DECEMBER 2011

The team at Garden World would like to wish you and your loved ones a Happy and Peaceful Christmas and New Year

Euphorbia pulcherrima and Christmas

An almost unpronounceable jumble of letters for a must have plant over this traditional festive season. Indigenous to Mexico, named after Joel Poinsett, the first American minister to Mexico, who in 1825 introduced the plant to the United States, the red Poinsettia has now become synonymous with the Christmas season worldwide, used as festive decorations, table center pieces and as living gifts.

As with most traditions the origins of their stories filter down through the ages from legend and fire side tales. A young girl in Mexico is too poor to provide gifts for the Christmas season and is, so the story says, inspired by an angel to pick weeds by the roadside and lay them at the altar of their church. From these weeds, sprouted beautiful crimson ‘blooms’ which have now become known as the Poinsettia. The Franciscan monks of Mexico included these plants in their Christmas celebrations with the star shaped leaves representing the ‘Star of Bethlehem’ and the red colour representing the blood of the Crucifixion.    

Although available worldwide, the Poinsettia is a sub-tropical plant needing warm temperatures to flourish, and is recommended as an indoor plant as temperatures below 10 degrees adversely affect the plant.
The beautiful red leaves are difficult to re-induce once their season is over. Poinsettias are ‘short day’ plants, meaning that their buds are affected by day length and light. For regeneration of these buds the plant will have to spend two months, normally over October and November, with less than twelve hours of light per day. So, into a dark cupboard at night and onto a windowsill during the day. Poinsettias do not like wet feet. Water often but allow excess water to drain away. Feed your plant at least once or twice a month with a good organic liquid feed. If this task seems a little daunting, new poinsettias are seasonally obtainable in abundance or the ‘silk plants’ available at our garden center are amazingly true to form.  A little silk will not go amiss in amongst the glitter of bright Christmas lights and tinsel.   

Are Poinsettias highly toxic? No, the sap may cause mild irritation of the skin and the plant material, if ingested in large quantities may cause diarrhea and vomiting. The same can be said for ingesting too much Christmas Cheer.

Let’s keep the Poinsettias for the beautiful displays only, enjoy your festive season with warm comfortable satisfaction and to all our customers from all of us at Garden World, we wish you a wonderful and peaceful Christmas.  

Contact Garden World should you require any further information. Remember to enquire about our ‘Green Club’ when next you pay us a visit, join and receive instant rewards with your purchase and each purchase thereafter.

Garden World is on Beyers Naudé Drive in Muldersdrift.
GPS - S 26° 2.553’  E 27° 53.110’

Louis d’Hotman
Tel: 011 957 2046
Fax: 011 957 3214
E-mail: nursery@gardenworld.co.za
Web-site: www.gardenworld.co.za

Ek kry gereeld navrae van mense wat graag hulle tuin vir hul kinders wil uit lê.  Onlangs het ouers en ook ‘n ouma ‘n navraag gedoen en toe besluit ek om ‘n paar beplannings punte uit te lig en te bespreek, oor wat ‘n mens kan doen en hoe jy te werk moet gaan om ‘n kindertuin uit te lê. ‘n Paar basiese stappe oor wat jy in gedagte moet hou om so ‘n spesiale tuin te ontwerp volg. Onthou volwassenes sien ‘n tuin uit ‘n heeltemal ander oogpunt as kinders. Ons sien die algemene indrukke wat ‘n tuin vir ons gee en die prentjie in geheel, waar ‘n kind kleiner detail en kleiner plekkies en gaatjies raaksien. Iets soos ‘n akkedis wat op ‘n klip sit is vir ons baie algemeen, maar vir ‘n kind is dit die mees spesiale ding nog ooit! ‘n Belangrike aspek is dat kinders baie makliker leer deur daarmee te eksperimenteer en te speel.

Daar is 7 belangrike punte wat inaggeneem moet word wanneer jy ‘n kindertuin ontwerp.

1. Avontuur en ondervinding - Dis ‘n belangrike gedeelte in ‘n kind se intellektuele ontwikkeling.
2. Die gebruik van water – ‘n klein voëlbadjie op die grond of ‘n platterige pan kan die ding doen, veiligheid t.o.v die kind moet alyd in gedagte gehou word.
3. Hoogtes – of dit nou ‘n bruggie is waaroor hulle kan loop of dalk ‘n klimraam, of selfs ‘n boomhuis. Dis belangrik dat die kind verskillende elemente van verskillende hoogtes af kan sien en dat die kind se brein dit so kan interpreter. Dit is die eerste stappe om ‘n plat oppervlak in ‘n drie dimensionele voorwerp te omskep.
4. Beweging – ‘n kind moet kan beweeg in die tuin. Party kinders hou daarvan om rond te hardloop en goed te vang en te bou, terwyl ander eerder in groepies wil speel.
5. Wegkruiphoekies. Dis een van die maklikste maniere om kinders kreatief te laat wees, waar hulle iets kan maak of kan bou en later vir jou die eindresultaat sal wys sodra hulle gereed is. Hierdie kan agter ‘n lae struikie wees, ‘n omheiningkie of selfs in ‘n tent wat uit bamboes stokke gemaak word en deur ‘n boontjie rank toegegroei is.
6. Plant keuse - Daar is so ‘n groot verskeidenheid van plante wat geplant kan word en ook wat die kind kan intereseer. Dit mag dalk kleurvolle saailinge wees, insekvretende plante, groente en vrugte – byvoorbeeld radyse, wortels of tamaties wat sommer net so uit die tuin uit ge-eet kan word. Laventel en ander kruie kan nou weer die reuk sintuig prikkel en dan kan jy ‘n paar ander interessante plante byvoeg of plant, iets soos die kruidjie roer my nie wat beweeg as jy aan sy blare raak, of dalk lams ore wat ‘n sagte fluweelagtige bedekking het. Dink net hoe interessant sal verskillende kalbassies wees. Oor plantkeuses kan daar boekdele geskryf word.
7. En dan is daar wildslewe of insekte. Voëls en skoenlappers is die maklikste om aan te lok en te voer, paddas en akkedissies kan net so interessant wees.

Hemerocallis Varieties 'Day Lily'

Less 20%
Valid from 2 December 2011 to  30 December 2011

Tissue Salt Reader’s Day with Margaret Roberts

Join SA Garden / SA Tuin Paleis at Garden World where Margaret Roberts will be sharing her secrets on the benefits of tissue salts & revealing which food they are found in.

Spend the morning with well-known herb expert Margaret Roberts as she offers new insight on the importance of tissue salts & reveals which plants to grow that are rich in these salts. She will share tips on how to sow the seeds of these plants & how to care for them as they grow. Learn some fascinating facts about these mineral salts & discover how using them can help you regain energy, vitality & long-term wellness for the new year ahead. On top of all this, there will be food tastings & a variety of exciting recipes to take home & try.

When: Saturday 21 January 2012
Time: 09h30 for 10h00
Where: Garden World, Beyers Naudé Drive in Muldersdrift (M5) Gauteng
Cost: R100 per person & includes a SA Garden goodie bag, refreshments, treats & fabulous prize giveaways.

Bookings is essential with Magriet / Corné on 011 957 2545 / 011 956 3003 or visit www.gardenworld.co.za

Great offers for Weddings between January to April 2012

Garden World’s unique Wedding Venue set within stunning gardens, offers bridal couples an unequalled opportunity to seal the memories of their special day in fairy glens and romantic gazebos. Please contact us now for great offers for your wedding between January to April 2012.