Japie's Tropical Paradise Part I

Good morning all! I trust you had a great weekend and that you are ready for the new week. I have a wonderful garden to share with you. This is my favourite garden ever! What is more, it is just down the road from me in a neighbouring suburb and I often drive a detour to pass it and stop for some soul food without even getting out of the car!

I came across it when I got lost one day trying to find the doctor's surgery and what attracted me was the unusual Traveller's Palm (for this region anyway) that was just spectacular. As an avid gardener I stopped and knocked at the door to ask permission to walk through and take a closer look. Japie graciously accepted a complete stranger into his home and garden and showed me the back garden as well. Wonderful that gardeners are all sharing people, isn't it? To say that I was entranced is an understatement...more like gobsmacked!! By the end of that first visit I left with an armful of  cuttings and a whole load of inspiration and admiration for a true artist! Trust me if I say I absolutely do not know where to start....

I thought I might start with the post box... If I went out here to fetch the mail I would never get back inside again...

Getting out of the car I catch a glimpse of the path to the front door...just this short path is so filled with treasure that I am snapping away before I have even knocked at the door to announce my arrival...but who wouldn't?

Love the lattice pattern that the cut branches of the palm made...gorgeous!!

Now, let me just inform you that the Western Cape is most definitely not a tropical climate, but looking at this garden you would think differently....It is lush and is filled with colour, texture, shape and form of every description. Please take time when you look at the pictures to note the variety of plants and also the canopy of the garden.

Glancing back towards Noddy standing in the road. Note the plant combination....and the colours. Aloes, Mother-in- laws -tongue and of course Japie's passion, bromelias of every description.



Spy the bird's Nest Fern?

There are amazing vignettes where ever you look from every angle and  it is like viewing a painting layered with colour, shape, textures and charm...

This is what greets you on the way to the front door!

See what I mean? ...paradise in the suburbs...

Lushes curls of the new growth....

Glancing back towards the road...you have to do that here!! or you will miss something great... um...so I got it from all the angles... but you know me by now as being completely snap happy....The design is so amazing that the picture changes all the time...

The palm trees are magnificent and although the garden is not large it felt like I had  entered a forest! There are so many lessons to be learnt here, both in design and the effective use of space, plant combinations, etc, etc...sigh



Look closer...

The birds nest fern planted in an urn is a focal point and I adore the luminous green splash and the shape.

There is another Birds nest fern to the right also in an urn...

Stunning colour combination in this hibiscus.

The irrigation system reaches into the trees to mist the plants and create humidity with astonishing results as you can see.

Japie has made attention to detail into an art form in its own class!

Finally folks, we arrive at the front door. By now I am sure he must have caught a glimpse of me through the window snapping away, and probably thought to himself.... "Leave her, she will eventually arrive at the front door" Well, I am about to ring the doorbell and a melodious melody wafts from within....sigh...what a wonderful way to have spent a Sunday morning.



At the front door the  Croton is a fiery display of pure magnificent colour...

....have a look at how it shows of its splendour against a creamy backdrop...

Perfection, don't you think?

Below is the red hibiscus seen in the photo above, snuggled against the palm tree's trunk of grey making the red even more intense.

Well, I hope you have enjoyed the first instalment. Believe me there is much more that I will be sharing with you from the wonderful piece of paradise that I have had the pleasure of photographing. I will however not reveal to you just how many photos I ended up with...it is indecent, you understand! It was an overcast day with the odd bit of rain and the light was perfect and just got better and better.

I would like to thank Japie for graciously allowing me into his home and piece of paradise and for allowing me to share it with you. The great thing is that it is here for reference and to learn from and to inspire everyone who reads it. Next, I will be sharing the treasures of the back garden with you and thereafter I will take you through the rest of the front garden.

Live Well

Veronica

xxx

I will be joining the following linky parties. Please join us for the fun and to support and meet fellow talented bloggers from around the world.

Mosaic Monday at Little Red House here
Creative Bloggers Party at Homemaker on a Dime here

Debbie Doo's Newby Party here

Amaze me Monday at Dittle Dattle here

Savvy Home Made Monday at Home Savvy here

Blooming Tuesday atMrs Green Thumb Jean here
Outdoor Wednesday at A Southern Daydreamer here
Wow Us Wednesday at Savvy Southern Style here
Wednesdays Bunny Hop at Bunny Jean 's here
Cottage Floral Thursdays at Fishtail Cottage here
Potpourri Friday at 2805 here


Thank you so much for stopping by my blog. Please  make my day and regale me with your comments in the comment box below....

Screenplay in my Lounge...

Good morning friends. It is a wonderful spring day in Cape Town and so far no wind!! So, we are making the best of it while it lasts.

Do you decorate with screens? Or do you have a wonderful antique that has been handed down to you? In that case I am seriously envious. Screens are wonderful and can add another dimension to a room lacking in architectural detail. Some screens are carved elaborately, or have the most divine fabric covering them. I love the pattern, texture and depth that screens adds to a room. In days gone by they were mostly functional and oh so beautiful, whilst being functional, but today we seem to use them mostly for eye candy....

I only have one screen in my home, which I bought at a closing down sale. It was tucked away behind a pile of boxes and I spotted it on my way to the ladies room! Sometimes the call of nature can be most profitable!!

My screen has had a tour of duty all over my house and currently it is presiding over my formal lounge.

It brings interest to an otherwise dull corner and is a focal point when entering the room.

I love the detail...

It shows off my favourite urn perfectly...

...as well as the urn shaped lamp...

Here are a few screens that I found on my Pinterest boards...

Hard to choose a favourite.... I can surely find a space for each one, trust me! I simply love the one used as a head board in the first picture to the left and the pink room's screen behind the bed is exquisite!

I was very fortunate to find my screen at a bargain basement price tucked away behind boxes to be thrown out! The shop owner was quite astonished, believe me and I got a further discount for locating it! So it was a win win for both of us!

Live Well

Veronica

xx

Joining Mary for Mosaic Monday at Little Red House here
Creative Bloggers Party Hop at Home maker on a Dime here

Debbie Doo's Blogging and Babbling  here

Show off your Cottage Monday at The House in the Roses here
Amaze me Monday at Dittle Dattle here
Tuesdays Treasures at My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia here
Open House Thursday @ No Minimalist Here here
Treasure Hunt Thursadyas at From my Porch to Yours here
Furniture Friday at Miss Mustard Seed here

Weaver Struggles to please the Missus!

Morning all! I hope you all had a wonderful weekend. Monday is a grand day as it is my blogging day  and I try to set it aside to catch up with everyone and do my blog posts for the week. We had a great weekend and the weather was amazing. Today is a bit dismal and windy so its great to be here in blogland and seeing every one's fall decor in the Northern Hemisphere. It fascinates me how we are in spring you some of you are doing gorgeous fall decor. Just goes to show, here in blogland we can have the best of both worlds!!

 A while back I did a post on my Queen of the Night which smells just heavenly and about the weaver who was building a nest. You can catch up on it here to see how the nest started.

Some of you asked for an update on Weaver's antics and to show you the completed nest.

Busily stripping the palms for building material and looking rather fierce at my photographic interruption!

It is truly amazing how nimbly they weave with their beaks and how fast! I can watch them for hours and of course the singing and chirping is a delight! Although when there are a few together building the decibels can become unbearable as Smirnoff the Labrador will be quick to point out!

Finally, A completed nest that seems to meet with the approval of the Missus! She is a feisty creature and had ripped poor Mr. Weaver's grand construction to shreds a few times!!! This time she seems pleased and I missed her inspection but since it has been dangling there for a week and I have seen her in and out, so I take it, that this will be the new nursery in the garden!



Construction start to finish!

As you can see below they like to build all the nests in the same tree close together as seen here on a farm, so I am quite lucky to have a single nest in my garden!

Loads of blooms in the garden at the moment...

The most prolific rose in my garden is Dream Yellow. It seems to be in constant bud or bloom nearly all year round including almost all the way through winter and each year when I eventually decide to prune it, it usually still has flowers on! It was a gift from my children for Mother's Day many moons ago!

Smirnoff has been taking a daily swim as is his custom since his first swim of the season (click here)



Veronica

xxx

Hope you all have a great week.

Live well

Joining Mary at Little Red House for Mosaic Monday here
Debbie Doo's Blogging and Babbling here
Outdoor Wednesday at A Southern Daydreamer here

I'm Back!!

Good morning friends. I am back from my trip and happy to return to blogland to catch up with all my favourite blogs, friends and followers! Time is travelling faster than any of us care for, and I am looking towards Christmas already...When do you all bring out your Christmas finery? Well, I for one am like a kid when it comes to Christmas decorations and can actually not wait to unpack them!

But for now, I am sticking to flowers if only to celebrate spring, properly!  I had this bouquet in my living room to enjoy for a while...

Well, actually the kitchen island, as my kitchen, breakfast room and living room is all open. My favourite space in the house...

The St Joseph Lilies are so fragrant and perfumes the whole house, even upstairs...

I bought quite an odd ensemble, what with the eucalyptus in the mix, and after I had done, I thought, Oh Dear! The smells are going to clash... but for some reason, the eucalyptus did not smell strongly, in fact I could not detect it at all, so I left it.

The crew was keeping a close eye on my doings...

Just outside the patio door, the smell was still heavenly as the Jasmine was now in full bloom....

So, I put some in all the bathrooms and the guest loo below.

The farm across the road uses the pastures down here for spring grazing so from my desk I have this lovely sight in the mornings and some sounds that I don't usually hear!

I have some lovely posts lined up for you and am looking forward to hearing from all of you again! Thank you for all the wonderful comments I received via my Blackberry while I was away. You kept me entertained with all your great input as usual.

Live Well

Veronica

xxx

I will be joining Bunny Jeans Bunny Hop here.

PS: have you noticed the Big Blog Roll over at her blog. Do have a look. Button in my side bar as well!

Wow Us Wednesday at Savvy Southern Style here

White Wedenesday at Faded Charm here

Smirnoff's first Swim!

Good Morning friends. Spring seems to have sprung and the days are warming up slowly. I am delighted as I am not much good at winter. Although, I love the elegance of winter's clothes, I adore the freedom of my summer wardrobe much more.

Smirnoff, the Labrador has decided that it is time for his first swim after winter. He generally swims daily in summer but during winter a  maniac plunge into the pool happens, normally, when he returns from a walk. He barges in the front door, panting and skids and slides around corners to exit at the patio door in full "Marley and Me" style, all the while his tail is  wagging like crazy and plunges in, no matter what the weather. Come rain or shine!! Ditto when her returns from a stint at the kennels where he probably pines for the pool endlessly...

He gets so exhausted but can't seem to stop himself.  On this occasion he came back from a walk and was already tired. He plunges in and takes a turn and exits, has a shake, smiles at you with sheer delight, turns and heads back in.... Repeat , Repeat ....

On this occasion, we counted seventeen sorties in and out making quite a impact on the level of the pool!

Almost to tired to get his back legs out the pool!!

Eventually he has had enough! and time to dry of next to the pool at mother's feet, completely contented and satisfied with the days fun...

Well, now I am looking forward to my first swim of the season but unfortunately I am not a Lab and the temperature of the water is still way to cold to take a plunge!

I will be out of town for a few days and hope to be back on Monday.

Live Well

Veronica

xxx

I will be joining Watery Wednesday with one wet dog! here at Pixel Posts

as well as

Outdoor Wedenesday at a Southern Daydreamer here

Please regale me with your comments in the comment box below, to keep me company while I am away...

Paella Aplenty

Good morning dear ones. I have had a very busy weekend which started on Friday already, with a visit to the Wild Flower Reserves of Darling along with hoards, and I mean hoards of tourists. It was wonderful though, to be out in the reserves among the flowers searching for natures little treasures close to the ground. The weather is still terribly confused and one minute we have spring and then winter chases us indoors again. But, I have my eyes firmly on spring and Canal Walk Shopping Centre have started their Christmas Decorations. Can you believe it? How time flies!


Spotting the Christmas decorations, immediately made me think of Christmas and Summer Holiday food, naturally!! One of my favourite dishes for the holidays around the pool is paella. Well, first of all ,it always feeds a crowd and second of all, everyone can get involved in helping to make it. This recipe feeds between 8- 12 depending on how many prawns and how big the fish!

Now, of course as you know, its a Spanish Rice dish that originated in Valencia where it is a regional dish that is regarded as a identifying symbol. I am sure there are many debates as to how to make paella and what should and should not be added, and over a glass or two of Sangria we can have lengthy debates and discussions about the merits of  adding snails, rabbit, chicken, duck, beans, etc!! And, of course what rice to use will take a few more sangria's to conclude. So, let us just say, that my Paella recipe falls into the freestyle paella category...very free style.


So here is a typical summer holiday menu at our house around the pool in Dec/Jan.

Strawberry Champage Fizz

Paella

Served with Springfield's Wild Yeast Chardonnay without fail!

Lemon Meringue

Veronica's Paella

Light the braai fire and make the Champagne Strawberry fizz for the chefs.

Pour a small amount of strawberry puree (strained to remove seeds) into a tall glass and top up with your favourite bubbly. Pour slowly as it fizzes and you will have yourself doused in no time at all and the dog will be licking the floor with a glee full look on his face, So take care..

Now onto the paella

1.5 kg of chicken

 ( I use small drumsticks but I have also used deboned thighs or mini chicken breast fillets)

400 g smoked pork cut into strips

(I use smoked gammon steaks)

Chorizo

(the proper horse shoe one from Woolies or delis)

Prawns

as many as you want!

Fresh Calamari tubes cut into rounds

Fresh Mussels

as many as you feel you need

Fresh Fish

(I choose an oily fish such a yellow tail, tuna or even the fish kebabs on offer at Woolies. As long as it is braaiable (Can be BBQed)

2 Large Onions, finely chopped

6 cloves of garlic, crushed

1 chilli, seeded and finely chopped

3 red peppers, seeded and cut into slivers

4-6 tomatoes, skinned and chopped or tin tomatoes

fresh basil

fresh parsley

750 g arborio rice

(debate declared open, bring your own Sangria)

30 ml turmeric

2 teaspoons paprika

2 pinches saffron

2 litres  hot Chicken Stock

( made with 4 chicken stock cubes or fresh of course)

I also use fish stock if I was able to make it myself

100 ml white wine

Olive oil

I am very particular about which paprika to use. This is the absolute best for me!!

Now that you have your bountiful harvest together here's what you do...

Whip out your paella pan and get going...

Saute the chorizo first in order to use the oils released from the chorizo to fry the onions and garlic in otherwise

Saute the onions in olive oil until translucent adding the chilli as well

Towards the end add the crushed garlic and saute briefly to release the oils

My paella pan is large enough and here I am sauteing onions, chorizo and the smoked pork gammon simultaneously.

Remove and set aside

Saute the red peppers as well. I prefer to roast the pepper on the braai (BBQ) since the fire is going and then to remove the skin and cut into slivers. Since Mr. Tassels is tending the fire I give him a tongs to turn them until they are blackened and done. Put in a paper bag and then remove skins easily.

This time round I used the mini chicken fillets and dipped them in BBQ marinade and sauté until done
Set aside

Stir fry the prawns until done...

Same with the calamari ~ they only take a few seconds.

No need to spice they will absorb all the flavour in the pan

...or hand them to the chef in charge of the BBQ to grill them over the fire along with the fish or fish kebabs

Set aside...

Now for the rice....

To begin with I sauté the rice in a little olive oil stirring all the time.

Add the turmeric to the rice and sauté

Place the saffron strands in a little bowls and pour over a little boiling water and leave to steep

Add the tomatoes to the rice and continue to stir

Ladle in the warm stock one ladle at a time stirring until all the stock has been absorbed

Towards the end of cooking I add the paprika and the saffron and stir for a few minutes

This is where is gets interesting.....and you have to pretend you're an octopus if you do not have any help at hand.

Steam the mussels in a pot with a bit of boiling water until shells open.
Discard any mussels that do not open

Add  the chicken, pork, chorizo, onions, red peppers, calamari, mussels, prawns and warm through.

Most people add cooked peas but I usually do not preferring to leave it as is or to just garnish it with fresh parsley or basil.

Adjust the seasonig to your taste. Since I am a paprika freak I always add a little more...

The fish  I usually serve on the side with plenty of lemons

I prefer a  white wine like Springfield Wild Yeast Chardonnay or Nitida Sauvignon Blanc

Bon Apetité

Now, I have to say that you probably think that it looks like a lot of work but honestly, you get so practised that it gets faster and anyway, since it holidays there are always helping hands and its fun to involve everyone.

So you can farm out the mussel steaming, the fish and prawns to the BBQ chief...

Do give it a try, wether you are in summer or autumn it suits both seasons perfectly.

Let us refresh your memory and tastebuds!!!

Live Well Friends

Veronica

xxx

Please regale me with your thoughts and comments below.

Thanks for stopping by....

Linking to On the Menu Monday at Stone Gable here

Mosaic Monday with Mary at Dear Little Red House here

Just something I whipped up at The Girl Creative here

Recipe Roundup here Christmas Smorgasboard of Recipes
Amaze me Monday at Dittle Dattle here

Tuesday's Tasty Tidbits at Permanent Posies here

Saturday Show Off at Be Different act Normal here