Knock knock....who is there?

SPRING is in the Air!

GLORY of spring Wisteria

Mesembranthemum is coming forward too;

The grapes on the pergola are pruned; waiting...

Purple Petunias together with soft gray french lavender;

Darling rosebuds; a very vigorous climbing rose, flowers in spring only;

A tiny Orchid shows her attributes in spring.

A new daylilie border planted out; ready to grow;

Eranthemum is a native plant of India. It is attractive to bees; butterflies and birds. After flowering I prune it back severely. This plant grows best in the shady part of the garden.

In spring Kalanchoe tomentosa makes 50cm long flower stalks crowned with gorgeous bells, felt like in a dark red-brown colour. It is quite an odd colour for the flowers as the plant is gray with dark brown stitching around the leaves.

The fresh fronds of a native Maidenhair;

The lovely soft flowers of Azalea "Mrs. Bolton" heralding spring;

Fantastic Grevillia Bansksii showing off its nectar dripping flowers;

Begonias start to flower in spring; This is a rhizome Begonia with attractive, huge leaves.

This Bromeliad is a spring bloomer...

and this Dendrobium Orchid as well;


Believe it or not:
If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant; if we did not sometimes taste adversity, prosperity would not be so welcome. Meditation divine and Moral, 1664

Organic tip of the week:

I buy fairtrade organic coffee;

Fair Trade Certification empowers farmers and farm workers to lift themselves out of poverty by investing in their farms and communities, protecting the environment, and developing the business skills necessary to compete in the global marketplace.

Fair price: Democratically organized farmer groups receive a guaranteed minimum floor price and an additional premium for certified organic products. Farmer organizations are also eligible for pre-harvest credit.

Fair labor conditions: Workers on Fair Trade farms enjoy freedom of association, safe working conditions, and living wages. Forced child labor is strictly prohibited.

Direct trade: With Fair Trade, importers purchase from Fair Trade producer groups as directly as possible, eliminating unnecessary middlemen and empowering farmers to develop the business capacity necessary to compete in the global marketplace.

Democratic and transparent organizations: Fair Trade farmers and farm workers decide democratically how to invest Fair Trade revenues.

Community development: Fair Trade farmers and farm workers invest Fair Trade premiums in social and business development projects like scholarship programs, quality improvement trainings, and organic certification.

Environmental sustainability: Harmful agrochemicals and GMOs are strictly prohibited in favor of environmentally sustainable farming methods that protect farmers’ health and preserve valuable ecosystems for future generations.

Thank you for your visit;

not so fast, here is the recipe for "Spitzbuaba" (Little Rascals)


200 g butter
125 g Icing sugar
1 egg white
1 teasp. Lemon juice
1 pinch salt
350 g flour

Method: whip butter and icing sugar until fluffy; add all ingredients and knead to a dough; let the dough rest in a cool place for 30 min.. Roll out dough approx. 3-4 mm thick. Cut out rounds with a cookie cutter;
In one half cut one to 3 holes with a tiny cookie cutter.
Bake 200 C 8-10 minutes.

Filling; the best raspberry jam ; spread over the bottom half, place the one with the hole on top and sift generously icing sugar over the finished cookies.
If possible use all organic ingredients.

They are very “morish“!

Copyright:T.S.

Photos:T.S.