Cultivate your family’s interest in gardening with these cool holiday garden-focused activities.
Dig in
Who? The whole family
While the prospects of a beach or bushveld vacation seem enticing, a staycation can be equally gratifying.
Both seasoned gardeners and budding bloomers can benefit from the calming effects of mulching, potting, pruning or weeding. So, encourage your family to get their hands dirty.
Life is a Garden
If you’re up for the challenge, tackle a new outdoor project, such as building a cosy braai area.
Built-in cement seating with a colour-hardener finish is bang on-trend, says Nadine Prinsloo, head of marketing at Cemcrete. Ideal for outdoor spaces, “natural mottling and subtle movement will add character as the product matures”, she notes. Visit www.cemcrete.co.za.
Cemcrete
Sitting Pretty
Who? Mom
Covered patios have become an extension of our homes. But how much time do we really spend immersed in nature or under the stars?
Craft a calm respite in a shaded garden nook by adding a beautiful garden set. Hay Palisade outdoor furniture collection, available From CRÉMA Design. Visit www.cremadesign.co.za.
CRÉMA Design
Remember to add pops of colour with containers brimming with bountiful blooms. Calibrachoa ‘Conga’ is a guaranteed crowd pleaser. Visit www.ballstrathof.co.za.
Life is a Garden
Pale in comparison
Who? Gran
For something hands-on, why not help Gran to breathe new life into a tatty border? Leoné Williams of Petal Faire Nursery suggests adding swaths of white blooms. “White is known for creating a soothing effect in the garden,” she notes.
Embroider beds with pale blooms like gardenia and confetti bush. For more info, visit www.petalfaire.co.za.
Gardenia. Life is a Garden
Confetti Bush. Life is a Garden
The connected gardener
Who? Tech-savvy teens
Give yourself some serious street cred by downloading the Candide social gardening app onto your smartphone or tablet.
This homegrown social gardening app lets your skills blossom the 21st-century way. It connects you to a library of plant info and how to care for them. Also enjoy sage advice from garden aficionados and a directory of garden centres in your area. For more info, visit www.candide.co.za.
Candide
The pitter-patter of little feet
Who? Little ones
Life is a Garden is a one-stop online destination for inspiring ideas to keep you from going potty this holiday.
We especially love the step-by-step craft projects. The potted succulent Christmas gifts are guaranteed to put a smile on green-fingered family members’ faces. Visit www.lifeisagarden.co.za.
Life is a Garden
Sun chaser
Who? Tech-savvy Dads
Whether you’re home or away, irrigation takes the fuss out of watering your garden. Smart irrigation systems that harness the power of the sun are hot on the radar.
Solar-powered weather detectors can deliver the precise amount of water needed. The more sun it detects, the more it waters your plants to keep them from wilting. Visit www.irigatia.co.za.
Leave a Comment