Sprig

More Barrier Plants

via Email — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 06:27:47 +0000

In response to Niall’s post on Zulu Barbwire… mol-d

I am reliant on natural vegetation as my only form of defense, the wire fences having been stolen many years back. The hedgerows are admittedly quite wide, 2 – 4 meters, but are filled with many thorny plants that provide us with impenetrable barriers. Here are some effective plants to use. Dovyalis caffra, Dovyalis longispina, Gymnosporia buxifolia (any Gymnosporia in fact), Carissa marcrocarpa and the vicious, fast growing Scutia myrtina.

Lorraine Solomon
lorraine@kumbulanursery.co.za www.kumbulanursery.co.za

WANTED: White Hibiscus in Johannesburg

via Email — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 17:55:37 +0000

Good day

I would like to purchase white Hibiscus with the red centre. where will I find it in Pretoria or Johannesburg?

Kind regards

Christine

The great compostable lid experiment

Niall — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 10:03:53 +0000

Vide e are now selling all their take-away coffees with compostable lids. My understanding of this, is that they are made from some kind of natural starch and if put into your compost pile, will degrade. As a little experiment I thought I’d put a couple of lids in a pot, cover with soil and leave to compost. Will check them in a few weeks and report back on the state of the lids.

In any case, I think this is a really positive step forward and if more plastics could be replaced by this product, it would result in a lot less waste being produced.

Zulu Barbwire

Niall — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 08:54:50 +0000

This excellent creeper has such deadly thorns that it has been colloquially named ‘Zulu Barbwire’. One plant at the base of a fence or hedge will quickly grow up and out, creating a near impenetrable barrier to would be thieves. And with its delicate white flowers, its a much more attractive solution than barbwire or an electric fence.

Anyone else have suggestions for natural barriers we could use in South Africa?

Chili balls

Niall — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 07:36:31 +0000

Last year I bought a packet of random chili seeds and planted them in various pots around the house. Only one plant survived and it turned out to be the most interesting chili plant I have ever laid eyes on. Every couple of months it produces these bright red, fire-hot, perfectly round chilis. I know you can get a great variety of chili plants in places like Mexico but we generally seem to have two varieties, big and small

If anyone knows anything about these guys, please share the knowledge …

Chili balls

Lilies of the city

Niall — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 10:22:28 +0000

Another short post about our visit to the Durban Botanic Garden, this time to share some pics of the lilies in bloom.

Cannonball!

Niall — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 08:58:11 +0000

We went down to the Durban Botanic Gardens last weekend in search of the Living Beehive. The Beehive was unfortunately undergoing renovations but we did spot this amazing Canonball tree, in full bloom.

Chris vs the Cannonball

Cannonball in bloom

Help with Spekboom project

via Email — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 06:56:35 +0000

I am a teacher at a socio and economically challenged school and community. I am situated on the border of the Gauteng and Nort west Provinces, close to Johannesburg with various mines and industries with polution issues. I would like to use the spekboom nursery to address environmental awareness at the school, supplement the school funds, teach the learners practical entrepreneurial skills to enable them to break the cycle of poverty by becoming self employed entrepreneurs instead of unemployed, poverty stricken citizens of our country.

I have already started on a very small scale experimenting with making cuttings and growing the spekboom, however, I need guidance and advise as to how to develop the project further and I am hoping that you would be able to assist me in achieving this goal. If not, I would appreciate it very much if you would be able to direct me to someone that would be able to assist me in achieving this goal. Thank you very much and I am looking forward to hearing from you.

Sandra Kruger

WANTED: Multi-coloured radish seeds

via Email — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 14:00:19 +0000

Hello,

It is two years since my husband bought a packet of radish seeds, which produced multi-coloured radishes in yellow, pale pink, dark pink, red, mauve and white. We went back to Builders Hardware where he bought the seeds, but they had no more. We asked them to investigate for us, and went back a few times, but they did not find out where to get more. We look at seed packets everywhere we go, but have never found them again. Do you have these radish seeds, or do you know where I could get some? Unfortunately we did not keep the packet.

Many thanks,
Yours sincerely,
Meg van Maasdyk.

WANTED: Looking for coriander seed….

via Email — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 06:48:16 +0000

Hi Niall,

I’ve read your blog regarding coriander seeds very interesting, however have a problem obtaining them.

Could you please advise me where I can buy them from Niall.

Thank you SO much!

Poppie from Napier (South Africa)