Into Kruger to see elephants, giraffes and other great wild life
We ended our South African adventure with a visit to Kruger National Park for a two day game drive.
The first day, we saw a total of 29 creatures - exotic birds such as blue-purple...
Stellenbosch to Knysna with stops to see gardens, caves and ostriches
Stellenbosch is a lovely town with a first class university - one of the top four in South Africa.
I got to wander into the campus and talk to students - one studying law,...
Falling in love with quiver trees from Springbok to Clanwilliam
From Springbok, we made our way south to Clanwilliam, stopping on the way to see a magnificent display of quiver trees and other native African plants at the Kokerboom Nursery.
The nursery, now into its...
Oh no, Namaqualand has no flowers! This is a big disappointment
Namaqualand, one of the world’s top landscape wonders for majestic spring flower displays, is in the grip of the worst drought in 100 years.
As a result, there are few, if any flowers. It is...
From Kirstenbosch to Namaqualand for more spectacular sights
My first visit to Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden in Cape Town was five years ago. It was a fabulous visit and I got to see some spectacular plant specimens - protea, leucospermum, cycads and all...
Up Table Mountain for a sensational, panoramic, top of the world view
Our decision to go up Table Mountain has been in the balance for a few days because of fluctuating weather conditions.
The sky needs to be totally blue without a cloud in it for a...
Down the Cape Peninsula to spectacular Cape of Good Hope
For our second day in South Africa, we first headed downtown to visit the Company Gardens in the heart of the city.
This was a lovely way to start the day. I told everyone that...
South Africa garden tour begins in Cape Town
Sept 8 - Today, I am in South Africa to lead an exciting 14 day garden tour out of Cape Town with visits to Namaqualand, the Western Cape and Stellenbosch wine areas along the...
Garden Tour Reunion Party was a blast with lots of fun memories
The Garden Tours Reunion Party on Sept 2 - a celebration of the 22 garden tours I have led over the past nine years - was a big success.
Eight-two people attended the event at...
Protected: How’s retirement? It’s about time and making the most of it
It’s been a few months since I stopped working at the Vancouver Sun after 38 years - although it was closer to 50 years in journalism as I started in newspapers in 1968 in...
Why I’m feeling glad all over because these flowers are all mine
Some friends brought us a huge bouquet of gladioli the other day - four bunches containing red, purple, orange and peach ones.
They were barely in flower when they arrived, but they have since started...
Why my garden deserves a much better gardener
You might think I am making excuses, but I'm pretty sure all the problems I have with my garden today can be traced back to the fact that I wasn’t here to do work...
Do hostas look better with or without their flowers?
Do hostas look better with or without their flowers?
Many people don't like the flowers and cut them off the moment they appear on their long stalks.
Other love the flowers and would never think of...
Japanese courtyard a lovely addition to Agnes Mendoza’s East Vancouver garden
I remember the first time I met Agnes Mendoza. It was back in 2004. I was driving west along McGill in East Vancouver when I spotted this garden at the corner of Slocan. I...
Next stop, Cape Town, South Africa for a 15-day tour
In September, I will be heading back to Cape Town, South Africa, to lead my second garden tour there.
In 2012, I led a tour out of Cape Town along the Garden Route, calling...
See the wonders of India on this exciting 14-day tour
July 9, 2017
Today, I am happy to announce the launch of my next garden tour - an exclusive 14-day trip to India in February with the option of a six-day add-on to explore the...
Grand Garden Tour Reunion Gala planned for Sept. 2
If you've been with us on a garden tour, you'll be interested to know that we have a Grand Garden Tour Reunion Gala planned for Sept. 2.
It will be held at the Shadbolt Centre...
Amazing art of stone balancing but is it garden sculpture?
Not sure what this has to do with gardening, except that I saw this demonstration at the Chelsea Flower Show in May and was quite amazed.
Here you see artist Adrian Grey balancing a very...
Return to Free Spirit to see old friends, buy new plants
It’s been ages since I last saw my friends Lambert and Marjanne Vrijmoed, owners of Free Spirit Nursery on 32nd Avenue in Langley.
I’m not sure why we haven’t seen more of each other over...
This hummingbird was worth waiting for
When I got this fabulous echeveria Blue Rose hanging basket the other day from WIG nursery in Burnaby, Alfred Kwan, the owner, advised me to cut off the flower stalks.
"The beauty is in the...
