Spring has sprung in Somerset West. To celebrate the occasion, 17 gardens covering 10ha at the historic Vergelegen Estate have been thrown open to the public. Visit the gardens on August 27 or 28 at no charge.
Revel in 8 000 spring-flowering bulbs, perennials (agapanthus, alstroemeria, dietes, salvia, lavender, watsonia) and borders of flowering azaleas. Wander down a boardwalk through a lush wetland of spring-flowering white arums and catch sight of the flowering almond blossom trees planted in the old Chestnut Avenue.
See Africa’s oldest living oak, be intrigued by the history that surrounds five 310-year-old camphor trees and marvel at an ancient white mulberry which scientists at the Institute of Botany at the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Xiangshan, Beijing, have confirmed is a very old variety used in China for the silk industry. It is now thought that the mulberry root stock was probably imported 300 years ago, about the same time as the camphor trees, when Governor Willem Adriaan van der Stel was exploring setting up a commercial silk enterprise at his estate in the Cape.
Camellia forest
Vergelegen has a forest of 1 000 camellias which includes about 550 different camellia cultivars. Collected from species found in France, Japan, America and South Africa, the camellias flower from April through to August, but by far the most impressive display is to be seen over the next two weeks.
With a range of spectacular pink, red and white blooms, the camellia forest at Vergelegen was honoured last year as an International Camellia Garden of Excellence, one of only 17 such gardens in the world.
Vergelegen horticulturist Richard Arm will lead hour-long tours of the camellia gardens on August 27 and 28.
Grow your own
Camellias, with their extended flowering season of early autumn through to late spring, are the queens of the winter shade garden. Comprising about 100 to 150 different species, these evergreen shrubs originate from Asia, with distribution from northern India across the continent to Japan, and then south to northern Indonesia.
In the 1970s, many new hybrids and cultivars were introduced from California, Australia, New Zealand and other areas with similar climatic conditions to South Africa. Gardeners are now able to grow the latest and best varieties.
Exciting developments in camellia hybridisation include the introduction of scent and different colour genes. The cultivation of camellias in local gardens is relatively easy, provided a few simple rules are followed:
* Plant them in well-drained soil which is rich in humus.
* Keep their root zones cool through the heat of summer with a thick layer of mulch in the form of leaf mould, pine needles or pine bark.
* Water them regularly during the flowering season (especially during dry weeks) to dramatically reduce the incidence of bud drop.
* “Contrary to popular belief, camellias are not that sensitive to soil acidity or alkalinity. “Many may benefit from an annual application of dolomitic lime in areas where soils are strongly acidic,” says horticulturist Gerald Schofield.
* Dappled shade from mature trees is ideal for most, though some are more sun-tolerant than others. Too much shade reduces bud formation, while excessive heat and sunshine scorch fine surface roots and flower buds.
* For more information, see www.vergelegen.co.za
GARDENING TIPS
* Wind can rock new roots on recently planted trees, shrubs and standards. Always tie twine in a figure 8 around the stem and stake. This prevents rubbing and allows the stem to expand.
* Pinch out growing tips on clematis for a bushier plant and more flowers. During the growing season, fertilise plants at least every two weeks with Seagro, Nitrosol or Multifeed Classic, according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Do not fertilise when in flower.
* As soon as soil warms up, sow seeds of bedding dahlia, gomphrena, marigold, nasturtium, portulaca, salvia, verbena and zinnia for a bright summer display.
* The countdown to National Arbor Week (September 1-7) has begun. If you are planning to plant this autumn, consider these trees for your garden.
* Small trees: Cape silver oak (Brachylaena neriifolia), Cape date (Canthium inerme), sand olive (Dodonea viscose), tree fuchsia (Halleria lucida), wild olive (Olea europaea subspecies africana), wagon tree (Protea nitida).
* Medium trees: Wild coffee (Diospyros whyteana), cross-berry raisin (Grewia occidentalis), wild peach (Kiggelaria africana), silver tree (Leucadendron argenteum), keurboom (Virgilia oroboides).
* Tall trees: Ironwood (Olea capensis subspecies macrocarpa), yellow wood (Podocarpus latifolius).
* See www.lifeisagarden.co.za. - Weekend Argus