Chelsea Flower Show exhibit on show at Kirstenbosch September 28, 2009

Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden will be recreating this year’s successful Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Chelsea Flower Show exhibit to the delight of the public who have been clamouring to see this year’s winning exhibit.

Avid followers of the annual success of the Kirstenbosch – South Africa entry will now be able to see the gold medal winner on home ground from Saturday 3 October until Sunday 11 October.

The award winning Havens of Diversity scooped South Africa’s 30^th gold medal and will be recreated on the Marquee Lawn. The exhibit will be open during normal garden hours and a small entry fee of R10 will be charged in addition to the normal garden entry fee.

Designers David Davidson and Ray Hudson saw their display gain their 17^th medal (in 17 years of designing the exhibit) at this year’s Chelsea Flower Show in London.

The creative team took the theme of biodiversity to show the world how our Botanical Gardens are the vital link in teaching the public about the foundation blocks for our survival – food, fuel, fibres, the energy we use, the water we drink and the air that we breathe.

The exhibit features four of the National Botanical Gardens of the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) from the following areas; Kirstenbosch, (Cape Town) Hantam (Nieuwoudtville), Lowveld (Nelspruit) and Walter Sisulu (Roodepoort), the quadrants represent the vista of the region in a postage stamp styled photograph with the unique flora of the specific area growing out of the picture. Cleverly executed, it creates the feeling of walking into the actual scenes and now visitors will be able to take a peek at some of the other glorious gardens in the country.

“This 2009 exhibit shows some of what makes South Africa the third most biologically diverse country in the world and really captured the imagination of the judges and visitors at the Chelsea Flower Show”. Said designer David Davidson ”To be able to show it on home ground is such a wonderful opportunity and we look forward to welcoming many visitors to the garden during the week it is shown”

“Although we did not have a sponsor this year for the exhibit to go to London or recreate it here, the popularity of this event spurred us on to find a solution. We did not want to disappoint our loyal visitors so took the decision to charge a small entry fee to cover some of the expenses,” said Kirstenbosch curator Philip Le Roux. “The public demand cannot be ignored”.

Details: Chelsea Flower Show exhibit on show at Kirstenbosch on the Marquee Lawn (top gate) Saturday 3 to Sunday 11 October.

The Garden is open from 08:00 – 19:00

Garden entry: R35 for adults, R20 for students, R10 for scholars (between 6 and 17) and free for children under 6.

Entry to the exhibit R10

For further information call the Kirstenbosch information Desk: 021 799 8783 or visit Kirstenbosch What’s On page www.sanbi.org

Pineland’s Spring Show Gardens September 28, 2009

*       Organizers:             Pinelands Rotary Anns
*       Date:                   Saturday, 10 October 2009
*       Time:                   10h00 to 17h00
*       Price:                  R30.00
*       Ticket Sales:              June Smart                         021-531-4954
Diana McGrath                 072 479 8144
or  021 531 4005
Howard Centre,          26 September 2009
*       Email:                  Diana McGrath                          mcgrathfam@eject.co.za
*       Tea Garden:     19 Riverside
A cup of tea or coffee and a piece of cake is included.
There will be cool drinks for sale
*       Aim:                    To raise funds for charity and to show others how to cope with the harsh conditions of gardening on the cape flats.
*       Now in its third year, the annual spring show of beautiful gardens in Pinelands                           will take place on the 10th October.   Once again 5 wonderful owners and one                              manager have agreed to open their gardens in aid of charity.
*       While the whole of the Western Cape has a Mediterranean weather
pattern, the Cape Flats, which stretch from the False Bay coast to the Atlantic Ocean,                            have to battle with hypophobic and infertile soil, plus the dry summer wind
and the winter rain.
*       The gardens are all different and they range from large cottage gardens with                               ”rooms” to water wise garden designed to show a low carbon footprint and an old age home where the residents maintain the garden.
*       The charities that we support all encourage the protection of women and                               children and  include “Ons Plek” which is the only home for girl street children in the Western Cape, the feeding scheme at the Ruyterwacht primary school and food parcels for HIV persons in Khayelitsha.
*       (hypophobic soil = soil that becomes oily when watered and the water pools )

Franschhoek Open Gardens September 17, 2009

Franschhoek Open Gardens

24 -25 October 2009

Events Details:

¥      This Years Franschhoek Open Gardens Festival will be in a league  of its own, by offering a variety of other add on’s  and various talks including some by the legendary Keith Kirsten.

¥      This year we will be having a Fresh Goods Market in the middle of the town with a tea, bubbly & wine and food “garden” hosted by the Lions Club of Franschhoek, music for all to enjoy when having a break in between gardens. We will have plant sales and talks given by various gardening experts. We will be turning the middle of the town into a Gardening festival where everyone can enjoy the atmosphere & fun.

¥      Talks will be held in the School hall and will be approximately 1 hour long:

Kieth Kirsten  10:30 am Saturday and Sunday – R60.00

Ludwig’s Roses – Marie Fazard Stellenbosch branch manager.  2:30pm Saturday – R30.00

Bridget Kitley will give a talk on herbs. 2:30 Sunday – R30.00

¥      We will be hosting Tussy Mussy workshops both Saturday & Sunday  at 11:30am  R20 per person

¥      We will have 10 Spectacular Gardens on show and visitors will pay only R100 for a Weekend Pass.

¥      Tickets will be sold via WebTickets online & on the Day. www.webtickets.co.za

¥      Gardening Club Group discount of 10 people or more will pay R80 a ticket

List of Open Gardens
Gardening Club Group discount of 10 people or more will pay R80 a ticket

1   LA RIVE

Stunning English country garden filled with swathes of soft pinks, blues and whites.

Age of garden: 15 years; new area 6 years

2   LA PROVIDENCE, Andy Higgins

Large landscaped garden with massed rose beds and beautiful water features.

Age of garden: 11 years

3   Aliki Starke

Medium sized town garden, strikingly laid out with mixed flower beds, boxed areas and secret corners.

Age of garden: 4 years

4   Carl & Sonia Atkinson

Large garden shaded by huge old oaks; lovely herbaceous borders, interesting pond and unusual plantings.

Age of garden: 5 years

5   DIE EIKE, Rene & Piet van der Westhuyzen

New farm garden; wide expanses of lawn, rose garden, special features and beautiful mixed borders.

Age of garden: new areas 2 years

6   Hennie de Necker

A formal town garden full of colour and interesting plantings; it is hard to believe the garden is only one year old.

Age of garden: 1 year

7   Fay Bentley

A jewel of a small garden;  an example of mixed plantings complimenting each other.

Age of garden: 6 years

8   KLEIN CHAMPAGNE, Sabine Bosman

Park-like garden, large and shaded river frontage, meandering paths and a lily covered lake.

Age of garden: 7 years

9   KLEINHOF, Jacques Botha

A very different garden – old trees, arbours and thousands of bulb plantings; no lawn.

Age of garden: new garden

10  COTTAGE GARDEN

A tamed old garden surrounding an historic cottage, quaint and pretty; old almond and pomegranate trees.

Age of garden: new area 5 years

Please contact:

Darielle Craddock

Franschhoek Events Co-ordinator

events@franschhoek.org.za

021 876 2861

Many Thanks,

Darielle Craddock

Events Portfolio Co-ordinator

FWVTA

St Luke’s Hospice – Open Garden September 17, 2009

FLANDORP GARDENING SUPPLIES September 8, 2009

(From Kathy Shardlow) :

I went to the Tokai Lions on Saturday am after our meeting. They have additional products for sale now and have introduced plants– at extremely good prices. I didn’t have time to look carefully, but noticed indigenous & exotic and all types – trees too. The plants are quite small, but the prices seem amazing.

I have included the prices of some products, in case you would like to forward them to the members.

They call themselves FLANDORP GARDENING SUPPLIES and there are 2 contact numbers:
Richard 083 5973689
Alistair 082 5196130

Compost           R6/bag
Mulch               R15/bag
(both can be bought by trailer load)

Bounce Back     5kg R30
10kg R40
20kg R70
40kg R120

They also sell Blade Runner, Chicken manure, Rapid Raiser, stones, wood chips, topsoil.

I can’t personally comment on quality, but the prices are great.

Great Nursery and Supply Gems September 8, 2009

Have you found a fabulously priced nursery? Can you recommend where we can get from great variety, and quality ?   Share those gems with us, here.

5 September Flourish Meeting Minutes September 7, 2009

5 September 2009

Flourish Meeting Minutes

Judy Maconachie, Caroline’s mum, kindly hosted us at her lovely house in Constantia, and also showed us around her fabulous garden, answering our many questions and queries.

Items raised and discussed

• Book Proposal:  Jane Griffiths “Janes Delicious Garden (how to grow organic vegetables and herbs)”
• Recommended gardeners and gardener services were discussed.  Refer to the Flourish blog “Handy Info” for recommendations, and send in any suggestions you have to Ally (ally.reidy@gmail.com) or the Flourish email (Flourish.members@gmail.com) email address.
• What to do this time of year:
  • Compost
  • Weed
  • Feed with 3:1:5 or 2:3:4 or Bounce Back
  • If you don’t have time or space for composting, Soil For Life will remove your black bags of compost or garden cuttings, and use this to make their own
  • The Tokai Lions at the Tokai forest sell great compost:  R6 per bag – R50 delivery charge.  They also sell stones, and bark, amongst other things
  • Pick and Pay’s stones are actually very cheap
  • The flower grower, behind Pedlars on the Bend, was highly recommended.  Simply visit them at the beginning of the week to order your cut flowers for the weekend. They are very reasonably priced, and last a long time!
  • Great wholesale nursery is Little Orchard: on Meadow Lane in Constantia, after the retirement village
    • Open on a Sunday
    • Angelina will help you
    • Great range of herbs (though not cheap) can be found at Ferndale, but once again, Little Nursery have cheap herbs
  • Re-laying a Lawn:
    • Remove the lawn
    • Apply bone meal and compost
    • Firm down to level
    • Re-apply the lawn
    • Apply a thin lawn dressing, and build it up gradually
    • Lawn treatment this time of year
      • Superphosphates or 2:3:4 –  try first applying the superphosphates, and then 2:3:4 in a week or so
      • Bounce Back or Rapid Raiser are great too.
  • Sean had a problem with these plants
    • Macaya Bella not thriving
      • Judy recommended applying Bounce Back, or Epsom salts

Wild Gardenia’s leaves browning, and the plant growing slowly

• Bounce Back was recommended, as well as foliar feed, and kelpak.
• Iron chelate was another suggestion
• Lavenders:
  • cut them in Feb, after they flower
  • the French lavender produces many seedlings
  • Harlequin lady birds are unwanted in the garden – they are orangey.
  • Flourish 2010 committee will be voted in at the October meeting.  Members were asked to concider getting on board, or think about who they would like to propose.
  • Our next meeting is at Jo Austin’s house on the 10^th October – looking forward to it!
  • The November meeting will in fact be our “Christmas Party” at Sean’s house. Date to be confirmed.

Admin Items

Finally, Judy showed us around her gorgeous garden, and we finished off with delicious tea and cake!

n  By Ally Reidy

Removers September 7, 2009

Recommended by Judy Maconachie:

Peter removes your garden rubble and cuttings and is very affordable.

Contact him on 071 91 93 937

Keurbos Spring Day September 7, 2009

Durbanville Garden Club Expo News September 7, 2009

Email: zwahlphoto@mweb.co.za Chairlady Zelda Wahl

cabernet@telkomsa.net Show manager Gordon Webb

PO Box 379

Durbanville 7551

Ph/Fax: Zelda:021-9768560/ 082-8880210           Gordon:021-9765179

PRESS RELEASE ON EVENT

What: Durbanville Garden Expo and Open Gardens

Hosted by: Durbanville Garden Club

Where: 40 Protea Way,  Durbanville, Cape Town.

When: 31October/1 November 2009

Times: 0930 to 1630h

Theme: Stalls of all garden-related items such as specialised plants, organics and garden décor.

Talks and Demos. Held in the charming Gardeners Cottage in the grounds. Talks will include:

• Herbs and how to grow and use them.
• What indigenous plants grow best in our area and how to plant for best effect.
• Demo on floral art incorporating plants into wirework making a table decoration, wreath for Christmas.

Open Gardens: A selection of  7 other private open  gardens in Durbanville to be visited. Each garden has a different size and theme to suit all tastes.

Cost: Entry R20.pp. The ticket includes entry to the open gardens and the expo in the beautiful Shuttleworth garden of  8 acres of rolling lawns, large trees, ponds, a rose garden, and an organic potager with a large glasshouse and a display of orchids.

There will be an open air tea garden under large trees on the patio of the house in the grounds.

END