Newsletter Issue 74, FEBRUARY 2012

News from the Local Home Front!

Can I really remember that far back? I used to ride my bicycle home from high school every afternoon after sport at about 17:00 and arrive home drenched from being caught in the perennial afternoon shower. Well it is happening again! We seem to be getting a shower every day albeit a bit later in the day. I am fortunately no longer riding my bicycle in the inclement weather but watching the every changing sky from my stationary bike indoors!!!!!

This rain is good and bad! Good, in that it is filling our dams, cooling the environment and giving our plants a head start before winter. Bad, in that many areas have been flooded (the Olifants River rose so high that our store-room at our unit – and fortunately only that – was under water), roads are impassable (Cary did a walking trail at the Kruger Park and it was touch and go as to whether she could get there – she did and had an amazing time). We have a bright yellow object that patrols our farm roads and it is not a “Tiger, Tiger burning bright” but a rather large “Caterpillar” that relentlessly grades our roads, only to have to go back a few days later and repeat the exercise as the heavy downpours that we are experiencing have undone its hard work!

Caring for our Environment: Gardening for all this rain!
The 2nd of February is World Wetlands Day when the focus is on the health of wetland systems all over the world. As mentioned earlier, Gauteng can also expect higher than average rainfall in February and when we look at our gardens, plants which should be looking lush green are already an insipid lime green due to all the valuable fertilizer that we have given them being leached out! So back to buying lots of compost to fill up your beds where the soil has been washed away and also the valuable plant food – fertilizer – to help your plants recover and again look their best.

It seems whether we Gauteng residents like the wet weather or not, we’ll just have to weather it and get all our rain-related garden accessories ready. To help you in this quest we will have the following products on special:

- Virikop and Funginex
- Welligogs
- Rain gauges

We in SA need to spread the message of LOVE and as our Local is Lekker Campaign we are spotlighting various prominent members of our communities and finding out from them what they LOVE about gardening:

Tim Truluck is the DA councilor for Ward 117. In between helping residents with billing problems and solving the parking problem in Parkhurst he’s also chairperson of the local Slow Food Movement, an organization promoting sustainably grown and locally produced food.

Anne Louise is a local interior designer and landscaper. She loves huge swathes of bold colour. Her top interior decorating tip - fill huge pots with colourbags of colourful annuals.

Physiotherapist Anne Wilkinson has been living in Weltevreden Park since 1979 and recalls a time when cattle were driven up to where Randridge Mall is now, to graze! Her Cymbidium orchids are thriving - they are in dappled shade on a little patio and are slightly pot-bound, which she says is the secret to keeping them happy.

Calven Celliers is senior pastor at New Harvest Christian Fellowship Church. He calls gardening his “Adam experience” which gives him a chance to feel close to God, while Themba January, who is worship co-ordinator, grew up in the Magaliesburg and loves the Bushveld. Unfazed by scientific plant names and debates about organic or chemical, he simply enjoys greenery, indigenous trees and wide open spaces!

Laurette van Zijl has been a Randburg councilor since 1998. She serves on the Environmental Committee of the City Council and looks into matters ranging from acid mine water and recycling to climate change. She is a firm believer in taking care of the soil thus she has a large compost heap and her garden is well-mulched!

On 4 February 2012 the REEA Foundation will turn 77 years old. We invite you to join us in a seven-day fundraising challenge to celebrate 77 years of REEA Foundation. Please donate R77 or R777 to REEA Foundation to help us reach our target of raising R7777 in seven days.

Bank Details: REEA Foundation - Nedbank Limited - Hyde Park Branch
Branch Code: 197205 - Account No.: 1523013834 – ref. 77

Colour of the Month
It seems that PINK has replaced RED as the colour of LOVE, that is if you can believe the latest magazines – have a look, both ‘The Gardener’ and ‘The Garden and Home’ have beautiful articles focusing on pink plants in their February issues.
 

Your February Garden Necessities

• Feed and mow your lawns
• Remove faded blooms to encourage further flowering
• Feed your pelargoniums and spray against rust
• Lift and divide your irises, white arum lilies and amaryllis
• Plan your winter and spring garden now
• Start preparing the trenches for your sweet-peas
• Feed all perennials
• Water your rhododendrons (azaleas) and camellias once a week    

COLOURFUL GARDEN CLUB FEBRUARY MEETING - INDOOR PLANTS ARE IN!

DATE: Sat 4th February
TIME: 14:30
VENUE: Colourful Corner Nursery, Honeydew
SPEAKER: Gavin Armfield from Plantimex

Visitors welcome: R30-00

 Let Us Colour Your Garden!