 2 cup vegetable stock 2 cup water 400 g can diced tomatoes 300 g okra, trimmed 1 tbsp harissa paste ¾ cup Greek-style yoghurt ½ cup parsley leaves ½ cup mint leaves HARISSA CHICKPEAS 400 g can chickpeas, rinsed 1-2 tbsp harissa paste 1 tbsp olive oil 1.…

HEAVENLY HOMES An ornately carved Moroccan door leads from the large Berliner Zimmer to the bedroom in Kasia Korczak and Payam Sharifi's apartment in a classic Gründerzeitwohnung in Berlin Moabit. Payam says that when it's closed, it has a tromp l'oeil effect; guests often don't realise that it's a real door. ‘Because it doesn't fit in that environment – there's this traditional Moroccan door squeezed into a 19th century house – [they assume that] it's a sculpture or a wall piece,' he says. ‘They don't think it opens up.' But it does, and it has a curious psychological effect. ‘There's an open-sesame effect of opening an old wooden door, as opposed to a standard door, which makes the passage into the bedroom more pronounced, dividing the private space from the…

PLANT OF THE MONTH MEDITERRANEAN CYPRESS Cupressus sempervirens brings instant Mediterranean elegance to any garden, whether lining a fence, a large pathway or your driveway. Their tall, slender shape makes them perfect for adding height without taking up much ground space. These plants are incredibly low-maintenance, thriving in a range of soils and requiring minimal watering once established. OLIVE Olive trees are a quintessential feature of Mediterranean landscapes. These trees are drought-tolerant and can live for hundreds of years when planted in the right environments. They are best planted in well-draining soil and full sun with limited humidity to mimic their natural habitat. They can also grow indoors in front of sunny windows. AGAPANTHUS Agapanthus, although native to South Africa, thrives in similar environments and has a Mediterranean look fitting…

PREPARE THE LAWN Get your lawn ready for the upcoming growing season by performing essential maintenance tasks in August. Start by mowing the grass to a moderate height (not too low in case of sudden cold this month). Aerate the soil to improve water and nutrient penetration, and overseed any bare patches. If you didn't last month or if the lawn needs a top up, apply a balanced lawn fertiliser to promote healthy growth, and water thoroughly to help the nutrients soak in. PLANT LAVENDER August is the ideal time to plant lavender, taking advantage of the moderate temperatures to establish strong roots before the growing season really kicks in. Choose a sunny location with welldraining soil to emulate their native conditions and prevent root rot. Prepare the soil by…

HANDS-ON WHAT YOU NEED: • Fresh flowers • Essential oils • Natural materials (dried citrus peels, star anise, dried berries, etc) • Fixative (orris root, citrus peels, vanilla pods) • Large bowl • Airtight container • Scissors 1 | Start by gathering and preparing your ingredients. If using fresh flowers, cut them into small pieces and dry them completely, either by air drying for 1-2 weeks or using a dehydrator. Lavender and roses are common choices. 2 | In a large bowl, combine your dried flowers, herbs and decorative elements, aiming for a mix that is roughly half flowers and half other materials. Add a few drops of essential oils and a tablespoon of fixative per cup of potpourri mix to help the fragrance last longer. 3 | Transfer the…

SUSTAINABILITY Travelling is one of life's greatest pleasures, offering new experiences, cultures and perspectives. But people are more aware than ever of its environmental and cultural impact, which explains why the concept of ‘sustainable' travel has become more mainstream. According to the World Tourism Organisation, sustainable travel ‘respects the sociocultural authenticity of host communities and provides socio-economic benefits for all'. Local is the keyword here. Travelling sustainably means making conscious choices that preserve the natural make-up and cultural heritage of the places we visit while considering our environmental impact when journeying. Rather than being a hindrance to your next holiday, sustainable tourism can enhance your getaway, creating a more meaningful experience of a particular destination, at home or abroad. Sustainable travel is crucial for several reasons. Firstly, there's the environmental…

HEAVENLY HOMES Travelling along the tropical KwaZulu-Natal South Coast conjures images of an exotic paradise reminiscent of Fiji or the Seychelles. That is even more true at Nakai, a guest house inspired by tropical destinations worldwide. With over 30 years of interior design expertise, Grant Horak and business partners Paulo Da Rosa and Claude Venter of Horak Venter Design created this curated showroom to showcase the pieces they love and use in their projects as a living inspiration board. As they sell pieces to loving new owners, they replace them with an ever-evolving variety of objets d'art. ‘In June 2016, we acquired and completely renovated, landscaped and decorated this property to create a home within a quintessential vignette of paradise. The seaside village Trafalgar offered us this incredible opportunity, as…

1 MIX THE SOIL Choose a pot one to two sizes larger than the current one. Ensure it has drainage holes. Fill the bottom with a layer of fresh potting mix. 2 REMOVE THE PLANT Gently remove the plant from its current pot, loosening the root ball with your fingers. Trim any dead or overly long roots. 3 REPLANT Position the plant in the new pot, adding soil around the sides to secure it. Ensure the plant sits at the same depth as it did in the old pot. 4 FINAL ADJUSTMENTS Water the plant thoroughly to settle the soil and eliminate air pockets.…

CHILLIES These prefer well-drained, fertile soil and love warm climates, but above 35°C, they stop producing. They don't like the cold and won't survive a hard frost. They grow well in pots, which is a good choice for frost areas, as the pot can be brought indoors in winter. Many unusual varieties are only available from seed. Sow seeds in trays in late winter (under cover in colder areas) and transplant at six weeks. Burying them deeper, so their leaves are just above the ground, helps them develop stronger roots. Feed with Talborne Organics Vita Fruit & Flower (3:1:5) when flowering starts. Using Adding a fiery kick, the spiciness of chillies elevates curries and stir fries. The white membrane around the seeds makes a chilli hot, so if deseeding chillies,…