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The fever tree is deciduous and with its distinctively coloured bark, makes a beautiful silhouette during the winter months |
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Picture courtesy D.N. Maguire
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 Fever Tree, Koorsboom –
Acacia xanthophloea
The Fever Tree can be found growing in groups in
the low-lying, sub-tropical, swampy areas of the Northern province,
KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga. The beautiful form of this striking
indigenous tree and its unusual sulphur-yellow bark, makes it easily
identifiable in the wild.
It has a single, straight, smooth trunk with a sparse, roundish,
spreading canopy. The bark of the trunk and branches is flaky and peels
off in paper-thin layers. It has small feathery green leaflets and the
small, straight white thorns are carried in pairs. Sweetly-scented
bright yellow flower balls appear from September to November, followed
by flat, brown, bean-like brown pods in late summer. When it is in
bloom; it will attract bees, butterflies, insects and insect eating
birds.
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The camel thorn produces a profusion of sweetly scented bright yellow flower balls in late winter and early spring |
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Picture courtesy Ruth Palsson
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Camel Thorn, Kameeldoring, Mogohlo, Mogôtlhô –
Acacia erioloba
The Camel thorn is widely distributed inland in South Africa, from
the Northern Cape through to the Limpopo Province. It varies in height
and spread and occurs as a diminutive spiny shrub from 2m to a tall tree
up to 16m, with a rounded to flattened crown. In gardens it usually
grows about 6 to 8m tall. In very dry it regions it occurs along
watercourses or where underground water is present.
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Azalea, Evergreen Azalea - Rhododendron indicum |
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'White Boquet'
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Rhododendron is a large family (genus) of flowering plants that belongs to the family Ericaceae. It includes the plants known to gardeners as azaleas and is characterized mainly by shrubs, small trees and rarely, large trees. The smallest species vary in height, from about 10cm to 100cm; while the largest, R. giganteum, can reach up to 30m. Rhododendrons are extensively hybridized in cultivation and there are over 28,000 cultivars in the International Rhododendron Registry, held by the Royal Horticultural Society. Rhododendron is a very widely distributed genus that is mainly native to the northern hemisphere. The highest species diversity can be found in the Himalayas and the mountains of Indo-China, Korea, Japan and Taiwan. There are also a significant number of tropical rhododendron species from south-east Asia to northern Australia.
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Preparing to grow summer vegetables |
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Picture courtesy Matt Duane Griffin
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Nothing beats the flavour of home grown vegetables and a small
vegetable patch can produce an amazing quantity. Many vegetables grow
easily in containers so even the smallest space can be utilised to grow
your own vegetables.
Preparing and planning your beds is the most important task because
vegetables must grow quickly for optimal flavour and quality. They love a
sunny site with at least four of five hours of sun a day; especially in
the winter months. Sowing your vegetables in rows running from east to
west will optimise sunlight. Plant taller crops like tomatoes at the
southern side of the beds so that they do not cast shade on other lower
growing crops. To grow good quality vegetables they must be watered
regularly so ensure that there is a permanent supply of water nearby.
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Honeybell Bush, Heuningklokkiesbos - Freylinia |
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Freylinia tropica Blue
Picture courtesy www.newplant.co.za
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There are nine species of Freylinia, all occurring in southern
Africa. Their distribution extends from Namaqualand in the Northern Cape
to Grahamstown in the Eastern Cape.
They are loved for their delicate clusters of bell-shaped or tubular
flowers. Freylinias are wonderful garden plants for the winter rainfall
regions and are remarkably drought hardy, requiring little water during
the dry summer months. They are hardy to frost and also grow well in
inland gardens if they are planted in well-drained soil and are watered
regularly in winter. They are excellent for gardens large and small and
are perfect to plant in ‘fynbos’ and rock gardens.
Freylinias are virtually pest free and will attract a variety of
birds and butterflies to the garden as well as beneficial garden
insects. They will vary in height and spread, according to the climate
of the region in which they are grown.
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