Granny Mouse Country House & Spa, situated in the center of the famous Midlands Meander in the KwaZulu Natal Midlands, is a stunning venue that captures “country” at its best and is just a one and a half hour journey from Durban or a four hour trip from Johannesburg.

Having been in existence for more than 30 years, there are a number of features that set Granny Mouse apart from other hotels, which include the award winning Eaves Fine Dining Restaurant, the Diners Club Diamond Award winning wine cellar with some of the best wines in South Africa, a beautiful bistro and tranquil gardens that lead you to the on-site Spa.

Having recently been awarded the 2015 Certificate of Excellence from TripAdvisor – a direct result of the consistency of excellent reviews from TripAdvisor travelers after visiting the Hotel, Granny Mouse prides itself on accolades such as these. The accommodation on offer boasts 32 rooms, that of, garden rooms with garden views, deluxe rooms with river views and deluxe suites with river views. The Deluxe rooms and suites come complete with balconies overlooking the Lion’s River. Each room has a fully stocked mini bar, air conditioner and heater, 10 DTSV channels as well as a telephone and tea and coffee making facilities – sure to make every guests’ experience a memory to last forever.

This September, Granny Mouse Country House & Spa will be bringing along their Executive chef to show off his culinary skills twice a day at The Witness Garden Show’s demo kitchen between 9 am and 5 pm from 24^th to 27^th September at the Royal Showgrounds in Pietermaritzburg.

The Witness Garden Show is the largest horticultural show in the southern hemisphere and features plants, flowers, gardens, entertainment, a gourmet food hall, music, events and more.

With 2015 being the 40^th year of this show, Granny Mouse Country House & Spa will be celebrating by giving one lucky show goer the opportunity to win a 2 night stay for 2 on a bed and breakfast basis valued at over R 6 000.

Now is your chance to break away from the fast paced lifestyle and feel at home away from home at Granny Mouse! For more information, please contact (033) 234 4071 or visit www.grannymouse.co.za where you can download any of their packages on offer.

Book your ticket to the show today by visiting www.gardenshow.co.za

With spring nearly upon us, now is the best time to ensure that your garden is ready for new shoots and flowers, and to rid your garden of the pests that could ruin your spring preparation. Most of us want to ensure that our soil is healthy and fertile, and seek alternatives to the many chemical pesticides available. We spoke to Mark Robson, Gardens Manager at Granny Mouse Country House & Spa, and got his tips for ridding your beds of problematic pests.

“Not all insects and bugs are bad for your garden,” commented Robson, “in fact insects such as lady beetles and praying mantis’s are beneficial bugs to have in your garden, as they naturally assist with pest control.”

According to Robson, there are a growing number of organic pest control solutions on the market, however there are some simple solutions one can use, both through planting certain herbs and shrubs, and using items that are readily available in your kitchen, to ensure pests are kept at bay.

Planting the likes of peppermint, spearmint or pennyroyals act as natural deterrents to aphids (plant lice) and ants, so Robson suggests planting them throughout your garden to assist in keeping pests away. To avoid ants, or snails, one can simply use cayenne pepper, which will deter ants, or lime, as snails will not cross a line of lime.

“There is also the option of Horticultural oil, which is a highly refined paraffinic oil, which when mixed with water, can be sprayed onto plant foliage, which will act as a coating on the leaves, suffocating not only insect pests, but also the eggs that they lay, and can be used during your planned growing and dormant months, ” comments Robson.

With these handy tips, Robson firmly believes that your spring garden will flourish, much like those at Granny Mouse Country House & Spa.