Landscaping and Autumn in the Fynbos

Autumn is here along with a cold nip in the air.

Loving:

Warm log fires at night with blankets, cats and hot chocolate. Freshly baked bread and soup. The smell of fynbos after the rain. Just picked greens and baked potatoes from the garden. Swapping interesting veggie seeds. Soft wooly jerseys. Lines of gumboots at the door. Waking up to the sound of rain. All the different hues of green on the mountain side.

Taskmaster has been busy creating his beautiful gardens in between surfing accidents and Euphorbia incidents. Please note: Never get Euphorbia juice on your skin or think you are in the world champs at your homebreak inventing a new move “the knee slide air” a this may lead to a swollen face (Aloe helps) and a knee brace (falling over toy cars left in the passage does not help) for three weeks

A great example of play in colour and texture in a small shrub bed:

Log round pavers with wood chip mulch path:

Planted up retaining wall and random paving:

Natural log steps:

Dont forget this is one of the busiest time in a fynbos garden, so come and select some plants in the retail to fill in those that did not survive the Sumer. Re-design, re-plant and re-ap the benefits of this rainy weather in your garden. Prune, mulch and weed and then have a cup of hot chocolate by the fire/ head down to the beach and catch the last bit of summers sun…. Gotta love Autumn in Cape Town!

The Dream Sanctuary and Autumn in the fynbos

There have been a few changes happening in the Nursery lately. The Farmstall has closed, and the Dream Sanctuary has opened!

Here are some pics to tempt you to come over and visit soon….

The cosy Coffee Shop brightly decorated full of interesting fairies and angels.

Fun and yummy things for kids on sale.

Fairy garden by the seating area.

Scrummy yummy carrot cake!

Meanwhile in the retail area:

The rain has brough a lot of colour to the nursery…in plants and even caterpillars!

After the rain this little forest of mushrooms sprung up in the retail

Patches the pony cropping our wheat beds before the full moon…talk about eco holistic veggie gardening!

I will leave you with this image of Taskmaster and Kingoftheplayground riding into the fynbos…on a perfect Cape Point day.

Enjoy the mellow weather and hope to see you all in the retail soon!

80 potatoes and a baby Cape Cobra

It is another stunning day here at Cape Point:

In the veggie garden things are growing and we have been busy sowing yet another garden with all our own seed. We harvested 80 potatoes from half of one potato crop!

When opening a door on one of the houses on the property, we came across a sleepy baby Cape Cobra who quickly became very cross and reared up and hissed like an angry kitten. A very poisonous kitten. I did not have my camera on me but here is a photo and some info on the Cape Cobra from the Cape Snake Rescue website:

Cape Cobra

• Notoriously common in and around human habitats in search of food and water supply
• will flee instead of facing aggressor
• very aggressive when cornered and will spread a hood, hiss loudly and readily strike
• Average length  1.2 – 1.5m, slender and fast moving
• smooth scales, colour varies between yellow, brown, cream and speckled
• very powerful neurotoxin which attacks the nervous system

 

Ahhhh. How lovely. Not nerve wracking at all. Really looking forward to it growing up now. I’m just counting on the second point there!

Up on the mountain there are some beautiful Ericas out in flower now

And the Good Hope Landscapers stepping it up with these beautiful rustic natural log steps

Big changes are happening in the changing of hands of the farmstall….more to follow – watch this space! The farmstall is closed for the moment while changes, renovations and creating is happening.

In the meantime you are welcome to bring a picnic and play in the playground after browsing in the nursery. Lots of little pretties in flower in the retail and this cool weather is perfect for planting. Happy Easter!!!

Roof Gardens for the future

A brilliant write-up in the Cape Argus on Good Hope Gardens Landscapings Roof Gardens by Jeanne Viall:

Green trends to hit the roof in future

March 6 2012 at 01:15pm
By Jeanne Viall

Comment on this story

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INDPENENDENT NEWSPAPERS

Roof-top gardens, like this one in Scarborough, created by Tom Gray, also soften ones outlook. Picture: Neil Baynes

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• Your very own Garden of Eden

A green roof is so much more than a roof garden, I discovered in Scarborough. It’s a living roof that’s attractive, insulates and benefits the environment.

Tom Gray has been building these living roofs for many years and believes they are the roofs of the future.

The first green roof we visit in Scarborough belongs to Cindy and Richard Hartley and is best viewed from a deck overlooking it.

It’s a succulent garden, about 40m2 and sits at a slight angle for better drainage. From the deck you look across the planted roof to the reserve and the sea, and instead of seeing a roof, your view is of vegetation.

While aesthetic considerations are one of the reasons for a green roof, there are a lot more. Insulation is one, creating new green spaces another. There is a lot of insect life buzzing around this garden.

Gray grew up around plants at his parents’ Good Hope Nursery near Cape Point and has always loved fynbos. After training as a carpenter, he moved into the nursery business and started his own landscaping business, Good Hope Gardens.

“I became interested in the architectural aspect of the roof garden, the aesthetics, but also its insulation properties. The growing roof keeps the room below it cool in summer and warm in winter.”

With climate change, it’s the roof of the future, especially in densely built urban areas.

“I researched the field, but there was little information available, and so started experimenting with different materials.”

A dog’s kennel was the first experiment. Drainage is all important. This garden has a gravel pit around it, no gutters, which filters the water.

“The big thing is to have drainage layers, and there are a number of products on the market.”

Through lots of trial and error, Gray has found materials that work well.

“There are many ways to do it, but if you’re working on a large scale, it makes sense to buy the material – it saves time.”

It’s important to start with a 100 percent waterproof roof.

Each green roof is designed taking into consideration many factors, such as situation, depth of soil, the homeowner’s preferences.

It also depends on the building – if its design requires lightweight structures that limits the depth of soil, and in turn which plants can be planted there.

“The depth varies between 120mm to 200mm soil,” says Gray.

However, one of his gardens in Fish Hoek has deeper soil, and can be planted with vegetables.

Wind is a factor to consider on green roof gardens, as it can blow many times harder on the roof than on the ground.

Succulents, especially those endemic to the Western Cape, are ideally suited to these green roof gardens. Gray likes using Portulacaria afra or repens, also known as Elephant’s food or spekboom.

They are also carbon sink plants – they bind atmospheric carbon that is responsible for climate change.

The roof needs regular maintenance.

“Initially, I plant long- and short-term plants. This garden is around six years old, and some plants need replacing.”

It also needs watering.

“With this depth of soil, you need to irrigate in the heat of summer. Although it does hold some moisture, it also dries out in the extreme heat.”

Botanist Nick Helme’s green roof garden, also in Scarborough, seldom gets watered and when it does, it is with a sprinkle from his hosepipe. His garden is built on top of his office, a timber-frame structure.

The roof was at the level of his deck, he says, and he didn’t want to look straight onto a glistening roof.

So they created a green roof.

With his extensive knowledge of plants, Helme was very involved in plant choice. His garden is about 18 months old, and he’s limited plants to those of the Western Cape, which includes the Little Karoo.

“I don’t want arid succulents, though, not in a high winter rainfall area.”

He has about 60 species growing here, a few of them rare plants.

It’s not the best time of year for the garden, he points out, with few plants flowering now – May to December is best. But the garden is interesting. Succulents come in so many shapes and colours. He’s planted many bulbs, but the only problem with these is that the baboons like them.

Maintenance means a hop over the railing onto the roof to weed.

“As a botanist, I’m obsessed with aliens and the first spring season I weeded them out as I saw them.”

Drainage is excellent, and slow. After a deluge, the water begins to drain only after 20 minutes, and then drips slowly off the edge for a few hours.

Green roof gardens are growing in popularity, slowly, as one way to mitigate pollution in cities. They’re a way to increase green spaces in built environments; there’s no need to repaint your roof or clean your gutters, and the drainage acts as a filter for “acid” rain, so what runs out the outlet pipes is clean. And they’re natural insulators against heat and cold.

“Everyone should have one, it’s a no-brainer really,” says Gray. – Cape Argus

* Find out more on www.capepoint.com

 

 

Publicity, party, veldkos and fynbos.

This month we have had a few times to shine in the media…

We were in an article on windpumps in the Country Life Magazine And Taskmasters amazing roof gardens appeared in a Green Roof article in House and Leisure’s online mag

Which in turn is the result of an article to appear in tomorrows Cape Argus on roof gardens. Cant wait!

Otherwise we have been having quite a few kids parties at the nursery

All catered for by us, including the Kitty cake

For our next project, owner lady and myself are coming up with a fantastic idea. It a bit hush hush but I can say it involves experimenting with veldkos, or bush food. The first experiment was collecting sourfigs (Carpobrotus edulis) and making a syrup out of them. This syrup can be used on ice cream or yoghurt, in cakes and puddings, an addition to sauces and salad dressings or even on toast. Yum!

Amongst getting famous and cooking and planting and general everyday stuff, we took a stroll on the Fynbos Walk and had a look at all the beautiful Fynbos in flower. Inspired, I picked an indigenous bouquet for my grandparents 59th wedding anniversary:

Another kids party booked for this weekend, the retail is looking fresh after yesterdays welcoming rain, fresh lemon and poppy seed cake in the farmstall…so come visit us and chill out in the deep green south! ! !

Farming and eating and beaching….Summertime!

Summer is here, along with the South Easter. We have been busy in the gardens, beach and in the kitchen…

The veggie gardens have been full and flourishing, and the figs are ripe and ready…eaten fresh with cheese and wine or made into jam – a winner! We also have a new spacious enclosure for the chickens and ducks to free range around in. The baby goat thinks its one of the dogs and and likes to bleat and run along with the dogs as they run and bark at our cars, welcoming us as we return home. Bookings are coming in for kids (children not goats) parties, the landscaping has picked up, while the bakkie has packed up! All the cars suddenly seem to be giving us problems – maybe its time for a donkey and cart Other than that, its been so windy, windy windy!

Some fresh veg out the garden…sweetest peas and corn ever!!!

Biggest Patty Pans/Pots we have grown yet!

Even more organic garden veg.

And beetroot which when roasted…turned into this Rose petal, mango and roast beetroot salad. Yum!

We took a break from the kitchen and the farm and escaped to the seaside. Quite often.

 Swims at Dalebrook pool,

Did some digger loading at Scarborough beach,

Jumped for joy at Fishermans beach,

Did some breakdancing at Fish hoek beach,

And then came home to chill.

Enjoy the Summer everyone!

Fynbos and Food Fair 2011

Our Annual Fynbos and Food Fair was really enjoyable and successful.The weather was great, lots of people supported, the plants sparkled and the food was delicious!

Pony rides on Patches

Pastries, surfboards and more in the Farmstall.

Fresh produce

People mingling and the band playing.

Facepainting for the kids.

Amazing rose cake on sale

Playground fun!

Stall holder West selling his wares in the shady retail.

Enjoying a chocolate apple in the Farmstall.

A fun fynbos and food filled day! Cant wait till the next one

Fynbos and Food event!

And here is our stunning new poster for our Fynbos and Food Fair by the brilliantly talented Terri of Soult designs:

Dont miss out on this fun fynbossy event!!! Quick – go write it in your dairy now!

Summer is here!

With the weather not so sure whats its doing, the poor plants are not sure what to be doing either. But Summer seems to be back with a bang along with the South Easter wind, tangling our hair and drying out the earth. We are gearing towards our next event on the 16th of December – which promises to be a day of fun, fynbos, food and art.

The masses of Syncarpha vestita or Cape Snow that have sprung up near the windmills.When you stand in between them it sounds as if you are in the middle of a rustling papery sea.

Meanwhile in the veggie patch, flowers of other sorts have been blooming…

Elegant leeks have gone to flower…the organic seeds to be collected and planted next year.

Yellow patty pans growing at the base of their edible flowers.

The retail area in the nursery is looking particularly lovely. Shady and inviting, it inspires many to jazz up their gardens at home.

The different colours and foliage in the six pack area in the retail.

A little monkey chilling in the shady seating area

More news on the event to follow! So keep in touch for more fynbos fun.

xxx from us at the nursery

A fresh start with spring

So new and exciting beginnings have begun! Good Hope Gardens Nursery and farmstall is fully operational. Coinciding with the beginning of Spring we relaunched with a bang and a bloom…flower power and fynbos kos. Take a peak:

We are also starting kids parties,

And pony parties ..introducing Patches the Shetland pony to the nursery!

Speaking of introductions….

we have two new puppies. Codi and Lani…heres Lani:

And our mommy goat died after eating a poison bulb called tilp (Beautiful orange flower with long green strap leaves) leaving her three-day old kids orphaned. These are the two  kiddies Dandelion and Star, whom we now have to bottle feed untill they are ready to eat by themselves.,,

I mean how cute does it get? Not much more than this.

So come on over to the Deep South and see what we have changed!

Cockadoodledoo