Outside & In | Summer 2020/ 2021

FREE Summer Issue 2020

FOURWAYS The Gantry on Witkoppen Rd, Entrance The Straight - Tel: (011) 691-7700 SILVER LAKES Cnr Silverlakes and Graham Roads, Silverlakes, Pretoria - Tel: (012) 809-3519 UMHLANGA Shop 111, The Crescent Shopping Centre, Sunset Crescent,Umhlanga Ridge, KZN - Tel: (031) 566-6777

EDITOR'S letter

Hello, Summer!

Not only is summer the most festive season in South Africa, it’s also the best time of year for us homeowners, gardeners, plant lovers, urbanites, inspiration seekers and DIYers to try new things and to renovate the old things. This is the gifting season, the giving season and for home’s nationwide, it is the “time for some TLC” season!

Outside & In is back for our second issue which promises to start your summer with a sizzle… We are absolutely thrilled to be offering a bigger circulation, more retail partners nationwide and exquisite local collaborations with features from SA’s biggest influencers in all things garden, landscape and interior and we are excited to host between our pages, a plethora of product for… You. We have had the most fantastic response to our launch issue which means that homeowners across the country are -like us- finding pockets of wisdom between our pages.

We have searched far and wide to bring you an issue that we know you are going to love. We look forward to making our circle bigger and collaborating with SA’s movers, shakers and makers in the months to come.

A lot has been uncertain this year, but one thing we do know for sure is that the time for a local, friendly, fresh mag is now. Let's make this summer ours!

Welcome to the Outside & In family…

Chanel Besson, EDITOR

Editorial

Editor-in-Chief & Director Chanel Besson Commissioning Editor & Feature Writer Tamsyn Halm

Advertising

Key Account Manager Justine Coleman Media Sales Executive Basheerah De Villiers Media Sales Executive - Amy Aries

Design

Zoey & I - Sarah Gregg-Macdonald Outside & In is Powered By – Paper Plane Publications (Pty) Ltd.

@out_side_and_in www.outsideandin.co.za

Get the job done.

Bosch ARM 34 Lawn Mower For back-friendly mowing – great results, right to the edge.

Your versatile gardening companion Bosch ISIO III Grass & Shrub Shear Cordless ISIO is an impressive multifunctional tool designed for shaping shrubs and lawn edges.

CONTENTS 10 – Giveaways &

meet our cover artist

by Josephine Noyce, Landscape Designer

24 – Leaving Lawns Behind

by Margot van der Westhuizen, Landscape Designer

28 – A Floral Forage

by Leon Kluge, Landscape Designer

In do

An Interview with – SHF Home

Bauhaus –

60

Po r tf

68

io

Prairie-style Garden

52

Earth, Water, Air & Fire

ol

20 – The Contemporary

Africa’s Calling –

ors

16 – Urban Gardening Products

Po r tf

io

by Mark Mac Hattie, Contours Design Studio

Filipa Domingues, Check my Plants

ol

12 – City Scaping Inspiration

46

An Interview with –

From Bauhaus to our House

Bathroom Botany –

By Andreas Keller, Owner of Plantify

76

Bespoke Bathrooms –

80

by Nicola Orpen and Hayley Turner, Bone Interior Design Studio

Lets get Popping –

85

Our Bubbles guide for the festive season

31 – Nature’s Food

by Life is a Garden

Stuffed Pork Recipe –

by Chef Mynhardt Joubert

32 – Soil Resolution

by Talborne Organics

The Essentials –

by Tamsyn Halm

34 – Meet the Retailer Lifestyle Home Garden

37 – Hello, Summer!

88

90

Summer Wishlist –

94

Our top Summer gift picks to add to your wishlist

by Life is a Garden

Christmas Tree Succulents –

43 – Getting Figgy with it

by Soil Sisters

97

by Candide

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F E AT U R E - G I V E A W AY S

WIN! with Visit outsideandin.co.za @out_side_and_in A SET OF 3 11CM CLASSIC HERB PLANTERS WITH TRAY Grow herbs, flowers and other small plants in the Set of 3 11cm Classic Herb Planters with Tray. From thoughtful groupings of succulents to windowsills brimming with fresh herbs, there are endless ways to make a green décor statement in your home.

Features: Colour co-ordinates with the rest of the Le Creuset Stoneware range: Each planter features a drainage hole: High-quality exterior enamel protects against marks and scratches. Retails at: R 1599 www.lecruset.co.za

LIGHTWEIGHT BGA 45 CORDLESS BLOWER FROM STIHL The lightweight BGA 45 cordless blower from STIHL is your go-to for quickly and easily clearing driveways, walkways and other small areas. With an integrated 18 V battery it starts at the touch of a button and is exceptionally quiet, so you won’t disturb the neighbours! Retails at: R2 380 www.stihl.co.za

KLEIN KAROO POTSTILL BRANDY Karo Cape Brandy is double distilled in copper potstills and matured in French Oak barrels for 13 years. The brandy uses Colombar grapes grown between the Swartberg and Langeberg Mountains. The final result is a flavour combination of dried peaches and litchi, a hint of indigenous herbs, with a smooth lingering finish with an aftertaste of vanilla and apricot.

500ml bottle – Retails at: R 400 www.capebrewing.co.za/shop @karobrandyxo

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MEET THE

Cover Artist Lauren Mitchell is a young, blooming Art Director, Designer and Illustrator based in Johannesburg. As a professional and in her personal capacity, she strives to create meaningful work. Empowerment, equality, inclusivity and self-care are themes that come through strongly in her illustrations, which you may have seen on VISI magazine, Design Indaba and Between 10&5 to mention a few. She’s been a proud member of the King James family for the past year and a half.

@curious_lauren

HEALTHY SOILS. HEALTHY PLANTS.

Visit our website to learn more atlanticfertilisers.co.za

F E AT U R E - C I T Y S C A P I N G

City Scaping Inspiration

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F E AT U R E - C I T Y S C A P I N G

S

ummer has arrived in the southern hemisphere and this half of the world is taking a slight sigh of relief as we start recovering from the Covid-19 global pandemic. Most of us have been able to adapt, while others have had to re-arrange their entire lives, from the way we go to school, meet with clients and socialise. What has kept up with this new way of life, strangely enough, are plants and garden supply sales. It seems that when we all became hermits, we brought the Outside, In. Most of us city-dwellers have downsized to either apartments or more compact residences and with this, there is usually a loss of outdoor space. Say goodbye to the backyards and hello to the balcony.

But just because you have less space, it doesn't mean that you can’t enjoy a cocktail in your own oasis or a coffee in your green space. As Jeff Goldblum said in Jurassic Park:

“Life, uh, finds a way”.

Our need for wanting greenery around us is born out of comfort. Our prehistoric ancestors associated greenery with food; fertile ground meant life was flourishing and that it was a good place to settle. Technically, we are all cultivating a fertile environment for ourselves by greening our personal spaces.

Mark Mac Hattie

Landscape Designer Contours Design Studio mark@contoursdesignstudio.co.za @contoursdesignstudiocds @contours_designstudio

So, now we know why we want to surround ourselves with plants, but how in the world do we do it when we have limited space? Typically, container planting is the way to go. This can be indoors, your balcony, flowerboxes and vertical growing walls. In the age of the forced introvert, city-dwellers have descended on nurseries and plant shops globally. Almost everyone has acquired the knowledge on how to care for indoor specimens or certain plants. The infamous dead language of Latin is used so frequently on Instagram, a linguist could be excused for assuming Latin is well-spoken among plant collectors. Generally, most of the readers of this publication own at least 1-100 houseplants and in an effort to navigate the new world, to collect information - I posted in several plant lovers' groups in South Africa for the members to showcase how they have transformed their various city spaces. The results have been fascinating and inspiring.

For some great local inspiration, let’s jump down the rabbit hole, Alice.

LET’S START FROM THE LARGEST SPACES TO THE SMALLEST Rooftops and balconies: These are blessings for any apartment. However, in the City of Cape Town these are double-edged swords. They give you amazing views, the option to go outside and enjoy the sun, but our city gets quite windy, which means any and all soft-leaved plants won’t survive and your containers need to be large enough to withstand our famous South-Easter winds. And in winter a nice little North-western wind bathes us in rain. So, what can you plant? Extreme conditions call for the hardiest plants; enter your succulents, grasses and indigenous perennials.

Jeanne Huellenhagen from the Atlantic

seaboard is fortunate enough to have a rooftop planter and balcony. The planter is filled with a beautiful collection of succulents and stone mulch (this type of mulch really helps as it doesn’t blow away and keeps the moisture in the soil.)

Her balcony is occupied by a vegetable garden, planted up in crates. This method is used more often than you think; they are lightweight to transport onto the site, have a long shelf life, and can be joined together and weighed down by stones. The use of the ever popular spekboom affords the veggies a decent windbreak.

Not as fortunate as Jeanne to have all that outdoor space but lucky enough to have big windows and amazing light? Remember that light is one of the most essential elements needed to have healthy plants.

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F E AT U R E - C I T Y S C A P I N G

Nicolette Smith combined a collection of Calatheas to create a lovely display in a well-lit corner of her home. The use of plants on top of cupboards and shelves is always a great way to liven up a space. Usually, a wall opposite a window is a great place for low light plants as Nicolette shows here.

Mark Neame

Zahra Effendi

Nicolette Smith

But what if you have even less space, like only shelves and a mantle?

Ulrich Cronje and Mark Neame each shows us that it’s not the size of the space you have, but rather what you do with it.

Mark also combined plants, books and art on a bookshelf to take advantage of the wall that is lit up by the opposite window.

Still want a beautiful space, but you realise you have even less space than this, because that's city life, hey! Not to fear.

Zahra Effendi has taken advantage of almost every surface in her home to turn it into a little jungle. In the Western Cape, water has become a limited resource and having a bath seems excessive unless said bath is home to your plant collection.

Low-light broad leaf plants work best in bathrooms that tend to get less light than the rest of a home - due to glazed windows.

Ulrich Cronje

Kitchens are another favourite place for plant lovers to display their collections.

Zahra shows us how you can do it in a brightly lit kitchen.

Or perhaps you only have a planter box on your balcony. Generally, they aren't the best idea as they dry out quickly, the wind empties the contents and sky rats (pigeons) nest in them fairly easily. The key to a successful planter box (and personality) is depth. The deeper your planter box, the more moisture it can retain, and the happier your plants will be. Stick to the hardier plants, as they will be able to handle the extreme conditions.

With limited space, we are easily able to create the green spaces we desire. All it takes is some elbow grease, some good potting soil, a few life lessons and of course, a special place in our hearts for our plant babies.

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Urban Gardening GET GRO-ING WITH GRO-URBAN GRO-URBAN seed squares are designed to be an easy, fun and educational introduction to gardening and growing food. Pioneers of ‘square foot gardening’ in South Africa, GRO-URBAN seed squares are a great way to take that first step to growing your own food, and seeing your plants thrive with companion planting. With perfectly spaced seeds for planting, the seed squares are produced using homemade recycled paper sheets, sprinkled with used coffee grounds. The 100% plastic-free and environmentally-friendly packaging is unique with instructions on the back that are easy to understand, yet engaging and fun. The packaging includes plant markers to make sure you use just the right amount of soil to get gro-ing! From R79 www.gro-urban.com

Eva Solo Self-watering Hanging Planter - R599 Aquastar Watering Can 2 litre - R529 www.yuppiechef.com

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F E AT U R E - U R B A N G A R D E N I N G

Pedersen + Lennard Plant Hemispheres From R600 www.pedersenlennard.co.za

Le Cruset's Herb Planter Range Following on from the success of Le Creuset’s 14cm Herb Planters, their gorgeous range of 18cm Large Planters is infinitely stylish and practical, and comes in a range of sophisticated colours – from punchy brights to classic neutrals and easy-going monochromes.

From R579 per planter. www.lecreuset.co.za

GARDENA’S Balcony Basic Set GARDENA’s City Gardening Balcony Box is perfect of small and compact gardens and consists of essential tools required for gardening i.e. trowel, grubber, secateurs, hand brush and convenient storage box. The spacious plastic box protects hand tools and other utensils against dirt and weather conditions. The cover of the box lid is equipped with a rubber lip, allowing it to double as a dustpan.

The storage box can be mounted on the wall, saving space in small & compact gardens. www.gardena.co.za

Good Roots Hangers Terrazzo hanger From R200 @growwithgoodroots or leading garden retail centres

Plantify Emerson Pot range From R290 www.plantify.co.za

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Holiday Watering With the GARDENA independent watering solutions, watering your plants becomes a carefree task - indoors and outdoors.

The GARDENA independent watering solutions keep your plants and flowers blooming with the right amount of water - even when you are away on holiday.

gardena.com

service@gardena.co.za

www.gardena.com

Gardena

Carefree holidays Return from your holiday to blooming plants with the GARDENA Holiday Watering systems.

Often, the holiday season proves to be a stress test for the plants left behind at home. The green darlings either wither or drown – a nightmare for all plant lovers returning from their well-deserved break.

Often the person entrusted with watering the plants does not have sufficient knowledge of the individual plant's irrigation requirements, and in the worst case, there's nobody there at all to care for the plants.

Holiday Watering system can handle the automatic irrigation of up to 36 potted plants. With the integrated timer, the irrigation is activated for one minute on a daily basis.

The three drip distributors allow for 12 outlets, different plants can be assigned to different watering requirements – from 15 millilitres to maximum 60 millilitres per minute. Should a plant be particularly thirsty, up to three drip distributors may be used per potted plant.

And what's best: The GARDENA Holiday Watering Set can be installed both indoors and outdoors. Just the perfect holiday stand-in and invaluable plant sitter.

Worried about the irrigation of big flower boxes?

With a sufficiently filled water tank and an integrated timer, this watering aid can tackle up to six metres of flower boxes.

AquaBloom Solar Powered Irrigation Set

Micro-Drip-System with Automatic Water Control

Holiday Watering Kit

13300-20

13002-20

1265-20

Plant sitters not required as the AquaBloom will irrigate up to 20 plants on balconies or terraces.

Drip irrigation with pinpoint accuracy.

Simply set the water control and your plants will be taken care of automatically.

Set up to 36 potted plants that can be automatically watered for 1 minute each day that you are away.

• Solar-powered drip irrigation.

• No tap connection needed.

• No mains power needed.

• 3-in-1 main unit (pump, control unit, solar panel).

• Drip irrigation line releases water droplets directly to the root of the plant.

• No programming required.

• Indoor and outdoor use.

• No tap connection required.

View the complete range of GARDENA products at Lifestyle Home Garden Tel: 011 792 5616

Cell: 064 107 1377

www.lifestyle.co.za

THE CONTEMPORARY

Image: Ines Gohringer

Prairie-Style Garden

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F E AT U R E - J O S E P H I N E N O Y C E

“PRAIRIE” STYLE IN CONTEXT For one of my recent projects in Val de Vie, Franschhoek, I am working on an interior designer’s home which has me thinking about new ways to create contemporary style gardens. I have allowed the masters (Darrell Morrison and Piet Oudolf) to influence the design of a unique garden style, using this project as an opportunity to combine new trends. It seems that there is a trend to steer away from traditional gardens that are colourful, formally arranged and high maintenance. Almost every client of mine asks for a “low-maintenance” and "water-wise" garden. Beforehand, beautiful gardens were a waste of excessive watering, over fertilising and required constant high maintenance. The maintenance was expensive and just unsustainable.

It is evident that post-drought, the context of garden design has changed forever. Our perception of beauty has changed to include more grasses, naturalistic “loose” planting and grey foliage (which is typically more water-wise). Even more have taken interest in wild and untamed looking plant palettes that seem to resemble a prairie-style garden.

In the traditional sense, a prairie style garden is three-quarters grasses and one quarter wildflowers. They tend to peak in spring until late summer. They are very species rich and attract birds and insects. A prairie garden needs full sun and fertile soil to flourish. A big issue for these types of gardens is controlling weeds (and deciphering what is actually a weed!).

Although my gardens are nowhere near a real European prairie, I allow myself to be inspired by their romantic aesthetic.

Although trends in garden design are seemingly long lasting and gradually changing, in my opinion, formal, hard edges and structured plant beds with “boxy” shapes are no longer the fashion. I like to think that more designers are incorporating a combination of the “traditional” with the “wild” - by having structure in some areas, and then allow free flowing movement in others. It makes sense to have these few high maintenance features closer to the house, where they can be easily maintained and appreciated, and the more romantic, seasonal flowering plants further away from the house.

The scale of the outer garden is more forgiving of dormant plants and seasonality. A great example is none other than Piet Oudolf in the Netherlands, where seasonality is extreme and celebrated. However, you will notice that these lovely gardens look very different at different times of the year, therefore in winter the garden looks completely bare and almost lifeless as all the bulbs and grasses go dormant. I like that the natural, gradual decay of plants has been admired as beautiful by Oudolf, which has opened the public's mind to new ways of seeing beauty. Within our context, we are fortunate in Cape Town to have a less severe climate with some sort of planting interest throughout the year. I see the ‘negative’ aspect of seasonality as a challenge to try to incorporate it back into residential design.

Josephine Noyce

Landscape Designer www.josephinenoyce.com @josephines_gardens

CONSIDER THE BACK GLOW I found another new perception of beauty in gardens during my studies of international designers who work towards creating more resilient gardens. I discovered a word to describe a garden that has stuck with me: using the word “luminosity” to describe a garden. Darrell Morrison is a wonderful innovator in this field as he speaks about choosing plants that can create a golden “back glow” in the evening light. It increases the experiential richness of the garden, making it feel magical and alive. There is something indescribable about seeing nature in its true form, and seemingly free from human interference. These heavily diverse gardens are much more resilient to pests and drought.

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F E AT U R E - J O S E P H I N E N O Y C E

A more resilient garden is one that utilises the rainfall and holds water in the landscape, it is diverse and resilient to pests, regulates temperature, resprouts/reseeds after fire and much more. It needs to be able to survive with little human intervention, resources and chemicals.

Post-drought, there are a few plants that really proved their resilience: Salvia africana-lutea, Plectranthus neochilus, Dietes bicolour, Portulacaria afra, Limonium perezii to name a few.

IN PRACTICE Considering the above, I put together a plant palette that is seasonal, loosely planted with naturalistic berms and curved edges. My aim was to bring the fynbos conservation boundary into the property to create a harmonious overspill into the wild planting beyond. The planting beds are lined with a perma-edge steel edging so that it creates an invisible, clean edge to the lawn that curves wonderfully with my designed shapes. It is also important for maintenance and keeping the grass out of the planting beds. This creates more depth to the garden than a retaining wall as it brings elements to the foreground.

Each plant was carefully chosen for their texture, flowering time, height, form and colour.

The client loved the colours grey, green, white and a touch of pink. Most of the plant palette consists of a combination of three grasses: Aristida junciformis, Melinis nerviglumis and Eragrostis capensis. Despite its appearance, Chlorophytum saundersiae is not a grass, but it has a lovely grass-like appearance and is great for sunny and shady areas. This further adds to the “grassy” free movement of the plant palette.

When considering the plants for this palette, it was crucial that I understood the growth habit of each plant and how they would interact with each other, to avoid one dominating another.

I ensured that grasses were “clump-forming” and therefore not invasive in the garden. The Chlorophytum saundersiae has a gregarious growth habit as it spreads in colonies so I have made sure that I have not placed it next to more delicate, smaller plants.

The grasses were planted in an area of the garden where the sunset would create that much desired back glow. The colour palette is mainly neutral with small pops of color for interest.

Overall, I am delighted with this plant palette and will keep you informed once it is installed at the beginning of next year!

I am an independent Landscape Designer based in Cape Town, where I started my own company under the mentorship of Carrie Latimer in 2018. Before that I studied part time at the UK British Academy of Garden Design, however, almost everything I know is based on my personal experience designing gardens and working with plants over the past 3 years.

Josie's

P L A N T I NG PA L E T T E 1. ARISTIDA JUNCIFORMIS (Bristle / Wire Grass) 2. CHLOROPHYTUM SAUNDERSIAE (Weeping Anthiricum) 3. COTYLEDON ORBICULATE (Pigs Ear) 4. ERAGROSTIS CAPENSIS (Heart-seed Love Grass) 5. GOMPHOSTIGMA VIRGATUM (River Stars) 6. LEONOTIS LEONURUS (Lions Ear) 7. MELINIS NERVIGLUMIS (Ruby Grass) 8. SCABIOSA INCISA (White Carpet)

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Leaving Lawns Behind

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F E AT U R E - L E AV I N G L A W N S B E H I N D

L

awns have long been considered a prerequisite for a garden. However, maintaining a lawn is labour intensive and not considered environmentally friendly; it requires constant watering, feeding, mowing and weeding. Many people have lawns because they don’t know what else to plant.

With more awareness around water usage, increased environmental consciousness and the desire to attract biodiversity to shrinking domestic gardens, thirsty, high maintenance lawns are increasingly being replaced with dynamic planting.

Here are a couple of my top tips for creating a lawn-free garden: AVOID SYNTHETIC LAWN AND EXCESSIVE PAVING I consider it a mistake to assume that natural lawn should be replaced with synthetic lawn as it is not as environmentally friendly as most people think. It is considered an environmental heater as it becomes very hot in direct sunlight limiting the times of day you can spend time on it. It also stifles rich biodiversity that thrives in living soil and has to be replaced eventually, adding large amounts of non-recyclable plastic into landfills. Non-permeable paving is not an ideal solution either, as it also heats up a space and prevents rainwater from seeping into the soil and recharging groundwater.

Margot van der Westhuizen Landscape Designer www.mwgardens.co.za @margotvdw_gardens

BRING THE PLANTING CLOSER Don’t be afraid to plant right up the house or patio. Extending your existing patio or decking slightly into what used to be a ‘lawned area’ is a great way to give some extra movement from the house into the garden and provide enough space for garden furniture, like deck chairs, umbrellas and day beds. Bringing the planting right up to the patio brings the garden closer to the house. Make sure that your planting is layered correctly, with shorter species in front and taller screening species at the back to ensure that the space is maximised.

CREATE INTERESTING PATHWAYS In order to encourage movement through your garden, create interesting pathways that meander through the planting. For primary pathways, use hard surfaces – like natural stone or stepping pavers – that can be interplanted with greenery and groundcovers. Secondary pathways can simply be mulched or gravelled. Add functional spaces along the way, like a fire pit, day bed, or a bench – gardens must be designed to live in!

USE FEATURE TREES TO YOUR ADVANTAGE Struggling to grow lawn under that large shady tree? Use it to your advantage by planting shade loving plant species and groundcovers to create contrast and interest to the sunny garden areas. If you’ve avoided planting trees in the past due to the lawn, you can now plant wonderful feature trees to provide shade, seasonal interest, a new leaf texture, or a flowering tree as a season marker.

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F E AT U R E - L E AV I N G L A W N S B E H I N D

M Y TOP P IC S FOR B IODI V E R S I T Y P L A N T I NG : Buddleja salviifolia (Sagewood) Erica spp.

Halleria lucida (Tree Fuchsia) Kiggelaria africana (Wild Peach) Kniphofia uvaria (Red Hot Pokers) Leonotis leonurus (Lion’s Ear) Leucospermum spp. (Pincushions) Olea Africana (Wild Olive Tree) Panicum maximum, Setaria megaphylla (Indigenous grasses) Plumbago auriculata (Cape Plumbago) Protea spp.

Tecoma capensis (Cape Honeysuckle) Winter flowering aloes

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USE GRAVEL WISELY Gravel can be a wonderful tool in a lawn-free garden, but too much of it and your garden can be hot, stark and unpleasant. Be sure to balance the gravel and planting areas, selecting plants that can trail over the edges to soften the overall look. Steel edging is an excellent tool to keep gravel in place and create interesting curves for beds and pathways. Opt for 6mm gravel (instead of 13mm or bigger) as it is more comfortable underfoot and gives a high-end finish.

INCLUDE A WATER FEATURE Whatever the size of your garden, adding a water feature is a natural way to attract birds to any garden. Placing a moving water feature further down in a fully-planted garden creates interest to draw a person to a new section of garden. Plant up to the water feature to entice frogs, birds and dragonflies. Remember a step for the amphibians to be able to climb out.

Water features are also the perfect way to create ‘white noise’ to drown out unwanted sound from traffic or chatter from neighbours in close proximity.

PLANT FOR BIODIVERSITY Replace thirsty lawns with interesting textured plants that reflect the richness and diversity of the indigenous surroundings in a densely built environment. Plan the planting around pollen, nectar, berries, seeds and grasses in order to invite insects and animals from all levels of the food chain into the garden – insects, small reptiles, birds, squirrels and other wildlife.

M A R G O T ’ S 8 P L A N T I N G P I C K S / / B IODI V E R S I T Y 1

2

3

5

7

4

6

8

1. KNIPHOFIA UVARIA (Red Hot Pokers) // 2. TECOMA CAPENSIS (Cape Honeysuckle) // 3. LEONOTIS LEONURUS (Lion’s Ear) // 4. LEUCOSPERMUM SPP. (Pincushions) // 5. BUDDLEJA SALVIFOLIA (Sagewood) // 6. PLUMBAGO AURICULATA (Cape Plumbago) // 7. KIGGELERIA AFRICANA (Wild Peach Tree) // 8. PANICUM MAXIMUM (Guinea Grass)

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F E AT U R E - A F LO R A L FO R A G E

Spotted: A chamomile look- alike alongside a dusty road in the Karoo: Lasiospermum bipinnatum (Ganskweek)

On many of my plant hunting trips, some of the most interesting and surprise sightings happen right alongside a highway, yes, I am the guy who drives 80km's per hour in a 120km zone because out of the corner of my eye I saw a glimpse of a flower hidden among long grass in the distance.

This occasion was no different. As things go in the Karoo, it was a hot day on a very dusty road on route to McGregor in the Western Cape, when I came across a group of plants –seemingly out of place. The intense white petals were made even more prominent by the dark, rich, red soil that surrounded the group of flowering plants. A U-turn was inevitable.

At first glance it seemed like an escaped daisy bush, but once I got close enough to have an unobstructed view, I realised that whilst this was a member of the daisy family - escaped it had not!

This was a relative to the daisy bush, its name, Lasiospermum bipinnatum or locally known as ganskweek. The plant’s aromatic leaves are a bright yellow-green and the foliage texture is soft, almost fern like, but succulent to the touch. The plants are very elegant and tidy in their growth habit, sprawling on the ground to create a cushion of flowers about 60cm x 60cm.

The flowers are an asset to the Lasiospermum, as they have elegant tall flower stalks that erupt 30cm above the leaf base, with pure white petals surrounding the intense yellow centre of the daisy flower. It is often visited by an array of insects fighting to claim the pollen-laden centre. The flower stalks were magical to watch - they had a way of dancing in the gentle breeze, swaying back and forth.

The seed pods are just as unique and beautiful; they are round in shape and about the size of a 5 Rand coin. They appear spiky on the outside, but, touching them gently will reveal they are as soft as a ball of cotton. Once the seeds are ripe the cotton ball disintegrates and releases hundreds of seeds into the surrounding landscape covering the soil in a cotton like snow. This is where its name was derived, lasios in Greek means shaggy and sperma meaning seed, refers to the hairy seed of this genus of which we have four species in Southern Africa.

This is a plant with enormous potential in either a meadow garden between grasses or as a border plant between other perennials. If you love the dainty look of chamomile flowers then Lasiospermum bipinnatum is a perfect local substitute in an indigenous garden setting.

It flowers in abundance from spring to summer, and is evergreen. As with a lot of daisies you should dead head them in order to prolong the flowering season. It's also suggested to give the plants a good cut back once a year to maintain a neat and dense shape.

They are easily grown from cuttings and require full sun. You will be pleased to know that these are extremely hardy plants and can handle severe drought conditions, but if you keep them slightly moist you will have the best results.

One thing to note is that Lasiospermum is toxic to livestock, so avoid planting this in an area where you may have cows or horses grazing. This is a spectacular South African perennial that occurs all the way from the Western Cape to the North West province and is a plant to seriously consider in your next indigenous garden planting palette.

Leon Kluge

Landscape Designer www.leonkluge.com @leonkluge

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F E AT U R E - N AT U R E ' S FO O D

Nature’s Food

T

here is no better time to start a compost heap in your garden than right now. A compost heap will provide you with a ready supply of rich organic matter for your vegetable patch. Use leaves, as well as other garden waste, to build up a compost pile, and after a few months you will be rewarded with nutritious compost, a must for your garden.

T I P S FO R A S U C C ES S F U L CO M P OST H EA P : • • • •

Position the heap in a well-drained area. Make sure the spot is warm and sheltered.

Place different layers of waste on the heap (see below).

Turn the compost heap regularly. This adds air, which speeds up the process.

Make sure the compost heap stays damp, but not soggy.

Make sure your compost heap is balanced. It must contain a mixture of brown and green material. Brown material is usually dry and includes items such as twigs, bark chips, straw and dry leaves. Green material is usually moist and consists of items such as kitchen scraps, flowers and green leaves.

Remember that the more you shred the waste, the quicker it will break down into compost. It is a good idea to add a compost activator such as Wonder Compost activator to speed up the composting process. Adding in some ordinary garden soil between your layers will also help to speed up the process, as it introduces the micro-organisms that do the decomposing.

Moving some earthworms from your garden beds and placing them in the compost heap will also help.

W HAT TO U S E : Leaves, grass clippings, spent vegetables, shredded branches, flowers, hedge clippings, kitchen waste – such as fruit, vegetables, coffee grounds and tea bags, newspapers, cardboard, hair or wood ash may all be used in the compost heap.

W HAT TO AVO I D : Do not add leftover cooked food, the peel of treated citrus fruits, bones, tins, clothes, paint and paint brushes, glass, glossy magazines or coal ash to your compost pile.

Wonder Organic compost activator is an all natural microbial based product designed to speed up the natural decomposition of garden waste. It is economical to use, speeds up natural decomposition, enriches soil naturally and makes composting easy.

There you have it, now it’s time to get composting!

Life is a Garden

www.lifeisagarden.co.za @lifeisagardensa

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F E AT U R E - S O I L R E S O LU T I O N

SOIL RESOLUTION PREPARING YOUR SOIL FOR SUMMER

A

ll magnificent gardens start in a well nurtured soil. A Healthy Soil = Healthy Plants = Healthy People, Pets and a Healthy Living Ecosystem, which all adds to a wonderful environment in your garden.

As common sense would make you aware, it is easier to maintain our health, rather than treating a sickly constitution. So it is best to get the basics right to keep the garden in a healthy state than to be fighting disease constantly.

THE BASICS FOR GARDEN HEALTH: 1.

A HEALTHY SOIL: Soil needs compost matter in order to feed the complex ecosystem of beneficial soil life, such as bacteria and fungi, which protect our plants roots and digest nutrients. These nutrients are a source of food which are taken up by the plant. Compost is a reservoir for water in the soil for the roots to drink from, and builds a soft friable and oxygenated soil for roots to penetrate. Make your own compost, or earthworm bin from kitchen scraps but if space is restricted buy organic earthworm castings or a good quality compost and apply to new garden beds or before laying or seeding lawns. If already planted apply a thin layer of compost or earthworm castings to your plant beds or lawns every 3 to 5 months which will be broken down into soil.

2.

NUTRITIOUS PLANT FOOD: Plants, like people, need a well-balanced diet for optimal health. So with planting, to prime a healthy soil, add a fully formulated organic fertiliser which contains all the nutrients in correct proportions for plant uptake, make use of VITA Grow 2:3:2(16) at 100g per m2. For conditioning existing beds planted with flowers and shrubs, fertilise with VITA Fruit & Flower 3:1:5(18) and for lawns and leafy gardens apply VITA Green 5:1:5(16) at 100g per m2. For your edible gardens use VITA 6:3:4 (16) at 100g per m2. The VITA range of fertilisers is applied once every 4 months. Water lightly after application and then continue your regular watering program.

3.

WATER STRATEGICALLY: Water is a scarce and expensive resource, so it is important to optimise its use in the garden. Catch and store rainwater from the roof in tanks, reuse bath and shower water by using this greywater on the garden or pot plants. Well composted soils absorb and retain water and regulate soil temperatures for plants to thrive in. Mulch to protect soils from water erosion and prevent evaporation by planting ground covers, or covering soil surface with shredded mulch, straw, gravel, wooden stepping stones or indigenous meadow mix or grass seeds on extensive areas.

4.

BANISH POISONS: For your family’s health and the full enjoyment of the natural garden environment there is no good reason to use nasty poisons. Toxic poisons are a shortterm solution to pest and disease problems on plants, but leave a lasting legacy of imbalance and are a deadly blow to any garden’s ecosystem. Bees, ladybirds, butterflies, birds and garden creatures like frogs, geckos and lizards which naturally control most pests in the garden are killed, or their food source is destroyed, so there is sadly no reason for them to make their homes in this hostile environment. Select an Organic pest and disease solution, available from Garden Centres to control most problems without using poisons.

SO, LET’S GET STUCK IN, AND PREP OUR GARDENS FOR THE SEASON AHEAD!

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Growing Health

Re-VITA-lise your Garden!

Whether you’re a Conscious Kid, Urban Greenie, Healthy Homesteader, Gardening Grandpa or Green Gogo, you’re going to love Talborne Organics Vita Fertilisers, available in a range of sizes to meet your growing needs.

This trendy team of certified organic growing inputs is ready to help you nurture, grow and cultivate a Soil – SMART and Sustain-ABLE garden.

Available in 500g, 1kg, 2kg, 5kg, 10kg & 25kg bags

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‘Growing Health’ is not only cost-effective but planet-SMART too.

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Healthy Soil = Healthy Plants = Healthy People

Image: Sydney Rae Ohcutz

Meet the Retailer:

LIFESTYLE HOME GARDEN WHO ARE WE? With 32 years in the green industry, we’ve weathered many storms to come out as a strong, family-centric, customer-focussed garden centre. Our roots were planted in 1988 for what has become a firm favourite amongst customers and suppliers alike – we have relationships cemented in trust and years of experience and knowledge.

Lifestyle is the flagship store for many reputable quality brands and we pride ourselves on stocking products which provide excellence to the customer. Our staff have a deep-rooted understanding and passion for what they do, and Lifestyle boasts a collective 150 years of management experience. You really are in good hands when you step through our doors.

We are also proud to have been Best of Joburg winners for 22 years!

MORE THAN A GARDEN CENTRE… We source plants from the very best nursery growers in the country, and our décor and hardware ranges from local and exclusive sources worldwide. This keeps us at the frontline of trends and modern themes, and we offer our customers a globally competitive solution to their shopping needs.

Our Loyalty scheme offering is amongst the best in the home industry, giving our customers access to great cashback rewards, with over 40 000 Loyalty club members. Our garden centre has a timeless appeal which draws clientele from every age bracket. We encourage young feet in the door, whilst treasuring our older customer base, and we place value on every customer who enters our store.

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www.lifestyle.co.za 011 792 5616 / 064 107 1377 Opening hours 7am - 5pm Monday to Saturday, and 7.30am - 5pm Sundays, during Summer.

F E AT U R E - M E E T T H E R E TA I L E R

Lifestyle Garden Design Show

"OUR STAFF HAVE A DEEP-ROOTED UNDERSTANDING AND PASSION FOR WHAT THEY DO, AND LIFESTYLE BOASTS A COLLECTIVE 150 YEARS OF MANAGEMENT EXPERIENCE. YOU REALLY ARE IN GOOD HANDS WHEN YOU STEP THROUGH OUR DOORS."

OUR FOCUS ON ORGANIC LIVING Organic is the way to go and we go above and beyond to provide organic options to the gardener. Our product range naturally encourages permaculture, companion gardening and the art of growing one’s own supply of organic crops. We focus on natural solutions to lawn care, fertilising, feeding plants, insecticide options, the promotion of bug and bee hotels, bat boxes and more…

We sell a host of fruit trees, and unrivalled selection of heirloom seeds for veggies, edible flowers and herbs, veggie and herbs pots and seedling trays, and unique edible and medicinal plants that will piqué any avid gardener’s interest. Find natural, organic solutions to composting, creating bokashi and compost bins, mulching, fertilising and feeding your plants by visiting our extensively stocked store.

LIFESTYLE GARDEN DESIGN SHOWS The beautifully curated show gardens that grace our garden centre annually are a reflection of the hard work of the Lifestyle College students. The gardens also show off very proudly the product range that Lifestyle carries, which the students put on display in a skillful and innovative way, year after year.

A year of extensive groundwork and practical studies culminates in the truly immersive gardens, which year after year, run according to a theme, and which never fail to impress and inspire. Lifestyle is truly energised by these displays and they are witnessed by thousands of visitors, keen to experience the garden designs for themselves. During mid-February to the end of May, the gardens mesh into more of a tapestry over time, forming living art.

LIFESTYLE’S VERY OWN LANDSCAPING AND HORTICULTURE COLLEGE Lifestyle College is the epitome of Growth – the breeding ground of many an established landscape designer. 1991 saw the opening of this establishment, with a surge of interested individuals wanting to understand garden design. In 1991 the department of education became an integral part of our College’s offering, with education-based structures being implemented as a way to nurture the green industry.

WHY ARE WE ONE OF THE FAVOURITE DESTINATION STORES? Landscapers, hobbyists, youngsters and golden oldies alike, garden gurus and newbies – they all flock to Lifestyle Home Garden Centre. The reason? As the anchor tenant for the Lifestyle Home Garden Centre, the main draw card remains the fact that we are a globally competitive, beautifully laid out, spacious centre with something for everyone. Be it the aisles of glorious indoor greenery, the décor and hardware which aligns with European stores in terms of quality, the rambling paths filled to the brim with a massive selection of gardening goodies, to the ambience and serenity that is commonplace when one sets foot inside Lifestyle Home Garden, we are always here to put customers first and to embrace the gardener in each unique customer!

ONLINE OFFERING Our online store started with a bang heading into hard lockdown, and has only grown in momentum and variety offered. We pride ourselves on sending fresh green healthy plants as soon as orders are picked and ready to go.

Green your garden or office, bedroom, bathroom or kitchen from the comfort of your couch by heading to our online store, and find out just how simple it is to order pure joy! We also have a range of Gift Cards available for those who choose this as a gifting option.

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Profiled Product:

EARTHWORKS Earthworks is a newly founded, South African producer of +95% pure Earthworm Castings (Vermicast) producing segregated, quality-controlled compost at their state-of-the-art worm farm in Johannesburg. Their compost, produced on site and using only 100% organic waste, is designed to provide a consistent and stable blend of quality feed for their worms, from which they produce Earthworm Castings, Earthworm Compost Blend, Earthworm Potting Mix and Earthworm Teas.

Why Earthworks Earthworm Compost?

Good for the soil!

• Improves soil structure • Enhances soil fertility • Regenerates damaged soils • Pure organic fertiliser

Their quality-controlled processes convert organic waste material into natural, organic plant food that provides an excellent organic growing medium and regenerates soils.

Good for plants!

• Seeds germinate faster • Enhances seedling growth • Enhances root growth • Increases plant yields • Better water retention

Earthworks adheres to strict internationally auditable quality control systems and operating practices equivalent to that of European and American standards, making these products internationally recognised.

Quality Guaranteed!

• Quality controlled compost facility

Their Earthworm Castings, Earthworm Compost Blend, Earthworm Potting Mix and Earthworm Teas are in accordance with international best practice standards, enabling them to supply stable, consistent 100% organic Earthworm products, in commercial-scale quantities to many markets across South Africa.

Stocked by:

Mechanised worm factory producing high quality worm castings Earthworks is the leading SA commercial-scale producer of +95% pure earthworm castings to Internationally accredited standards.

“Natural, organic plant food and soil regenerator”

www.lifestyle.co.za www.earthworks.africa 011 792 5616 / 064 107 1377

Hello, Summer!

Cue the rich colour palette of summer blooms.

F E AT U R E - H E L LO S U M M E R

T

he bold and beautiful Hydrangeas are part of this glorious mix and never fail to wow us, year after year. Their local name is Krismisroos and they remind many people of the coming holiday season. Life is a Garden, so go ahead and decorate yours!

Edible (Planting beetroot)

Here are some planting tips for your beetroot seedlings: •

Since beetroot mature underground, they do not like to compete with a heavy clay soil. If you have clay soil, dig compost into the top 15cm layer.

•

For almost continuous plant every 14 days.

harvesting,

TIP: Fertilise lightly with a 2:3:2 or equivalent organic fertiliser i.e. one that is not high in nitrogen, as too much nitrogen will encourage mostly leafy growth. Water sparingly since overwatering encourages leafy growth and bolting (flowering and not producing a vegetable). Beetroot also grows well in combination with blood sorrel Rubus sanguineus.

Beetroot

Sow

The following seed can be sown now: •

Bright, flirty and fun - marigolds are one of the easiest seeds to sow. Find a sunny place to scatter the seeds. Cover them with a fine layer of soil and water gently for the first week to two, making sure that the soil does not dry out. If you have planted the seeds too closely, thin the seedling out when they are about 4 to 6cm high. Marigolds are great companion plants in veggie gardens.

•

Chrysanthemums are fresh and cheerful. Chrysanthemum paludosum, or creeping daisy, has beautiful white petaled flowers with a bright yellow centre, which are loved by butterflies and bees. The yellow daisy Chrysanthemum multicaule produces masses of tiny yellow blooms while other single mixed coloured Chrysanthemum seeds are also available. Chrysanthemums can be sown directly into beds with pauldosum and multicaule, preferring to be about 2mm under the soil and the single mixed colours 4mm down. All of them can also be planted in trays.

•

Lobelia erinus (Trailing Lobelia) comes in a selection of colours with Chrystal Palace being a popular dark blue variety. Scatter them on the surface of the tray or the soil when sown directly and then gently press down. They are excellent to hang over the edges of containers and hanging baskets.

•

Cucumber: Remember to provide space for them to grow unless you are going to tie them up supports.

•

Pumpkin will require a large space to spread out in a sunny location.

•

Corn or mielies. Dig the soil a fork’s depth and preferably work compost into the soil before sowing seeds, spacing them about 30cm apart.

Chrysanthemums

NEAT TO KNOW: A century-old companion planting method used by the Iroquois, an American tribe, is called the Three Sister’s planting. The Three Sisters planting technique utilises corn, climbing beans, and squash or pumpkin. Each plant serves a purpose in this design. The corn or mielies provide the climbing (pole) for the beans and the beans add nitrogen to the soil.

The squash or pumpkin protects all the sisters by using its large leaves to shade the soil, to reduce weeds and keep the soil moist. Try it for yourself!

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F E AT U R E - H E L LO S U M M E R

Plant

Alstroemerias

Now is a great time to plant: •

Inca lilies, Alstroemeria, are a gem in the garden because they are a lot tougher than they look with their floppy stems and soft leaves. They are also excellent cut-flowers.

Like many other lilies, they prefer to have a cool root run - roots shaded and their heads in the sun. Inca lilies are wonderful when planted in pots on the patio or balcony.

•

African lilies, also known as, Agapanthus, are drought-tolerant indigenous perennials found in many of our gardens. Although fairly common, some of the new hybrids are nothing short of spectacular and you just have to see them for yourself! You will be amazed by the huge blooms on ‘Queen Mum’, enchanted by the deep purple ‘Buccaneer’ and possibly fall in love with the two tone ‘Twister’.

•

Lavender is an all-time favorite. There are more recent releases like the rather informal but excellent performer, Margaret Roberts, and then the new-age stunners that get covered in flowers. Pop down to your local Garden Centre and choose for yourself.

Spray/treat •

Mole crickets are very destructive pests that tunnel below the surface of the lawn and cause widespread root damage.

•

An important part of pest control is to correctly identify the pest. The Mole cricket can be heard chirping at night when they are most active. The adults are golden brown and about 2,5 to 3,5 cm long with large mole-like front claws combined with oversized, lobster-like heads and bodies similar to common brown/black crickets. The nymphs, or babies, are about 1cm long and are miniature look-alikes of the adults.

TIP: An easy soap-water drench helps confirm mole cricket activity. Mix 1 tablespoon of dishwashing liquid with 5 litres of water and soak the damaged area with a watering can. Mole cricket adults and nymphs will come to the surface as the soapy water penetrates their tunnels.

SIGNS AND DAMAGE: Although the damage starts in spring it is often only noticed in summer when dead and dying patches appear on the lawn as the grass turns brown.

CONTROL: The hard work is over. Now that you have identified the pest you can visit your local Garden Centre for more advice and organic control solutions.

African lilies (Agapanthus)

NB: Once you have the treatment, always read the product labels and follow the instructions carefully, including guidelines for pre-harvest intervals in edible gardens.

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F E AT U R E - H E L LO S U M M E R

Indoors

Crotons have striking leaf colours, which makes them very popular as landscaping and hedging plants in frost-free coastal regions. Indoors, their bright colours are sought after and add a distinctly vibrant, young tropical flavour. They require bright light and do well on a sunny windowsill.

TIP: Allow the soil to dry out between watering as they do not like to be over-watered and enquire at your local Garden Centre for an appropriate plant food.

Bedding plants

Celosia, or cockscomb, is one of the most vibrantly coloured summer annuals. If you like to be bold and playful in the garden, cockscomb is made for you. There are two types of celosia, one with an arrow-like feathery plume for a flower and the other resembling the almost heart-shaped hump of a cock’s comb. Both are lots of fun and create a lovely tropical green backdrop around a pool or entertainment area where they can enhance a vibey party atmosphere.

TIP: Celosia is generally a no-fuss plant that is easy to grow.

Rose care

In most regions, roses are or should have sprouted their second flush in November. In cooler regions of the country and in the Western Cape, they are at the height of their beauty. Regular dead-heading not only provides a neat look in the garden, but it encourages quality new sprouting. A monthly application of fertiliser brings even more blooms. Edging rose beds with dwarf marigolds is another option of keeping pests away from the roses as their roots have an anti-nematode action. Watering should never be neglected at this time of rapid growth.

Inland gardening

LAWN: If you want a green lawn for the holiday season, now’s the time to fertilise. This should be done every six to eight weeks in the growing season.

GARDEN: Remember to water in the early morning or late afternoon – we need to be sustainable water-wise gardeners. Start mulching the beds to keep the water at root level cool.

East Coast Gardening

As the humidity increases, look out for an increase in fungal diseases such as the different mildews on susceptible plants. Spray accordingly or visit your local Garden Centre for organic advice.

Croton

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www.lifeisagarden.co.za @lifeisagardensa

F E AT U R E - C A N D I D E

W

ho eats figs? Everybody. Whether dried, fresh, stewed, preserved, roasted, paired with cheese, or on toast - figs are irresistibly delicious.

However, by far the best way to enjoy a fig is, well ... as close to the tree as possible of course! So, why not grow your own?

What figs want: LOCATION AND CLIMATE •

The perfect time to plant a fig tree is during late autumn or early spring when the tree is dormant and can best establish itself during the cooler weather.

•

Figs fruit best in areas with relatively dry summers, short and cool winters, and little to no frost.

•

Young fig trees should be protected from frost during their first and second winters.

•

Plant your fig tree in an area that receives full sun and is well protected from strong winds.

•

Good air circulation is also vital, especially in humid and wet conditions.

•

Remember to plant your fig tree at least 7 metres away from buildings and other trees. Also keep in mind that fig trees put down deep roots.

SOIL •

Figs will grow in all types of soil (sand, clay and loam), as long as they have adequate drainage and moisture, and plenty of organic material.

•

Figs tolerate a soil pH of 6.0 to 7.8. If your soil is too acidic, apply agricultural lime annually.

WATER •

Figs are very tough and drought-resistant once established, however, fruit production will decline if not provided with adequate moisture.

•

Water consistently.

•

Deep irrigation systems are highly recommended.

•

Ensure that young plants receive enough water, especially during dry, hot spells.

•

If you notice the leaves are turning yellow and dropping, it is likely that you are overwatering.

•

To conserve soil moisture and to protect the roots from the hot summer rays, add a layer of organic mulch around your tree.

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Image: Georgia de Lotz

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F E AT U R E - C A N D I D E

FEEDING •

Top-dress the root zone with a balanced fertiliser in spring and mulch with well-rotted organic matter year round.

•

To promote fruit production, feed with a high-potassium fertiliser during the growing season.

•

The last feeding should be done in February to harden the tree off before winter.

PRUNING •

Fig trees can be pruned during winter by cutting off any dead, weak or diseased branches. Remove a few inside branches if the centre part of the tree looks like it has become crowded.

•

Give old trees a more thorough prune by removing half the length of each branch, which will encourage fresh new growth.

COMMON PESTS •

Figs are susceptible to fig rust, leaf blight, mosaic virus, Anthracnose, Aspergillosis and endopsepsis (Fusarium moniliforme fici).

•

Common pests include mealybugs, nemaodes, fruit fly, aphids, spider mite, vinegar flies and scale.

•

The fig borer beetle (Phryneta spinator) is a major pest on figs.

•

The fig borer beetle is a major pest on figs.

RIPE FOR THE PICKING Figs need to ripen on the tree. The fruit is ripe and ready when the fruit neck starts to wilt, hanging downward, and comes away from the tree with ease.

Different varieties of figs turn a different colour when ripe and can range from green to dark to brown. You will know what colour to look out for once you know your variety.

Figs start bearing fruit around two to three years after planting.

4.

Cape White is a sweet French fig that ripens early in the season. It is small and flat with green-yellow skin and straw-coloured flesh.

5.

White Genoa is an early ripening fig (end of January to early February) with yellow-green skin and pink flesh.

6.

Eva is a unique South African cultivar with small, egg-shaped fruits, greenish purple skin colour and straw-coloured flesh.

7.

The Adams fig is one of South Africa’s oldest, most well-known figs. The leaves are large, and fruit ripens late in the season and bears large fruit with purple skin and dark red flesh.

8.

Cape Black is another cultivar unique to South Africa and common in domestic gardens. The small black early-ripening fig has straw-coloured flesh and can be eaten with the peel.

TEN FIG CULTIVARS WE LOVE 1.

Brown Turkey ripens late in the season with light brown to red skin and dark red flesh.

2.

Tiger figs have striking yellow and green stripes, with reddish pink flesh.

3.

Kadota is an old Italian cultivar, very popular worldwide for jams, green fig preserves and for drying. The skin is greenish-yellow with white flecks and the flesh yellow-pink. It has a fleshy stalk and typical drop of sugar dangling from the bottom opening when ripe.

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9.

Brown fig is also one of South Africa’s oldest figs and has brown skin and pink flesh and ripens early to mid-season.

10. Black Mission was the first fig cultivar taken from Spain to America. The fruit is pear-shaped with purple to black skin and red flesh.

For more grow, care and cultivation information, download the free gardening app Candide.

Candide www.candide.co.za hello@candide.co.za @candideappza @candideapppza

Kelpak (Reg No. L5756 Act 36 of 1947) Fertiliser Group 2 ∙ Nutrisol (Reg No. K8591 Act 36 of 1947) Fertiliser Group 2.

AN INTERVIEW WITH

P OR T FOL IO - A F R I C A ' S C A L L I N G

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Filipa Domingues

F E AT U R E - I N T E R V I E W

F

ilipa Domingues is a Photographer and Film Producer based in Cape Town. Having studied Cinematography at City Varsity between 2001-2002, she later started a film production company in 2005.

Photography has always been a passionate hobby of hers, but only recently did she start photographing plants, 3 years ago in December 2016. We catch up with Filipa to hear all about her journey with plants.

Q: Where did your passion for photography and filmmaking begin?

Since I was a child, I always knew I’d be in the film business in some way or another, at the time I thought I’d be a famous actress one day, but learned very quickly I’m terrible in front of a camera and that my skills lie behind the camera! My passion for photography and filmmaking began when I studied cinematography. I inherited a film dark room setup from a family friend and that’s where my photography journey started.

Q: How did this branch into plant photography?

It all started when a friend of mine’s mom came to visit him in Cape Town from Uniondale. She made these beautiful terracotta pots, which had indigenous succulents in them, and she was selling them to local nurseries. I had never paid any attention to succulents before, and when I saw them I was instantly obsessed and I haven’t stopped collecting since.

At the time I assumed all succulents required the same attention but soon realised I didn’t know anything about my plants and that they all had different requirements in terms of how much water and sun they need. The thought of opening up botany books to learn about plants terrified me because I’m not really an academic type, I’m more of a practical learner.

One day a friend was visiting from Durban and I was giving him the usual “come check my plants” tour that I give everyone when they come visit, and at some point he suggested I should post a picture each day of one of my plants. At the time I thought it was silly and that I didn’t have time for it. But a few days later I remembered I had this special black cloth left over from a film shoot we had done, and I photographed a plant using it as a backdrop and that’s when I had the idea to use this a photography project to learn about my plants.

I decided to start an Instagram page, and called it @checkmyplants and the idea was that I couldn’t post a photo until I had learned the name of my plant and some basic information about it. I never expected anyone to like it, it was just for me, but very soon it became popular amongst my family and friends which encouraged me to keep going.

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P OR T FOL IO - A F R I C A ' S C A L L I N G

"BLACK HAS ALWAYS BEEN A FAVORITE COLOUR FOR ME, I DON’T REALLY LIKE THE WHITE BACKGROUND".

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F E AT U R E - I N T E R V I E W

Q: You mainly photograph local South African plants, where do you find them and how do you source all your information on the plants?

I travel around the country doing road trips to where these succulents come from. They’re mostly small towns that have these gem nurseries which specialise in indigenous succulents, I try and get an ID on the plants when I buy them, but many times they come without a label, so I have joined many different succulent groups on Facebook that have many eager collectors who are always happy to help identify plants and also give plant care tips.

Q: Why is natural lighting so important for you?

To be honest I just prefer the look and essence of it. I’ve always been more of a “documentary” photographer, and over the last 15 years I’ve crafted my photography skills using natural light only. I’m not very experienced with studio lighting, and I’ve never invested in any flash or lighting setups because quite honestly I’m just not that good at artificial lighting.

Q: Do you keep and grow a lot of the plants you photograph?

Yes, I have a massive collection these days, but I have started photographing plants out in their natural habitats. That’s more exciting and challenging for me.

Q: How long does a typical photography session take? How long do you spend editing an image?

It all depends on the plant, time of day and the lighting on the day. Sometimes it can be quick, I can do it all on my phone within a few minutes. Other times it can take an hour or so using photoshop just to make it perfect.

Q: What is your most admired collection of pictures or rather most successful collection?

What has been your favourite plant to photograph?

That’s almost impossible to answer because it’s forever evolving. Currently I’m obsessed with Aloes and Tree Aloes, specifically Kokerbooms (Aloideondron dichotomum). I’m currently working on photographing a whole series on them and producing a short film around them.

Q: How did you get involved with Smeg?

A while back I did some small product photo shoots for Smeg, and I absolutely love the brand, so I’ve always been aware that they did collaborations with Dolce & Gabana and other big brands on their amazing retro fridges. One day just for fun, my partner did some mock ups using my images on their FAB 28 Retro Fridge and we sent it through to them, they loved it...

And the rest is history!

Q: Where can we find your prints for our own homes?

I sell them online – www.checkmyplants.com - or you can email me for a catalog on filipa@checkmyplants.com

Filipa Domingues Photographer & Film Producer @checkmyplants

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www.ludwigsroses.co.za

Visit one of our nursreries to collect your FREE Golden Anniversary Rose Catalogue.

‘Our architect, Francois Swart of PADIA, was really the force behind the design of the garden layout,” says Ed. “We wanted to reference all of the natural elements: water, wind, fire and earth.” The main circular lawn, surrounded by rills of water, sits on the location of the property’s previous home and forms the central point of the garden. Landscape Designer, Giselle Stoloff, was enlisted to determine the plantings and other details, such as the cloud hedging that was inspired by the Dylan Lewis Sculpture Garden outside Cape Town.

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Location: Hout Bay, Western Cape

AFR FRIICA's CALLing

The garden’s cloud-form shrubbery is best enjoyed on the patio, where concrete Terra planters by Laurie Wiid van Heerden for Indigenus add additional curvaceous form.

P OR T FOL IO - A F R I C A ' S C A L L I N G

W SUPPLIERS: PLANTERS Indigenus – 021 488 9909 XANADU LOUNGE CHAIRS AND OUTDOOR FURNITURE Mobelli – 0861 662 355 INTERIOR FIREPLACE Designed by Julian McGowan PHOTOGRAPHS & TEXT Bureaux www.bureaux.co.za

hen a New York couple opted to build a home in Cape Town, they honoured its location by furnishing it with pieces by South Africa’s most renowned artists and honoured the magnificent and breathtaking landscape in which it sits.

It was 12 years ago, in 2007, that New Yorkers Jim Brett and Ed Gray were first enchanted

by Cape Town. Jim was, at the time, head of the home department at leading US retailer Anthropologie and was on a buying trip to South Africa with local design promoter and exporter, Trevyn McGowan of The Guild Group, who took the couple cross-country, visiting the studios of artisans and designers. “I had never met anyone who could match my passion for handicraft and design,” Jim says of Trevyn, who’d been entrenched in the local design scene for four years by then. “We formed an immediate bond.”

Anthropologie ended up placing the largest export order of South African design to date, and when Jim later became president of West Elm, he continued working with Trevyn and South Africa’s makers through his company’s ‘design under licence’ programme – an initiative he launched to promote sustainable production around the globe and preserve handmade craft.

“As we travelled to South Africa more often, we fell in love with the country, specifically Cape Town and its environs,” Ed explains. “We love the people, food, culture, art-and-design community and the abundance of experiences all in such close proximity.”

It, therefore, came as no surprise to family and friends when he and Jim decided to build a home for themselves in Hout Bay, a mountainside harbour village 30 minutes from Cape Town’s city centre, in which they hope to eventually spend six months of the year. Enlisting the help of Trevyn and her husband and business partner Julian, it was only natural that they would continue their trajectory of working with local designers, furnishing the home with pieces by the country’s most prominent names.

For the new build, the couple briefed architect Francois Swart of PADIA, requesting barnlike structures that suited the expansive property on which they also have a guest house.

Pitched roofs, a silo structure and various window shapes brought this vision to the fore. “As a reference to the informal way sheds grow into existence, there is a certain charm in the creative use and placing of windows,” says Francois, explaining the forms that are stackable and hidden in places, lowered for framed views in other instances or inserted flush against walls in corners for light to flood in unobstructed. In the glass passageway linking the main house to the guest unit, this idea is heightened. “The ‘journey’, surrounded by nature, can be experienced open or closed, and doubles as a pause area that can be used as a sunroom or gateway to the pool garden,” Francois explains of the thoroughfare that offers glimpses of the local furnishings beyond.

“It’s really enjoyable creating a world for people you care about,” says Trevyn of the project that has dressed the home in pieces by the likes of Gregor Jenkin, Charles Haupt and Laurie Wiid van Heerden, and designers represented by the McGowans’ collectible design gallery Southern Guild. “It’s a beautiful homage for the work we all continue to do for South African design,” she says of the result.

A Terra planter by Laurie Wiid van Heerden for Indigenus forms a focal point in the passageway.

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Jim’s 30 years in homeware retail meant Pinterest boards, colour palettes and material choices were thoroughly defined, smoothing the way for the cross-continental collaboration. “This home was the first place we’ve started from scratch,” explains Ed, an accountant by trade who’s discovered a passion for hospitality, running the property’s luxury guest house. “Usually, we’ve carried around the things we enjoy and love from place to place; things we’ve had for years that bring familiarity and comfort.”

The newness of the home and its interiors paint a fresh African story for the US couple.

‘Sensual but pared-back and sophisticated,’ is how Trevyn describes the look that she and her team brought to life in a natural palette that pops with rich jewel-like hues – all given room to shine in the barn-like structure with its pitched roof and silo formation. “We didn’t want the drama of the architecture to fight with too much pattern in the interiors. Jim and Ed lead busy lives, so this home needed to feel calm, like a sanctuary.”

"IT’S REALLY ENJOYABLE CREATING A WORLD FOR PEOPLE YOU CARE ABOUT."

“It’s important to us that our home feels warm and welcoming, with a degree of humility,” says Jim. Their modus operandi in eliciting the desired warmth was a crafted use of colour.

An abstract artwork by John Murray mounted above the dining room cabinet – where striking tones mix with neutral hues – informed the colour choices of the sofas, walls and decorative objects.

As with the varying patterns in John Murray’s painting, a myriad of forms exist in the home – from tapered pot plants and circular nesting tables to curvaceous dining chairs and elliptical sideboards. “There are very few hard corners on the furniture items,” Jim explains of their brief. “Ovals, circles or rectangles with rounded corners; it’s very subtle details that add a softness to the experience.”

Equally considered is the collection of ceramic vessels. “I am a bit of a ceramics junkie – I just can’t seem to stop buying them,” Jim comments. It’s a passion he and Trevyn have shared since the start of their friendship, which made it easy for her to suggest new pieces by Andile Dyalvane, Zizipho Poswa, Anthony Shapiro, John Bauer, Madoda Fani and Chuma Maweni for the home.

What began as a professional exploration between Jim and Trevyn over a decade ago has resulted in a very personal celebration of South African design. “We still manage to inspire each other,” Jim smiles, gesturing around the home, proving his point.

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Below: The bold fireplace by Julian McGowan finds its balance in the sofas’ soft velvet textures. Pieces from Jim’s ceramics collection are on display here, adding additional pops of colour to the livingroom.

Right: The swimming-pool blue stands out amidst the greenery of cloud-form hedging and the verdant mountain landscape beyond.

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O&I caught up with Francois Swart, architect at PADIA Consultants to hear more about the garden elements within his design for this house.

Q: With respect to the garden and the back story of this exquisite space, how did the garden come about?

A: The clients bought the neighbouring stand to their existing guest house stand (Maison Noir) to build a private cottage for themselves on it. The property had a wild, overgrown garden but also had the foundations and basement remains of a burnt-out timber house that was destroyed by fire a year or so earlier. Due to access and privacy, the new house was planned in a different position and the burned-out shell was removed to make way for the new garden. The well-known four ‘elements of life’ – earth, fire, water and wind – were the main design inspiration and the starting point. The elements, or symbolic representations of them, were strategically positioned around a central, circular garden that was called the fifth element: ‘Life’. This was placed in the position where the old house was and became a poignant reminder of the sad loss experienced there earlier. It also became a place to celebrate new life in all its forms – weddings, birthdays, musical evenings, etc. So was born the fifth element of the garden.

Q: Why was the Dylan Lewis Sculpture garden the inspiration?

A: I adore South African art and sculptures. Interestingly, this garden was conceived before the Dylan Lewis Sculpture garden was opened to the public or I knew about it. I drew inspiration from the NIROX Foundation sculpture gardens in the Cradle of Humankind, Gauteng as well as the food gardens of Babylonstoren. The idea for a sculpture/food garden was a very natural process as my clients are keen ‘foodies’ and collectors of South African art, much like myself.

Q: What made you follow your own path and design this garden?

A: I grew up on a farm in Northern Kwa-Zulu Natal and always loved gardens. Gardens also play an integral role in my architecture. It is like a natural extension of my work. I, therefore, do not consciously turn away from using landscape designers (in fact I need them greatly!)

– the concept was just there and clear enough to stand on its own and to be enhanced with plants.

I planned footpaths on axis, retaining walls where needed, water rills and terraces that stepped down the site rather practically. The sole intention was to create a food garden with sculptures to wander through positioned on the fifth Element Garden layout. The water – one of the elements – circulates through the whole garden in steel rills, a modern take on the traditional built rills found throughout the Western Cape. The rill stays on one level and flows over terraces that step down in three tiers towards the main Water Element – a circular dam.

The first level goes through a vegetable garden on ground level, then a herb garden in raised boxes, and lastly, over a pergola growing pumpkins – all with the intention to give water to the plants, food and herbs it passes and to re-circulate the water.

The initial idea was a food/herb garden with the main theme being indigenous and water-wise. The end result stepped slightly away from predominantly a food garden and more into an ornamental one. In this garden, you will find cloud hedging, olive groves and mass planting of local Restios played a major role in softening areas and focusing the eye on the majestic mountains beyond.

Q: What was the brief for the firepit area?

A: As one of the four elements, the original idea to symbolise fire was to provide a pit with a wood fired oven for baking or even a possible clay oven. This was scaled down and the fire pit on its own was conceived, providing a seated area around an open fire – a place to gather under the stars. The placing of the fire leg also lined up with the circular silo structure of the house. Concurrently, the wind element was symbolised by a traditional (working!) wind pump that pumps the water into the water rill. Earth was symbolised by a huge circular mound and water running through the whole garden by means of the rill.

Q: How is the garden irrigated?

A: The initial idea was to irrigate mostly from the rill, but a more typical irrigation system was installed to assist. The water is all from existing boreholes and even seasonal fountains that occur during the rainy season. All roof water is collected and used in the extensive garden. The geological position of the property lends itself to its own microclimate. Being close to the mountain and on the southern slopes, it is a wetter environment than merely a few kilometres away.

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MEET THE TEAM: Architect: PADIA Consultants- Francois Swart | Build Contractor: Red Sky Projects | Landscaper: Giselle Stoloff | Stone Mason: Nick Hann Steel work: Alex Steel | Portion of Text: Tracy Lynn Chemaly | Photographs: Greg Cox of Bureaux www.bureaux.co.za

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SUPPORTING LOCAL

MOVERS, MAKERS & SHAKERS A N I N T E RV I E W W I T H S H F H O M E

S

HF Home has been one of South Africa’s most loved designer furniture and homeware brands for so many years and remains fuelled by the desire to influence the evolution of designer furniture in our country. With a passion for supporting the local movers, makers and shakers of the design industry, we have committed to locally sourcing our pieces from a selection of the most talented artisans and craftsmen South Africa has on offer.

Q:

As SHF is a proudly South African brand, what makes your homeware and furniture unique?

A: Our furniture and homeware items are designed to inspire and excite our customers. Of course, our locally sourced furniture is not only unique in its design but these pieces are made to order items - happily affording our customers the option to select their choice of upholstery and finishings. We have literally hundreds of fabrics available to choose from in our galleries, as well as a generous selection of the finest quality leathers so that upholstered pieces truly reflect your own personal taste and style. This makes it possible to add personality to your pieces. We share in our customers ideals that “your furniture and homeware are a direct extension of who you are” and that’s why we are so proud to offer customers so many ways to express that with us. Another huge unique point for us is that we do not mass produce our pieces, so you can be assured of a certain level of exclusivity when enhancing your home.

Q:

What styles and aesthetic would you say you cater for?

A: SHF Home cater to a full range of style personalities; from modern masterpieces to organic offerings and everything in between. We a have a selection of metal and timber frame finishes for you to choose from to ensure your selected furniture matches your own unique taste and style. We have something for everyone - whether you are a student on a budget; looking to make your room your own, or a retired professional who needs their holiday home revived for a new season, you will find everything you need and more with us.

Q:

What Summer furniture trends will you be taking inspiration from this season? And what do you expect we can see more of from furniture and homeware in general?

A: For 2020 Summer trends, we are loving the vivid colourways making their mark on our design spaces. We completely understand that you want a chic and stylish home all year round, but staying on top of the latest trends isn’t easy. We draw inspiration from the fashion industry as well as nature and strive to find the perfect balance of the two in our designs. We highly recommend adding interesting texture to your interiors, this is perfect for adding a new element to your space if you are all about the neutrals.

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Q:

Any particular colour palette you see making an impact this Summer?

A: We are completely obsessed with gorgeous colours like forest green, saffron, and vibrant coral for this summer. Breathe new life into your design spaces, let the sunshine in and celebrate the change of seasons! If a change really is as good as a holiday, then we all deserve a little change in our lives!

Q:

Where can our readers find your products?

A: We have SHF Home galleries nationwide. You will find us in Cape Town, Pretoria, Kramerville, Ferndale, Boksburg, Umhlanga and Pietermaritzburg. All our SHF Home teams across the country are always ready to welcome you into the renowned SHF Home customer experience.

We are also available our social media platforms (Instagram & Facebook), our pages are updated regularly with exciting new pieces, promotions and competitions. We are also available on www.shf.co.za and will soon offer an exciting new range of ecommerce items available to order online.

Q:

What are some of your core ideals as a company?

A: At SHF Home, we truly value our customers and our team members alike. We are always happy to help and will go the extra mile to make sure both our customers and our staff feel heard and appreciated. We are constantly looking for new and interesting ways to support our local makers and will be launching some exciting new ways to Define Yourself in 2021!

Watch this space, South Africa!

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www.shf.co.za @shf_home

“YOUR FURNITURE AND HOMEWARE ARE A DIRECT EXTENSION OF WHO YOU ARE.”

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"WE DRAW INSPIRATION FROM THE FASHION INDUSTRY AS WELL AS NATURE AND STRIVE TO FIND THE PERFECT BALANCE OF THE TWO IN OUR DESIGNS"

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Bauhaus

TO OUR HOUSE

As one approaches the front of the house, its Bauhaus-inspired lines are very evident. A pair of aloe trees stands out graphically against the white-painted exterior of the house and, with the other greenery, sets off the terracotta klompie paving by Progressive Paving.

From

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his covetable mid-century home in Cape Town has been sensitively renovated and is now the centre of a family’s life as well as a unique showcase of 20th-century design.

Cape Town-based magazine editor, stylist and interior designer Laureen Rossouw first saw this house five years ago. She and her husband Koos were about to move out of their City Bowl apartment, and she spotted a picture of ‘a dilapidated house with classic Bauhaus lines’ in the newspaper. ‘I thought it might be a bad picture or wishful thinking,’ she says, but she rapidly made her way to the house, which was in the ideal location in the City Bowl suburb of Oranjezicht, on the edge of one of Cape Town’s most charming parks.

As soon as she saw the characterful, mid-20th-century building, which most definitely did have Bauhaus ‘bones’, Laureen was smitten. ‘I immediately phoned Koos to tell him I had found my dream house and he loved it too, although when he saw how much work there was to do, he couldn’t hide his disappointment,’ she says. It took a lot of persuasion to convince him, she adds – although not that much, it seems, since ‘at 3pm on the same day, we signed [the offer].’

Laureen finishes her tale with a characteristic flourish: ‘We always buy everything in a few hours and deal with the consequences later. In this case, the biggest challenge so far.’

The Rossouws had been living in the very centre of the Cape Town CBD, in an apartment situated in one of the city’s iconic Art Deco buildings that had been spectacularly renovated

by Laureen some years before. In this new home, she says, ‘the lines were there; it was the layout that was unpractical. It clearly needed a thoughtful update to adapt it for 21st-century living.’

And so began a lengthy process of planning and building work, conceived by Laureen in partnership with her daughter Renée Rossouw. Renée is an architect by training, and an acclaimed designer who in 2019 was one of a group of young African creatives who collaborated on furniture giant Ikea’s Överallt collection.

The cushions on the couch and lounger, as well as the original paintings, are by Renée Rossouw, and the ceramics by Laureen and her younger daughter, Laura. Laureen has collected the classic posters – including the one commemorating the Munich 1972 Olympics – over the course of many years, mostly when travelling abroad.

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As soon as you’re inside the house now, it’s impossible not to be captivated by the visual feast created by the classic 20th-century furniture, authentic design objects and special artworks that fill the interiors. But what really makes Laureen’s painstakingly curated collection shine is the way it fits into the context of the reworked spaces.

Renée explains: ‘The exterior had all the good elements of a Mid-Century meets Art Deco house, [but] the interior spaces were a bit of a mess and were almost completely redone [as] the interiors didn’t have flow or enough light.’

The pair turned the garden and park-facing kitchen into a breathtaking double-volume space, and added more glazing elsewhere too, including a large circular ‘porthole’ in the dining area, as well as clerestory windows and interior glass and metal doors. ‘[Creating] new, bigger windows and bigger volumes that flow into nature was a big driving force,’ says Renée, as the aim was to reconnect the house with its beautiful garden – also much worked on during the renovation and now a lush masterpiece – and the greenery of the park landscape beyond it.

The overall result is that as well having as an abundance of natural light in its interiors, the house is an intriguing and visually pleasing exercise in geometry. It has become an illustration of the fact that ‘geometric symmetry’ is not really about straight lines, but rather, is an expression of the most pleasing combinations of shapes based on rectangles and circles, as well as the use of these elements in concert with one another.

‘My mom and I often collaborate,’ says Renée. ‘We alternate between creator and editor for different projects, depending whose project it is. We have a similar understanding of colour and style: I’m a bit more minimalist and stripped down whereas Laureen is more energetic and passionate.’

In this project, she adds, ‘My mom was the driving force. I acted mostly as a bouncing board and gave architectural ideas about light and volume and space.

Once she started with the interiors, I designed some of the surfaces – like floors and a mural, and some furniture pieces. She furnished the space from her ideas and desires.’

Left: A collection of vases made from Robben Island stone (these were originally used in graveyards because the stone is so heavy).

Top Right: The star of the living room is a curvaceous couch

by German avant-garde designer Vladimir Kagan upholstered in green velvet from Bbellamy & Bbellamy. Also adorning this room is a pair of Borsani swivel armchairs from furniture collector and dealer Le Roux Viljoen, a coffee table featuring an Alexander Abrizzi base from Ride a White Swan, vases as mentioned above and a screen by Laureen’s daughter, Renée Rossouw). The bamboo roller blinds are from Taylor Blinds.

Bottom Right: The steel-framed windows were custom made

by Jambmax for the new double-volume space. The result is what Laureen calls ‘a proper view of the height of the forest trees’ in the garden and park beyond. The floor features custommade tiles by Moroccan Warehouse and the wall sconces are from Maitland Pawn Shop the industrial hanging light was found at Delos Antiques Emporium. The wood-burning stove is

by Hydrofire and the vintage leather armchairs and footstool are all from Space for Life. The finishingtouches to the space include an Alvar Aalto-style trolley from Ride a White Swan, a lamp from Tonic Design and planters from Liebermann Pottery.

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Tiles in this bathroom were sourced from Moroccan Warehouse

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Laureen, for her part, explains that ‘so much interior design is based on formulas about how spaces should work,’ adding that a formulaic approach ‘had to be transcended’ in this house.

‘Every space had to be considered and designed – and then furnished – on its own terms,’ she says. The results are beautiful: 20th-century design pieces including Le Corbusier chairs and a Bruno Mathsson chaise share the space with custom-designed flooring and wall panels created by Renée. The colours used throughout are vibrant, yet always tonally arranged to perfectly set off one another within each room. And the final layer is formed by Laureen’s collections of classic posters, local artworks and collectible objects.

SUPPLIERS: PAVING: Progressive Paving - 021 465 1313 Corobrik - 011 871 8600 Revelstone - 021 761 9739 BAMBOO ROLLER BLINDS: Taylor Blinds - 021 552 5080

Among the home’s most charming spaces are the mezzanine study area – described by Renée as ‘a family room filled with the primary colours my mom and I love’ – and Laureen’s bathroom, which features a spectacular marble-clad central bath with a glorious view of the garden’s mature trees. Another charming spot is the outdoor living space, complete with fire pit and a combination of vintage and custom-designed garden furniture. This, Renée says, is the place where ‘we sit as a family... It feels really special.’

CUSTOM-MADE TILES: Moroccan Warehouse - 021 461 8318 FIREPLACE: Hydrofire - 021 510 0980 TEXT: Robyn Alexander

While Cape Town isn’t an architecturally pleasing city on the whole, it does have some hidden gems – many of which are domestic buildings. Following the renovation that has given it a new lease of life, this Bauhaus-brought-bang-up-to-date home is now definitely one of them. reneerossouw.com

PHOTOGRAPHS: Greg Cox / Bureaux

FROM BAUHAUS TO OUR HOUSE

www.bureaux.co.za

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"EVERY SPACE HAD TO BE CONSIDERED AND DESIGNED – AND THEN FURNISHED – ON ITS OWN TERMS"

Beautiful Handmade Moroccan Encaustic Tiles that will transform your space.

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BATHROOM BOTANY

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A

new trend has emerged with avid plant parents adorning their bathrooms with lush, green foliage plants. An often-overlooked part of the home, bathrooms are in fact some of the easiest spaces in which to introduce the Urban Jungle look.

The bathroom environment

The Golden Rule for healthy, happy house plants is to mimic the natural environment that they call home and in which they have evolved. This relates to the light, temperature, humidity, nutrition and other factors which influence the growth of plants over time.

Andreas Keller Owner of Plantify @plantify_

Plants that come from warmer, humid environments, and which have a preference or tolerance for lower light conditions are excellent candidates for bathrooms. Think of plants which grow in the understory of a forest: the sunlight is dappled or filtered out, the ambient humidity is relatively high and generally the temperatures are warmer. Many plants are happy in these conditions, as they would be in a bathroom that fits this description.

Plant types and spaces

Most bathrooms were not designed with plants in mind! Plants are often an afterthought, when considering the surfaces, layout and spaces, where they might have the highest visual impact.

Luckily, there exists a plethora of different plants which can accommodate even the most plant unfriendly bathroom environments. And improve the look and feel after their addition.

By knowing the growing habit of these plants over time, you’ll quickly find opportunities for the addition of plants in your bathroom. Generally speaking, you can consider plants with 3 sizes and/or growing habits: • • •

Trailing / Creeping: plants that hang from the ceiling or cascade off a shelf or cupboard Surface: plants that have an upright growing habit and fill out a counter Floor Level: larger specimen that hold floor space beautifully

What to expect?

After introducing plants into your bathroom, be mindful that the growing habit of your plant may change over time. Generally speaking, plants in lower light environments may become “leggy” and the size of the leaf may reduce in size. This is quite normal and just a different “look” and not an indication that there’s anything wrong with your plant.

With lower light conditions, the speed with which the plant will grow may also reduce, it’ll take its time. Be sure to fertilize, as normal, in the growing season, but be extra careful to not overwater the plant. Good drainage, as always, is key.

How to start?

Just play around, see what works and follow any hunch that emerges. You may wish to enjoy the sight of a row of small potted plants while reclining in a warm bath. Or enjoy the view of a cascading plant trio whilst shaving in the mirror.

Be in the space, explore your typical usage and the most visually impactful areas, and ‘reverse engineer’ the plants and planters from there.

Have fun! The more plants, the better. Instagram and Pinterest are a rich resource to mine for inspiration. Be sure to post your bathroom plant creations there too for others to enjoy.

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10 GREAT BATHROOM PLANTS 1.

Heart Leaf Philodendron

2.

Golden Pothos

3.

Maidenhair Fern

4.

Birds Nest Fern

5.

Calatheas (Sanderiana, Network, Orbifolia…)

6.

Spider Plant

7.

Chinese Evergreen

8.

Peace Lily

9.

Cast Iron Plant

10. Staghorn Fern

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F E AT U R E - B E S P O K E B AT H R O O M S

BESPOKE BATHROOMS

W

e’re always looking for new inspiration to create bespoke spaces within our homes - and our bathrooms are fast becoming some of the most unique and inspired spaces within our dwellings. From tiles to tubs and everything in between, renowned Interior Designers, Bone Design Studio, weigh in with their thoughts on bespoke bathrooms.

AN ARCHITECTURAL APPROACH

For bathrooms that border on an external wall or offer a structural opportunity to build an outside green santuary or courtyard let nature speak for itself and create a botanical artwork by framing this pocket garden with full height clear glass window panes. Finishes and fittings should remain natural and subdued in this concept- allowing the nature to be the focal point.

Textured matte porcelain tiles and nude paint palettes complement the vibrancy of green life.

Champagne-coloured sanware fittings can add that element of drama and finesse but the focus in these spaces is the connection and cohesion between the inside and outside. If a pocket garden is not an option an openable skylight adds instant value - allowing you to bring the treetops into your bath time routine or to stargaze whilst you shower.

Bone Interior Design Studio

By Nicola Orpen and Hayley Turner www.bonestudio.co.za @bonedesignstudio

Champagne Meir fittings

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Muse G Tile

•

Full height 'Artwork' window framing courtyard beyond.

•

Tone on tone finshes within a nude & natural palette with textural differnces to add interest

•

Champagne Meir fittings add a sophisticated dynamic to the otherwise neutral spa type environment

•

White waxed oaks and primordia Caeserstone countertops add a further tactile and soft finishing to this bathroom sanctuary

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ELEMENTS OF NATURE

For smaller Guest Bathroom spaces that you want to breathe that subtle floral feel, adopt muted green floor and wall tiles in a bold or unusual tile layout, as well as, a fixture colour that won’t date. Installing a stylised botanical illustration as a feature wallpaper is a sophisticated introduction of the metaphorical plant. Keep vanities humble with oaks or stones and lean towards floating vanities as this creates visual expanse. A 2020 quirky trend is the comeback of planter heads. A sculptural piece that allows your plant life to grow as an art piece instead of the outdated planter baskets.

Stylised botanical wallpaper by Cara Saven Wall Design

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F E AT U R E - B E S P O K E B AT H R O O M S Lume Green Tile

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Stylised botanical wallpaper by Cara Saven Wall Design creates brings that herbal element within a tight guest toilet space

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‘Muddy’ green wall and floor tiles (by TILESPACE) in an eccentric pattern offers textural interest

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Plant heads are a 2020 trend that offers a sculptural quirk instead of the standard planter baskets

Round basin by Studio19, Black tap by Meir.

Wallpaper by Robin Sprong

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CHAMPAGNE IN THE BATHROOM. Beautiful tapware and sanware online. www.flushbathrooms.co.za

37 Paarden Eiland Rd, Paarden Eiland, Cape Town +27 21 511 7888 | www.flushbathrooms.co.za info@flushbathrooms.co.za

F E AT U R E - C H A M PA G N E G U I D E

LEt’s GEt Popping The festive season is upon us which means it’s time to celebrate. We’ve got you covered with these delicious local bubbles producers that we think need to appear on your festive 'to-drink' list

Simonsig Kaapse Vonkel Brut

This is a blend of 55% Chardonnay, 43% Pinot Noir and 2% Pinot Meunier.

With an elegant light golden hue, this MCC with its fine persistent mousse displays aromas of white peach, fresh apple and pear. On the palate, stone fruit flavours are beautifully complimented by hints of citrus and raspberries. Lively acidity and a crisp, dry finish contributes to an elegant Cap Classique. www.simonsig.co.za

Graham Beck Brut Rosé Non-Vintage

66% Pinot Noir & 34% Chardonnay This wine has a unique pale silver-pink hue.

Aromas of raspberries, cherries and a few secondary whiffs of minerality. A lively mousse, but fine in the mouth, with subtle red berry flavours enlivened by bright acidity. Brisk, yet delicate on the palate, bursting with flavours of freshly crushed berries and hints of oyster shell. Flirtatious and fun, yet elegant and structured, it’s perfect for all seasons and settings. www.grahambeck.com

Steenberg Sparkling Sauvignon Blanc Non-Vintage The Steenberg Sparkling Sauvignon Blanc is bottle fermented and is made to be fun, fruity and fresh.

The nose is full and intense with aromas of passion fruit, summer melons and a hint of lime. The palate is light and smooth yet with a zippy acidity to lift the tropical flavours of pineapple, pear and guava.

A fresh brightness rounds off a delicious and refreshing sparkling wine, a perfect drink for a hot summer’s day. www.steenbergfarm.com

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F E AT U R E - C H A M PA G N E G U I D E

Babylonstoren Sprankel Brut This 100% Chardonnay MCC is Straw yellow in colour and one can expect a vibrant, crisp and fruity MCC. With a bouquet of Golden Delicious apple, green lollipop, tropical tones as well as gentle biscuit. The taste is fresh and well balanced with a very fine mousse and soft acidity. Delicious lemon and lime with beautiful minerality and a lingering, crisp finish. www.babylonstoren.com

Pongrรกcz Brut Non-vintage Pongrรกcz is inspired by a nobleman and Hungarian refugee, Desiderius Pongrรกcz, whose genius and bold vision revitalised Cape viticulture. As an MCC Pongrรกcz Brut is composed in the French tradition using the noble varieties, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. The Pinot Noir imparts a clean flintiness, while the Chardonnay adds a distinctive body and taste. Crisp green apple notes on the nose, delicate yeasty tones on the palate, and blackberry flavours make this a bold and sophisticated addition to any glass. www.pongracz.co.za

Villiera Tradition Brut Non-Vintage 70% Chardonnay, 30% Pinot Noir

This Cap Classique is a dry blend of red and white grapes displaying the full, balanced yeasty complexity synonymous with a wine made in this style. The wine retains its fresh racy zestiness that is a result of crisp acidity and delicate fruit. www.villiera.com

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Serves: 4 - 6 Prep time: 20 minutes Cooking time: 2-3 hours Easy to make

Stuffed pork neck with apricots, dates, sage and almonds served with mini caramel toffee apples The Festive Season is upon us... So, if you’re wondering what will dazzle your holiday guests and earn brownie points with the in-laws, we think we’ve got the perfect recipe for you! Created by local chef Mynhardt Joubert, and best served this with a glass of Laborie Brut... this is a winner.

What you’ll need: •

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1 deboned and butterflied pork neck, approx. 2kg with a good piece of fat around it 1 large pork filet, sinew removed and cut into cubes

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Salt and pepper to taste

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Some kitchen twine

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1 bottle of your favourite white wine

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750ml prepared chicken stock

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Handful of rosemary and thyme

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3 Onions, cut into rings with the

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1 egg white, slightly beaten

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15ml butter

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15ml olive oil

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1 large onion, chopped

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2 garlic heads, cut in half

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3 garlic cloves, chopped

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1 tin baby apples, drained and

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50g Turkish apricots, diced

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50g Dates, chopped

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1 cup castor sugar

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50g Almonds, toasted and chopped

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5ml lemon juice

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Handful of sage leaves, chopped

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50ml water

skin on

dried

Here’s How: 1. Place the butter and olive oil in a saucepan and fry the onions and garlic until cooked and slightly browned. Let cool. 2. Place the pork filet, egg white and onion mix into a food processor and blend until smooth. You can add one more egg white if it is too thick. 3. Add the apricots, dates, almonds and sage to the filet mix, season to taste and mix through. 4.

Place the pork neck on a chopping board and pat dry with kitchen towel. 5. Spread the pork filet stuffing on the meat side of the pork neck. Make sure you use all the paste as it will act as an adhesive for the pork neck. 6. Roll the neck up so that you have 1 long log of meat. 7.

Cut about 8 – 10 x 20cm pieces of kitchen twine and start tying the twine around the neck to secure the stuffing inside. 8. Place the rosemary, thyme, onions and garlic in a baking tray and add the wine and stock. 9. Place the rolled-up pork neck in the baking tray, season to taste and cover with foil. 10. Bake on 160 degrees Celsius for 2 – 3 hours or until it is soft and cooked through. 11. Place the sugar, lemon juice and water in a saucepan and bring to the boil. 12. Boil until the sugar has turned into a caramel colour and dip the baby apples into the caramel. 13. Place on a silicone mat to cool down. 14. Once the pork neck is done, let it rest for 15 minutes and slice into thick slices and serve with the baby toffee apples and some of the pan juices.

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The Essentials Essential Oils that are Furkid Friendly

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F E AT U R E - P E T S

W

hile essential and CBD oils are all the craze at the moment and diffusers are being bought by the trolley load, not all of us know exactly how these essential oils can affect our furry friends. Even though essential oils have natural plant origins and are known to aid anxiety, inflammation and numerous issues, they are not always entirely safe for use on or around pets, and each essential oil that is considered to be relatively “safe” should also be used with extreme care. Due to their high concentration, these oils can be very powerful. Of course, our fur babies also process these oils differently to us humans, so it is always recommended to exercise extreme caution and research the possible side effects.

The Essentials!

Essential oils can be used in a variety of ways, including diffusers, skin contact, and ingestion.

If you are using essential oils, we suggest you consult our list below to see what might be good or bad for your pet.

Therapeutic oils that are furkid friendly: •

CARDAMOM – serves as a diuretic, normalizes the appetite, and rides heartburn and nausea.

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CEDARWOOD – helps repel pests and promotes a healthy skin and coat.

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CHAMOMILE – promotes relaxation and supports healthy digestion.

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FENNEL – balances pituitary, thyroid and pineal glands.

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GINGER – relieves pain from arthritis and supports healthy digestion.

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LAVENDER – also good for relaxation and relieves anxiety

Tamsyn Halm Feature Writer Outside & In

The following essential oils can be harmful to your furkid, and owners should take caution before using them on or near your pets: •

“Hot oils” are essential oils that can cause a hot or warming sensation to the skin, and are especially dangerous to animals, these include: camphor, cinnamon, clove, pine, oregano, tea tree, thyme and wintergreen. This also includes any type of citrus oil.

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Other essential oils you should not expose your pet to are birch, garlic, horseradish, juniper, peppermint, sage, spearmint, star anise, and yarrow. These essential oils can lead to allergies, skin sensitivity, and interference with your pet's natural body processes.

Despite this daunting list - rest assured, not every essential oil out there is harmful! If you plan to use any essential oils, always dilute the oils with water so it doesn’t overpower your animal’s sense of smell and avoid sensitive areas, such as the ears, eyes, nose and genitals.

Use caution and consider the size of your furkid, as every animal has a different metabolism.

Do not force the oil onto your pets if they react negatively to the smell.

Overuse of essential oils on animals can lead to kidney and liver toxicity, so avoid using essential oils for more than two weeks. When using diffusers or candles, always watch your pet’s reaction and take notice of any behavioral changes. Always dilute oils even if they are just being inhaled. Lastly, cats, birds and rabbits are known to be particularly at risk with essential oils, so always consult a vet before use.

Also, be sure to source your oils from a reputable company. Those are the essentials!

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F E AT U R E - P E T S

Pet Products we love for Summer

Urban Hound Social Cush Covers in African Print and ShweShwe – From R239 Fundanas in African Print and ShweShwe – From R199 Bow-Wow-Ties in African Print and ShweShwe – From R139 Available on: urbanhoundsocial.com and superbalist.com

Chommies Leash - R700 www.chommies.com

Raw Love Pets Peanut Butter Treats – From R40 www.rawlovepets.co.za

Nandi Nandi Ostrich Tendon Chew (for dogs) - R59 www.nandipets.com

Benji + Moon Activewear range for Summer Active Collars from R220 Active Leads from R330 Long-eared ceramic dog bowl from R480 www.benjiandmoon.co.za

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Christmas

AT LIFESTYLE HOME & GARDEN With our top notch exclusive imported Christmas décor, your festive setting has never looked better. Alongside traditional nativity scenes and the reds and whites of Santa and all of his lore, find yourself immersed in unique abundance that is – Christmas at Lifestyle Home & Garden.

WILD GLAM

Wild Glam is a touch of bold glam and a dash of sparkly Ethnic. Find feathered and carved baubles and ornaments, hanging décor that’s beaded and tassled, textures which introduce an African rendition of hygge, and scatterings of tropical fauna and flora. Dazzle with embellished place settings and festive wrappings, and get lost in the tones of rich gold which encapsulate this collection.

MASQUERADE

Masquerade theme invites you to a masked ball! Bright and bold is the way, with daring gold peacocks decorated with black feathery details, clear glass baubles filled to the brim with glitter and shimmer, over-the-top embellished masks, glistening toucans and disco balls to bring a sense of ‘party’ to your festivities. Find velvety swans in deep shades of red, lime green and bright blue accent pieces, teal and cerise hanging birds to cheer up any tree, fanciful pineapples, sprays of blooms in cool gold, and frosted blue hues to take your breath away. This theme truly dances in front of the eye!

UNDER THE STARS

Under the Stars is a celebration of everything out of this World! Flying saucers and astronauts have landed on the moon, and the surface of everything tangible is glossy, reflective, metallic and glassy. Transform your traditional holiday space into a truly modern and wondrous scene, where asteroids, astrological symbols, flying dinosaurs and the shapes of the night sky dominate. Inky blacks take centre-stage, and from a base of darkness shines a world of lilac, cream, taupe, old-gold and hints of purple. Truly one for the kids – let your imagination pop!

PINK FOREST

Pink Forest invites us all to dream! Mushrooms and fairies run wild amongst owlets and magical mice, whilst reindeers lead sleds though elven lands and moss! Find sparkly creatures in abundance, whimsical renditions of nativity scenery, flying unicorns, and nutcrackers worthy of heirloom status! Mossy grounds lay the foundation for velvets and softly woven teddies – gold detailing stands out from maroon and dusty pink décor. A wondrous and collectible visual feast which will enchant and bewitch young and old!

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F E AT U R E - S U M M E R W I S H L I S T

Summer Wishlist

We’re all about that summer feeling and our Outside & In wishlist highlights some of our favourite local products, and products loved by locals for the sizzling summer season ahead.

Fieldbar Cooler-box - R1,499 www.fieldbar.co.za

Good Roots Magic Soft kit Hose - R245 @growwithgoodroots or leading garden retail centres Self-watering spike 12cm individual - R95 @growwithgoodroots or leading garden retail centres

Pichulik Cantadora earrings natural - R1450 www.pichulik.com

Breazies Ilundi Hand painted Roya sling in onyx - R1450 www.ilundi.co.za

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Mens Swim Shorts - R725 Kids Swim Shorts - R525 www.breazies.com

F E AT U R E - S U M M E R W I S H L I S T

Living Eco Beeswax Wraps - R190 www.livingeco.co.za

Le Creuset’s Festive Four The Le Creuset festive colour palette features Deep Teal, Fig, Meringue and Cerise – a heady mix of compelling jewel brights, neutrals and just the right shade of blue to have us dreaming of lazy summer days at the beach. - R2 199 each www.lecreuset.co.za

STIHL The GTA 26 Garden Pruner from STIHL - R3470 www.stihl.co.za or leading garden retail centres

Mungo Mungo Tawulo Soleil towel From R705 www.mungo.co.za

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F E AT U R E - S U M M E R W I S H L I S T

Sealand Gear Zeplin Bag - R750 www.sealandgear.co.za

Goed Goedgedacht olive oils, olives, dressing and spritz - From R25 www.godegedachttrading.com

Skoon Skincare Soentjies Bauble - R170 The Dream Team - R765 Basic 4 Starter Kits - R770 www.skoonskin.co.za

Oh-Lief Natural sunscreen Body SPF30 100ml - R246 Natural Sunscreen Face SPF20 50ml - R220 Natural Face stick SPF30 30g - R135 www.ohlief.com

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F E AT U R E - S O I L S I S T E R S

Make your own living Christmas Tree with succulents this Festive Season

M

ary and her three daughters, LeeAnn, Chantal and Natasha have been creating and gardening for many years, and together they have started a business Soil Sisters. Growing vegetable and herb seedlings and helping families create their own urban farms in their gardens and patios.

They loved the idea of a growing Christmas Tree and thus came up with a creative way of making one by using succulents and a few gardening items. They share their passion for gardening and how to care and propagate succulent plants.

HERE IS HOW: Firstly, you need a terracotta pot, about 17cm in size. A couple of stones at the bottom and filled with your very own nutrient rich succulent mix.

Next up, we use a cone shaped insert, wrapped up in hessian fabric and then filled with succulent mix. Place this on top of your filled pot and with a sharp tool, make holes in the hessian and gently place the various succulents in.

Once you have filled the whole area with succulents, it’s important to water your tree daily for two weeks, keeping it in sunlight.

Then your plants will grow roots into the soil and secure themselves.

Soil Sisters have held various workshops around Johannesburg, reaching hundreds of people. There is something so therapeutic and calming about getting your hands dirty and creating something. It’s wonderful to see how each person uses their creative flair - while having fun!

So come on... make your own one!

Soil Sisters

Hello@soilsisters.co.za @soilsisterssa

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F E AT U R E - S T I H L

ON PROMOTION NOW

ENJOY THE FREEDOM OF CORDLESS CONVENIENCE WITH STIHL

T

he STIHL COMPACT Cordless range of power tools offers total freedom of movement and go-anywhere mobility. This range includes a diverse selection of tools to make gardening tranquil, easier and more pleasurable. All are quiet, used without ear protection - making them ideal for residential areas - and they are also emission free. All are ergonomic and comfortable to use and start easily at the push of a button.

COMPACT range tools are powered by STIHL’s innovative Lithium-ion battery technology, with a wide selection of AK system batteries, all of which are interchangeable between the various COMPACT range tools. Choose between the AK 10, AK 20 and AK 30 batteries according to your needs. Battery charge levels can be easily monitored using the charge level indicator.

The STIHL COMPACT Cordless range includes: MSA 120 C-BQ and MSA 140 C-BQ cordless chainsaws are powerful enough for pruning, to cut down straggling and overhanging branches and chop them into firewood.

The HSA 56 cordless hedge-trimmer, a lightweight, well-balanced machine designed for keeping shrubs and hedges neat and tidy. The HLA 56 cordless long reach hedge-trimmer, designed for cutting taller shrubs and hedges in the garden. With a detachable shaft for easy transport and an option to also add an HLA shaft extension for those hard to reach spots.

FSA 57 cordless trimmer, a high performance machine for maintaining lawns and trimming edges.

The BGA 57 cordless blower, a streamlined, comfortable to use and powerful blower ideal for blowing away dead leaves, cuttings and garden debris to keep your outdoor spaces pristine.

The COMPACT range of lawnmowers from STIHL make mowing so much easier, with models to suit both pocket and lawn size. The RMA 235 (33cm cut width) and RMA 460 (46cm cut width) lawnmowers are easy to handle and have multiple user-friendly features. The RMA 235 features a permanent eco mode, which together with the flow-optimised blade ensures maximum efficiency when mowing. The RMA 460 has a central cut-height adjustment and a 4-in-1 function for mowing, mulching, catching and side ejection. And for the ultimate convenience, the RMA 460 V is a self-propelled model with excellent battery efficiency.

The COMPACT cordless range from STIHL makes gardening easier and more convenient than ever. All tools are lightweight, versatile and easy to use, starting at the touch of a button without messy fuel or cumbersome cables. This range offers everything you need to maintain smaller suburban gardens.

The best news of all is that the STIHL COMPACT range of cordless power tools is now available on promotion during the STIHL Summer Campaign, which runs until 31st December at all STIHL dealers nationwide. Try the ultimate in gardening convenience and comfort with STIHL’s Compact Cordless range of power tools.

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