Garden like a pro
Gardening with Keith Kirsten
Author: Keith Kirsten
Published: Random Struik
It is summer time and you will most likely have some time to fiddle in the garden. With the assistance of Keith Kirsten’s handy guide, you can do it easily and professionally! The third edition of this popular title has been completely revised. It remains a practical, illustrated guide that is suitable for all gardeners, from novice to experienced, but has been updated to incorporate new plant species that will flourish in South African gardens. The book contains directories of over 2000 plants (trees, shrubs, perennials, creepers etc), as well as a brief description, plus handy symbols that depict growing conditions, such as sun and water requirements, hardiness to frost, and whether the plant is deciduous, evergreen or flowering. Some indigenous species are also included. The book also contains some handy information about planning a garden, treating pests and disease, how to group plants and much more. Definitely a must-have for anyone who loves to fiddle in the garden. We recommend this as a Christmas stocking gift. For the first time, an Afrikaans edition will also be available.
About the Author:
Keith Kirsten is known nationally and internationally for his knowledge. He is enthusiastic and energetic and has more than 30 years of experience in the industry. He is the owner and MD of Keith Kirsten Horticulture International (KKHI) which specializes in promoting gardening and garden plants sourced both locally and abroad. Nowadays, he is increasingly involved in large-scale horticultural projects, such as the recent revamp of Delaire Wine Estate.
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A tasty feast
Savour
Authors: Marc Hirschowitz, Estelle Sacharowitz and Karen Alsfine
Published: Random Struik
A cookbook is a marvellous tool that always gets the taste buds going and this book will get it going even more. It literally allows you to eat the author’s words. It is written so cleverly that you can literally feel the connection between the words and the dishes described in the book. According to the authors the words used to describe food contain and evoke meaning. They encapsulate emotion and instil feeling. They are so much more than the letters that form them, just as an exquisitely prepared dish is so much more than its basic ingredients. Savour takes us on an enticing journey that engages more than just our sense of taste. Featuring over 200 recipes catering for any occasion, this is a cookbook with a difference. The recipes are easy to replicate, simple to make and, of course, irresistibly edible. And because people eat with their eyes, there is a strong focus on the presentation and styling of each dish, supported by mouth-watering full-colour photography. This book will be a handy tool when you cook up a storm during the festive season and is a good gift idea for anyone who loves spending time in the kitchen, irrespective of the experience they have in this department.
About the authors:
Marc Hirschowitz is an event creator who has managed several businesses in numerous countries before launching an events company, Conceptspark. Based in South Africa, Marc throws fabulous parties for private and corporate clients, dazzling and delighting every time.
Karen Alsfine is a creative writer and aspiring cook. She is a soloist, writing for corporate clients and publications. Prior to owning a niche marketing and design company, Karen fulfilled the roles of change management and communications consultant in two large South African organisations.
Estelle Sacharowitz is a caterer and cuisine concocter. She has managed a niche catering company in South Africa for 13 years. She has a natural connection with food and immerses herself in continually acquiring knowledge and experimenting with ingredients and methods of cooking.
Tree Talk
What’s that Tree?
Author: Eugene Moll
Published: Random Struik
Have you ever spotted an interesting tree and wondered what type it was? Or have you ever seen a tree that would look lovely in your garden, but you do not know the name and cannot find it at your local nursery? Don’t worry about it, with this handy guide this will never happen to you again!! Amateur and more seasoned tree-spotters will welcome this latest addition to the What’s that? series. This book groups trees together into their broad families, based on the features that related species share. This allows readers to narrow down their choices to a few likely possibilities before tackling the detail of species identification. The book contains: simple, authoritative text; side-bars with interesting additional information; multiple full-colour photographs, including of key diagnostic features and an illustrated glossary of plant parts. This is a lovely gift idea for anyone who loves to holiday in the African bush or who has a passion for trees!
About the author:
Eugene Moll is a professor in the Department of Biodiversity and Conservation Biology at the University of the Western Cape. He holds a PhD in plant ecology from the University of KwaZulu-Natal and has authored and co-authored many guides and papers on trees and the ecology of woody plants.
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Decorative floral arrangements
Birkenhead blooms
Author: Alyson Kessel
Published: Random Struik
You can now arrange flowers like a pro and turn your home into an indoor garden without attending a course in flower arrangement. This coffee-table book on flower arranging contains easy step-by-step instructions on how to achieve beautiful flower arrangements for a variety of vases and containers.
It gives you the latest information on what equipment is required, what preparation is necessary, the use of colour, and how to make arrangements work in differently shaped vases, e.g. cubes and tubes, tall and slim, wide and flat. Also included are inspirational full-colour photographs of the steps and the gorgeous end results.Chapters are organised by shape of the vase, making it easy for readers to find a suitable arrangement to fit the vase/s they have at home. Some of the arrangements use as few as two or three blooms, thus keeping down costs while still adding a touch of elegance to a room. If you are a creative genius or have a friend that is, this book will certainly be an inspiration!
About the author:
Alyson Kessel is the contract florist for the Birkenhead House and Villa in Hermanus. With no formal floristry training, she is not bogged down and confined by old-fashioned rules and regulations. She describes her style as minimalistic yet luxurious, quirky but pretty.
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