August in the Garden #Springflowers
22 Monday Aug 2016
Tag Archives: garden
Lemongrass
09 Thursday Jun 2016
Posted in Gardens, Green tips, Growing, Health, Herbs, Honey Bee, Organic, Perennials
Tags
Bee, food, garden, green tips, health, honey bee, Insects, Intercropping, Lemongrass, medicinal herb, organic, tea, Whitefly
Sweet Pickled Lemongrass
Lemongrass (Cymbopogon Citratus) , are commonly cultivated as culinary and medicinal herbs because of their scent, resembling that of lemons.
Lemongrass is usually planted in home gardens to ward off insects such as whitefly adults. Its cultivation enables growing some vegetables (e.g. tomatoes and broccoli) without applying pesticides. Intercropping should include physical barriers, for citronella roots can take over the field.
Lemongrass is widely used as a culinary herb in Asian cuisine and also as medicinal herb in India. It has a subtle citrus flavor and can be dried and powdered, or used fresh. It is commonly used in teas, soups, and curries. It is also suitable for use with poultry, fish, beef, and seafood. It is often used as a tea in African countries such as Togo and the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Latin American countries such as Mexico. Lemongrass oil is used as a pesticide and a preservative. Research shows that lemongrass oil has antifungal properties. Despite its ability to repel some insects, such as mosquitoes, its oil is commonly used as a “lure” to attract honey bees. “Lemongrass works conveniently as well as the pheromone created by the honeybee’s Nasonov gland, also known as attractant pheromones. Because of this, lemongrass oil can be used as a lure when trapping swarms or attempting to draw the attention of hived bees.
Health Benefits of Lemongrass Essential Oil
Analgesic, Antidepressant, Antimicrobial and Antibacterial, Anti-pyretic, Antiseptic, Astringent, Carminative, Deodorant, Diuretic, Febrifuge, Fungicidal, Galactogogue, Insecticidaland Nervine.
A Few Words of Caution: It is likely to irritate the skin and produce other types of irritations too. Hence it should be avoided during pregnancy, and kept away from the eyes.
Nature’s Smile
22 Friday May 2015
Posted in Flowers
Tags
If you want to be HAPPY
20 Monday Oct 2014
Posted in Flowers
Butterfly
23 Tuesday Sep 2014
Fuchsia Gardening tip
22 Monday Sep 2014
Ariston’s “Best of the Best” in Spring
19 Friday Sep 2014
Dog Rose on the fence
Pots at the end of Dunluce Ave supplied by Alan Dawson Gardens
Dog Rose
Bulbs in pots under the Chevron
Lemon tree flowering
Nasturtiums
The Harfielder’s bean are flowering
Workshop garden
the plants in the ZTL garden
Borage growing wild
The pajama bush in full flower (Lobostemon)
Fennel growing wild
Happy in the garden
Bird of Paradise
26 Tuesday Aug 2014
Posted in Colours, Flowers, Honey Bee, South African Endemic
Tags
Bird of Paradise, Crane flower, Flowers, focal point, garden, honeybee, Perennial, plants, South African endemic plant, Strelitzia reginae
The Bird of Paradise (Strelitzia Reginae) is the most popular perennial around the world.
Ecology
Bees are common visitors when the spathe is in flower. Sunbirds may be the pollinator, but this has still to be proven. The role of sunbirds in Strelitzia pollination needs to be investigated, as they have been observed “robbing” the flowers by taking nectar but by-passing the pollination mechanism. Birds eat and disperse the seed.
Strelitzia reginae is widely used in landscaping as an architectural plant and focal point.
Bird of Paradise
Crane flower
Strelitizia reginae
Honeybee feeding off the sweet nectar
Papkuilsfontein
22 Friday Aug 2014
Posted in Bulbs, Colours, Eco Tourism, ecology, Photography, South African Endemic
Tags
accomodation, Ecotourism, environment, flower kingdom, garden, hiking, Namaqualand, Namaqualand Flowers, nature, Papkuilsfontein, photography, plants, South African endemic plant, waterfall
Soak up the peace and tranquility of this beautiful farm. Stay in the old, beautifully restored stone cottages,in your own private Fynbos setting.View the awesome canyon and its 100m waterfall. In spring, enjoy the world-renowned flowers in this Serengeti of the floral kingdom (This area is known as ”the Bulb Capital of the World” because it has the highest speciation of indigenous bulbous flowers on Earth). Experience the rich bird life, fauna, and San rock art. Swim in the cool waters of a natural rock pool, or in the pool at the cottages, built to be reminiscent of a farm dam. Hike the trails through sandstone rock formations and don’t forget to bring your mountain bike or your 4×4.
Fynbos flowers
Guest accommodation
Cat’s tails as far as the eye can see
Old Ox Wagon
Windmill
Rivers of flowers
Cat’s tails
Ruins in a field of flowers
Babiana
Blue Aster
water loving plants on cliff face
Spectacular waterfall
Cape girdled Lizard
Sewefontein – 1878
21 Thursday Aug 2014
Posted in compost, Eco Tourism, Flowers, Gardens, South African Endemic
Tags
environment, farm accommodation, Flowers, garden, Namaqualand, Namaqualand Flowers, nature, photography, plants, Sewefontein, South African endemic plant, swimming pools, water fountains
Sewefontein (1878) is a tranquil Old World farm accommodation located in the heart of Namaqualand.
The farm offers seven fresh water fountains, natural swimming pools in the river, hiking trails, waterfall and canyon, Rock Art, wild flowers, rich animal and bird life.
http://www.nieuwoudtville.com/sewefontein/
