Botanical Treasures in Durban
by Chris Dalzell
Living in Durban has many plusses, especially when it comes to
gardening. You do not have to do too much for your garden to look full
and established in a very short time. I started to plant my garden in Kloof
only 16 months ago, and you would think it has been there forever. There
is a huge drive to planting local flora as it attracts butterflies and birds,
and generally requires less water and less maintenance for it to look
good. So many people say that local plants are boring and not attractive,
but I can tell you that we have the most beautiful plants in the world,
and they can be found right on our doorstep. Just take a walk in the Kloof
Gorge which is only 25 minutes from Durban, and experience what is one
of nature's great inventions. I have been very fortunate of late to spend a
lot of time out in the wilderness like the Drakensberg Mountains, and this
past week down in the Western Cape with a group of American friends
photographing and collecting plants. It is only when you get out there
that you fully appreciate what South Africa has to offer us plant lovers.
We have had so much rain this past summer that many of us must be
wondering what the sun looks like. We are now in the month of February
which is normally our hottest month, but these past few weeks have been
rather cool. We are also in the best flowering period of the year for trees
in Durban, even though many of them are exotic. I took a walk the other
morning in Kloof and all the Tibouchinas (both pink and purple - from
Brazil) and the African Tulip tree, Spathodea campanulata are in full
bloom. What a sight. Enjoy the next few months as they are so special.
With all the rain we have had this past summer we will experience many
problems with our plants. Humidity does some weird things to your plants
with insects at their most active, and powdery mildew found on many
plants. The high humidity also rots many of the soft textured plants, in
particular groundcovers. Due to high levels of rain that have fallen this
past summer, nutrient levels in the soil will be at an all time low, so you
must feed continuously throughout the rainy season. Rains wash out
nutrients that are in the soil so replace at all times. There will still be lots
of rain around so keep feeding your flower beds and lawns with a high
nitrogen fertilizer such as 3.2.1 at a handful per square meter. Make sure
you look after the root system of all your plants as healthy roots mean
healthy plants.
As I mentioned February is a very special flowering period in Durban and
its surrounds, so here are a few plants that you can enjoy.
Gardenia thunbergia is a smallish tree and which produces spectacular
white fragrant flowers in the first few weeks in January. Sadly this tree
flowers for such a short period, but when it does flower gives such a
display of white flowers.
Cyrtanthus sanguineus or the large red Cyrtanthus can be found
growing on the cliff edges in the kloof Gorge. It is a popular garden plant
that has been in cultivation since 1846.
Scadoxus multiflorus subsp. Katharinae or Blood Flower can be found
along rivers along the Natal coast line. Easily grown from seed this plant
does well in pots and will flower for a few weeks in January and February.
Milletia grandis or the Umzimbeet is a very decorative small tree that has
erect purple flowers. It is deciduous, but new leaves appear soon after
flowering. It is slow growing, with a very hard wood that is used to make
walking sticks.
Tibouchina granulosa. This tree originates from Brazil in South America
and was planted for it very beautiful flowers, both pink and purple.
Durban and its surrounds will be very colourful these next 8 weeks as
these trees flower.
Spathodea campanulata or the African Tulip tree is from countries
north of our borders. They flower in abundance these next few months
especially in the Kloof region.
Do yourself a favour and visit the Durban Botanic Garden and see all these
plants in flower, plus all the changes that have been made this past year.
It is Durban's hidden treasure that is free for all to visit. Happy gardening.
Sultry Summer
Hints and Tips
January is one of the most beautiful months for flowering plants and if you
look around Durban there are a number of trees that are in full bloom.
One in particular is the Flamboyant tree from Madagascar, Delonix regia
which grows as a street tree in Durban. What would Durban be without
Flamboyants flowering in December.
Listed below are a few shrubs and groundcovers that will flower in
summer that you should add to your garden.
SHRUBS
Gardenia thunbergia or white Gardenia: Shrub to small tree [2-5m], found
in forests from coastal Kwazulu Natal to the midlands. Flowers are large
creamy white, very fragrant especially at night. Flowers attract moths.
Very attractive garden plant.
Erythrina humeana or Dwarf Coral tree: Small shrub to small deciduous
tree found throughout Kwazulu Natal. Flowers are deep red with orange
sepals. Has a long flowering head that stands up above the ends of
branches. Very rewarding plant for a small garden as the flowers are long
lasting.
Pavetta lanceolata or weeping Bride's Bush: Small compact shrub to
small tree that grows well in shade and flowers in December. It is also
know as the Christmas bush. Flowers are white in large terminal clusters
and very attractive tree for small gardens. It can be seen in full flower at
the Visitors Centre at the Durban Botanic Gardens.
GROUNDCOVERS
Eucomis autumnalis or common pineapple flower: This indigenous bulb
is found growing along the coastal region. Flowers are white to pale yellow
green that looks like a pineapple. A popular garden plant.
Other flowering plants for January which you should plant your garden
and which will not need much attention are:
Jasminum breviflorum or wild Jasmine, Aloe cooperi, Gloriosa superba or
Flame Lily, Kniphofia sp or Red hot Poker, Gladiolus dalenii or African
Gladiolus, Zantedeschia aethiopica or Arum Lily.
Gardening for Climate Change
The question now is, how can we plan for the future if we are going
to
experience much drier conditions in the future?
In South Africa we are blessed with such spectacular succulent plants
that we can use in our gardens that do not require much water. Selection
of plants is very important as they range from very large succulent trees
to very small groundcovers. There are many bulbs that also only require
very little water in order to flower and grow. Quite often, if you water succulents too much they with either rot or not flower. We have had a
very wet summer so far but if you cast your mind back to the winter
months we had a particularly dry winter which brought about a very
good flowering of Aloes in particular. Aloes have become very popular
again which I am very pleased about as they are one of South Africa's
truly great plants that are used all over the world. You just need to drive
around California and you will see what I mean.
We used these plants very successfully at the Chelsea Flower Show 2007
and recieved rave reviews from all the experts in that field. When planning
a water wise garden you must also think about using stones, paving and
containers in the garden. Also shade plants will prevent water loss and
create a much cooler feel within the garden. Water is very precious and
we must conserve it as much as possible. Pergolas with wooden beams on
the top, also create a cool feel within the garden and they definitely don't
require water.
It is so much fun planning a garden as you are free to let your ideas flow,
and once complete it should not require too much attention other than
weeding in summer. Also you will save on your water bill and hopefully
play a small role in helping save the world.
WHAT TO DO IN THE GARDEN THIS MONTH:
Fertilize shrubs, lawns and trees and water well.
Collect the seeds from the Agapanthus which flowered in November.
Sow those seeds in seedling trays which germinate quickly once watered.
Feed and water indoor plants every few days as the medium dries out
quickly during summer. The medium also breaks down quickly during
summer as the plant takes up lots of moisture and nutrients in growth.
Watch out for black spot and powdery mildew on most plants but in
particular roses. Spray with Dithane M45.
Avoid cutting back shrubs that flower in winter and early spring. If you
cut those shrubs back then the flowering season will not happen.
Listed below are a few trees, shrubs and groundcovers that you
can use for dry landscaping.
PLANT FORMS:
Aloe barberiae or Tree aloe
Erythrina latissima or Broad- leaved Coral tree
Schotia brachypetala or Weeping boer-bean
Albizia adianthifolia or Flat Crown
Cussonia spicata or Common Cabbage Tree
Commiphora harveyi or Red- stemmed corkwood
Ficus ingens or Rock Fig
Encephalartos ferox or Tongaland Cycad
SHRUBS:
Leonotis leonorus or Wild Dagga
Carissa macrocarpa or Amatungulu
Carissa bispinosa or Forest num-num
Tetradenia riparia or Misty plum bush
Plumbago auriculata
Tecoma capensis or Cape Honey Suckle
Aloe arborescens or Krantz Aloe
Aloe marlothii or Mountain Aloe
Strelitzia reginae or Bird of Paradise
Pavetta revolute or Dune Bride's Bush
Crassula ovata or Kerky Bush
GROUNDCOVERS:
Crassula multicarva
Delosperma caespitosum
Aloe cooperii
Polygala virgata
Becium obovatum
Crinum macowanii
Stapelia gigantean
Bulbine frutescens
Hypoxis hemerocallidea
Aeollanthus parvifolius
Crassula pellucida
If you have any questions please contact us on
Tel: (031) 2011303 or email Christopher Dalzell: dalzellc@durban.gov.za
Our Frog Friends
by Leigh Edy
October/ November 2007
The summer rains are finally here and we have been blessed with the soft
downpours. The rainy season, as always, has been well received in the
Gardens, and this year the rains have been accompanied once again with
one of nature's awesome creations -"Our Froggie Friends".
These little frog friends have popped up everywhere in the Gardens. What
a wonderful welcoming I received as I walked along the walkway behind
the Curator's Office that connects our office building to our staff parking
area. Hundreds of tiny frogs hop along the walk way, all on a mission to
find the nearest cover, as they have sensed me coming along. Without fail,
the frogs were there each day, and could be seen all over the Gardens and
also out and about. These encounters continued for the next week and a
half.
These little frogs are the African Common Toad or Guttural Toad (Bufo
gutturalis). These frogs can grow up to 100mm, with cross-symmetrical
patches on their backs, and the top of their snouts marked with a pair of
dark patches. Their legs are longer than the length of their bodies, and
they have no sucker pads on their hands or feet. They breed in garden
pools, artificial water features, dams and streams. Toads have wart-like,
glandular elevations on the skin, including glands on either side of the
neck. A vibrant snore of about one second is repeated constantly, about
once in three seconds (often mistaken for the bullfrogs). The Guttural
Toad hunts at night for moths and flying ants which are attracted to
garden lights. Spring and summer are usually the seasons that these frogs
breed, and breeding often takes place in garden pools and permanent and
semi-permanent standing water. The female can lay up to 20 000 eggs
at a time, the eggs being laid in strings of jelly in the water, where after
the male fertilises them. This species can be found in South Africa as well
as the tip of Namibia, bordering Angola and as far as Zambia. This frog is
listed as common the IUCN red list and can be found almost anywhere.
They are very adaptable species and it is unlikely that they will be facing
significant threats.
It is amazing what we can open ourselves up to when we take the time to
take off our blinkers and make an effort to actually look. I have become
more aware and conscious of possible encounters with frogs. Since
my first encounter with the African Common Toad, I have seen several
different species of frogs in the Gardens. One of these is the Painted
Reed Frog (Hyperolius marmoratus marmaratus). These colourful little
frogs grow from 25 - 35mm long, and frogs smaller than 20mm tend to
be less decorative. The colour of their stripes or spots usually consist
of a variety of shades; black, pink, brown, green or yellow, which differ
depending on the frogs locality. The colours can also change depending
on factors in the immediate environment. The bellies are usually white
or pinkish. All of these factors makes it difficult to identify sub species.
Painted Reed Frogs have sucker pads on the tips of their webbed toes.
This enables them to sit motionless for hours. The male painted reed frogs
have one large, dark grey vocal sac on their throats that blows up and
deflates when they sing. Female painted reed frogs do not have this sac,
but instead have a side-to-side fold across the throat. The Painted Reed
frogs mate in the rainy season, when the males sing together in chorus to
attract the females. Their song is usually a series of short loud whistles,
about one per second. This is repeated continually.
The Painted Reed frog eats mosquitoes, small fruit flies and other small
insects. Their habitat varies from grasslands to forests, as well as
temporary pans and rain pools. Locality is most of southern two- thirds
of Africa. This frog is listed as least concerned on the IUCN Red list, as
it is widely distributed. I have spotted many different sub-species of the
Painted Reed Frog in various parts of the Gardens, and they are often
found in our private orchid nursery.
So - next time you spot a frog in your garden or during your day to day
activities, remember not to touch the frog as it has very sensitive skin,
instead respect them as one of many awesome creatures that we share
with Mother Earth, rather observe them in their habitat, as in this way
there is no human impact on their lives.
ANIMAL SPIRIT GUIDE
Frogs are just one of the creatures that are used as Animal totems
(Animal Spirit Guides). Many Native American tribes believe that animals
are the tribe's guardians and protectors, and the belief is that they have
a special connection with a certain animal. The tribesmen strive to match
the animal's qualities. Animals are considered to be helpers as well as
messengers of the divine or of the ancestors. In many parts of the world
the frog represents the coming of good fortune. Frogs sing rain into the
sky, bringing the water that cleanses the Earth. The frog is associated
with all rites of water i.e. wetlands, rivers, lakes and ponds. The Native
Americans call on frogs to bring rain to the land.
November Magic 2007
HINTS & TIPS
November is a magical time of the year with the welcome of summer
and the rains finally here. The early planning of maintenance routines
is a priority for gardens as this will determine what sort of garden you
will have this summer. In the long run this planning will save you time
and money. With all the rain we have had you should have a feeding
program that will continue throughout the summer months. If you
have time, take samples of your soil and get a soil analyses done at
the sugar research station in Mt Edgcombe. The analyses will tell you
what is deficient in your soil and what fertilizer you need to put down
to rectify the deficiencies. This is particularly important for your lawns
as it is one area of your garden that always suffers. Generally you can
put the same fertilizer down on your lawns as you do in the flower
beds. If you do not have a fertilizer distributor (you can purchase one
from Modern Mowers) then sprinkle by hand, by spreading a handful
per square meter. Preferable feed after it has rained as this will prevent
the fertilizer burning your grass. I suggest that if you have a very large
lawn area and garden then purchase a fertilizer distributor. It will save
you tons of time and energy. Remember during summer cut your lawns
at the highest level on your mower as this encourages a deep root
system and prevents weeds from sneaking through the grass.
November is also a very pretty time of the year with many of the
groundcovers coming into bloom. One in particular that is in full bloom
as we speak if the dwarf white Agapanthus, which should last for 3
weeks under ideal conditions. Some of the Plectranthus will be pushing
flower spikes and will flower in summer. Be careful not to over water
Plectranthus as they are very susceptible to rot. Another favorite is one
of the Aloe species called Aloe cooperi. Not a very large plant but its
form and flower spike that stand up above the leaves makes it a very
beautiful form plant. Try and plant them in large numbers as many
flower spikes create a very special feature in your garden.
This is what is in flower in November/ December. You should try and
plant these in your garden for next year as well as in dry and rocky
areas in your garden and you will have so much to enjoy in early
summer. |
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