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Archive for 'The Green File'

Grannie’s Kitchen

The Green File by Johan Wentzel With the festive season ahead of us we can expect to experience some discomfort from time to time due to a little indulgence. With the price of food nowadays, I thought [...]

Highveld beauties

Highveld beauties

by Johan Wentzel This weekend we were privileged to spend in Dullstroom. Not to catch trout, but to watch the early flowerers. In our region these plants are known as the pre-rain emergents. Most of them [...]

Garden in harmony with nature – last change

Garden in harmony with nature – last change

Left: Another entry in the Kormorant’s garden competition – Garden in Harmony with  Nature. The gardens will be judged in November. Our gardening competition is coming up in the next few weeks and I thought a [...]

Biblical discussion about lawns

by Johan Wentzel This week I am not giving you advice on indegenous gardening.   I thought I would share the following conversation about gardening with readers. A lesson in gardening on the lighter side…God: John, [...]

Some grassland beauties

Some grassland beauties

by Johan Wentzel In previous issues of the Green File, we have discussed trees that occur on the Highveld. In this edition, I want to discuss some of the beautiful bulbs and small perennials that occur [...]

Some really hardy shrubs

Some really hardy shrubs

by Johan Wentzel In the previous issue of the Green File, I commented on the fact that winter was pretty mild (in some areas anyway). And then we had snow – the first time ever since [...]

Some really hardy trees

Some really hardy trees

by Johan Wentzel I think climate change has at last arrived in Hartbeespoort. I have not experienced any frost this winter (so far, anyway). It could, of course, be just a quirk in some oceanic current [...]

“Gardening in Harmony with Nature” in winter

“Gardening in Harmony with Nature” in winter

Now that the worst heat waves are a thing of the past, we can seriuosly focus on the activiities that should not take place in a winter garden. The survival of mahy inhabitants of the garden [...]

Gardening the Bushveld way

Gardening the Bushveld way

Left: The Wild Seringa, Burkea africana in its winter regalia. At present, I am temporarily seperated from my beloved Hartbeespoortdam (and like my wife, I love it warts and all). I am sitting on the stoep [...]

Gardening in Harmony with Nature

Gardening in Harmony with Nature

By Dr Johan Wentze The initiative, “Gardening in Harmony with Nature”, was launched at the Oxwagon Ring, Saartjiesnek in May. The basic principles were discussed and the participants went away with enthusiastic smiles on their faces. [...]