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Chia pets are all the rage with young kids and are a great addition to the family garden or to sit on the windowsill inside. Teach your kids the importance of nurturing when it comes to the environment with this no-fuss DIY hobby project. What you will need: Potting soil 2 tbs chia seeds 1 small terra cotta pot 1 small dish 1 knee-length nylon sock or stocking A spray bottle 2 googly eyes Rubber bands Permanent marker or permanent paint Step 1: Soak your chia seeds in water overnight. Step 2: The next morning, you can put the soaked...

Bet you didn't know about these cool florae! Check out our favourite obscure plants for this month! Nepenthes More commonly known as the Tropical Pitcher Plant, the nepenthes species can be found mostly in the forests of the Philippines, Sumatra and Borneo. Shaped like a water pitcher, this plant devours anything that can fit in its sticky, sappy opening. This can include anything from spiders, termites, worms and other insects, in the smaller buds, right up to lizards and forest rats in the larger, life-sized pitchers. These creepy crawlers have adapted to a variety of jungle uses. Monkeys drink from...

The winter holidays are here and what better way to spend time with your kids than by creating a winter wonderland for their fairy friends. There are a number of different ideas to make your little garden that use various bases and feature different architecture. STEP 1 First of all, you will need a base. Commonly used are existing garden beds, large soil-filled pots or old wash tubs, the base of a pot-plant, a garden box, or between the roots of a big tree. STEP 2 Design the plantation and structural elements of the garden. Is it rocky? Is it...

There are an incredible amount of innovative and spectacular gardens around the world that are a testament to the creative and horticultural minds behind their conception. From tranquil Japanese gardens to colourful Dutch tulip gardens and everything in between, here are a few examples of the best. THE LOST GARDENS OF HELIGAN “ ENGLAND These incredible gardens in Cornwall were restored in the 1990s from an estate that was abandoned after the Second World War. They are the most popular botanical gardens in the UK, and are comprised of vegetable gardens, sculptures, a jungle and an Italian garden. By Heinz-Dirk...

You've probably heard that bee populations are sadly on the decline, and some species are in danger of becoming extinct because of pesticides, habitat destruction and less flowering plants due to urbanisation. This will have drastic effects on crop production and biodiversity, but there are steps you can take to help. Here are a few examples of flowers you can plant in your garden to attract and support native bees. FLOWERING GUM This gum provides a great food source to native bees and birds too. The vibrant red native flowers will brighten up your garden and make it a sight...