Africanaussie

Along with my seeds from Liz at Eight Acres  I received a tiny packet of kefir grains, and a wonderful sheet of instructions to answer my many questions.  It didn't seem as though that would be enough and since I had never even tried kefir I was not sure how long to leave it fermenting.  At first I took it out too early, but now am leaving it for two days and it is getting thick and effervescent.  I use it with a frozen berry smoothie cube and some other fruit -  some of my frozen lychees still left over from last year are at last being used up!   Thank you Liz for introducing me to the world of kefiring! ! I got stuck into the veggie garden over the weekend and removed some dying tomato plants, then rigged up some trellis for the vines to climb on.  Along this fence I have choko and luffa, with some bok choy and ginger in front.  It all looks rather untidy at the moment, but once the vines grow yo...

Since I showcased the pinks over the weekends I thought I better show you where the red Kalanchoe went....   I did tell you it was red!   I planted them just below the poinsettia which is showing its colors right now as well.  Unfortunately the Poinsettia is always plagued by white flies when it starts to color up.  I have not had any success with strong water pressure, or garlic chili spray.  My hubby got out the fly spray and thought he had eradicated them but even that did not work.  After it has finished flowering I will cut it right back, and if the white flies come back the whole plant might have to go.  I do love the red color they add for months to this area of the garden though, so if anyone has any ideas, please let me know.  The coleus in this area tends towards the red and yellows, with the new leaves being the most colorful. The stars in this garden are the crotons, they are prett...

Hot pink is the order of the day out in the front yard.   With the bouganvilla on the left side of the gate and this bed off to the right, I think it was a good choice to remove the red Kalanchoe to the back.    Definitely sunshine and the drier weather is what brings out the pink in the Cordelines.  Look how colorful the new leaves are!  Then the iresine too is definitely happier with this weather.  This is spreading all around the base of the bouganvilla. I love the frilly pink edges of this coleus.  I will be rooting some more of this lovely and spreading it around the front of the bed.  It is so easy just to cut off a little piece, dip it in rooting hormone and then plant it out. It survives here year round, but becomes more colorful at this time of year. .Funny that I have been feeling that the garden doesn't have  much impact ...

Coleus is a great plant to fill in any empty areas, I find you can just cut off a little bit, and either root it first in a little water or else just plonk into the ground and it will grow. what is not to love about that! look at the variegated colours on this leaf!  Who need flowers when you have leaves like this?