I explained to the guys that they open in the afternoon and are sweetly scented in the evening to attract moths - pollinators. This will be just one of the wonderful scents which await visitors to the park as they make their way to the gate at dusk.
30 August 2010
Aandblommetjies
Every afternoon, around 3pm the red buds of Hesperantha falcata open to reveal starry white flowers. Standing barely 5cm high in a newly planted landscape, they are so... sweet?! I can't walk past them without melting inside.
I explained to the guys that they open in the afternoon and are sweetly scented in the evening to attract moths - pollinators. This will be just one of the wonderful scents which await visitors to the park as they make their way to the gate at dusk.
I explained to the guys that they open in the afternoon and are sweetly scented in the evening to attract moths - pollinators. This will be just one of the wonderful scents which await visitors to the park as they make their way to the gate at dusk.
Backtracking
Where is the Biodiversity Showcase Garden? What is it all about? Who's idea was it anyway?
The Biodiveristy Garden is situated in the new Green Point Urban Park, not far from the golf course and Mouille Point lighthouse. This 12.5 ha park, conceptualised and designed by OvP Associates, features a large circular lawn area (the 'Common'), cycle and running paths, play parks, a small amphitheatre, trim park and lots more. Future plans include an Eco-centre (the so-called Smart Living Centre), a tea room and a small retail nursery linked to the Biodiversity Garden and Green Futures Horticultural training college.
Below is a pic taken while the park was under construction on 12 April 2010. The squiggly red line encircles the Biodiversity Garden. The bright green is the golf course - completed as a first priority along with the Stadium.
The Biodiversity Garden is one of the City of Cape Town's Green Goal 2010 projects, and one of five LAB (Local Action for Biodiversity) projects. Stephen Granger, Head of major programmes & projects at the City's Environmental Resource Management Department, identified its purpose 'to showcase the Cape's biodiversity and demonstrate responsible gardening practises.' And its goal 'is to raise public awareness about the value and importance of regional biodiversity, and to disseminate practical knowledge on how to help conserve it.'
In August 2009 I was approached to help design this educational garden, and I have had the great pleasure of working with OvP on the project. Below is the first conceptual plan, beautifully rendered by Sarah Kantey (OvP).
A few workshops and meetings were held to identify the main themes and messages for the Biodiversity Garden, and these informed the design. There are 3 theme areas:
1. People & plants
2. Discover biodiversity
3. Wetland walk
Many people have contributed their knowledge and skills to the garden and various specialised items such as the shade dome; interpretive signage; khoikhoi huts; the Food garden; educational art; placement of rocks, special soil, unusual plants etc. The support of OvP and the client (the City of CT) has been nothing short of amazing.
At this stage - 2 weeks before the opening - we have:
320 species planted in the garden, most of which come from greater Cape Town
60 interpretive sign & 200 plant labels - on the way from Durban
posters which have gone to print
Above a planting plan for the Demonstration Gardens - the grey hatched areas are hedge blocks of Rhus crenata. I envisage them to be immaculately maintained green wedges, table top level....
The Biodiveristy Garden is situated in the new Green Point Urban Park, not far from the golf course and Mouille Point lighthouse. This 12.5 ha park, conceptualised and designed by OvP Associates, features a large circular lawn area (the 'Common'), cycle and running paths, play parks, a small amphitheatre, trim park and lots more. Future plans include an Eco-centre (the so-called Smart Living Centre), a tea room and a small retail nursery linked to the Biodiversity Garden and Green Futures Horticultural training college.
Below is a pic taken while the park was under construction on 12 April 2010. The squiggly red line encircles the Biodiversity Garden. The bright green is the golf course - completed as a first priority along with the Stadium.
The Biodiversity Garden is one of the City of Cape Town's Green Goal 2010 projects, and one of five LAB (Local Action for Biodiversity) projects. Stephen Granger, Head of major programmes & projects at the City's Environmental Resource Management Department, identified its purpose 'to showcase the Cape's biodiversity and demonstrate responsible gardening practises.' And its goal 'is to raise public awareness about the value and importance of regional biodiversity, and to disseminate practical knowledge on how to help conserve it.'
In August 2009 I was approached to help design this educational garden, and I have had the great pleasure of working with OvP on the project. Below is the first conceptual plan, beautifully rendered by Sarah Kantey (OvP).
A few workshops and meetings were held to identify the main themes and messages for the Biodiversity Garden, and these informed the design. There are 3 theme areas:1. People & plants
2. Discover biodiversity
3. Wetland walk
Many people have contributed their knowledge and skills to the garden and various specialised items such as the shade dome; interpretive signage; khoikhoi huts; the Food garden; educational art; placement of rocks, special soil, unusual plants etc. The support of OvP and the client (the City of CT) has been nothing short of amazing.
At this stage - 2 weeks before the opening - we have:
320 species planted in the garden, most of which come from greater Cape Town
60 interpretive sign & 200 plant labels - on the way from Durban
posters which have gone to print
Above a planting plan for the Demonstration Gardens - the grey hatched areas are hedge blocks of Rhus crenata. I envisage them to be immaculately maintained green wedges, table top level....29 August 2010
Moonlight and Magic in the Garden
Sculptures by artist Michael Methven, of Moonlight and Magic.
19 August: Michael arrives, his bakkie looking like a noah's ark.
The ox surveying his new pasture - grassy renosterveld in the Khoikhoi display area.
Or is he in the present, looking at the Stadium?
Not just an ordinary ox - but a Long-horned cow (Sanga), like those kept by Khoi herders. They represented wealth and status in Khoikhoi society, were a valuable source of milk and served as pack animals when they trekked from one grazing post to another.
Feeling our way, finding the right position for the owl & mouse in the Foodweb display
A barn owl in mid flight, about to catch a rat. Every time I walk past I can feel the relationship between predator and prey. The connectedness - will others feel it too?
19 August: Michael arrives, his bakkie looking like a noah's ark.
The ox surveying his new pasture - grassy renosterveld in the Khoikhoi display area.
Or is he in the present, looking at the Stadium?
Not just an ordinary ox - but a Long-horned cow (Sanga), like those kept by Khoi herders. They represented wealth and status in Khoikhoi society, were a valuable source of milk and served as pack animals when they trekked from one grazing post to another.
Feeling our way, finding the right position for the owl & mouse in the Foodweb display
A barn owl in mid flight, about to catch a rat. Every time I walk past I can feel the relationship between predator and prey. The connectedness - will others feel it too?
Garden Walkabout
Some snapshots capturing the action on the 20th August.
The owl is now in his place - he's part of a Food web display...
Looking back towards the shade dome - I wonder how long it will take to become green, covered with climbers?
Beaded animals are being 'planted' in the Demonstration Gardens
Stone chip has been partially installed on paths in the hedging display. Behind one can see the bands of the lawn display where the grass plugs have just been planted. Each band = a different type of lawn grass.
In the Threats to Biodiversity area we now have 2 threats!
There is the plough (techinically it's a cultivator), representing Agriculture...
...and Alien Plants which are crowding out and shading small fynbos plants....
Looking back over the Discover Biodiversity theme area...
And this? A cobra, a toad, molesnake and a honeybadger...where are they off to?
On their way back to the shed. It's late on Friday afternoon and we ran out of time to prepare their concrete foundations.
The owl is now in his place - he's part of a Food web display...
Looking back towards the shade dome - I wonder how long it will take to become green, covered with climbers?
Beaded animals are being 'planted' in the Demonstration Gardens
Stone chip has been partially installed on paths in the hedging display. Behind one can see the bands of the lawn display where the grass plugs have just been planted. Each band = a different type of lawn grass.
In the Threats to Biodiversity area we now have 2 threats!
There is the plough (techinically it's a cultivator), representing Agriculture...
...and Alien Plants which are crowding out and shading small fynbos plants....
Looking back over the Discover Biodiversity theme area...
And this? A cobra, a toad, molesnake and a honeybadger...where are they off to?
On their way back to the shed. It's late on Friday afternoon and we ran out of time to prepare their concrete foundations.
20 August 2010
The day the insects arrived
Exciting times in the Biodiversity Showcase Garden - the art works have started arriving. Yesterday a cow, 3 sheep and an owl (more about the later) and today we 'planted' the insects. Beautiful beaded creations made by artists at Streetwires - I am blown away by the colours and intricate detail. Amazing!
The colourful creatures have added instant magic & sparkle to the demonstration garden. Now there are eye-catching natural predators in the Natural pest control display, and a variety of animals living in the Create habitats display.
Ladybirds... (they eat up to 100 aphids a day).
And another natural predator - the robber fly
And of course spiders...
Orange-breasted sunbirds in the Attract Sunbirds display
White eyes, Witogies
And an asassin bug (how cool is that)
The colourful creatures have added instant magic & sparkle to the demonstration garden. Now there are eye-catching natural predators in the Natural pest control display, and a variety of animals living in the Create habitats display.
Ladybirds... (they eat up to 100 aphids a day).
And another natural predator - the robber fly
And of course spiders...
Orange-breasted sunbirds in the Attract Sunbirds display
White eyes, Witogies
And an asassin bug (how cool is that)
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