Venue: Caroline Doyle’s house under the Steenberg mountains, Kirstenhof
Host: Caroline Doyle. A big thank you to Caroline for the delicious tea and her presentation of her garden with it’s beautiful mountain backdrop.
ED: I’m keen to try out Caroline’s worm composting bin system (from Footprints recycle center, Wynberg).
Guest Speaker: Louise Nurrish.
Topic: Planting Indigenous Trees in Small Gardens.
Louise has a National Diploma in horticulture and a B-tech in environment studies. It was a privilege to have Louise join us and share her expert knowledge on indigenous trees. Our thanks to Louise.
“Friendship is a Sheltering Tree” – T.S. Coleridge.
The trees discussed were:
Celtis Africana (White Stinkwood)
Cussonia Spicata (Cabbage Tree)
Dais Cotinifolia (Pompon tree)
Diospyros Whyteana (Bladdernut)
Harpephyllum Caffrum (Wild Plum)
Kiggelaria Africana (Wild Peach)
Nuxia Floribunda (Forest Elder)
Olea Europaea subsp. Africana (Wild Olive)
Rapanea Melanophloeos (Cape beech)
Rhus pendulina (White karee)
Vepris lanceolata (White Ironwood)
Vigila divaricata (Keurboom)
Hopefully the details will go onto the blog site. Interesting tips when choosing a tree for your garden:
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Identify the reason for planting a tree (shade, screen, attract birds, feature etc).
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Plant correctly (square hole, stake, correct position, compost/ bounce back)
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Indigenous trees still need attention in the first 2 years (watering, feed, prune).
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Trees will grow bigger in the wild compared to a garden.
Where to buy indigenous trees locally: Kirstenbosch Gardens, Good Hope Nursery in Scarborough.
News
General: Not everyone is receiving emails about the next meeting. This will be addressed. If you’re one of those, then please check the blog site for details. Glenda will go through the original mailing list to see who is still interested in club membership.
Finance: New members will pay pro rata subs. First meeting is free. Name tags will be issued soon.
Library: Sally suggested that each meeting we introduce one of the books in the library to members. This month it was “Attracting birds to your garden” by R. Trender. Leona Norman has donated to our library, thank you very much, Leona.
Blog site: http://flourishgardenclub.wordpress.com.
Ally reported more site activity than in previous months.
Owl box (again): Buy from Ecosolutions. Information about poisoning rats is to go on the blog. Click on the miscellaneous section.
What to do in your garden for June was presented by Trish (all of which is available in detail on the Flourish blog):
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Sharpen garden tools & restore garden furniture
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Fertilize winter annuals
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Reduce lawn watering
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Divide perenials
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Indoor plants make an ideal gift
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Move roses now
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Snuggle up by the fire with a garden club book!
Queries:
Q: When do I prune Fuchsias? Experts’ (team Jeanette & Glenda) answer: August. Cut right back but leave a bit of green.
Q: Is the ribbon bush edible? Perhaps someone knows the answer to this.
Show & Tell:
Echeveria – Ally has grown from a cutting received at a previous meeting.
Cotyledon orbigulatis from Shaun’s garden & an Algavie (can be very invasive).
Carissa – from Glenda, great security plant which birds love.
Feverfew- known as a migraine cure from Karen.
Makaya Bella – from Caroline, seems to like alkaline soil, indigenous.
Plant Giveaways:
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Jeanette gave a Haymathes Albiflos: Wonderful for difficult, dry, shady areas. Use as a ground cover.
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Lynn McCullum donated a “Sasha” hybrid Plectranthus with beautiful lime green leaves which will brighten a dark spot or use as a feature plant.
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A Watsonia: purple colour.
by Jo Austin
