Carel’s Questionnaire

Questionnaire  Carel

Why do you garden?

Some men like rugby or hanging out in man-caves – I find gardening much more interesting. I get my adrenaline rush from watching plants grow and observing small animals in the garden.

Where is your garden?

Constantia Hills

What is the size of your garden?

Smallish; total stand size 1500 m² less building and paving leaves about 1000 m².

When did you start gardening?

Other than doing garden chores like mowing the lawn and trimming edges, in December 2011.

Who or what inspired you to start gardening?

My late mother was a life-long keen gardener – I expect I got the temperament from her.

Has a plant ever disappointed you?

If you let yourself be disappointed by plants not growing according to your expectations gardening would be a sorry affair. If a plant languishes, pull it out and replace it with something that feels like growing.

What plant has made you the happiest?

The gloriosa superba – Flame lily -that I found growing over a garden bench; not remembering having planted it there.

 

What do you love about your garden right now?

The sense of just waiting for spring to break into a growth spurt again.

 

What do you feed your garden?  How often do you feed ?

I maintain a thick layer of mulch and work in compost at all possible occasions. From time to time I dispense trace elements to plants that look like they need it.

How often are you out in the garden ….. enjoying it …..and working in it ?

I work from home and wander through the garden ever hour or two, keen to see if anything has grown since the last time, always clipping at plants and picking up cement chips left by the builder.

Do you have ‘help’ in the garden      –Maulana – he’s from Malawi, a hard worker and positive person.

Have you had any problems you have had to overcome….soil…..environmental issues?

Sandy, fine soil – one has to become a soil farmer before you can be successful with the plants.

Soil contamination with builders’ rubble. If I ever build again I will write into the builder’s contract that there will not be a speck of cement remaining when the work is complete.

How often do you garden?

Daily and double time over week-ends.

What do you enjoy doing in the garden the most?

Watching it grow and visualizing new shapes, colours and perspectives that I can try out.

What do you dislike doing in the garden?

I only do the things I enjoy in the garden. Long-suffering Maulana picks up and fixes up after me. Much like a spoilt, ADD child. (Which I am – really)

Which are your favourite plants …..flowers, native or ornamental ?

All of the above.

Are there any plants you really dislike?

No. I also have books on ‘problem plants’ and enjoy getting to understand why they are considered problematic.

Do you have a favourite garden writer or personality?

No

Have you ever been inspired by any author, garden writer or landscaper?

I have learnt from and been inspired by all of the professionals that I have dealt with. They help to see other possibilities.

Have you been helped by a landscaper or friends?

All the time.

If you could visit just one garden, where would it be?

I have seen many beautiful gardens, locally and abroad, but Kirstenbosch remains a favourite.

Do you have a borehole? Have you made any particular move to become more water wise ?

I do have a good borehole and irrigation. All run-off from the roof soaks directly into the garden – nothing runs into the storm water system.

If you could change just one thing in your garden, what would it be ?

I would like to do it all over again; twice the size with four times the budget.

Is there anybody you would like to credit for helping you with your garden?

My wife, June, for tolerating my gardening OCD.

My gardener, Maulana.

And a range of gardening professionals who helped me on my gardening journey:

Cara Smith

Alan Dawson

Russel Trope.

Marijke Honig

Philip Botha.

RELIANCE COMPOST

A generous donation of certified organic compost arrived just time for the planting of annuals in our show gardens.   We like using Reliance products as  they are  a low carbon company  which ‘harvests ‘ all the garden waste we drop off at the ‘dumps’ around Cape Town and turns it into compost. We then return it to the soil in our gardens completing the cycle.

Their main source of material is green waste or garden refuse from municipal drop-off facilities and landfills around the City of Cape Town. Each month, approximately 40,000 m3 is collected. It is chipped on site and then taken in enormous trucks to their production facility in, Klipheuwel. Here it is mixed with water, clay, and activated by the addition of more mature compost in long 50 meters by 2 meter high rows. It is then turned daily for 6 -8 weeks before it is ready to be bagged. Alien vegetation, that presents an environmental threat in the Western Cape, is also used.

Reliance has kept over 15 million m3 of green garden refuse out of already overcrowded landfills since the start of their contract with the city over 10 years ago. This resulted in a reduction over 1 000 000 tons of carbon dioxide gas escaping into the atmosphere, thus mitigating the impacts caused by climate change.

Reliance products are extensively tested by independent laboratories for bacterial contamination, nutrient levels, and insecticide / pesticide contaminant levels and recently even for radiation levels. These tests are to be sure that our products adhere to required standards and don’t add to environmental contamination.

15l and 30l bags of compost are available. Bulk orders of   fine, medium rough compost, mulches and top soil, potting soil and lawn dressing and bark -nuggets and milled bark.

http://www.reliance.co.za     Reliance Office email info@reliance.co.za, 0861 888 784.

DONATION KELPAK® LIQUID SEAWEED FERTILISER

KELPAK® LIQUID SEAWEED FERTILISER
Our gardeners were thrilled to be given this uniquely South African product which, as it contains natural growth hormones, is sure to make their plants grow bigger and be more productive. It is obtained from the giant Ecklonia maxima  kelp, or seaweed, sustainably harvested off the coast near Cape Point.
Kelpak contains several beneficial plant stimulating compounds as well as macro and micro elements and is manufactured by a proprietary process which while bursting the cells from which a natural, liquid seaweed concentrate is extracted preserves the delicate natural elements contained in the cells.
When applied, as a foliar feed or soil drench to plants, the auxin-like activity stimulates prolific adventitious root formation. The increase in root tips – which is where a group of hormones known as cytokinins are produced – leads to an increased level of cytokinins in treated plants Cytokinins promote cell division and plays a role in plant foliar growth.
The increased root volume and number of root tips also increases moisture and nutrient uptake from the soil. The increase in nutrients together with the higher level of auxins and cytokinin in the plant also makes the top, above ground, part of the plant grow.  This in turn results in increased yields and better quality plants.  The improved root system also makes the plant more resistant to stresses such as drought, water logging, soil nutrient deficiency and salinity, nematode infestations and soil borne diseases.

 

 

Thalia dealbata Powdery Alligator flag

If you are looking for something different to add height and drama to a water feature, garden pond or even a container filled with water why not come to our plant sale at Open Gardens Constantia in November where we will have some of these plants on sale. They give a wonderful tropical look to the garden.

These aquatic, rhizomatous perennials are so easy to grow just needing to be planted in a wet, boggy position. They hold their large canna-like leaves at right angles to the stems during the day – but move then to an upright position in the evening. Bunches of violet blue flowers bow down the tall, 2m high flower stalks in summer. Need full sun. Their giant leaves turn gold in autumn and then die back for a short period over winter.  Height 1. 5 -2 + m.

 

SCADOXUS PUNICEUS -Paintbrush Lily

 

Scadoxus puniceus, explains grower and author Lyn  MacCullum,  is a large indigenous bulb that occurs naturally in shady coastal bush, forests and ravines, in the Free State, KwaZulu Natal, the Eastern Cape, as well as further north. The name Scadoxus is derived from “doxus” meaning glory or splendour, and puniceus means crimson, scarlet or purple.

Scadoxus puniceus, a popular garden plant, does well in pots or the open ground. Both locations need to be well drained with plenty of compost. The bulbs, which are dormant in winter, need to be kept sheltered from too much winter rain and those in pots are best moved to a dry patio spot, giving the bulbs a little water every so often to prevent total dehydration.

In late July to early September, depending on the weather, the bulbs send up large purple spikes which open up into spectacular flowerheads. Once the buds have opened, large, bright green leaves also appear. If the bees have done their job and pollinated the flowers, bright red berries form, making this bulb doubly interesting as a garden plant!

Watch out for the Amaryllis Lily Borer which can destroy the bulbs if not spotted in time. Not wanting to use poisons, when one of my bulbs was attacked, I dug it up, removed the caterpillar, gently scraped and pared away the bits that were damaged, rinsed the bulb in a very weak solution of Jeyes Fluid and replanted it. It then went on to flower as usual. Snails can also be a problem on the leaves – hand pick them in the evenings.

There will be a few of these bulbs (in pots) for sale at our plant sale, so come early as I am sure they will be snapped up very quickly.

Bridget

Bridget, a member of the Bishops court garden club has, after undertaking extensive renovations and additions to their house, only recently landscaped the large garden on her and her husband’s Constantia property.   She has been inspired by her grandparents, who were avid gardeners, and then her parents who encouraged her, at quite a young age, to grow vegetables by allocating her a section of the vegetable garden. She has carried on this tradition in her large formal fruit and vegetable garden through which is criss crossed by rills, emanating from the house. Nearer the homestead are more traditional plantings of shrubs, roses and grasses while running along the drive is a neat vineyard with rows of lavender interspersed between the vines.

 

Carel

Carel describes his garden as ‘informal, wild, a touch eccentric – mostly indigenous with a smattering of exotic visitors.’ He only began serious gardening when he and his wife moved from ‘up country’ into their Cape Town house and is now so passionate he finds it hard to resist buying new and interesting plants – as can be seen in the selection on the table. It’s a small, very natural lawn-less garden through which paths meander. A stepping stone path leads through a mini forest to an open sunny area where succulents and aloes predominate. Further on is a fynbos area which leads to a wooden deck overlooking a spectacular eco -swimming pool set against the back drop of Constantiaberg.

 

Christine

 

Christine, a member of Flourish Garden Club, is a keen gardener who professes to be a novice not realising how much she has absorbed about plants and gardening from her mother! She has a way with plants which respond to her touch. Hanging baskets, with fuchsias and pelargoniums, are star performers in her small suburban garden which contains an eclectic range of plants – from those one associates with English cottage gardens like roses, larkspur and delphiniums to more lush plantings which give a tropical look around her small swimming pool. She feeds her plants regularly with a wide range of products including rabbit droppings and worm tea and spends may hours pottering in the potting area growing plants from slips and seeds.

At the end of summer Christine  made a few minor changes to the shape of the front border  before cleaning it out  and digging in compost.  She has now added  some standard roses and planted her pansies.