Innholdsfortegnelse for March / August 2025 i SA Garden and Home

I’m a summer baby. Give me days spent poolside or at the beach wearing sandals and shorts, and I’m a happy camper, but I’m not one for the cold. That said, there are many things about the cooler seasons that I enjoy tremendously. Instead of gathering around an outdoor firepit with friends, I prefer basking in the warmth of an indoor fireplace with a hot drink in hand - vanilla chai for me, thank you very much. I find this to be a meditative experience and could honestly sit there for hours, moving only to add another piece of wood to the fire. Curling up with a good book (particularly the one that’s been on my ‘to be read’ pile for more months than I care to admit), snuggled up…

When her love for hiking took her across Southern Africa in her 30s - from the Transkaroo to Amatola and Namibia’s Fish River Canyon, Marlene Liebenberg’s on-foot expeditions sparked a fascination with indigenous and traditional African culture, shaping the artistic vision she would later bring to life in sculpture. ‘I hiked long before becoming an artist. Our hiking club trekked trails and paths on foot in South Africa and beyond. The shifting landscapes, wildlife and cultures I encountered on these adventures enamoured me. It was a deeply inspiring time,’ says Marlene. Now in her 60s, the former field guide and explorer creates sculptures that express a deep fascination for Africa’s people and nature. Her work depicts Khoisan hunters, Zulu warriors and people of the Mursi tribe, and extraordinary individuals, such…

Woodoc has numerous maintenance waxes formulated to penetrate the existing surface coating and nourish the wood whilst refurbishing and cleaning. WOODOC DEEP PENETRATING FURNITURE WAX This unique liquid wax cleans and beautifies while effectively penetrating varnish, sealers and polish to feed and protect the wood underneath. It is economical, requiring less wax to keep the surface in top-notch condition. It is perfect for maintenance of all indoor furniture and woodwork, including: Tables, coffee tables, chairs, wood panelling, walls, dressing tables, wardrobes and any other indoor wood needing tender loving care. WOODOC PENETRATING WEATHERPROOF WAX This resilient, nourishing liquid wax is rich in UV inhibitors, and its unique formula maintains exterior woodwork. WOODOC PATIO Woodoc Patio is an easy, effective way to clean and maintain wooden patio furniture and exposed woodwork.…

THE BEST LEAFY GREENS TO ADD TO YOUR VEGGIE PATCH Spinach Spinach (Spinacia oleracea) is a powerhouse of nutrients, including iron, vitamins A and C, and antioxidants. It’s a quick-growing crop that thrives in the cooler months, making it an excellent choice for a winter garden. For the best results, plant spinach in well-drained soil with plenty of organic matter. It prefers full sun to partial shade and benefits from regular watering to keep the soil consistently moist. Harvest leaves from the outside to encourage continued growth. When picked regularly, spinach will keep producing tender, flavourful leaves throughout the season. Kale Kale (Brassica oleracea var. acephala) is one of the hardiest leafy greens, tolerating frost and even improving in flavour after a cold snap. This leafy vegetable is rich in…

Reseed Lawns It’s vital to give your lawn extra TLC as the heat fades. If it has thinning or bare patches, reseeding sooner will ensure a lush grass carpet ready for spring. Choose a hardy grass seed blend suited to your climate, and follow the sowing instructions for the best results. Water well after sowing, and maintain regular watering throughout autumn to help new grass establish. Mulch, Mulch, Mulch Mulching is one of the simplest and most effective ways to protect your plants through winter. A layer of mulch around the base of shrubs, trees, and perennials will help retain soil warmth and moisture, preventing the roots from freezing. It also acts as a barrier to weeds, keeping your garden tidy and healthy. Choose organic mulch like bark chips, leaves,…

Scenes of The Shire in The Lord of the Rings may spring to mind when visiting the village of Hogsback. It’s as lush, green and magical as J.R.R. Tolkien described the land he imagined in his books. Fortunately, you don’t have to travel to Middle Earth to enjoy its beauty. Visit the Eastern Cape, and you will find the village and its population of just over 1 000 people less than two hours from Grahamstown, hidden in the Amatola Mountains, the Tyume River flowing through its forests. Small but mighty, it is a must-visit area for anyone looking for peace away from the rat race. While the origin of the village’s name is unclear - some say it refers to the shape of a hog that the mountain’s three peaks…

We all have our own ideas of what constitutes a dream kitchen. From the theme, whether country chic or ultramodern, to the colour scheme and functionality, kitchens are arguably the room in the home that most people want to customise to their tastes and needs. While kitchens are famously said to sell homes, more often than not, that’s due to the room’s potential because, let’s face it, no matter how complete the kitchen may be, there’s always something we’d like to do with the space. Doing it all at once, however, can be a costly affair. But don’t let that be the pin in the kitchen of your dreams. Instead, gradually update the space until it looks and works just as you imagined it would for you and your family.…

Avegetable garden had been a vision of Angala’s custodians, Peter and Tisha Cunliffe, since buying the property 15 years ago. It has always been a retreat of quiet luxury, but ‘we knew we wanted to do something more with the land, in terms of curating something that would feed into the lodge and be organic and healthy,’ says Tisha. ‘There was nothing else in the spot nearest to the lodge, just grass that was out of hand, and I often thought about what should go there. At one stage, I imagined a labyrinth to enhance Angala’s healing nature before settling on a beautiful vegetable garden where staff and guests could be present.’ The couple is building a home in Angala to live there permanently. They asked Landscape Designer Leon Kluge…

At its most basic definition, bonsai is the Japanese practice of growing and shaping living, small-scale trees in shallow containers. But with a history that spans over 1 000 years and an intriguing plant lore that tells of monks and emperors, samurais and shoguns, artists and scholars, the passion that bonsai evokes in its more dedicated followers is said to inspire an almost spiritual devotion - far deeper than simply tending to a plant in a pot. Then there are the bonsai themselves: mesmerising miniature versions of a wide variety of species, from juniper and ficus to bougainvillaea and pine, every trunk, branch and leaf strangely surreal in its perfect resemblance to its larger counterpart. It would be easier for most of us to believe these are set pieces for…

With chilly days ahead, those lucky enough to have fireplaces in their homes can enjoy the warmth and comfort the flaming embers provide. Wherever your fireplace is, the lounge, family room or den, the space is probably the central gathering point for you and your loved ones on crisp autumn evenings or cold winter nights. And while the room surely radiates a cosy, inviting ambience, you can also make your fireplace aesthetically pleasing by adding decor touches to your mantle. Not sure where to start? Here are some simple rules to create a safe yet beautiful display on your mantle. Use Your Home’s Style as a Starting Point You can use your home’s aesthetic as a baseline for mantle decor choices. If you draw from different styles, consider your current…

I love the Monstera plant - it goes with most decor and is still on-trend in the home space. Search for it on Pinterest, and you will find numerous ideas for incorporating this plant into your home. This DIY project, which is easier to do than you may think, will offer inspiration. TOOLS • Jigsaw • Pocket-hole jig and pocket-hole screws • Orbital sander with 120 sanding paper disc • Power drill and different sizes of spade drill bits (32 mm, 28 mm and 22 mm) • Pine wood filler, wood glue and scraper • 3 × metal hairpin legs (400 mm in height) • 12 × short wood screws (4 × 35 mm) • Wood stain and paintbrush • Measuring tape and pencil • Cold wood glue • Speed…

THE ESSENTIALS As autumn strolls in and the weather cools, gardeners have a golden opportunity to get their gardens in tip-top shape for those frosty mornings and nights. By taking the necessary steps now, you can set the stage for a beautiful spring garden that will flourish when warmer weather returns. SOW WINTER VEGGIES Autumn is the perfect time to plant winter veggies that thrive in cooler temperatures. Vegetables like carrots, onions, spinach, kale and broccoli are ideal for this time of year. Ensure your soil is rich in organic matter, as this will provide your plants with the nutrients needed to establish strong roots. A generous layer of compost will also help improve soil structure and promote healthy growth. FEED YOUR PLANTS Spreading slow-release fertiliser now gives your garden…

Top Tip You can make, cover and refrigerate the filling up to two days ahead. This recipe is suitable to freeze for three months. CHICKEN AND LEMON THYME PAN PREP AND COOK TIME 1 HOUR (+ COOLING TIME) SERVES 4 750 g chicken-thigh fillets, thinly sliced 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil 1 medium (350 g) leek, thinly sliced 2 cloves garlic, crushed 1 tbsp fresh lemon thyme leaves ½ cup (70 g) slivered almonds ¼ cup (35 g) plain flour 3 cups (750 ml) chicken stock 445 g sheet sour cream shortcrust pastry or 2 sheets puff pastry 1 egg, lightly beaten 1. Preheat the oven to 200°C. 2. Season chicken. Heat oil in a 25 cm (top measurement) by 19 cm (base measurement) ovenproof frying pan over high…