Shahnee Stockigt, Author at Life is a Garden

The Soweto/Islamic Garden Club

The club meets on the second Saturday of every month at 13h30 for 14h00 at the Gardener’s Terrace Lecture Hall in Lifestyle Garden Centre. An annual membership is payable. This includes a garden club card entitling the bearer to discount on certain items at Lifestyle Home Garden.

Although the club started off as the Soweto/Islamic Garden Club, all are welcome to join.

Chairperson: Pam Groen
Chairperson Contact Phone: 011 792 5616
Chairperson Contact Email: pam@lifestyle.co.za
Website: www.lifestyle.co.za
Location: Gauteng

Fern Society of South Africa

We promote an interest in Ferns, protect indigenous ferns, research the cultivation of ferns and disseminate information concerning ferns. The Society presently has approximately 80 members throughout Southern Africa, all sharing a mutual interest in ferns.

Contact person: Jolanda Nel
Contact email address: info@fernsociety.co.za
Web address: www.fernsociety.co.za
Postal address: PO Box 73125, Lynnwood Ridge, 0040, South Africa
Location: Gauteng

The Herb and Indigenous Plant Guild

We meet once monthly in my garden. Subjects chosen by the learners. Anything natural and many workshops.

Chairperson: Patsy Vergeer
Chairperson Contact Phone: 011 393 3427 / 076 265 4948
Chairperson Contact Email: patsyspotions@vergeer.co.za
Areas Covered: East Rand but people come from all over the country.
Location: Gauteng
Website: www.patsyspotions.co.za

Northern Gauteng Orchid Society (NGOS)

The Northern Gauteng Orchid Society or Noord-Gauteng Orgideevereniging (NGOS) is an orchid society based in Pretoria. It serves the orchid growers and orchid enthusiasts of the Northern Gauteng area. The NGOS has been in existence since 1967 (formerly as the Orchid Society of Northern Transvaal) and is the 4th oldest orchid society in the country. NGOS members meet regularly to discuss aspects of orchid culture and to show off their flowering plants.

President: Keith Taylor
Secretary: Frikkie Marais
Areas Covered: Pretoria, Centurion, Brits, Bronkhorstspruit
Location: Gauteng
Website: www.ngos.co.za
Facebook: Northern Gauteng Orchid Society
Contact Email: info@ngos.co.za

Lifestyle Garden Club

From 18 to 80, all ages, all sizes, sexes and ideologies are welcome! If you’d like to have a look-see before joining, do join us on the 2nd Saturday of the month (February to November) at 09h00 for 09h30 – we guarantee you won’t be disappointed. The Lifestyle Garden Club, which has been active for 20 years and meets monthly at the Gardener’s Terrace Lecture Hall at Lifestyle Home Garden, is the club to join if you are keen on finding out more about all aspects of gardening from some of the country’s experts in their fields.

Chairperson: Melanie Walker
Chairperson Contact Phone: 011 792 5616
Chairperson Contact Email: info@lifestyle.co.za for Att: Melanie Walker
Areas Covered: Covers every area of gardening from design to general gardening as well as a bit of interior decorating.
Location: Gauteng

Bedfordview Garden Club

We warmly welcome all keen gardeners of any age group to join us on our informative and interesting mornings.

Chairperson: Heather Jayes
Chairperson Contact Phone: 011 828 6052 / 082-348 8291
Chairperson Contact Email: heatherjayes@gmail.com
Secretary: Ineke O’Dougherty
Secretary Contact Phone: 011-978-5333
Areas Covered: Bedfordview/Edenvale/Kensington
Location: Gauteng

Pretoria Huis en Tuinklub

Sosiale klub vir tuinliefhebbers. Ledetal ongeveer 40. Gassprekers en busuitstappies word gereël. Tee en verversings.

Social club for gardening enthusiasts . Member – about 40. Guest speakers will be arranged. Tea and refreshments .

Chairperson: Margot Hausler
Chairperson Contact Phone: 012 362 0914 / 072 968 7500
Chairperson Contact Email: margothaus@icloud.com
Secretary: Aletta Lange
Secretary Contact Phone: 012 460 2072 / 083 312 1645
Secretary Contact Email: aletta@ttides.co.za
Areas Covered: Pretoria en omgewing

Pretoria Bonsai Club

JAs one of the oldest Bonsai clubs in South Africa, we are privileged to have many senior members with years of experience who love to share their knowledge with the younger members. This contributes to the fact that our members are exposed to different approaches and techniques in the art of Bonsai. When you ask for help in how to solve a problem with a tree, you invariably get more than one solution – but you make the decision of which approach you prefer.

Chairperson: George H Exley
Chairperson Contact Phone: 082 809 2037
Chairperson Contact Email: org@ntp.co.za
Areas Covered: The whole of Pretoria (Tshwane)
Location: Gauteng
Website: www.pretoriabonsaikai.org

Dendrological Society of South Africa

We promote knowledge, protection and propagation of trees, and the preservation of tree-dominated ecosystems, as a contribution to effective environmental conservation and improvement in South Africa.

The Waterberg Bonsai Club

The Waterberg Bonsai Club meets regularly – every second Saterday of the month – to discuss and demonstrate all sorts of bonsai topics in a fun environment.

Chairperson: Ian Pringle
Chairperson Contact Phone: 083 468 357
Chairperson Contact Email: pikkian@iafrica.com
Areas Covered: Warmbaths, Nylstroom, Naboomspruit and Potgietersrus
Location: Limpopo

How to add a YouTube tab to your business Facebook Page

A video which details how members can add a quick-link YouTube tab to their business Facebook pages

Rosa ‘Ingrid Bergman’

Only a very special rose could honour Ingrid Bergman.

35 broad & firm petals constitute the large, glowing velvet red blooms which hold their brilliance in the sun.

The bush grows into a well branched specimen clothed with glossy, deep green leaves, remaining virtually untouched by powdery mildew & black spot; a must for every garden.

Limpopo Stockists:

Mpumalanga Stockists:

Garden Pavilion – White River
Ninfa Tuinsentrum – Middelburg

North West Stockists:

Garden Pavilion – Geelhout
Sittig’s Nursery – Hartebeespoort

Western Cape Stockists:

Ludwig’s Roses Winelands – Stellenbosch
Stodels – Bellville
Stodels – Constantia
Stodels – Kenilworth
Stodels – Milnerton
Stodels – Somerset West

**Please note that not all stockists will have every plant featured**

Limonium Perezii

An older generation of gardener will remember these plants being called Statice and that is what most of us know them as. Commonly Limonium is also called Sea Lavender or Everlasting, but regardless of name this little plant is a flop proof , dependable little ground cover.

Statice is an evergreen perennial that forms a rosette of large leathery leaves. It grows in the sun in most soils, but prefers the soil to be well drained. It is drought tolerant and water-wise once established but needs regular watering when first planted.

This is a reliable low maintenance plant. You only need to remove the old foliage to keep the plant tidy and looking good.

The Statice plant flowers year-round but has more flowers in spring and summer. It has large clusters of bi-colour blooms on stems ranging from 15-60cm tall. These flowers are purple-blue and white and have a papery feel to them. The flowers last forever and are excellent cut flowers both fresh and dried as they retain their colour. Remove the old flowers to encourage new flowers to develop. Butterflies and bees are attracted to the flowers.

Statice are such foolproof plants that every garden should have some. They make great accent plants, do well in borders, look good in rockeries and grow well in containers.

Eastern Cape Stockists:

Floradale Nursery – Port Elizabeth
Builders Express East London
Builders Express – Jeffreys Bay
Builders Express – Newton Park
Builders Express – Uitenhage
Builders Warehouse – Port Elizabeth

Free State Stockists:

Alma Kwekery – Welkom
Bruwer Kwekery – Bloemfontein
Builders Warehouse Bloemfontein
Greenside Kwekery – Bloemfontein
Urth Garden Centre – Bloemfontein

Gauteng Stockists:

Colourful Splendour – Craighall Park
Garden Pavilion – Eckards
Garden Pavilion – Sunkist
Plant Paradise Garden Centre – Pretoria
Safari Tuinsentrum – Pretoria
Schaffler’s Nursery – Johannesburg

Limpopo Stockists:

Mpumalanga Stockists:

Garden Pavilion – White River

North West Stockists:

Western Cape Stockists:

Cape Garden – Joostenbergvlakte
Cape Garden – Somerset West
Cape Garden – Stellenbosch
Starke Ayres Garden Centre – Rosebank
Starke Ayres Garden Centre – West Coast Village
Stodels – Bellville
Stodels – Constantia
Stodels – Kenilworth
Stodels – Milnerton
Stodels – Somerset West
Builders Express – Kenilworth
Builders Express – Knysna
Builders Express – Stellenbosch
Builders Express – Willowbridge
Builders Warehouse – Cape Gate
Builders Warehouse – City
Builders Warehouse – Constantiaberg
Builders Warehouse – George
Builders Warehouse – Helderberg
Builders Warehouse – Table View
Builders Warehouse – Tygerberg

**Please note that not all stockists will have every plant featured**

Cupressus Macrocarpa ‘Goldcrest’

A striking addition to any landscape, this golden Monterey Cypress is quite popular and widely available in nurseries and garden centers. ‘Goldcrest’ is noted for its narrow, upright habit and exquisitely bright color; it fits into many different planting situations especially in smaller spaces.

The caveat to this beauty is its semi-hardiness in the Pacific Northwest. It requires a warm spot in the garden or it is best confined to a container planting that could be moved during a hard, cold winter. Most plants sold in garden centers are small, immature trees with very tender, needle-like foliage, and have a wonderful citrus scent when rubbed. They’re wonderful as a vertical accent in a container and are frequently sold decorated with ornaments during the holiday season.

They should be grown in full sun and have well draining soil. Once established, they are quite drought tolerant and often they turn slightly orange or light brown during the winter time, resuming chartreuse coloration once the weather warms in spring.

Gauteng Stockists:

Colourful Splendour – Craighall Park
Earth Outdoor Living – Fourways
Garden Pavilion – Eckards
Garden Pavilion – Sunkist
Hecker Nursery – Boksburg

Nicolas Plants – Northriding

Plantland – Akasia

Plantland – Cornwall Hill

Plantland – Menlyn

Plantland – The Wilds

Plant Paradise Garden Centre – Pretoria

Safari Tuinsentrum – Pretoria

Schaffler’s Nursery – Johannesburg

**Please note that not all stockists will have every plant featured**

Denim-Jean Planter

Denim is all the rage in the fashion world at the moment - why not bring this fabulous fashion into your garden thinking too, and make a statement with it on your patio or indoors. This denim jean planter will create a cute and unique talking point on your patio with its ‘lifelike’ look and originality.

If the kids have an old pair of jeans and shoes lying around, then this activity is a must, especially for the long July holidays. Get all the kids involved with doing their very own unique denim ‘pothead’ and this will soon become a fun, family activity. If you don’t have a kiddies pair of jeans lying around, then any old kids pants will also work, but remember that the finished product is not suitable for the direct outdoors as the pants and batting are not waterproof.

Firstly, cut the batting to size (once rolled up, it must fit snugly inside the pant legs). We cut the batting a bit longer to make sure that the shoes would fit around the batting as well.
Cut a bit of bubble wrap to go around the top of the batting, to ensure that there is no chance of the batting getting wet when the plant is watered.
You can then roll the batting and keep it in a firm hold while you wrap the bubble wrap around the top of the batting.
Place sticky tape where the bubble wrap ends, so that it stays in place on the batting.

Baby Cabbages – dynamite in small packages

Like all things miniature, baby cabbages have an appeal all of their own. They don’t take up as much growing space as big cabbages (which is an important consideration for small gardens) and they are ready for harvesting a whole lot sooner. If you don’t have a large family then a big head of cabbage can seem to last forever whereas baby cabbages can be used up quickly, which means they are always crunchy and sweet.

Growing cabbage

Cabbage is best grown as a cool season crop because it tends to bolt when temperatures are high, and the leaves can be tough and bitter. It is also less plagued by pests in winter.

Seed can be sown from the end of February through to April and in frost free or warmer winter areas another two succession sowings can be made about four to six weeks apart. Whether you are growing baby cabbages or the bigger varieties, the same rules generally apply.

Soil preparation

Cabbage needs to be in full sun and grows in almost any kind of soil. Compost and Super Phosphate or bonemeal should be worked into the soil beforehand because cabbage is a heavy feeder. If you are practising crop rotation then plant your cabbages where beans were grown earlier in the season, because they will have enriched the soil with nitrogen.

Sowing

Sowing seed in seedling trays is preferable because it is easier to space the seedlings correctly when they are transplanted. (If you decide to sow your cabbage in situ then you must thin out the excess seedlings because the cabbages must have enough space to grow.) The seedling trays must be kept moist while the seeds germinate, and fairly soon after germination they can be fed daily with a much-diluted plant food to get them growing quickly.

Spectacular Cyclamen

The blossoms of the Cyclamen twist and turn like tiny butterfly wings. The silver, marbled colouring of the foliage accents the beautiful flower colours of lavender, rose, maroon, red or white.

Cyclamen naturally bloom in Autumn and Winter when the weather turns cool. During the hot, dry summers, Cyclamen become dormant, their foliage yellows and dies back, and plants show no signs of growth. They store energy for the next flowering season in their round tubers.

A stunning, easy-to- care for, long lasting indoor colour option that thrives in the cooler weather. Cyclamen add colour and cheer to bedrooms, living areas, entrances and most indoor rooms – they are also excellent pot specimens on patio’s and in sheltered areas of the garden.

Care instructions

● Temperature: Cyclamens do not like heat. Do not expose them to temperatures below 4°C or higher than 25°C.

● Light: Give the cyclamen bright, indirect light in the winter. While your plant is dormant during the summer, keep it out of bright light.

● Soil: Cyclamens are very tolerant of diverse soil types and are not concerned too much with the pH, although they prefer a slightly alkaline soil.

● Watering: Cyclamens are a bit fussy about watering – they must be watered from the bottom. Don’t water the leaves, but rather keep the pot in a shallow bath of water so that the plant can soak up what is needed.

Gazania Sunset

Gazania Sunset is a clumping-style of plant with large, bright yellow flowers with dark stripe that contrast beautifully against grey-green foliage. Indigenous to South-Africa. Ideal landscaping or container plant. Waterwise.

Height to 30cm

Width to 40cm

Planting

Able to handle many soil types and look best when planted in multiples. Select a sunny position.

Watering

These drought tolerant plants rarely need supplementary watering.

Fertiliser

Feed them with a small amount of a general purpose controlled release fertiliser in spring and autumn.

Pruning

Occasionally remove spent flower heads if desired and that about all you need to worry about. Summer is a good time to do this.

Pests and Diseases

Gazania has no major pest or disease issues.

Eastern Cape Stockists:

Floradale Nursery – Port Elizabeth
Builders Express – East London
Builders Express – Jeffreys Bay
Builders Express – Newton Park
Builders Express – Uitenhage
Builders Warehouse – Port Elizabeth

Free State Stockists:

Alma Kwekery – Welkom
Bruwer Kwekery – Bloemfontein
Builders Warehouse – Bloemfontein
Greenside Kwekery – Bloemfontein
Urth Garden Centre – Bloemfontein

Gauteng Stockists:

KwaZulu-Natal Stockists:

Blackwood’s Home of Gardening – Pietermaritzburg
Garden Pavilion Halls – Kingsburgh
Hingham Nursery – Durban North
Builders Express – Amanzimtoti
Builders Express – Ballito
Builders Express – Hillcrest
Builders Express – Pietermaritzburg
Builders Express – South Coast
Builders Express – Umhlanga
Builders Warehouse – Riverhorse

Limpopo Stockists:

Builders Warehouse – Polokwane

Mpumalanga Stockists:

Builders Warehouse – Emalahleni
Garden Pavilion – White River
Ninfa Tuinsentrum – Middelburg

North West Stockists:

Garden Pavilion – Geelhout
Sittig’s Nursery – Hartebeespoort

Western Cape Stockists:

Cape Garden – Joostenbergvlakte
Cape Garden – Somerset West
Cape Garden – Stellenbosch
Ludwigs Roses Winelands – Stellenbosch
Starke Ayres Garden Centre – Rosebank
Starke Ayres Garden Centre – West Coast Village
Stodels – Bellville
Stodels – Constantia
Stodels – Kenilworth
Stodels – Milnerton
Stodels – Somerset West
Tulbagh Kwekery – Tulbagh
Builders Express – Kenilworth
Builders Express – Knysna
Builders Express – Stellenbosch
Builders Express – Willowbridge
Builders Warehouse – Cape Gate
Builders Warehouse – City
Builders Warehouse – Constantiaberg
Builders Warehouse – George
Builders Warehouse – Helderberg
Builders Warehouse – Table View
Builders Warehouse – Tygerberg

**Please note that not all stockists will have every plant featured**

Coprosma Fireburst

A shrub with stunning obovate variegated shiny foliage. The colour transforms form cream pink tones during summer to and explosion of fire red foliage during autumn and winter.

Key Features:

Stunning richly coloured variegation.

Cultural:

This plant has a low water requirement once established. It prefers a well drained soil in the full sun or part shade. It will tolerate coastal conditions. Prune to promote bushiness and fertilise annually with a long term slow release fertiliser.

Plant Landscape:

Ideal for small hedges and general garden landscaping.

Max Height: 150 cm
Size: 1.5m
Position: Full sun to part shade

Eastern Cape Stockists:

Floradale Nursery – Port Elizabeth
Builders Express – East London
Builders Express – Jeffreys Bay
Builders Express – Newton Park
Builders Express – Uitenhage
Builders Warehouse – Port Elizabeth

Free State Stockists:

Alma Kwekery – Welkom
Bruwer Kwekery – Bloemfontein
Builders Warehouse – Bloemfontein
Greenside Kwekery – Bloemfontein
Urth Garden Centre – Bloemfontein

Gauteng Stockists:

KwaZulu-Natal Stockists:

Blackwood’s Home of Gardening – Pietermaritzburg
Garden Pavilion Halls – Kingsburgh
Hingham Nursery – Durban North
Builders Express – Amanzimtoti
Builders Express – Ballito
Builders Express – Hillcrest
Builders Express – Pietermaritzburg
Builders Express – South Coast
Builders Express – Umhlanga
Builders Warehouse – Riverhorse

Limpopo Stockists:

Builders Warehouse – Polokwane

Mpumalanga Stockists:

Builders Warehouse – Emalahleni
Garden Pavilion – White River
Ninfa Tuinsentrum – Middelburg

North West Stockists:

Garden Pavilion – Geelhout
Sittig’s Nursery – Hartebeespoort

Western Cape Stockists:

Cape Garden – Joostenbergvlakte
Cape Garden – Somerset West
Cape Garden – Stellenbosch
Ludwigs Roses Winelands – Stellenbosch
Starke Ayres Garden Centre – Rosebank
Starke Ayres Garden Centre – West Coast Village
Stodels – Bellville
Stodels – Constantia
Stodels – Kenilworth
Stodels – Milnerton
Stodels – Somerset West
Tulbagh Kwekery – Tulbagh
Builders Express – Kenilworth
Builders Express – Knysna
Builders Express – Stellenbosch
Builders Express – Willowbridge
Builders Warehouse – Cape Gate
Builders Warehouse – City
Builders Warehouse – Constantiaberg
Builders Warehouse – George
Builders Warehouse – Helderberg
Builders Warehouse – Table View
Builders Warehouse – Tygerberg

**Please note that not all stockists will have every plant featured**

Pelargonium Grandiflorium

Pelargonium grandiflorum Elegance. A real show stopper, for plants that you can admire in your garden, plant in a sunny to a partially shaded position. Mature plant size may vary due to growing conditions and climate, ±40cm x 100cm. ® Registered Trademark.

Eastern Cape Stockists:

Floradale Nursery – Port Elizabeth
Builders Express – East London
Builders Express – Jeffreys Bay
Builders Express – Newton Park
Builders Express – Uitenhage
Builders Warehouse – Port Elizabeth

Free State Stockists:

Alma Kwekery – Welkom
Bruwer Kwekery – Bloemfontein
Builders Warehouse – Bloemfontein
Greenside Kwekery – Bloemfontein
Urth Garden Centre – Bloemfontein

Gauteng Stockists:

KwaZulu-Natal Stockists:

Blackwood’s Home of Gardening – Pietermaritzburg
Garden Pavilion Halls – Kingsburgh
Hingham Nursery – Durban North
Illovo Nursery – Kingsburgh
Ludwig’s Star Roses – Hillcrest
Builders Express – Amanzimtoti
Builders Express – Ballito
Builders Express – Hillcrest
Builders Express – Pietermaritzburg
Builders Express – South Coast
Builders Express – Umhlanga
Builders Warehouse – Riverhorse

Limpopo Stockists:

Builders Warehouse – Polokwane

Mpumalanga Stockists:

Builders Warehouse – Emalahleni
Garden Pavilion – White River
Ninfa Tuinsentrum – Middelburg

North West Stockists:

Geelhout Gardens
Sittig’s Nursery – Hartebeespoort

Western Cape Stockists:

Cape Garden – Joostenbergvlakte
Cape Garden – Somerset West
Cape Garden – Stellenbosch
Starke Ayres Garden Centre – Rosebank
Starke Ayres Garden Centre – West Coast Village
Stodels – Bellville
Stodels – Constantia
Stodels – Kenilworth
Stodels – Milnerton
Stodels – Somerset West
Builders Express – Kenilworth
Builders Express – Knysna
Builders Express – Stellenbosch
Builders Express – Willowbridge
Builders Warehouse – Cape Gate
Builders Warehouse – City
Builders Warehouse – Constantiaberg
Builders Warehouse – George
Builders Warehouse – Helderberg
Builders Warehouse – Table View
Builders Warehouse – Tygerberg

**Please note that not all stockists will have every plant featured**

Author: Shahnee Stockigt

Free State Stockists:

Gauteng Stockists:

KwaZulu-Natal Stockists:

Limpopo Stockists:

Mpumalanga Stockists:

North West Stockists:

Western Cape Stockists:

Eastern Cape Stockists:

Free State Stockists:

Gauteng Stockists:

Limpopo Stockists:

Mpumalanga Stockists:

North West Stockists:

Western Cape Stockists:

Gauteng Stockists:

Growing cabbage

Care instructions

Eastern Cape Stockists:

Free State Stockists:

Gauteng Stockists:

KwaZulu-Natal Stockists:

Limpopo Stockists:

Mpumalanga Stockists:

North West Stockists:

Western Cape Stockists:

Eastern Cape Stockists:

Free State Stockists:

Gauteng Stockists:

KwaZulu-Natal Stockists:

Limpopo Stockists:

Mpumalanga Stockists:

North West Stockists:

Western Cape Stockists:

Eastern Cape Stockists:

Free State Stockists:

Gauteng Stockists:

KwaZulu-Natal Stockists:

Limpopo Stockists:

Mpumalanga Stockists:

North West Stockists:

Western Cape Stockists: