Articles: Special Days

Easter weekend excitement

There is much discussion in the media about this time of year. From what I’ve read and researched, the Easter we celebrate today is a curious blend of the religious and the secular, of paganism, Judaism and Christianity. Some say the word “Easter” is derived from Eostre, a goddess symbolizing the rebirth of the day at dawn and the rebirth of life in the spring. As Christianity grew and spread throughout the world, it was common practice to adopt and modify existing non-Christian festivals and assimilate them into the Christian theology. Because Eostre dealt with renewal and rebirth, the Chr

Romance at Nonke Plants

Ons is altyd liefdevol hier by Nonke Plants, maar ons weet dat somige mense bietjie ‘n hup-stoot nodig het om romanties te wees.  Anna Schier (http://mendotaheights.patch.com/articles/inexpensive-ideas-for-valentines-day-in-the-mendota-heights-area) het vir ons ‘n paar mooi ideës gegee hoe om Valentynsdag spesiaal te maak sonder om die bank te breek.  Anna sê dat Valentynsdag veronderstel is om ‘n fees van liefde te wees, wat eintlik onskatbaar is.  Ons stem saam! 

No Time for Superstitions at Nonke Plants

Happy Friday the 13th! We’re not superstitious about this date; we’re just as industrious as always! Did you know that there is no written evidence for a “Friday the 13th” superstition before the 19th century? One theory states that it is a modern amalgamation of two older superstitions: that 13 is an unlucky number and that Friday is an unlucky day. In numerology, the number 12 is considered the number of completeness, as reflected in the 12 months of the year, 12 hours of the clock, 12 tribes of Israel, etc., whereas the number 13 was consi

CGF End-of-year Function

Die Cape Green Forum by Somerbosch Restaurant en toer van ‘Cavalli Wine and Stud Farm’ op Dinsdag aand was ‘n reuse sukses!  Daar was sowat 90 mense van die plant industrie wat die okasie bygewoon het.  Geluk aan Warwick Bayer van Shadowlands en Di Irish van die Cape Green Forum wat pryse vir uitstekende werk gewen het!  Nonke Plants was een van die borge vir die geleentheid en het aan al die gaste ‘n klein plantjie as kersgeskenk gegee.  Die helder rooi pakkies het die tafels vrolik versier.

 

Braai 4 Heritage Day

Braai 4 Heritage Day” is on 24th September.  According to Wikipedia, Heritage Day is “a public holiday on which South Africans across the spectrum are encouraged to celebrate cultural heritage and the diversity of their beliefs and traditions, in the wider context of a nation that belongs to all its people.” In 2005, the holiday was re-branded as “National Braai Day” in recognition of the South African culinary tradition of holding informal backyard braais. At the end of 2007, National Braai Day changed its name to “Braai 4 Heritage Day”. (

Nonke Plants Open Day was a great success!

Ons Opedag (20ste Julie 2011) was ‘n groot sukses! Dankie vir almal wat ons kwekery bygewoon het! Die weer was fantasties, die mense vriendelik en die kos van die boonste rakke! Ons hoop julle het julle lippe afgekou vir daardie sjokolade brownies!  As jy nie daar was om vir die 10% afslag te kwalifiseer nie, wees verlig, jy kan 10% afslag nog kry as jy jou eie plante uit ons kwekery kom haal!  

Yellow features prominently in our collage today. In order of appearance: 

Valentine's Day and Romantic Legends

The 14th February is Valentine’s Day. Valentine’s Day is often accused of being over-commercialized, but let’s take a look at where this celebration originated. According to Wikipedia, Saint Valentine's Day is an annual commemoration celebrating love and affection between intimate companions. The day is named after one or more early Christian martyrs named Valentine and was established by Pope Gelasius I in 500 AD. It is traditionally a day on which lovers express their love for each other by presenting flowers, offering confectionery, and sending greeting cards (known as "valentines").

Nonke Plants celebrates Father's Day every day

Mail & Guardian Online have a helpful article on great Father’s Day gift ideas (http://mg.co.za/article/2011-06-15-budget-beating-ideas-for-fathers-day or www.justmoney.co.za).  “The idea behind days like Father’s Day, Mother’s Day and even Valentine’s Day, is all good and well, but in these volatile economic times, most consumers simply cannot afford to spend money on luxury items, “ says Andy Gilder, general manager of Justmoney. Gilder, however, believes that by no means should Father’s Day be disregarded.

Barleria and Black Cats

Barleria in blom

Barleria is nou vol in die blom! Die “Bosviooltjie” (Barleria obtusa) het klein, sagte, ovaalvormige blaartjies en massas buisvormige blou blomme. Dit groei vining op ‘n beskutte plek in goeie, goed gedreineerde grond. Gee baie water in die somer. Snoei die plant terug na die blomtyd om meer kompakte groei aan te moedig. Barleria repens ‘Purple Prince’ (“Kleinbosviooltjie”) groei baie vining, het ‘n meer spreiende vorm, donkerder pers blomme en donkerder groen loof. Albei plante hou van dieselfde groeitoestande en kan halfskaduwee en vol son hanteer.