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

Taal Monument, Paarl

It was an overcast and misty morning when I arrived at 8am at the Taal Monument after a scenic drive through the Paarl Mountain Reserve. Fortunately it was not long before the sun broke through and the monument was looking picture perfect.

A monument to the Afrikaans language - this made me think about the beauty of the language and the culture associated it. My mother is Afrikaans so I have learned to appreciate a number of things: the Afrikaans soapies (Egoli and 7de Laan were part of our evening routine growing up); the wonderful arts festivals (Innibos, KKNK, Aardklop); Melktert and of course South Africa wouldn’t be the same without Ouma Rusks and Biltong. Apparently rusks and biltong were originated during the South African (Anglo Boer) War as it was a way for soldiers to carry dried bread and meat as provisions during long journeys.

The monument itself would be more suitably described as a sculpture. The fluid lines and curves are expertly moulded out of a monochrome material (concrete) that gives it a uniformity and elegance that surprised me. Because of the curvaceous form the ‘building’ comes across as welcoming, open and generous instead of cold, stark and rigid like many concrete structures I have experienced before.

The water feature at the heart of the tower has a calming and softening effect as the light reflects up onto the smooth walls and the gurgling sound creates a serene ambience. You emerge from the tunnel onto a large circular platform where there are three large mounds. Each element of the monument represents an important influence on the Afrikaans language (Europe, Asia and Africa) as well as two authors (C.J. Langenhoven and N.P. van Wyk Louw) who inspired the architect Jan van Wijk. These three mounds represent the African continent in the form of the three African languages that influenced Afrikaans: isiXhosa, isiZulu and seSotho.

You can then explore the adjacent garden where enormous granite boulders and gnarled old olive trees are found. These boulders compliment the sculpture beautifully in their form and colour.

The tall tower, which is so prominent from a distance, does not feel foreboding when you view it from up close. It is elegant and reminds me of the Tower of Babel – people with high ambitions, reaching up to the heavens. It is certainly far from the phallic, cold concrete monument I was expecting. In my opinion Jan van Wijk created a beautiful, site sensitive timeless sculpture and I thoroughly enjoyed visiting it. 

Architectural Model of the Monument in the Museum

Tea Under the Trees, Paarl

The most delightful tea garden I have ever been to! The drive down towards the historic homestead with giant Oaks and hundreds of Hydrangeas is quite breath-taking. This place is truly special: the food is delicious, it is child friendly with an entertaining play area, and most of all it is completely relaxing as you admire the beauty around you while sitting in the shade of these magnificent trees.

The owner, Debbie, is very friendly and kindly opens her garden to visitors during the summer months. I can imagine weddings and other special functions must be in high demand for this exquisite venue. If you are visiting Paarl and enjoy beautiful gardens and great food then a visit to this hidden gem is a must!

House Geyer Landscape Upgrade

Towards the end of last year Sprout renovated a small garden in a residential complex.  A few factors contributed to a smooth and successful installation: the client had a very clear idea of what she wanted; the proposal was explained in detail with decisions made before the project started; a project programme was set up; and good communication was maintained throughout the installation.

Before

Trimming of Strelitzia nicolai Trees

Installing French Drain

Installing Cobble Edging

The first part of the installation included a thorough clean up of existing Strelitzia nicolai and heavy pruning of existing plant material. This was followed by lifting all existing Kikuyu lawn, installing a French drain as well as installing cobble edging and flag stone pavers.

Installing New Lawn

Lastly new LM lawn was laid and new plants planted. The garden was renovated to look more formal with colour from plant foliage adding interest and contrast. Plants such as roses were removed as they did not contribute to the tropical feel of the garden. New plants included Acorus gramineus, Nandina pygmae and Tree Ferns. The client also introduced a fire pit into the garden to create a space where they can sit and enjoy the truly South African tradition of sharing a meal and conversation around a fire.

It is always great to hear positive feedback: “I am just writing to let you know that a few weeks on, our garden is really coming to life. Each time I look out the bedroom window or lounge window I am filled with a sense of happiness at how great everything looks. Thinking back to how professional and quickly the job was handled really made a positive impact. Thanks again!!!!!”

After

Vergelegen Wine Estate

View of the Mountains from Stables Restaurant at Vergelegen

You know you have arrived somewhere special when your heart starts beating slower as you drive down the oak tree lined driveway and approach the entrance gate to Vergelegen Estate. This historic farm was granted to Governer Willem Adriaan van der Stel in 1700. Here he built an estate that reflected the Renaissance influence of wealthy estates and palaces in Europe with their symmetrical plans and ornate gardens. Vergelegen was laid out with a double walled octagonal garden, radial avenues, and four flanking outbuildings - the slave lodge, water mill/stable, the wine cellar and the pigeon house. 

The gardens are vast and many hours can be spent exploring them. When the estate was taken over by Anglo American group in 1987 they tasked their team to restore the grounds to the historic core of the estate and this emphasis can clearly be felt. There are 17 unique gardens to explore and wander through including: Octagonal Garden, David Austin Rose Garden, Reflection Garden, Rose Garden, Sundial Garden, Bamboo Garden, East Garden (In front of Stables), Agapanthus Garden, Camellia Garden of Excellence, Wetland Garden, Fynbos Garden (Cellar), Hydrangea Garden, Yellowwood Walk, Maple Garden, Oak Arboretum, Camphor Forest, Ginko Trees, and the Children’s Adventure Garden.

Sundial Garden next to the newly renovated Wine Tasting Centre and Stables Restaurant

Information Centre and Wine Tasting is the first building you enter from the Parking Area

The Octagonal garden is bordered by a pergola covered walkway along the perimeter and a beautiful garden within this formal enclosed space. A herbaceous border has been planted on either side of the pathway leading to the Homestead with more large Camphor trees adjacent the building.

There is so much to see on this beautiful estate that you may not fit everything in. I advise exploring the gardens in a clockwise direction from the Information Centre. Starting in the Sundial Garden first make your way to the Octagonal Garden, then the Rose Garden, Camphor Forest, Wetland Walk, Reflection Garden, and ending at the Stables restaurant. If you have kids they will have fun in the play area while you enjoy a glass of wine (or coke) after all the walking. If you still have energy you can do the maze which is made from non fruit bearing vines. Depending on how much time you have will also determine if you can fit in the Maple Tree and Yellowwood Walk into your visit. Remember Camellia peak flowering times are June to August so make sure to fit that in if you’re visiting in winter.

Reflection Garden

Oldest Recorded Oak Tree

Wetland Walk

Camphor Forest

The Camphor Forest is absolutely breathtaking. You feel as if you are transported into another world as you walk through this enchanted landscape. The trees have been grown from seedlings from the ‘Big Five’ which are the five original Camphor trees planted in 1700 situated at the front of the Homestead.

Agapanthus Garden

You may also be interested in the refurbished and exquisitely furnished buildings such as the Homestead and Library as well as dining at one of the three venues: Camphors at Vergelegen is the signature restaurant overlooking the lawns and gardens located next to the historic Homestead; Stables at Vergelegen is a more casual dining experience with a lovely play area close by and stunning views of the Hottentots Holland mountain range; and finally the Picnic at Vergelegen can be pre-booked and enjoyed in the incredible Camphor tree forest between November and April.

Playground which is situated next to Stables Restaurant

Vergelegen has a vast and rich history and diverse and beautiful gardens that they clearly put a lot of time and effort into maintaining. A visit to this special estate is a rich and rewarding experience.

(Some of the Photographs are from my visit in 2016 and others were taken at my most recent visit - April 2021)

Contact Info

Address:
Vergelegen Estate | Somerset West, South Africa

Phone:
+27 21 847 2100

Email:
info@vergelegen.co.za

Karoo National Park

On our way to Cape Town we stayed over in Beaufort West and went into the Karoo National Park for a few hours in the late afternoon. Day visitors pay R40 pp (RSA citizens).

Some interesting history about the park from the brochure: "During the late 1950s a local farmer William Quinton campaigned for a conservation area in the Beaufort West vicinity. However, it was only in the 1970s that the South African National Parks proposed the establishment of a National Park that would be representative of the Nama Karoo Biome after a campaign launched by the South African Nature Foundation and funded through the commission and sale of special art stamps, depicting the flora and fauna of the Great Karoo,"

I asked the ranger at the gate if there were actually lions in the reserve, and he proudly told me that there were indeed; eleven in fact. Considering the size of the park (just under 90 000 hectares) we realised our chances of spotting one were slim! Game is not abundant in this reserve (we saw 1x Gemsbok, 1x Kudu, 1x Red Hartebeest and some Klipspringer in our two hour stay) but this is a reserve you visit more for the landscape and experience rather than for animal spotting.

One such experience is driving up Klipspringer Pass: the road that snakes its way up the mountain is constructed with a beautiful, curving stone packed retaining wall. It is reminiscient of the Zimbabwe ruins and is quite beautiful to see. I wonder how long it took to construct?

There are lovely birds to see (more than 200 spp). Apparently the Park boasts one of the largest concentrations of breeding pairs of Verraux's Eagles (Black Eagles) in the country. We were fortunate enough to spot a pair soaring over Klipspringer Gorge Look out Point.

We didn't stay over in the park, but the beautiful Cape Dutch style self-catering units look picturesque with expansive views over the Karoo landscape. The campsite looked very inviting with lots of vegetation and grass as well as good facilities - we will have to come camp here one day! Visit www.sanparks.org to check availability or make a booking.

I didn't have high expectations for the the 300m Fossil Walk, but we decided to do it before heading back to town. The slightly raised stone pathway (wheelchair accessible) was beautiful: clean and smooth as it weaved its way through the golden grasses and Karoo scrub. I appreciated that plants were given name tags every few metres and the fossil boards were very informative. I have to admit that I am not all that excited about animals that lived and died millions of years ago, but I really enjoyed the walk because you get to experience the landscape and feel part of the nature that you are in. And isn't that we we are looking for when we go someone different: experience the place you are visiting, connect with the beauty around you.

Water Sensitive Design

On the of 25th of November a seminar was held at the University of Pretoria on the implementation, operation and management of Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) / Water Sensitive Design (WSD). It formed part of a series of country-wide seminars hosted by the Water Research Commission, UCT Urban Water Management research unit, City of Johannesburg, City of Tshwane, City of Cape Town, eThekwini Municipality, and SAICE Amathole.

The introduction by Professor Neil Armitage included a brief overview of the conventional method of manging water in cities and how this needs to change to create cities that are Resilient, Liveable and Sustainable. Dr Kirsty Carden also shared on the water crises and how important education and stakeholder engagement is in order to change behaviour and achieve the goals of Water Sensitive Design (WSD).

The aim of Water Sensitive Design is to transform South African settlement into settlements that “mitigate water scarcity, improve water quality, thereby protecting ecosystems, through the development of water sensitive urban areas (for all) that are sustainable, resilient and adaptable to change, while simultaneously being a place where people want to live” (http://wsud.co.za/ - two important resources can be downloaded from this website, see images below)

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Conventional engineering dealt with water as a waste substance to be collected and removed as quickly as possible. WSD proposes that water be managed as a precious resource through infrastructure that utilises stormwater in a way that transforms spaces into multifunctional assets with numerous benefits. The philosophy behind WSD is to keep the water in the city through establishing Blue/Green corridors which have multiple advantages to the city including: increase in biodiversity, climate control, water and flood management, human well being, increase in property value, recreation opportunities, tourism as well as the added benefit of storing carbon.

Professor William (Bill) Hunt from North Carolina State University is an expert in this field and he shared insightful information on how WSD systems work and best practice for their construction and maintenance. Practices currently being utilised worldwide include: dry ponds, wet-ponds, wet-pond with floating island, stormwater wetlands, bio-retention cells, level spreader, swales, bio-retention and swale (also termed “Regenerative Stormwater Conveyance”), permeable paving, green roof, underground device, and street trees. An innovative system using a steel grid to create a well that is installed below street trees was shown. The tree root ball grows downwards into the grid filled with a growing medium instead of lifting paving in search of surface water because of compacted soil below. A landscape architect would be able to assist in choosing the best species for street trees in this application because tree size, root growth and water requirements are all factors to consider in selecting a tree that will survive.

Professor Hunt also explained how the State of North Carolina has enforced legislation which compels new developments to reach certain hydrologic goals. Certain sites qualify as “Low Impact Developments” and these need to manage stormwater in such a way that the run-off levels are the same as the pre-developed site. Several case studies were explained and the results were not always as expected: for example a wetland filtration system with three ponds had the largest amount of filtration happening in the first pond and not much more in the second and third pond. Which suggests that it may be better to only have a system with one pond instead of three. These studies prove be very beneficial in providing the knowledge of how to build the most effective and cost efficient systems and clearly there is still much to learn.​ 

ILASA 2015 Year End Function

On the 6th of November we spent the morning exploring the incredibly beautiful Nirox Sculpure Park (http://niroxarts.com) situated in the Cradle of Mankind. The park manager Stephan du Toit gave us a brief history of the park and also some interesting insights into how the park was designed and how it functions on a day to day basis. The park is closed to the public but opens for special events and functions such as the upcoming concert with Freshly Ground. Stephan also informed us of an exciting partnership happening next year with Yorkshire Sculpture Park which will take the form of the winter sculpture fair, definitely something to look forward to.

The park is looking remarkably lush and green in comparison to the rest of Johannesburg where the heat and drought is taking its toll. Stephan said that he does not feel guilty about irrigating because the water is taken from the water system that runs through the property and the water ultimately works its way back into the same system.

It really is something special to walk in such a large open area, woven with water bodies and beautifully maintained, and then discover beautifully placed sculptures that are intriguing and delightful.

The walk was followed by a delicious three course meal at Le Sel restaurant where refreshments were well received while enjoying the beautiful view. Eamonn gave a brief speech and the ILASA 2016 conference was discussed, urging everyone to put 29 and 30 September 2016 into their calendars. A great way to end the year off. See you all next year!

IERM Convention: Olifantsvlei Cemetery

I was fortunate to sit next to Reggie Moloi who not only acted as tour guide, giving us entertaining commentary as we drove through Soweto, but also passionately shared insights into the City of Johannesburg’s cemeteries. He proudly told me about the numerous awards the Diepsloot Cemetry has won... how the Jewish and Muslim sectors of Westpark Cemetry are run… how the crematoriums were mostly run by the Hindu community and how objective you need to be in this line of work when most people can be irrational and highly emotive. Another wealth of information in this field is a recently published book called “A journey through Johannesburg’s Parks, Cemeteries and Zoo” by Lucille Davie which was showcased at the convention.

Reggie continued to explain that Avalon Cemetry is 172 hectrares with a 45 hectare extension, but some areas are too rocky and it is nearing full capacity. Furthermore, all central cemeteries (besides Westpark) are full. For this reason the City of Johannesburg looked to Olifantsvlei to be the new cemetery that will serve Soweto. It is 400 hectares and estimated to last sixty years with 888,000 first burials. I found the “recycling” of graves quite interesting: one grave can be used for up to three burials as long as it is within the same family. Reggie jokingly said, “If we mix family graves, the ancestors will fight”.  

The cemetery has most infrastructure in place including roads, trees and impressive gabion entrances to the various sections of the cemetery. The circular forms referred to as “cells” give the cemetery an organic and spacious feel. Cells will have different themes including areas with headstones, a full memorial and a memorial garden with only plaques. The wall that has been built around the cemetery (at a cost of R80 million) has been built specifically to incorporate gaps in the pillars so that small animals can pass through it. This is to comply with the environmental impact assessments done for the site.

One problem they are facing, which is preventing the cemetery from opening, is constructing the entrance. Council has indicated that an expensive bridge needs to be built because of the busy road it is located on. There are further ambitious plans for the cemetery, including introducing game into the conservation area close to the stream, employing 200 people, building a one stop commercial facility with florists etc. and removing the paving in future to maximize space. 

IERM Convention: Leratong Park Site Visit

The annual IERM convention was held on the 28th,29th and 30th of September at Glenburn Lodge in Johannesburg. After two days of informative and insightful lectures everyone was excited to spend the third day out in the field to view some of the parks developed by Johannesburg City Parks (JCP). The atmosphere was relaxed and jovial as everyone climbed onto the luxury air-conditioned buses that the City of Joburg had sponsored, which we were so grateful for when the temperatures soared into the high thirties.

The first park we visited was Leratong Park where you are welcomed by a large red steel sculpture, consisting of several hands on tall masts shaped in the hand signal that means “I love you” in sign language. The park is situated in Region C, located in the Greater Roodepoort area near Krugersdorp, in an informal settlement and named after the nearby Leratong Hospital. 

Puleng Ditabe, Regional Manager of Region C, shared insights into the park and described the two main challenges that they were faced, the first was finding suitable space for development. The park is in fact built on a servitude where Rand Water pipes run and ironically you will see signs throughout the park warning people to stay clear of the area because of the pipes running below, although this is quite the contrary now that the park has been built. Although it is risky this was one of the only open areas available and Rand Water and JCP were able to come to an agreement because the pipes do not need to be accessed regularly. The second challenge was vandalism as they had a recycling station that was burned. 

Puleng with David and Fortunate who are permanently employed to take care of the park

Vendor bordering the park

The park is 2 hectares in size and boasts numerous brand new facilities including: artificial turf soccer field, netball court, outdoor gym, braai areas, two playground areas, ablutions and a vegetable garden. The vegetable garden has not been handed over to the community yet and I imagine that managing this production in a public space has its own challenges. Planting Fruit Trees was raised as a question and Thabang Mokone from JCP mentioned that Urban Forestry and Food Security are priorities for the City of Johannesburg and educating people is what is needed for fruit trees to become successful. 

Playground

Soccer Field

Food Garden

As with any successful park the community needs to take ownership and adopt the facility as its own. Only in this way will the community take pride in it and make sure that it is maintained and cared for. We met two of the community members who have been permanently employed to work in Leratong Park: David, head gardener, who reports to a senior horticulturalist and Fortunate who not only looks after the ablutions, but acts as a mother and caretaker to the park.

Many Olive and Bushwillow trees have been planted which is in line with the City of Joburg’s drive to make the Southern suburbs greener. The park is not fenced off and neighbouring houses are encouraged to have gates that open onto the park so that they can use and enjoy it. Phase 1 was completed in 2014 financial year and cost R1.7 million while Phase 2 was recently completed in 2015 and cost R2.4 million. A large amount of money was invested into this flagship park and it is evident that its investors care deeply about it, now it is up to the community to fall in love with it too.