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.

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

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

10 Essential Plants for a Rewarding Vegetable Garden

A Vegetable Garden should be filled with plants that can be harvested for use in the kitchen and home. A wide range of foliage size, colours and textures add interest and variety to planting combinations. I especially love herbs and the beautiful landscapes you can create using them. Here are the top ten plants I recommend every Vegetable Garden should have:

1. Perennial Basil ‘White’ (Ocimum basilicum)

Large, highly aromatic leaves with spikes of white flowers from early spring to late autumn. Leaves can be used in cooking wherever a basil taste is required. Its cold hardy nature will ensure the availability of basil right through winter. Shrub. Height: 80cm Width: 80cm.

Perennial Basil - Medium sized shrub with beautiful flowers

2. Cleveland Sage (Salvia clevelandii)

A hardy, small woody shrub with velvety, textured oval green-grey leaves. Sage tolerates most climates however it does not like to be over watered. Requires really good drainage and a slightly alkaline soil. The foliage is used in pot pourii and in natural insecticides. Shrub. H:1.5m W:1m.

Cleveland Sage - large shrub with beautiful foliage

3. Mint (Mentha spicata spp.)

Most well known of the mints with tasty, highly aromatic mint flavored leaves. The mint is extensively used for salads, sauces and teas. Used medicinally. Useful natural insecticide. Perennial. H:40cm W:spread.

Mint - several varieties to choose from including Chocolate Mint, Ginger Mint and Liquorice Mint

4. Dutch Lavender (Lavandula dentata)

An herbaceous shrub with deeply serrated, highly aromatic green leaves. Large blue flowers are borne on long stems from spring through to autumn. Has medicinal properties. Dried leaves and flowers can be used in pot pourii. Shrub. H:80cm W:60cm

Lavender - grey or green foliage varieties, beautiful aroma and foliage

5. Common Thyme (Thymus vulgaris)

Mauve flowers in summer with small mid green fragrant leaves. Used in stews, soups, salads and sauces. Medicinally has antifungal and antibacterial properties. Ground cover. H:30cm W:30cm.

Lemon Thyme - Thymus x citriodorus

Thyme - ‘Silver Posie’ variety on left and common green thyme on right

6. Fennel Bronze (Foeniculum vulgare ‘Rubrum’ purpureum)

Very striking, bronze, fine feathery leaves. Umbells of small yellow flowers in summer followed by aromatic edible seeds. Used in pork and fish dishes and a great addition to salads. Medicinal uses. Perennial. H:1m W:0.6m.

Bronze Fennel - adding beautiful and unusual foliage colour and texture

 7. Blue Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis ‘McConnel’s Blue”)

Small aromatic shrub with small spiky dark green leaves and blue flowers. Hardy, prefers chalky well drained soil. The leaves are used in Mediterranean cuisine. Companion plant with Sage. Medicinal. Shrub. H:80cm W:80cm.

Rosemary - not always easy to grow, but a brilliant shrub and culinary herb

8. Golden Upright Oregano (Oreganum spp.)

Striking golden foliage that add interest and colour to the herb garden. Ideal for container gardening or as a contrast plant. Strong Oregano flavor. Ground cover. H:30cm W:30cm

Golden Oregano - contrasting colour to add interest

9. Spearmint (Mentha spicata aquatica)

Hardy, deep green, highly aromatic, serrated oval spearmint flavored leaves. Greatly prized for jellies and sauces. Used in confectionary, cosmetics, natural insecticides and medicines. Ground cover. HL25cm W:spread

Spearmint - small bushy shrub with a brilliant green colour

10. Lemon Scented Geranium (Pelargonium citronella)

The deeply indented green leaves are pungently aromatic when crushed, releasing lemon scented plant oils that deter even the most determined mosquito. Shrub. H:60cm W:50cm.

Pelargonium citronella - good for repelling insects, especially mosquitoes!

Plant Descriptions taken from Doonholm Specialist Wholesale Nursery Website (https://doonholm.com/)

8 Beautiful Indigenous Trees for a Small Garden

Every garden needs beautiful trees to create spaces within the garden and to provide screening, shade and habitat for birds and animals. Trees add foliage, colour and interest to the garden as well as add character and atmosphere. There are so many beautiful indigenous trees to choose from! Here is a list of some of my favourite ones that can be used in a small to medium sized garden:

Information for Trees sourced from Random Harvest Indigneous Nursery

1. Heteropyxis natalensis (Lavender Tree)

Heteropyxis natalensis is a hardy, slender, upright, narrow, semi-deciduous tree with truly beautiful, pale creamy bark that, with age, develops beautiful apricot coloured patches on it. The leaves are pale green, shiny and waxy and when crushed smell strongly of lavender. In autumn they turn red or purple and depending on how cold it is, hold onto them for winter and drop them a few weeks before the new tender green leaves appear. It bears small clusters of yellowish, sweetly scented flowers, from September to March, which attract butterflies and other insects. Ideal tree for small gardens. It is particularly beautiful planted in groves and also makes a good container plant. The leaves can be used for herbal tea and potpourri and most parts of the tree are used medicinally.

Size 4 to 8m

Size: Small to Medium, Growth Rate: Fast Growing, Evergreen or Deciduous: Semi-Deciduous, Frost Hardiness: Fairly Hardy,  Position: Full Sun, Soil: Loamy Soil, Shape: Columnar, Medicinal: Medicinal,  Drought Hardiness: Drought Resistant

Heteropyxis natalensis (Lavender Tree)

2. Dais cotinifolia (Pompon Tree)

Dais cotinifolia is a very hardy, fast growing, deciduous, small tree with attractive slightly blue green leaves. In spring it has scattered pink leaves in the crown adding to the interest. It bears masses of very showy, fragrant pink, pom-pom like flowers that attract a whole host of birds and insects from November to February. It begins flowering whilst still young. Popular garden subject for sun or semi-shade. Ideal for small gardens and containers. Size 2 to 7m

Size: Small to Medium, Growth Rate: Fast Growing, Evergreen or Deciduous: Deciduous , Frost Hardiness: Frost Hardy, Position: Full Sun, Position: Semi-shade, Soil: Loamy Soil, Soil: Well-drained, Shape: Oval, Garden Uses: Small Gardens, Garden Uses: Specimen,  Drought Hardiness: Drought Hardy

Dais cotinifolia (Pompon Tree)

3. Dombeya rotundifolia (Wild Pear)

Dombeya rotundifolia is a very hardy, deciduous, drought and fire resistant, upright tree. It has round, leathery, rough leaves, and attractive, rough, fissured bark which is utilized by Woodpeckers. This is one of the first trees to bloom in spring where it stands out on the bare hillsides in snowy white patches. Showy clusters of sweetly scented white flowers start blooming in profusion on the bare branches in July and continue well into September before the leaves appear. The flowers dry beautifully and can be used for pot potpourri. It is a good bird, insect and butterfly tree. It has a non-aggressive root system which makes it an ideal tree for a small garden. It is quite fast growing and can be planted in sun or semi-shade as a specimen tree or as an element of a wildlife garden. Used medicinally. Size 3 to 5m.

Size: Small to Medium, Growth Rate: Fast Growing, Evergreen or Deciduous: Deciduous , Frost Hardiness: Frost Hardy,  Position: Full Sun, Position: Semi-shade, Soil: Loamy Soil, Soil: Well-drained, Medicinal: Medicinal, Garden Uses: Small Gardens, Garden Uses: Specimen, Drought Hardiness: Drought Hardy

Dombeya rotundifolia (Wild Pear)

4. Nuxia floribunda (Forest Elder)

Nuxia floribunda is a hardy, evergreen, fast-growing, neat and attractive tree that is quite small in drier conditions, but if its roots find water it can get quite big. Pale grey, smooth bark contrasts beautifully with the glossy, dark-green leaves that turn quite purple in winter. Its huge heads of showy, sweetly-scented, white flowers cover the tree from May to September. The flowers attract a whole host of small pollinating insects, moths and butterflies that in turn attract birds. It has many magical and medicinal uses. It grows well in a container, and is also a lovely tree with which to create a small forested area in the garden. Plant in either full sun or semi-shade and water regularly. Size: 3 to 10m

Growth Rate: Fast Growing, Evergreen or Deciduous: Evergreen, Frost Hardiness: Frost Hardy, Position: Full Sun, or Semi-shade, Soil: Loamy Soil,  Well-drained, Medicinal: Medicinal, Garden Uses: Container Plant, Garden Uses: Form Plant, Garden Uses: Small Gardens, Garden Uses: Specimen,  Drought Hardiness: Needs Watering

Nuxia floribunda (Forest Wild Elder)

5. Mundelea sericea (Cork Bush)

Mundulea serica is a very hardy, semi-deciduous, decorative, large shrub that always stands out in its natural habitat of grassland and rock. The fissured corky bark is a protection against fires which are frequent in its habitat. It has blue-grey leaves that are covered in silvery hairs giving the whole shrub a silvery look. It has gorgeous, dense pendulous bunches of deep mauve, pea-shaped flowers from October to February that attract masses of birds coming to sip on the nectar as well as a myriad of insects. With its robust, neat shape and corky bark, it makes a good accent plant but needs well-drained soil. It is host plant to two butterfly species. Traditionally used as a fish poison. The bark and roots have medicinal and magical qualities and crushed leaves are used to bleach hair. Lovely tree with non-aggressive roots for a small, sunny garden.

Growth Rate: Slow Growing, Frost Hardiness: Frost Hardy, Plant Type: Shrub, Plant Type: Tree, Soil: Sandy Soil, Poisonous: Poisonous, 

Mundelea sericea (Cork Bush)

6. Tabernaemontana elegans (Toad Tree)

Tabernaemontana elegans is a hardy, deciduous, upright small tree that has beautiful, large, shiny, dark green leaves and a lovely rounded shape. The clusters of beautiful white flowers are sweetly scented and borne from October to February and attract bees to the garden. These are followed by interesting, large, paired fruits with raised, corky dots like the skin of a toad, hence the common name. These lovely fruits split to reveal seeds covered with bright orange pulp. The fruits are edible. The thick, brown corky bark protects the tree from fire. An ideal tree for a container or small garden, planted in sun or semi-shade. Used medicinally. Size 3 to 5m

Size: Small, Growth Rate: Fast Growing, Evergreen or Deciduous: Deciduous , Frost Hardiness: Frost Hardy,  Position: Full Sun, Position: Semi-shade, Soil: Loamy Soil, Edible: Edible, Garden Uses: Container Plant, Garden Uses: Small Gardens, Garden Uses: Specimen,  Drought Hardiness: Drought Resistant

Tabernaemontana elegans (Toad Tree)

7. Apodytes dimidiata (White Pear)

Apodytes dimidiata is a hardy, evergreen, beautifully shaped, fairly fast growing tree with dense, glossy, dark green foliage. Densely clustered spikes of strongly scented, snow-white flowers that are borne from September to April, especially after good rains. The flowers attract many pollinating insects to the garden. The bees visit the flowers early in the morning when the scent is strongest. When there is a breeze the tiny petals are like confetti blowing around the garden. They are followed by very decorative bunches of black berries with a fleshy red ‘cap’ that attract birds to the garden. The trunk is white and, in older specimens, becomes patched with lichen. This tree makes a wonderful garden subject. Can be used as a small avenue tree, as a specimen in a small garden or create a forest effect by planting close together. Its wood is a beautiful pale pinky-brown. It also has many traditional uses. Size 5 to 10m

Size: Small to Medium, Growth Rate: Fast Growing, Evergreen or Deciduous: Evergreen, Frost Hardiness: Frost Hardy, Plant Type: Tree, Position: Full Sun, Position: Semi-shade, Position: Shade, Soil: Loamy Soil, Shape: Round, Garden Uses: Avenue Plant, Garden Uses: Screen Plant, Garden Uses: Specimen

Apodytes dimidiata (White Pear)

8. Bersama luscens (Glossy White Ash)

Bersama lucens is a fairly hardy, evergreen, small, compact tree with a well-developed crown and beautiful blotchy, wrinkled, grey bark. The young leaves are a brilliant glossy russet brown, turning dark green when mature. The small greenish white flowers, in long narrow heads, appear from September to June and are followed by green capsules that split to reveal scarlet seeds that attract birds. The bark is sought after in traditional medicine and this species is becoming increasingly rare.

It is a beautiful, decorative tree for a shady to semi-shady part of the garden. Protect from frost especially when young. Size 2 to 5m

Size: Small to Medium, Frost Hardiness: Protect when young, Plant Type: Tree, Position: Semi-shade, Position: Shade, Soil: Loamy Soil, Shape: Canopy, Conservation Status: Endangered, Conservation Status: Protected, Medicinal: Medicinal, Garden Uses: Shade, Garden Uses: Small Gardens, Garden Uses: Specimen

Bersma luscens (Cape Glossy Ash)

Do you have any of these in your garden? Which are your favourite indigneous trees?