VKTK: Garden feature(s)
GARDEN BUYS: TRULY INDIGENOUS AND IN HARMONY WITH NATURE
1. INTRODUCTION
Transforming an ordinary exotic garden into a truly lush
indigenous South African garden is a real challenge. I took on
the challenge.
2. DESCRIPTION OF MY GARDEN
I am living in a townhouse complex in the suburb of Weavind
Park in the heart of the east of Pretoria, near the National
Botanical Institute. The area has a moderate climate with the
absence of frost during winters which benefits the planting of
trees, shrubs and plants normally associated with the warmer
northern and eastern regions of South Africa.
Although there are communal gardens, I am fortunate enough to
have my own individual private garden which consists of 2 small
gardens. The one area is located at the front entrance (south)
and consists of a triangular shaped as well as a long narrow
shaped flower bed and is linked to the communal gardens. Rocks
stacked on each other created interesting figures and a
grounding stone with fresh water attracts birds and lizards
(Square meter area is approximately 17m2).
The back main garden (north) has a “L”shape with 2 flowerbeds
linked by a small postage stamp patch of grass and also
includes a patio area with a pergola and brick flower beds
where pot plants are kept. (Square metre area 85m2)
Hard landscaping, using rocks, pebbles and dead wooden stumps
are integrated with indigenous plants to create an African
ambiance. Rocks play a fascinating part in drawing the human
eye from the western to the eastern boundary of the garden.
Next to a cascading water feature, creating a peaceful
atmosphere, it starts off with big rocks stacked loosely but
firmly on each other, which flows into a wall resembling the
Great Zimbabwe monument, a piece of Stonehenge and ending in a
rock kopje, covered by aloes and other succulents, adjacent to
a pond which is surrounded by various indigenous shrubs such as
Tassel Berry and Dogwood. At the back an exclusive area for
birds and a hiding place for reptiles and amphibians has
already taken shape. At the far end a pebble and sleeper
pathway leads towards the gate, passing by a fever tree called
home by cape sparrow
Various metal and wooden figurines of birds and animals echoes
the call of nature.
Water forms an integral part of the garden and apart from the
water feature and the pond there are also grinding stones and a
bird bath, which are daily filled with fresh water and which is
quite popular with birds.
A rustic fence was constructed from laths and follows most of
the perimeter wall to bring life to the monotony of a
townhouse brick wall.
3. WHAT MAKES MY GARDEN SPECIAL
My garden is a small wildlife sanctuary. All due to a variety
of carefully selected indigenous plants. It so happens that my
leave periods are to a lesser extent “going away periods” and
“doing the garden route” is the rule rather than the
exception..
As wildlife is not disturbed by pets or children, especially
birds are quite at ease in my garden. Pesticides and poison is
a no-go. One realises that your progressing / developing
garden is becoming a success story when one observes the
following daily enjoyments which can not be measured in
monetary terms:
• Cape Glossy Starlings flying in and out of the sisal
log to collect food for the young
• Lizards basking on warm rocks or “practising
tug-of-war”with a freshly caught earthworm
• Discovering “thumb nail size” frogs on a rainy evening
on an Orange River Lily leave
• Watching Bronze Manikins taking a grinding stone bath
on a hot summer afternoon
• Fruit bearing trees which could not be resisted by
birds
• Watching birds visiting the feeding stations I have
build for them and counting 12 visiting species in an hour
(these birdfeeders were featured in SA Gardening magazine of
September 2005.)
4. ACHIEVEMENT OF CURRENT DESIGN, CONTENT AND BEAUTY
A success story often starts off with a dream, lightened by a
spark of inspiration and thereafter a substantial amount of
perspiration and hard work complemented by satisfaction and
appreciation. The spark that encouraged me to go on my
indigenous mission was a book written by Eve Palmer (see
acknowledgements) and her efforts to establish an indigenous
garden in Pretoria in the 60’s when “planting indigenous” was
not a well known concept an something of a rarity. Once I
started reading the book I could not put it down and when I
finally went to bed in the early hours of the morning in the
spring of 2003, I was so excited I could not sleep. “ If she
could do it, why not me?!” My “indigenous bushveld dream” was
born.
The previous owners of my house did not care much about
gardening so the garden that I inherited with the house which
I moved into in November 2002, could only be described as
“sunless, overgrown dark, dead soil and alien friendly with a
total disregard for “indigenous” and bird and animal life.
The first year of living with a garden was a period of
homework, learning and planning. So, by reading garden
magazines, acquiring books on indigenous plants and attracting
wildlife, visiting nurseries, garden centres, the National
Botanical Institute in Pretoria as well as asking the experts
questions,
(Ernst van Jaarsveld from the NBI at Kirstenbosch even e-mailed
me on Boababs) the addiction grew more intense day by day .
In the autumn of 2004 things started to happen. I decided not
to go the landscape architect way, but to do it on my own and
in my own way.
Getting rid of the aliens was sheer pleasure. The following
trees were removed: 2x Pine trees, 2x Camphor trees, 2x Privet
trees, 5x Palm trees and an Australian Cherry tree. However one
Palm tree was left in peace and provides building material for
the local weaver birds and fruit for the louries. The removing
and pruning of trees helped a great deal. With the coming of
the sun, plants were touched more generously by its golden
rays and that made a big difference. Adding mulching and lots
and lots of compost, grass clippings and not bothering about
collecting dead winter leaves created proper growth.
I realised the potential and necessity of hard landscaping in a
truly African garden and therefore a lot of rocks, pebbles and
dried wood acquired from nurseries and friends all found their
place.
A 1 000 litre water storage tank in the court yard provides
rain water to the front garden during the dry winter months.
Several trees and shrubs are marked with name plates,
identifying the scientific name, Afrikaans, English and an
African name as well as elaborating on the medicinal and other
use of trees and plants.
5. THE ROLE OF INDIGENOUS PLANTS IN MY GARDEN
One is filled by a significant amount of pride when one
considers the fact that the indigenous contents was increased
from approximately 10% in 2002 to nearly 98% in 2009. The
indigenous way has an added advantage apart from being drought
resistant, interesting growth patterns etc. Indigenous plants
clearly supports wildlife. And the following observations
prove this:
• Barbets and Mouse birds feasting in the Notsung
• Bull Bulls raiding the Blackbird Berry and Dogwood
• Watching a male masked weaver trying to impress would
be wives with his building techniques, only to be disappointed
by the same wives who are no longer inquisitive but destructive
• Sunbirds frequenting the various aloe species on the
rock garden and adding some colour to a dull winters day
• Even larvae eating the leaves of the Wild Pear become a
pleasure, as one knows that the end result will be beautiful
butterflies.
6. LIST OF INDIGENOUS TREES, SHRUBS AND PLANTS
Trees
1. Acacia xanthophloea (Fever Tree) 189
2. Adansonia digitata (Baobab) 467
3. Antidesma venosum (Tassel Berry) 318
4. Clerodendrum glabrum ( Cat’s Whiskers) 667.1
5. Dais cotinifolia (Pompon Tree) 521
6. Diospyros lycioides (Bluebush) 605
7. Dombeya rotundifolia (Wild Pear) 471
8. Euclea natalensis (Natal Guarri) 597
9. Gardenia volkensii subsp. spatulifolia (Bushveld
gardenia) 691.1
10. Halleria lucida (Tree Fuchsia) 670
11. Harpephyllum caffrum (Wild Plum) 361
12. Heteropyxis natalensis (Lavender Tree) 455
13. Pappea capensis (Jacket Plum) 433
14. Wild Olive (Olea europaea subsp. africana) 617
15. Ziziphus mucronata (Buffalo-thorn) 447
Shrubs and other Plants
16. Agapanthus praecox (Agapanthus)
17. Asparagus densiflorus (Meyersii) (Foxtail Fern)
18. Asparagus densiflorus (Sperengeri) Emerald Fern)
19. Buddleja auriculata (Weeping Sage) 636.5
20. Buddleja saligna (False Olive) 636
21. Burchellia bubalina (Wild Pomegranate) 688
22. Carissa macrocarpa (Large Num Num) 640.3
23. Dietes bicolor (Yellow wild Iris
24. Dietes grandiflora (Fairy Iris)
25. Ehretia rigida (Puzzle Bush) 657
26. Gardenia thunbergia (Starry Gardenia) 692
27. Grewia occidentalis (Cross Berry) 463
28. Hypoestes aristata (Ribbon Bush)
29. Leonotis leonurus (Wild Dagga)
30. Leucospermum Cordifoleum (Nodding Pincushion)
31. Mackaya bella (Forest Bell Bush) 681.1
32. Ochna serrulata (Mickey Mouse Bush) 479.1
33. Polygala myrtifolia (September Bush) 302.1
34. Psychotria capensis (Black Birdberry) 723
35. Rhamnus prinoides (Dogwood) 452
36. Tecoma capensis (Cape Honeysuckle) 673.1
37. Strelitzia juncea (Assegai Strelitzia)
38. Strelitzia reginae (Crane Flower)
39. Asparagus plumosus (Asparagus Fern)
40. Chlorophytum comosum (Green Hen and Chickens)
41. Chlorophytum saundersiae (Weeping Anthericum)
42. Chondropetalum tectorum (Cape Thatching Reed)
43. Clivia miniata (Clivia)
44. Crinum bulbispermum (Orange River Lily)
45. Cyperus prolifer (Dwarf Papyrus)
46. Dimorphoteca jucunda (Trailing Mauve Daisy)
47. Felicia amelloides (Blue Felicia)
48. Gazania rigens (Trailing Gazania)
49. Gladiolus (Gladiolus)
50. Plectranthus verticillatus (Gossip plant)
51. Protasparagus plumosus (Asparagus Fern)
52. Sansevieria hyacinthodes (Mother- in-Law’s
Tongue)
53. Scadoxus puniceus (Paintbrush)
54. Scilla natalensis (Blue Squill)
55. Senecio tamoides (Canary Creeper)
56. Tulbaghia violacia (Wild Garlic)
57. Zantedeschia aethiopica (White Arum Lily)
Aloes and Succulents
58. Aloe aborescens (Krantz Aloe) 28.1
59. Aloe barberae (Tree Aloe) 28
60. Aloe ferox (Bitter Aloe) 29.2
61. Aloe greatheadii var. davyana (Veld Aloe)
62. Aloe marlothii (Mountain Aloe) 29.5
63. Bulbine frutescens (Stalked Bulbine)
64. Cotyledon orbiculata (Pig’s Ears
65. Echeveria Kalanchoe
66. Adenium multiflorum (Impala lily)
67. Kleinia fulgens
68. Lampranthus coccineus (Red Vygie)
7. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I would like to acknowledge the following people whose
knowledge and experience contributed largely to fulfilling my
dream of establishing an indigenous garden in the city. It is
possible!
The 3 Van Wyk’s: Prof Braam, Dr Piet and Dr Ben-Erik for
sharing their vast knowledge in numerous books.
Dr Ernst van Jaarsveld for his highly inspiring weekly column
“Vra vir Ernst” in the Property Guide
My friend, gardener and handyman, the late Mr Thomas Malinga,
whose hard labour (planting trees, building of a pergola,
putting the rocks in their place and removing of aliens) made a
substantial contribution to the achievement of the
above-mentioned. He left a true legacy. His successor Mr
Johannes Molala who assisted me with damage control and the
construction of a rock garden after the partly destruction of
the old garden due to the collapse of the wall, removing of
trees and the construction of a new wall, also made a huge
contribution.
The following books and magazines were invaluable and provided
lots and lots of inspiration:
• Joffe, Pitta. 2007. Skeppende Tuinmaak met Inheemse
Plante
• Kirsten, Keith. 1992. Volledige Tuingids vir
Suid-Afrika
• Palmer, Eve. 1989. Onder die Olien: ‘n Tuin vir
Plesier
• Pienaar, Kristo. 1985. Plant Inheems
• Venter, Fanie en Julye-Ann. 2007. Benut ons inheemse
bome
• Van Jaarsveld, Ernst. 2000. Waterbesparende Tuinmaak
• Sheat, WG. 1993. A-Z van Tuinmaak in Suider Afrika
• Smith, Gideon F. & Van Wyk, Ben-Erik, 2008, Guide to
Garden Succulents
• Van Wyk, Ben-Erik & Smith, Gideon. 2008, Guide to Aloes
of South Africa
• Van Wyk, Piet, 1997, Field Guide to the Trees of
Southern Africa
SA Tuinpaleis
The Gardener magazine
8. FUTURE PLANS
• Constructing of a wooden deck to create more of a
harmonious unity between my house and garden
• Acquiring a small container to make my own compost
