31 July 2006

SALI SILVER AWARD 2006 - HOUSE FOURIE Ronbyndale Landscapes entered our garden for the annual South African Landscaping Institute's annual competition. The garden was entered in the category 'Landscape Construction In-house Design' and was awarded silver. Brief History of the Garden We relocated from Pretoria to Kloof, Durban during January 2002. Unit 4, 4 Coghill Ave was a spec house at the time. There was no garden and no retaining walls around the back and side of the house. Due to seasonal heavy rains the unretained embankments around the house posed a serious mudslide threat. We appointed a local landscaper to solve this problem and do the basic shaping/landscaping of the garden. On recommendation from the landscaper we decided to go the indigenous route. We have had no previous knowledge or experience regarding indigenous plants and gave the landscaper carte blanche with regard to the type of plants he introduced. A year lapsed after the initial landscaping and numerous plants and ground covers seemed very messy/scraggy and just not our style. The embankment on the one side of the house was still causing mudslides during heavy rain and we struggled to keep the flagstone path, which we have in the meantime laid ourselves, free from soil. Having been to the Kloof Conservancy/Robyndale open gardens day during 2003 we got inspired by some of the gardens and decided to approach Robyndale for suggestions and a quote. After Jason de Leur took us on a tour of indigenous gardens they landscaped, we fell in love with how natural the gardens looked and blended in with the local environment. Robyndale commenced, during July/August 2003, with the FIRST PHASE of the garden. They removed 80% of the previous landscaping and started with a clean canvass. The problem embankment on the side of the house and the front garden as well as the steps up to the swing bench above the rockery at the side of the house was their first challenge – which turned out to be the key elements of the garden. The SECOND PHASE (the rest of the embankment in front of the swing bench area and the back of the house) was re‑landscaped during July 2004. The THIRD AND FINAL PHASE (removal of Yesterday-Todays-&-Tomorrow’s in front of boundary wall and relandscaping) was done during July/August 2004. This area is therefore the youngest area in the garden and has grown tremendously in the 7 months since landscaping. Vision A luscious indigenous oasis where man, birds and animals can feel free to roam and live side by side. The garden is already a place in which tired souls can unwind and find new inspiration. Particular Areas of Interest The rockery with pathway leading to relaxation area and elevated viewpoint serves as a relaxing hideaway. The flagstone path around the back of the house facilitates a peaceful walkabout whilst savouring the variety of indigenous plants which lines the pathway. The various stone bird baths attract a variety of birds and gives a cool feeling on hot sunny days. There are in the region of 14 species of aloes throughout the garden. Wildlife The blueheaded lizard and various other types of lizards live around the rockeries and stone water baths. As yet we have not spotted Chameleons and cannot wait for them to make this garden their home. The local monkey troop makes its way through the garden once a week, foraging for quick and tasty pickings, the unopened Strelitzia flowers being a favourite. Tree frogs are often spotted on windows during night time. The following birds have been observed: - Woollynecked Stork (Wolnekooievaar) - Brownhooded Kingfisher (Bruinkopvisvanger) - Hoopoe - Purplecrested Lourie (Bloukuifloerie) - Bronze Mannikin (Gewone Fret) - Sunbirds - Redeyed Dove - Blackeyed Bulbul (Tiptol) - Olive Thrush (Olyflyster) - Black Flycatcher (SwartvlieĂ«vanger) - Cape Wagtail (Gewone Kwikkie) - Hadeda Ibis - Egyptian Goose (Kolgans)

2 comments:

  1. Anonymous1:43 PM

    This is a fantastic achievement! Well done, very well deserved! Love Libs

    ReplyDelete
  2. Anonymous2:54 PM

    Show off :)

    ReplyDelete

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