When you hear the words farmhouse, one thinks of a rustic building, offering the very basic of amenities, where one has to “rough it” a little, and nothing could be further from that image than the Farmhouse at Granny Mouse.

This unique and extremely tastefully decorated holiday house oozes the charm of a farmhouse, however combines the tranquillity of nature with the sophistication of elegance, including the provision of a magical self-catering kitchen complete with dishwasher, washing machine and tumble dryer.

Located a mere 900m from the main Granny Mouse Country House & Spa entrance, the Farmhouse at Granny Mouse has truly been designed with family in mind. Catering for up to twelve guests, the Farmhouse boasts a large living / tv room area, a large open plan dining room and kitchen area, all of which opens out onto a spacious undercover balcony braai area, complete with a twelve-seater outdoor dining area, a large level garden and pool for those hot Midlands days.

Perfect for family getaways, the Farmhouse at Granny Mouse is fully serviced, and should you be in a rush to arrive, the Granny Mouse team offer a personal shopping and delivery option for a small fee, and better yet, if self-catering is not your style, Farmhouse guests are welcome to dine, and use all the facilities at the main Hotel.

This magical and stress free family getaway venue allows many generations to vacation together under one roof, and to truly interact as a family without other guests, as the Farmhouse is booked out solely to one set of guests, and is sure to be one of the most memorable family holidays you will ever experience.

To make your booking, contact Granny Mouse today on 033 234 4071 or email reservations@grannymouse.co.za

With summer around the corner and rain being the inevitable, there are ways of keeping your favourite and most expensive plants or herbs safe to avoid being soaked by heavy rains or drying out from the heat during this coming season.

Hanging baskets are one way to ensure expensive flowers are maintained and kept safe and also makes a dull area look pretty and bright.

So how do we go about planting correctly in a basket? Granny Mouse Country House and Spa’s Gardens Manager, Mark Robson, known as “Smiley” to the Team, gives a few tips on making your baskets bloom.

Lining hanging baskets is essential. He says, “Traditional hanging baskets require you to line them with a sheet plastic that has a few holes here and there to allow for drainage as well as hold in your potting soil.”

Secondly, he mentions that you would need get the correct plants ready for basket planting. It is best to use plants or herbs that have an overflowing effect – ones that spill over the basket. Also try not to overload the basket or put incompatible species in the same basket, as this would mean more attention is needed for maintenance.

“The best flowers to plant in a basket include Impatiens, Begonia, Fuchsia, Petunia, Pansy, Periwinkle, Parsley, and Thyme to mention a few,” he adds.

In order to maintain any blooming hanging basket, trimming, watering and fertilizing is needed. During the Summer months, soil tends to dry out and when watered often, nutrients are lost, which is then gained by the fertilizer.

Once all your flowers and herbs are planted, hang your basket on a sturdy hook or stand and enjoy the beauty!