August in the Garden #Springflowers

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Flowers, garden, gardening, nature, photography, plants

This gallery contains 10 photos.

Lemongrass

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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

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flower, garden, naturephotography, quote

If you want to be HAPPY

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Flowers, garden, Happy, quotes

Butterfly

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butterfly, environment, flower, garden, nature, quotes

Butterflies are self-propelled flowers!

Fuchsia Gardening tip

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Flowers, Fuchsia, garden, green tips, plants

Ariston’s “Best of the Best” in Spring

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Cape Town, Flowers, garden, gardening, home grown, nature, organic, plants

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

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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

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accomodation, Ecotourism, environment, flower kingdom, garden, hiking, Namaqualand, Namaqualand Flowers, nature, Papkuilsfontein, photography, plants, South African endemic plant, waterfall

Papkuilsfontein

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

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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/

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