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The Day I Discovered My “Strawberries” Were Actually False Strawberries

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Introduction: A Small Red Berry That Shifted My Morning I didn't expect anything unusual today. I went into the garden of mine in the typical manner - half-asleep, gripping my mug, and taking in that usual Soshanguve morning fresh air. The sun was gentle, the earth was nice and cool from the night, and I was only thinking of looking at the spinach and lettuce that I had already planted before I would have started my day. However, it was a bright little thing hidden under the leaves that made me stop my headlong check. Just under a pile of dry leaves, the red of something very small was what I noticed. That one bright berry changed the whole tone of my morning. Little did I know it was about to lead me into a story of mistaken identity, curiosity, and one of the sweetest lessons the garden has given me this week. A Red Surprise Hiding Under the Leaves This morning, I was strolling through my garden here in Soshanguve and I spotted a little red berry that was glimmering ...
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The Gardening Tools That Shape My Days in the Garden

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Introduction - The Quiet Companions in My Garden Every morning in Soshanguve, before the taxis start hooting on the main road and before the sun begins its usual mission of turning the soil warm and stubborn, I step into my little garden with a soft, familiar excitement. The air is still cool. The birds have already woken up and are roaming the yard as if they are seeing for themselves that I have arrived. And as usual, my gardening tools are in the exact place where I left them, standing quietly as if they are already aware of what the day requires from me. It took me years to understand the relationship between a gardener and their tools. When I first started planting, I didn't have anything proper. I was using whatever was available in the house. A spoon at times, a broken plastic container at times, and sometimes just my bare hands. I chuckle when I recall those days but I am also thankful because they made me realize that gardening is not about having tools, it is about having...
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How a Single Marigold Bloom Changed My Whole Day

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(I've naturally placed the image references inside the flow, like we always do.) The Day My Marigolds Reminded Me to Slow Down What You'll Discover in This Post This is the story that a little marigold garden patch in Soshanguve taught me. The story is about how these flowers taught me patience, being present, and the beauty of unexpected colour in a tired season. You will be taken with me through the very moment these flowers surprised me, how they changed the vibe of my whole garden, what they mean for soil health here in Gauteng, and why I now think of them as small soldiers standing between my vegetables and pests. Also, you will sense the personal moment that made me stop, breathe, and be grateful for my journey once again. A Quiet Morning in the Garden I went to the garden earlier than I normally would that morning. The air still had that cool feeling which you can only experience in our part of Soshanguve before the sun starts to heat up the sand. I really wasn't exp...
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Why This Scarecrow Means More to Me Than Just Bird Control

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What You'll Discover in This Post In this long, heartfelt garden diary entry, I take you through the full story of how I built my scarecrow from the frustration that pushed me to create it, to the quiet pride I feel every morning when I see it standing like a dusty soldier in the middle of my vegetable beds. You'll discover how it protected my spinach during a tough season, how the children reacted to it, why those spinning CDs became a secret weapon, and how this simple creation ended up changing the whole spirit of my Soshanguve garden. I'll also share subtle lessons about protecting young seedlings, timing, and working with our harsh Gauteng climate. Introduction: When the Birds Started Winning I still remember the week everything felt like it was falling apart in my garden. I had worked so hard preparing those ridges, shaping each row under the hot Soshanguve sun, watering gently in the evenings, and whispering the same quiet prayer every gardener says inside their hear...
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The Day I Replanted My Spirit in the Garden

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What You'll Discover in This Post Today's experiences have demonstrated to me many things: First to reconnecting with the earth for positive stress relief from your mind. Second to the way delicate seedlings remind me of the very special things about my own journey through life. Finally, the simple act of planting a seed holds much more than just an ordinary task; it is, in reality, an agreement made between you and yourself to move forward with hope, compassion and enthusiasm. All this will be found in this post that sweat, and hope and compassion all wrapped together to get off to a fresh new start. Introduction: When the Soil Called My Name There are days in Soshanguve when the world feels loud, but the garden whispers my name softly. This morning was like that. After the rain ceased, I went out of my house and the first thing that caught my eye was the warm and humid earth. And right after that, I heard an internal voice saying, "today you are going to plant."  I ...
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I Thought My Parsley Was Gone Forever… Until It Surprised Me

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What You'll Discover in This Post In this emotional garden story, I take you through the moment I discovered my once healthy parsley collapsing from the inside, how convinced I was that I had completely lost it, and the slow but beautiful comeback that taught me a deep lesson about resilience. You'll see the parsley at its best, at its lowest, and during the surprising rebirth that unfolded right in the heart of Soshanguve's heat. I've included natural image placements showing the journey from lush growth, to decline, to recovery. Introduction: When a Herb Breaks Your Heart  I've always believed that herbs are the "easy ones," the plants you grow when you want a bit of confidence in the garden. But life here in Soshanguve has shown me again and again that even the easiest plants can test your patience, your emotions, and your ability to trust that things will turn around. Parsley was always one of those herbs in my life that I never had to be concerned wit...
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Coreopsis Magic: How One Bloom Lit Up My Garden

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What You'll Discover in This Post In this expanded garden diary entry, I'll take you through: The exact moment I noticed this bright yellow wildflower shining in my Soshanguve garden. My emotional reaction and how it shifted my whole afternoon. What this flower is (Coreopsis/Tickseed) and why it thrives effortlessly in North Pretoria heat. How the blooms, buds, and stems reveal the plant's resilience and personality. Personal memories this flower awakened from my childhood. How I grow and care for it in our harsh Gauteng climate. Its relationship with pollinators in my garden. Why it's perfect for a water scarce yard like mine. The lessons it silently taught me about patience, timing, and blooming in my own life. A warm, reflective conclusion that ties the whole journey together Introduction: When a Flower Comes Into Your Life at the Perfect Time Actually, I was not even thinking of doing some gardening that morning. Do you know those lazy Soshanguve mornings when the s...
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