Treeshop - Indigenous Tree Nursery

I met Piet and Sandra at their nursery north of Pretoria one Friday morning. Piet was six metres up a tall ladder busy welding a steel structure (new shade structures) while Sandra was walking through the farm keeping track of orders and attending to client requests. Piet and Sandra are both nature enthusiasts who love birdwatching, hiking and travelling South Africa. It is through their passion for the bush that Piet’s hobby of growing trees started. Both look fit and energetic and once they start talking about their business their passion and enthusiasm is contagious.

Piet explained how he presented a course at the University to engineering graduates preparing them for working in the corporate environment. One of the modules taught that when you start working you should have a retirement plan in place for when you reach the end of your working career. The theory explains that you should “start a hobby that you enjoy that can become a stream of income when you retire” and so Piet decided to put the theory that he taught into practice.

Sandra took me through the well organised Nursery - a treasure trove of Indigenous Trees

Piet took a percentage of his retirement savings and invested it towards the tree growing business which originally only started as a hobby. Sandra explains that his first seedlings were grown on the covered patio of their home in Vanderbijlpark. It is from here that they developed the business for a period of 12 years while Piet was still employed. During this period they purchased the farm where the nursery is now established. When Piet retired they moved to Pretoria where he was able to focus all his energy to further develop the farm, automate some of the tree cultivation processes and expand Treeshop’s species offer. Piet uses his engineering background to design new technology that benefits the business – from growing seedlings in trays made with 3D printing technology to building new greenhouses.

The new shade structures under construction

Sandra has a vast knowledge about all the trees and plants that they grow

The nursery is continuously expanding and through Piet and Sandra’s passion and dedication it is also innovating as they aim to become the best supplier of indigenous trees in Southern Africa. It boasts a wide range of indigenous trees of varying sizes and they are specifically attempting to grow trees that are not easily available in cultivation because they are either difficult to grow or find.

Pittosporum viridiflorum (Cheesewood)

Rothmannia globosa (September Bells)

The nursery also includes a bonsai range and it is amazing to see miniature versions of indigenous trees. They have also positioned themselves as forerunners in the market for growing potted trees. These are ideal if you have limited space or if you want to enjoy indigenous trees in situations that would otherwise be impossible to plant such as patios, balconies or small gardens.

Potted Trees are ideal for difficult to grow situations

Most of the trees that they grow are adapted to the climatic conditions of the Highveld, although some are from warmer parts of the country (eg. Albizia, Commiphora, Sterculia). However, the farm receives temperatures of -4 so they are exposed to colder conditions. Always check frost sensitivity of a tree before deciding to plant it.

If you need help choosing indigenous plants or trees for your garden have a look at the ebook I have written at ebook.sproutlandscapes.co.za. The e-book will guide you to decide what steps to take for your own garden in a simple and encouraging way. There are several plant palettes to help you make correct plant choices including shrubs for screening, trees for screening, and planting in sunny or shady conditions.

Combretum hereroense (Russet Bushwillow)

Most of the trees that Treeshop grow can be seen on their website but they also grow more unusual species so if you are looking for something specific it would be best to contact them directly to enquire.

Treeshop Nursery sells quality indigenous trees directly to the public and people can purchase through their website www.indigenoustrees.online or by emailing Sandra.

A variety of tree sizes are available - these Ilex mitis (Cape Holly) trees are in 200l. bags

BristleCone Wholesale Nursery

Sheep grazing in the meadows create picturesque views of Farm-life

It is always a treat to escape the hustle of Johannesburg and spend time in nature so it was with great delight that, along with a few fellow landscape architects, I visited Leon Scholtz on his farm in the Skeerpoort, Hartbeeshoek area. While walking through the magnificent garden and growing tunnels of BristleCone Leon chatted to us about the nursery’s history and where the landscaping industry is moving towards.

After obtaining a degree in Horticulture Leon Scholtz bought a piece of land in 1974 and together with his wife Elize they started the nursery called BristleCone. The name BristleCone refers to a species of Pine that is the oldest living plant on the planet and is also highly resilient to harsh weather and poor soils. Bristlecone pines grow at high altitudes in arid regions of the Western United States. Bristlecones, along with all related species in the class Pinopsida, are cone-bearing seed plants (commonly known as conifers) and the name is derived from the prickles on the female cones. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bristlecone_pine)

The Garden

At the inception BristleCone was only growing and selling Conifers as there was a high demand for those plants. They branched out into succulents and expanded their range to include Aloes, however, in 1976 these were hit by severe frost and all of them died. Temperatures on the farm can drop to -4 degrees Celsius so all plants that are grown need to be frost hardy. Frost is not the only challenge that farm life holds. Every South African will know some of the challenges that face farmers on a daily basis include: hail storms, veld fires, crime threats, and labour relations.

BristleCone grows a large variety of ornamental grasses - this display garden shows the combinations of colour and texture and mature height of species

In the 1980s Leon started growing Grasses but nearly got rid of them all before the market caught on to the value of Grasses in landscaping and stock started moving. This was certainly ahead of the curve as landscaping with grasses is still very popular. They also grow fruit trees, also a very important trend in landscaping, although they have reduced their range to smaller bag sizes.

Currently 50% of the plants that BristleCone is growing are Indigenous. They also grow a wide variety of colour plants such as Osteospermum, Geraniums, Plumbago and 25 vareties of Agapanthus (looking so stunning at the moment I must add). They have a wide range of interesting ornamental grasses, certain specialist species and unique form plants-many from Mexico. Leon’s son Dewald is currently in charge of Production and has won SANA Young Grower of the Year Award.

Leon walking us through his nursery

Leon has traveled extensively and his plant knowledge is incredible. The passion he displays for the plants and his business is tangible and can be seen through his active Instagram account @bristle_cone_nursery

Snippet taken from BristleCone’s Website “We source our plants and plant selections from all over the world. Our aim is to grow plants suitable for our environment. Trails for new or improved selections are grown on the farm and selected for production if suitable.

We specialize in plants in general with the emphasis on trendy plants for landscapers, indigenous plants for rehabilitation and indigenous projects and connoisseur plants for collectors and the Niche Market.

The main aim with new plant selections is to find plants that are more disease resistant, more water wise and more compact and tidy to reduce clipping or cutting back too often. We recommend mulching of all plants after planting to reduce loss of water and weed growth.”

BristleCone Nursery is known for its family values, warm hospitality and most importantly, its outstanding plant quality and continues to be a front-runner in the growing and landscaping industry.

Inspired by South African Indigenous Flora

I have been fortunate to listen to two presentations by Elsa Pooley: one hosted at Random Harvest Indigneous Nursery in 2015 and the other at the ILASA Conference held in September 2015 (See Previous Blog written on ILASA Conference). I also recently attended a course at The Cavern in the Drakensberg where I was able to view some examples of beautiful indigenous plants  and see examples of these plants growing in the wild.

Turrea floribunda flowering at Random Harvest Nursery

To see more about the tree in the above image visit: http://www.randomharvest.co.za/South-African-Indigenous-Plants/Show-Plant/PlantId/112?Plant=Turraea%20floribunda  

Elsa Pooley is an advocate for using indigenous plants in public and civic spaces and strongly believes that any form of rehabilitation should exclusively make use of locally indigenous species. She has spent many years studying the indigenous flora of South Africa, particularly in Kwa-Zulu Natal and knows the great potential that South African plants have, but are unfortunately not commercially grown and therefore not well known by landscapers and home owners. Fortunately for us Random Harvest is one of only a handful of nurseries in the country growing indigenous plants, many of which have until now been unavailable.

An indigenous garden can have colour all year round and although this may not always be bright flowers it can come from foliage and the variety of colour and texture from different plants. Elsa mentions how South African plants are used throughout the world but we do not necessarily appreciate their true value as we prefer to make use of exotic plants in our designs. The temptation for landscapers is to use the same old plants they always use because they are easy and work well but there are so many other plants that we could be using.

Some plants I saw in the Drakensberg that I hope to use in the future in my landscape designs:

Pelargonium reniforme  (photographed at Engen Garage in Harrismith, all other images taken at The Cavern in the Drakensberg)

Helichrysum sutherlandii - look at this wonderful grey foliage

Kniphofia northiae - large Poker highly rated by Elsa, impressive flowers

Hesperantha coccinea - Pink Variety, normally Red Flowers

Monopsis decipiens

Inulanthera calva

Helichrysum hypoleucum - likes a bit of shade

Merxmuellera macowanii - beautiful ornamental grass (Gomphostigma on Right)

Syncolostemon macratnhus - tall purple pink flowering shrub

Helichrysum acutatum

Metalasia densa

Gladiolus crassifolius

Wahlenbergia

Lotononis pulchella

Thalictrum rhynchocarpum - soft and delicate foliage for shady areas

Seriphium plumosum (Bankrotbos) also known as Stoebe plumosa

Polygala virgata (Purple Broom)

Clematis bracteata (Travellers Joy) - beautifully scented dainty white flowers make this an ideal creeper 

I hope that you will also be inspired by these beautiful plants and experiment with indigenous plants in your garden!

Random Harvest Details: 

For directions please go to our website www.randomharvest.co.za : or call 082-553-0598

Hours of business 8:00 to 17:00 Monday to Sundays

I highly recommend subscribing to Random Harvest Newsletter on their website

Garden Highlights of my Germany Trip

Siedl Park, Murnau

This rather rustic park is an area of natural beauty with several historical elements dotted through it that you happen to discover as you make your way along the gravel paths. There is a beautiful wooded area with tall leafy trees and meadow like embankments with grass. The park is named after Emmanuel von Seidl (1856-1919) who was an architect involved in the design and beautification of several areas in Murnau including the pedestrian zone in the old town centre. 

Map of Park with photos of Emanuel von Siedl's country villa (destroyed 1972)

Linderhof Palace, Linderhof (Near Ettal)

You are not allowed to take pictures inside the palace, but it is something to behold: extravagance and opulence I have not seen before. The mad King Ludwig II certainly knew how to live in luxury.

The gardens are lovely to walk through and consist of gravel pathways with large beautiful trees and a few dams. I enjoyed the wild flowers. The gardens are the setting for the King’s numerous ‘pavilions’ that he placed in this picturesque alpine valley.

A highlight of the garden was the Neptune water feature at the back of the palace showing a dramatic and mighty herd of horses galloping with jets of water spraying from their nostrils.

See http://www.schlosslinderhof.de/englisch/park/history.htm for more information.

Formal Gardens in front of the Palace

Stunning displays using annual colour

You can walk for quite a few kilometers in this park, through meadows and forests

Plan of the Palace Gardens

Pavilion with the Peacocks

Neptune Sculpture Linderhof Palace

English Gardens, Munich

This extensive green lung in the centre of Munich is an extremely popular spot for locals and tourists alike on a hot summer’s day. We were amazed at the thousands of people sunbathing and swimming in the water and it really felt more like a beach resort than a public park with everyone walking around in their costumes. This experience was a real highlight - especially watching so many people jump into the river and float away with heads bobbing :)

Sunbathers in English Gardens

Going with the flow

Harold Porter Botanical Garden

Harold Porter Botanical Gardens is located within the Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve and its flora constitutes the Cape Floral Kingdom – one of only six floristic regions in the world – comprising approximately 8800 species, of which 70% are endemic. Fynbos, a part of his floral kingdom, is characterized by shrubby plants such as proteas, ericas, buchus, legumes, bruias, daisies, bulbous plants and reedlike restios in place of grasses. (SANBI pamphlet purchased at Harold Porter Botanical Gardens) I was so excited to spend a morning exploring and photographing fynbos!

The gardens sit at the foot of the 900m high sandstone peaks of the Kogelberg Mountains

I drove over the scenic Franschoek Pass to Betty’s Bay to visit this small botanical gardens I had heard so much about. Since joining the Botanical Society I have been curious to see what this little garden looks like.

A beautiful dark pond with blue water lilies, reflecting the mountains behind it, welcomed me as I entered the garden. I quickly realised that I couldn’t take enough photos of the stunning fynbos plants on display here. Every colour and texture you can imagine! There were lots of Erica varieties in flower which the sunbirds were loving too.

So much texture. What a beautiful display of indigenous plants!

We spotted a tortoise enjoying a stroll in the garden!

Unfortunately the walk to Disa Waterfall was closed for renovations. There are also various other more strenuous hikes you can take into the mountains and I can imagine the views from up there must be wonderful.

I looked at their indigenous plant nursery but had to hold myself back from buying any plants.. trekking them all the way back to JHB isn't always a great idea. After a quick visit to Stony Point to view the breeding Penguin colony and a stop in at John the Potter, a beautiful ceramic studio, we headed back over the pass to Franschoek.

Lots of Penguins!

Harold Porter Botanical Garden:

Garden Hours (According to Pamphlet purchased at Gardens)

Opening Time: 365 days a year from 08h00

Closing Times: No entry after 16h30 on weekdays and 17h00 on weekends and public holidays. Visitors already in the garden may stay until 18h00 in winter (April to October) and 19h00 in summer (November to March)

Special Late Closing Times: Entry until 19h00 during the simmer festive season (as advertised). The garden will close at 21h00.

Concerts: Opening and Closing times will be as advertised including on our website.

Contact Details: Clarence Drive (R44) Betty’s Bay. Tel 028 272 9311. Email Harold.Porter.NBG@sanbi.org.za. Website: www.sanbi.org.z