Bosjes

Bosjes is a truly amazing farm with immense beauty and we spent a lovely morning exploring the gardens and being inspired by the diversity and beauty of the South African landscape.

Bosjes is a privately owned family farm situated in the Breedekloof Valley and surrounded by the picturesque Waaihoek and Slanghoek mountains. It produces olives, wine, grapes, peaches and proteas. The farm has several attractions including Bosjes kombuis, a contemporary restaurant with deli, tea garden and children’s play area as well as luxury accommodation and a Spa.

The chapel sits on the main axis of the gardens

The Chapel

The chapel is the focal point of the farm and is a dramatic yet serene icon. The white organic shape of the curving roof floats like a dove with its curving wings merging with the blue flowing hills in the far distance. There is an inscription in the pathway leading to the entrance of the chapel that reads “How precious, O God, is Your constant love! We find protection under the shadow of Your wings” from Psalm 36:7.

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The Gardens

The layout and landscape was designed by award winning landscape architecture firms and truly creates an experience of feeling part of the landscape. Every view and pause area throughout the gardens has been carefully considered and the journey through the beautiful fynbos brings one close to nature, feeling immersed in the landscape. The site has been designed so that views of the surrounding mountains are always part of the experience. You are constantly aware of, and in connection with, the immediate and greater landscape of the valley.

A meandering walk up a small mound leads you to a look out point and seating area where you can appreciate the length of the site as well as the surrounding views. A water feature where you can walk through two banks of cascading water allows for an immersive and poetic experience of ‘walking through water’ or spiritual baptism.

Water Feature

The gardens consist of a predominantly locally indigenous and endemic plant palette although several plants have been included for their Biblical reference and these have sign boards providing  the verse in the Bible where they are mentioned.

Plants with a Biblical reference are sign posted with relevant scripture

There are several garden rooms to explore so make sure you allow enough time to fully enjoy this farm!

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The Botha’s Halte Primary School

The Bosjes Trust was conceived by the owners as a tool for social investment. It was established with a vision to create employment and secure a future for the children of the valley. One of the projects, together with the Department of Education, includes the redevelopment of an adjoining school that one can see when entering at the main gate. (https://bosjes.co.za/care/)

We had a wonderful time exploring the gardens and appreciating the beauty of a well designed landscape and our South African culture, heritage and fauna.

See Bosjes Website for more information: https://bosjes.co.za/gardens/

Note that no outside food or pets are allowed onto the grounds.

Everard Read Art Gallery on Keyes Art Mile, Rosebank

The Everard Read Art Gallery is located on what is know as the ‘Keyes Art Mile’ and is surrounded be several other art destinations. The Circa Art Gallery is directly over the road, the building an artwork in itself, while the Goodman Gallery and Gallery MOMO are both a few kilometres away.

While driving down the one way street of Keyes Avenue it is hard to miss the Green Wall Façade on the right hand side as part of St Teresa’s School. Here is a link to an article written about this Project by Johan Wentzel from Wildflower Nursery who assisted in selecting the plant species, all of which are endemic (only locally found) to the Highveld. All species are found in the Egoli Granite Grassland Vegetation Type and would have been likely to be found in the area before the urban intervention of city development.

My visit also reminded me of the last botanical art exhibition I went to at this gallery (In May 2018) and I rediscovered the notes I took at one of the evening lectures I attended by Reinier Tereblanche on Butterflies. What stood out for me was the interdependence of butterflies and plants and reminded me again how important it is to plant indigenous and create gardens with diversity. Did you know there are 660 species of Butterfly in South Africa, second only to the tropics. This lecture was actually where I first heard about Tswalu Foundation.

As I love all things botanical I was keen to view the current botanical art exhibition by Gillian Condy. I had the privilege of seeing Gillian Condy in action when I did a botanical art course at The Cavern with Elsa Pooley which they run annually (See Post about The Cavern Here). Gillian is a renown botanical artist and she was appointed Artists in Residence (AiR) at the Tswalu Kalahari Reserve and made eight trips to the reserve over 14 months to illustrate the plants.

The exhibition is a beautiful reflection of the natural flora of the Tswalu reserve and really highlights the beauty, intricacy and marvel you can find in nature. It also reminded me that the Pangolin is one of the animals on the endangered list that few people know about. I remember growing up someone brought one in to my Dad’s veterinary practice and he called us to specially come see it. I don’t think I appreciated at the time what a rare event it was to see this animal.

The first time my friend and I tried to visit the gallery there was a production on in Circa which is where the botanical art is on display so we explored the Brett Murray exhibition in the Everard Read building, followed by a delicious coffee and croissant at L’Atelier Bakery. The second time we visited I brought my two kids along (3 and 6 yrs) and to make it more exciting for them I drew up a scavenger hunt with photos so that they had things to find and discover (attached at the end if you want to take your kids). We explored the galleries followed by another visit to L’Atelier Bakery for their amazing pastries. I will need to find another excuse to visit again!

L’ Atelier Bakery

I was very moved by the exhibition by John Meyer of iconic moments in Nelson Mandela’s life and think that those paintings are an incredible reminder of what an amazing leader he was and what he did for our country. I highly recommend you visit Circa over the next while, not only to see the beautiful botanical artworks but also the stunning images of Nelson Mandela by John Meyer.

https://lifeofmandela.com/about-the-collection/

Other Relevant links:

https://www.everard-read.co.za/

https://keyesartmile.co.za/ 

https://lifeofmandela.com/events-and-exhibitions/nelson-mandela-johannesburg-exhibition/



8 Indigenous Trees for Screening

Trees for Screening

Many landscapes require screening between the edges of a property for privacy or the addition of height for softening of buildings. Mostly you would be looking for evergreen trees with attractive foliage and non-aggressive roots. When designing a tree screen I like to use a combination of tree heights and foliage texture. Here are some lovely indigenous screening trees to consider:

1. Olea europaea subsp. africana (Olive Tree)

Olea europaea subsp. africana is a neatly shaped, hardy, evergreen tree with a dense spreading crown (9 x 12 m) of glossy grey-green to dark-green foliage. Leaves are grey-green to dark-green above and greyish below. The rough, grey bark sometimes peels off in strips. Sprays of tiny, lightly scented white to greenish flowers (October to February) are followed (March to July) by small, spherical, thinly fleshy fruits (either sweet or sour) which ripen purple-black. The Latin name for olive is olea; europaea = from Europe, and africana = from Africa. Don't plant it too close to walls, patios or swimming pools, the root system can sometimes be aggressive. (http://pza.sanbi.org/olea-europaea-subsp-africana)

Olea africana (Image from SunTrees Nursery)

2. Buddleja saligna (False Olive)

Buddleja saligna is a medium sized tree usually 4 to 5 metres in Highveld areas. This fast growing tree is an excellent, quick screen plant. It grows up to 800mm per year. Use it as a pioneer tree for your forest garden. It also makes a very good clipped hedge. It is evergreen, frost hardy and drought resistant and the masses of flowers make a lovely spring and summer show. It will grow in most soils but added compost will improve performance. It may need cutting back after flowering to keep tidy. The false olive does not have an aggressive root system. The flowers attract insects (especially moths) and therefore insect feeding birds such as Robins and Apalises to the garden. (http://pza.sanbi.org/buddleja-saligna)

Buddleja saligna (Image from CJM Nursery)

3. Ilex mitis (Cape Holly)

Ilex mitis is a hardy, small to medium sized, evergreen tree with almost white bark. It has a graceful rounded crown of glossy, dark green leaves that are purplish-red when they first flush.

Massed clusters of small, sweetly scented, white flowers are borne from October to February. (Male and female flowers on separate trees, therefore only female plants bear fruit). These are followed by tightly packed decorative red berries that attract flocks of fruit eating birds. It grows better in moist conditions near water but can withstand dry conditions. With its beautiful shape it makes a good avenue tree. Although this beautiful rounded tree can grow to huge proportions in forest conditions, it is normally a small to medium sized tree. The leaves are used as a soap substitute. Size 3 to 8m (Information from Random Harvest Website)

Ilex mitis (Cape Holly) Image from Just Trees Nursery

4. Vepris lanceolata (Ironwood)

Vepris lanceolata is a hardy, evergreen, very attractive tree with apple green foliage. It blooms with a myriad of small, white flowers from December to January, which give the tree a lacy look. The black berries ripen throughout the autumn and winter and are an important source of food for the birds. The tree is host to the Citrus Swallowtail Butterflies. A beautifully shaped tree and a very good garden subject that can be used as a screen or container plant for outdoors or indoors. The non-aggressive root system makes it ideal for smaller gardens. The timber is even-grained and white. It has many medicinal uses. Size 5 to 10m (Information from Random Harvest Website)

Vepris lanceolata (Ironwood) photographed in Random Harvest Nursery

5. Rapanea melanophloes (Cape Beech)

Rapanea melanophloes is a hardy, small to medium sized, evergreen tree with dark leaves that have a purplish cast to them. It also has really attractive bark. The small greenish-white flowers from May to July attract insects and bees. These are followed by small purple fruits that are borne in profusion close to the stems which attract fruit eating birds. A good garden subject and a useful addition to screen planting with its unusual colour foliage. The wood is used for making furniture and violins and has many magical and medicinal uses. Size 4 to 10m (information from Random Harvest Website)

6. Noltea africana

Noltea africana is a very hardy, evergreen, very fast growing, small to medium sized tree. The glossy leaves are darker above and paler underneath, and have purple petioles. The branchlets are also purplish-red. The flowers are pretty, small, white sprays borne in the axils of the leaves from August to September. The black seeds are encased in a three-lobed, brown woody capsule that splits to release them when ripe. A decorative tree that is ideal for the smaller garden but should be kept as a single stem. Grows well in sun and semi-shade. A good tree to plant for a quick screen. When twigs and leaves are rubbed in water it becomes soapy. Size 2 to 6m (Information from Random Harvest Website)

Noltea africana (Soapwood) plantbook.co.za

7. Loxostylis alata (Tarwood)

A small, well-shaped tree with glossy foliage tinged with red when young and masses of white flowers in early summer, and if the tree is a female it has showy pinkish red fruits. Tarwoods are evergreen, ornamental trees which will grow in a wide range of ecological habitats. This tree closely resembles the Brazilian pepper tree, Schinus terebinthifolius of the same family, which does not have the characteristic red sepals. This is a very attractive small tree or large shrub for gardens. It is also useful for screening and boundary plantings. It grows to 6 m or higher in favorable conditions, but can form a large, dense shrub. Other recommended trees in this family are the red currant (Rhus chirindensis), wild-plum (Harpephyllum caffrum) and the marula (Sclerocarya birrea). (http://pza.sanbi.org/loxostylis-alata)

Loxostylis alata (Tarwood) from SANBI Website

8. Cryptocarya traansvaalensis (Mountain Wild Quince)

Cryptocarya transvaalensis is a hardy, evergreen large tree with beautiful glossy dark green foliage. The leaves are blue-green below. The inconspicuous flowers are borne in the axils of the leaves from December to February. These are followed by glossy red to purple berries that are decorative and attract fruit eating birds to the garden. This species is declining as the bark is used for medicinal purposes. It makes a beautiful container plant and if you have the space a magnificent specimen tree. It stays smaller when grown in full sun. Size up to 12m (Information from Random Harvest Website)

There are many many other screening trees that can be used so don’t let this list limit you!

Sprout 5th Birthday Competition

To celebrate Sprout’s 5th Birthday this year a special competition was hosted where a landscape upgrade worth R10 000 was up for grabs. The lucky winner of the competition was Lauren Gray and the prize included a landscape consultation and small area upgrade.

Here are a few images of the proposal and the garden upgrade:

Before - panorama looking towards house

Proposed Visual Impression

Before

This is the area that was chosen to be upgraded. It consisted of a large existing Strelitzia shrub, some Agaves and several large boulders. The aim was to move the boulders to create a larger lawn area and improve the flow of the garden as one connected space. The boulders proved much larger below the ground than what the eye could see so the landscape contractor (GenGrow) brought a TLB to site to assist with moving the boulders and leveling the area. Following this, new lawn was planted to tie into the existing lawn areas. A relatively small change to an established garden that will hopefully make a big difference to the way the garden is used and enjoyed by this lovely family.

During Installation

After - lawn to establish and tie in together, some succulents to still be planted around boulders

If you have a garden that is in need of an upgrade feel free to contact me to arrange a consultation.

gina@sproutlandscapes.co.za

Why Planting Indigenous Plants will make you Happier

Red Hot Poker - Crane Flower - Yellow Honeysuckle

Many gardens today are still strongly influenced by the European style of clipped hedges and formal layouts, but the South African garden is emerging as a strong aesthetic. Indigenous gardening is becoming increasingly popular due to the environmental benefits, growing awareness of sustainable practices and the rising knowledge of locally indigenous plants.

Here are five reasons why you should plant indigenous plants, not only for yourself but for the benefit of the environment:

1.       Indigenous plants are adapted

They are suited to the prevailing conditions of the area in which they are found which means that they often have low water requirements and can withstand the temperature fluctuations and seasonal changes of that particular region. This also means that once established they should be self-sustaining, hardier and able to withstand general disturbances.

2.       Indigenous plants support indigenous animal life

Indigenous plants provide food and shelter to local animal life such as birds, insects, frogs and reptiles. The plants support local insects, which in turn support local birds and ultimately a life-supporting harmonious cycle is created. Interestingly butterflies will only lay their eggs on specific host plants, almost always indigenous species, so in order to attract these beauties into your garden you need to plant their host plant.

3.       Indigenous gardens allow for habitat creation and connection

Large areas of natural habitat is destroyed daily to make way for urban development. Fragmentation of vegetation and animal populations puts these healthy systems in jeopardy. If your garden can replace some of this lost vegetation it can create corridors for the local insect and bird life to move along.

4.       Planting indigenous is environmentally responsible

Planting indigenous plants is beneficial to the environment and the ecology which we would like to conserve for future generations. Knowing that your actions today preserve future interactions with local plants and animals for future humans is deeply encouraging.

5.       We have an amazing selection of plants!

South African plants are cultivated all over the world although many South Africans do not realise the variety and diversity of indigenous plants available to them (some 23,000-plus species). There are so many plants to choose from and an exciting journey of discovery awaits.

Now is always a good time to start. Why not visit some local indigenous nurseries to be inspired and learn more about the beautiful plants locally suited to your area.

Crassula ovata - Aloe arborescens - Tulbaghia violacea

Zantedeschia aethiopica - Agapanthus praecox

5 South African Medicinal Trees that should be used more in Garden Landscaping

1. Clausena anisata (Horsewood)

Clausena anisata (Size 3 to 10m) is a very hardy, evergreen, shrub or small tree that is spindly when young but matures to a lovely rounded shape.  It bears sprays of attractive creamy-white flowers from May to August. These are followed by black berries that attract birds to the garden. The attractive compound, glossy leaves droop gracefully. When crushed they emit a strong smell and can be used as a substitute for curry leaves. It is the host plant of several Swallowtail butterflies.  Plant in sun or semi shade. It makes an ideal specimen tree for a small garden.  It has many medicinal and magical.  (Information from Random Harvest) Some of these uses include

Clausena anisata (Image from KumbalaNursery.co.za)

2. Moringa oleifera (Moringa)

The small fast-growing and hardy Moringa oleifera tree is also known as the drumstick tree, horseradish, been oil tree or ‘peperwortelboom’ in Afrikaans. Growing between 5 and 12 m tall, it has a straight trunk and and umbrella-shaped crown of feathery green leaves. Flowers are up to 25 cm long and produce thin and long reddish brown seed pods. Although native to India, Pakistan and Nepal, Moringa oleifera grows in the Limpopo, Free State, Mpumalanga, KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng provinces of South Africa.

According to traditional African and Indian (Ayurvedic) medicine moringa has almost 540 compounds that can treat or prevent about 300 health issues. Used for centuries in Eastern countries for diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, anemia, arthritis, liver disease, as well as respiratory, skin and digestive disorders, it is now considered a ‘super-food’. The powdered leaves, roots, bark and immature pods are used for its nutritional, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and tissue-protective benefits.

Moringa is a source of vitamins, minerals, as well as all the essential amino acids, making it a complete protein. It contains significant amounts of vitamin C, E, potassium (K), iron (Fe) and zinc (Zn). In addition moringa leaves are an excellent calcium (Ca) source and contain 10 times more vitamin A (beta carotene) than carrots. moringa powder can be used as a substitute for iron tablets, hence as a treatment for anemia. Beef has only 2 mg of iron while moringa leaf powder has 28 mg of iron.

In India, moringa leaves are used stimulate breast milk production in new mothers and usually added to lentil soups during the cold and flu season to increase disease resistance. The leaves, gums, roots, flowers as well as kernels have been utilized for managing tissue tenderness, cardiovascular and liver maladies, normalize blood glucose and cholesterol. It has also profound antimicrobial and anti-TB activities.

In developing countries, the moringa leaf powder is commonly used as a medicinal herb, rather than food as in Asian populations. It is often taken as a supplement by HIV-infected people to enhance immunity and manage opportunistic infections. The fact that moringa is easily cultivable makes it a sustainable remedy for malnutrition - countries like Senegal and Benin treat children with moringa. Moringa products range from leaf extract, powder and tablets to protein shakes, seed oils, teas and probiotic drinks. Leaves can be harvested by cutting the top of the plant off when the plant has grown to 1 m, leaving about 30 cm. It is easily propagated by seeds, but needs nitrogen for good yields. It prefers daily temperatures of 25 to 30 °C and neutral, well-drained soils, but can grow well in clay soils. (http://southafrica.co.za/moringa-miracle-medicine.html)

Moringa Tree (Image from https://www.seedsforafrica.co.za/products/moringa-oleifera-tree-medicinal-seeds)

3. Tarchonanthus camphoratus (Camphor Bush)

Tarchonanthus camphoratus is a hardy, large, decorative, evergreen shrub or small tree with attractive silver foliage that smells of camphor when crushed. Sprays of white, thistle like flowers covered in white woolly hairs are borne from March to November. All parts of the plant are aromatic and smell strongly of camphor. This useful plant makes an excellent screen and windbreak. It has a fibrous root system and can be used for binding the soil. It also makes a lovely shade tree for a small garden. This drought resistant shrub is heavily browsed on by game. Used extensively as a medicinal plant.The wood is beautiful and among other things has been used to make musical instruments. Grows Up to 5m (Information from Random Harvest)

The camphor bush is used for medicinal purposes. Problems such as blocked sinuses and headache can be healed by inhaling the smoke from the burning green leaves. Drinking boiled mixture of leaves and water can help to treat coughing, toothache, abdominal pain and bronchitis. Leaves can also be used for massaging body stiffness and also as a perfume. The cotton wool-like seedheads were used to stuff cushions. (http://pza.sanbi.org/tarchonanthus-camphoratus)

Camphor Bush (Image from http://pza.sanbi.org/tarchonanthus-camphoratus)

4. Warburgia salutaris (PepperBark Tree)

The endangered pepper-bark tree of southeastern Africa, Warburgia salutarus, grows in South Africa, Swaziland, Mozambique and Zimbabwe. The name ‘salutaris’ means health giving, alluding to the pepper-bark’s medicinal uses. A related species, known as ‘Karambaki’, has been used medicinally by Arab traders, East African residents since ancient times. Pepper-bark is extremely rare to find in the wild and is listed as a Red Data Book threatened species. Heavy harvested by traditional healers for its much sought-after bark used in traditional medicine, considerable effort is made to encourage propagation of this tree.

It grows easily from cuttings or root suckers in well-drained soil rich in organic matter and makes an attractive landscaping plant. A tropical tree, the slender evergreen pepper-bark grows 5-10m tall and fixes nitrogen in the soil while its leaves makes an nitrogen-rich mulch. Small yellow-green flowers form 30 mm round berries that ripen to a purple colour. Leaves, fruit and inner bark have a strong peppery taste and harvesting is severely impeded by the fruit’s popularity with fruit flies and monkeys. The trees are slow to mature and can only be harvested at around 10 years old, but takes 20 years to reach full maturity.

The bark and leaves of the pepper-bark contain various compounds with antibacterial, anti-fungicidal (particularly against Candida yeast infections), anti-ulcer and diuretic properties. The plant material is dried, then crushed into a powder and used as infusions and decoctions to treat vaginal thrush, chest infections, venereal diseases, body aches, stomach problems (diarrhoea, aches) and malaria. Used as a snuff, it clears nasal passages and when the bark is chewed or the smoke inhaled, it remedies chest complaints, relieves constipation, fevers and body pains. An infusion of the leaves helps against rheumatism and skin diseases, while boiled roots are added to soup to cure diarrhoea. Both stems and root bark are remedies for malaria and when ground up and mixed with water, it can cure mouth sores. In Kenya, the leaves are added to flavour curries. (http://southafrica.co.za/pepperbark-tree-endangered-medicine-plant.html)

Image from http://pza.sanbi.org/warburgia-salutaris

5. Lannea discolor (Live Long)

Lannea discolor is a small to medium-sized deciduous tree with a neat round crown occurring in bushveld. It is often found on rocky granite ridges. The tree grape is a medium-sized deciduous tree that grows up to 15 m in height with a neat rounded crown. Lannea discolor is generally used as traditional medicine to treat fevers and constipation in children. Its fruits are edible and are utilized by animals, birds and humans. The wood is soft and used to make fences. Fencing poles made out of the wood will easily take root and flourish again, which has earned it its common name Live long. (http://pza.sanbi.org/lannea-discolor)

Lannea discolor (http://pza.sanbi.org/lannea-discolor)

5 Unusual Red Flowering Indigenous Plants

1. Sutherlandia frutescens (Cancer Bush)

Sutherlandia frutescens is a very hardy, evergreen, fast growing, sun-loving shrub with lovely silver-grey foliage. The striking, large, luminous orange pea-like flowers are borne from September to December. They attract Sunbirds and insects to the garden. These are followed by inflated green to pink, papery pods that are so light they are dispersed by wind. The pods and flowers are decorative in a vase. It is an important medicinal plant and has traditional uses as well. This beautiful slender shrub is a must for any garden. Plant several together for effect and use as a textural plant. It makes a beautiful container plant. It is both wind and drought resistant. This is a short-lived plant but it seeds itself freely.

Prune regularly to encourage it to bush out. This unfussy plant tolerates many different soil types and tolerates dry conditions but thrives with sufficient water (do not overwater). Plant in full sun. Size: to 50cm to 1m (https://www.randomharvest.co.za/South-African-Indigenous-Plants/Show-Plant/PlantId/695?Plant=Sutherlandia%20frutescens)

2. Ruspolia hypocrateriformis (Red Ruspolia)

Ruspolia hypocrateriformis is a fairly hardy, evergreen, scrambling woody shrub with bright green foliage. The spikes of showy pink to red flowers with darker spots on their lower petals are borne at the tips of new growth throughout summer and into autumn. Butterflies are attracted to the garden by the large amount of nectar that these flowers produce. The flowers are followed by a dry capsule which splits with a loud crack to release the seed within. Makes an interesting garden subject as a shrub and is said to make a good hedge.  It is not readily available in nurseries. Plant in full sun or semi-shade, in fertile, well-drained, loamy soil. Size: 1m but can climb to about 4m (https://www.randomharvest.co.za/en-us/South-African-Indigenous-Plants/Show-Plant/PlantId/510/Plant/Ruspolia-hypocrateriformis)

3. Erythrina acanthocarpa (Tambookie Thorn)

The tambookie thorn is a much branched, deciduous, thorny shrub reaching up to 2m in height. The striking flowers are scarlet with the upper petal edged with green and are held in heads up to 10cm long and about 12cm wide. This is a very attractive shrub when in flower and makes an excellent garden specimen. Care should be taken not to plant it alongside paving as the large underground rootstock may cause the paving to lift. It performs best in a full sun position planted in well drained soil. Do not overwater and keep relatively dry in winter. It is frost hardy. (http://pza.sanbi.org/erythrina-acanthocarpa)

(Image from Wildflower Nursery)

4. Crossandra greenstockii (Bushveld Crossandra)

Crossandra greenstockii is a beautiful little perennial that sprouts annually from a woody rootstock and looks stunning on a rockery. It flowers for quite a long time in summer. Flowers can either be orange or red. It grows in well-drained acid soil amongst grasses. The flower stalks emerge erectly from basal rosettes of broad green, unevenly lobed leaves.

Interplant Crossandra greenstockii with grasses in full sun. It responds well to a fertile, well-drained soil. (https://wildflowernursery.co.za/indigenous-plant-database/crossandra-greenstockii/)

5. Gloriosa superba (Flame Lily)

Gloriosa superba is a striking climber with unusual and beautiful, red and yellow, flame-like flowers in summer; it is suitable for shade or sun, and is easy to grow. The slender stems are produced annually and are upright to scrambling and can grow up to 4 m long. Tubers sprout in spring, and a tuber sends up 1 to 6 stems. The leaves are shiny, bright green and are tipped in a tendril, which will cling to anything it touches. The stems die back in late summer and the tubers are dormant during winter. PLEASE NOTE: that all parts of this plant, both above and below ground, but particularly the tubers, are extremely poisonous, and ingestion could be fatal. The plants contain the alkaloid colchicine. It is a widely used and effective medicinal plant, but incorrect dosage has caused human deaths. Use with extreme caution and only under guidance of a qualified practitioner. Keep the tubers and the seed capsules away from pets and children and do not let the sap come into contact with your mouth or eyes while working with them, as it can cause skin irritation. The tubers are poisonous to grazing stock. (http://pza.sanbi.org/gloriosa-superba)

While most people prefer to have a landscape filled with the tried and tested plants it can also be exciting to experiment with unusual plants that can bring an element of surprise and interest to your garden.

Which Unusual Indigneous Plant is your favourite?

University of Pretoria - Roosmaryn

Roosmaryn Concept Phase Plan

Brief

The site was identified by the University of Pretoria as an area to be allocated for students to spill out into from the large adjacent Thuto lecture hall and have a stong connection to this building even though it is separated by a vehicular road. The site also needed to respect the heritage building called Roosmaryn on its boundary.  There were existing trees but otherwise the site was bare and the soil exposed as seen by the images below:

Stormwater

Civil Consult was appointed as the consulting engineer to address the inadequate stormwater infrastructure as the site often experienced flooding. The area serves as a catchment for water surface run-off from several adjacent parking lots and paved areas. Permeable paving options were investigated but the ultimate decision taken was to use an underwater catchpit (infiltration trench) that releases water into the surrounding soil over time with overflow going into the existing stormwater system.

Site Leveling - During Construction

Circulation

The primary focus of the design was to improve circulation through and across the site and in this way the site becomes a node for students to stop and pause while on their way to their destination. It is close to an important entrance at Prospect Street which is the main access from Hatfield and formalised pathways are used to create connections along existing desire lines.

Creating a raised pedestrian crossing over the road to connect the site to Thuto came at the expense of several parking bays, but this was an important decision as this area was meant to be strongly linked to the Thuto building and allow for easy access between these areas.

New Pedestrian Crossing Built over the Road - Improving Connections

Social Spaces

The next important requirement was to create ‘social learning spaces’ for students to sit and interact. Students are encouraged to stop, rest, study, socialise and use this space as their own through use of the seating walls, paved area and lawn area. The paved area includes a giant chess set so a game of chess can also be enjoyed in between classes. The irony that this project was built to encourage student interaction and connection during a time when social distancing is being encouraged does not escape me. I do hope that the future holds opportunities for humans to interact with one another in outdoor spaces and share the joy of being in a beautiful outdoor environment.

Seating Wall with Chess Board in Paving

UP Containers

Three concrete plinths were built to activate certain areas of the site. These were built for custom designed storage containers that will serve as wifi hotspots and shelters where students can charge their laptops or cellphones. The containers are still to be installed.

Vegetation

All existing trees were maintained and incorporated into the design. Only a few new trees, namely Caledendron capense, were included which will create a unique atmosphere once mature and in flower. Several shrubs were included to create a diverse landscape that has a variety of foliage and texture such as Burchelia bubalina, Syncolostemon densiflorus, Leonotis leonorus, Bauhinia natalensis and Rhus burchelli . Anisodontea scabrosa was selected to compliment the Roosmaryn building as well as ‘softer’ plants such as Agapanthus and Scabiosa. Existing shaded areas were planted with Carissa ‘Green Carpet’, Hypoestes aristata, Plectranthus spp, Orthosiphon labiatus and Barleria ‘Rosea’.

A grass mix was used in the area that receives sun and is located behind a seating wall for when it looks less attractive during winter. The grassland plants were incorporated to provide an opportunity for the University to see how this type of landscaping can work on campus, learn maintenance techniques and also to provide education for the students. Landscaping with grasses is a relevant landscaping style and this was an opportunity to showcase the beauty of South African grasses and grassland species. Some of the species included Eragrostis gummiflua, Dimorphotheca jucunda, Melinis nerviglumis, Andropogon eucomis, Aristida junciformis, Pelargonium sidoides and Helichrysum umbraculigerum.

Future Overlays

The project lays an important foundation of circulation and structure for further activity layers to be superimposed onto it. It is hoped that future art installations, events and food trucks planned for the site will bring a send of fun and vibrancy that will enrich the students experience at the University. I will post more photographs of this project once the plants have established in a few months time.