SIO Tips 65: Getting creative in the Garden

Get creative in the Garden this year by collecting unusual planters for herbs and flowers. Enamel pots from junk shops make great rustic looking plant pots and  are easy to move around. Remember that it's important to make holes to allow for drainage or use a regular flower pot inside the pretty external pot.


SEEKITOUT: Changing the world a stitch at a time.

SIO Tips no. 55: Gardening jobs for January

It may be cold outside but there are still jobs to do in the garden to prepare for Spring. 
Now is the time to plan your planting and prune those fruit trees.
Don't forget to keep feeding the little birds; they need the extra food now.

SIO Tips no. 50: Pondlife

Pond fish eat more in the summer, feed them once or twice a day. It's better to feed them a little and often.
If the food has not been eaten within 15 minutes, remove and dispose of the excess. If you're going on holiday remember to get a friend or neighbour to feed your fish as well as watering the plants.

SEEKITOUT: Changing the world a stitch at a time.

Getting creative in the Garden

Rock Roses are very common in the Western Cape, where I'm living now. 

Little baby ones are easily found from larger plants and make lovely little plants for the window sill to brighten up a room with a little green. You will find them in your local Garden Centre in the UK.

We've been busy replanting the baby plants into little pots and we got a bit creative with different containers and adding stones for decoration....

These are planted in used tuna cans with little holes punched in the bottom. We have a special can opener that doesn't leave a jagged sharp edge so you can't get cut and takes the lid off cleanly.

....and these ones are planted in a shell we found on the beach down the road. They will need to be replanted when they get too big but it goes to show that you can save on little things when you're nuturing your garden. 

These alternatives to seed trays look pretty and interesting while you're waiting for them to grow.

Enjoy the build up to Spring in the UK!

With sunshine,

Ruthie in South Africa

SIO Tips no. 22

If you want to fill your garden with colour next spring, plant bulbs from October to December, before the first frost. Daffodils, Tulips, Crocus, Grape Hyacinths and Fritillarias are just some of the plants to choose from.

SEEK IT OUT: Changing the world a stitch at a time