The low point before the high

There is an exciting historical reconnection which is going to take place soon. Spring water originating from the Stadtsfontein spring, at the top of Oranjezicht, will be piped to Green Point and fill the lakes.


This spring was the reason why the Khoikhoi lived here at the Cape, and why a settlement started here during the 17th C. "Water from Platteklip and the 13 artesian springs in the city bowl provided the water for Cape Town’s population and trading ships - until it was scrapped from the asset resource register in the late 1990s." To find out more about the historical significance of this water, visit Reclaim Camissa.

It is astonishing to think that for a decade 2.4 million liters / day of spring water ran straight into the sea, but the point is that is about to change. The pipeline is almost complete: I've been told the water will be connected this week. There is enough water to irrigate the entire Green Point common - including the Stadium, golf course, all the sportsfields and the Urban park!

Landscape Plan by OVP Associates

Camissa means 'place of sweet waters' and is the ancient Khoi name for Cape Town. Clearly the historical significance of this reconnection with the spring is enormous. However this abundant source of water also meant that the designers (OVP) could 'afford' to make water a key design feature in the Park. It originates and becomes visible in a 'source' water feature, and runs along open channels and spillways into a series of lakes. The lakes serve as a reservoir for the irrigation and create a natural and friendly boundary between the golf course and the Park.



The past few weeks the water level has been dropping daily and it's terribly low: the planted reed ledges and sand bags are exposed, looking rather sad. The spillways are dry. Even the fish sculpture has lost its charm with the substructure exposed...



So perhaps now you can understand why the City wanted to wait with the opening of the Park? I hope so!

Carex clavata growing on the lake edge

Pretty things

There is a lot flowering in the Biodiversity Garden - a last splash of bright colour before the heat of summer really kicks in, and the garden will revert to a simple palette of greys and greens. By January flowers give way to foliage, and texture will reign supreme.

Below, photographed on the 2nd Nov, a chinkerinchee (Ornithogalum thyrsoides) - still fresh in bud and sparkly white.



And below: three weeks later, with long flower stalks, old papery flowers encasing swelling seed capsules. A caracal slinking through.



The Lighthouse Walkway is looking especially cheerful, with Cotyledon orbiculata in full bloom, as well as Pelargonium betulinum (pink), Pelargonium cucculatum (magenta) and Gnidia squarrosa (pale yellow), all in bloom.



In the wetland Watsonia angusta is making splashes of bright red against the grey of Plecostachys serpyllaceae and restios - a favourite combination which I spotted in the Harold Porter Garden and recreated here.



Bright pink Orphium frutescens is right on schedule: November is prime time. I love the juxtaposition of plant diversity with the skyline of surrounding appartments and cityscapes.


Orphium is buzz pollinated: each twisted yellow anthers has a small hole (pore) at the top. Carpenter bees visit and grab hold of the anthers, buzzing vigorously - this shakes out the pollen onto their bodies, thereby effecting pollination.



Update on the amazing race: The dome is starting to get a green 'skirt' of climbers growing up the mesh. Dipogon lignosus (boslimop) still in the lead.


In the 'Cape biodiversity goes International' display the various hybrids are in full swing. Diascia, Gazania, Agapanthus - it's hot there.

Reflections

Pond in the Biodiversity Garden.
Dragonflies by Streetwires

The Jewel

Walking through the Biodiversity garden you will find a colourful jewel under the Shade dome: it's a mosaic designed by Fiona Berrisford and Mary Visser. For the design concept they chose the cell - the basic building block of all biodiversity. It really couldn't have been more Spot On.



They started on the mosaic in May 2010, just as World Cup fever was mounting. Fiona and Mary designed and prepared most of the cell elements in the studio, and arrived with boxes and boxes of tiles, all pre-sorted according to colour. The on-site installation took just over a week.

Fiona Berrisford (left) and Mary Visser (right)

A mitochondrion: it's involved in respiration - remember?

Such detail: the subtle colours and tones

The mosaic is almost there: here it is before grouting.


And a few months after it was finished. With nucleus, ribosomes, vacuole, a Golgi apparatus, mitochondria, chloroplasts... and starch granules.

Clever and beautiful.

A dome for shade

Central to the Biodiversity Garden is a large steel dome designed by De Villiers Sheard. Domes are lovely structures to look at and to be under - whether it's a Renaissance dome or a Khoikhoi matjieshuis - and considering the precedent, I felt it would make the perfect focal point to the garden.

Over time climbers will grow up the mesh and completely cover the dome, so that it becomes a shady arbor inside. Low walls provide informal seating, and there are framed views onto the surrounding Demonstration gardens and the lake beyond.



Domes are no longer common in modern architecture, so I received some raised eyebrows at the suggestion. I'd like to say a big THANK YOU to the engineers Garry Sheard and Dave Stonestreet for rising to the challenge and helping us realise this part of the design.

The dome is 9 meters in diameter with 9 ribs, each of 76mm galvanised steel pipe. This is surprisingly little steel to span such a large area.





I love the geometry and the apparent simplicity of the structure.



Mesh panels cover the dome to provide support for climbers.




A large poster provides a visual summary of the Biodiversity Garden - introducing the main themes and where the displays can be found. A mosaic lies like a decorative carpet on the floor and shadow patterns add a dynamic element.


It is indeed a lovely space to hang out.

Khoikhoi huts - Then and now

One of the 3 theme areas in the Biodiversity Garden is 'People and Plants' - where we wanted to show how much biodiversity is part of our lives: how we eat it, use it for medicine, shelter and that it's an integral part of our language and culture. To put it clumsily but succintly : we are because of biodiversity - it is integral to our lives.

Included is a stylised display of what life may have looked like about 500 years ago at the Cape, when the Khoikhoi herders were living here.


There are some domed huts (reminiscent of matjieshuise) surrounded by grassy renosterveld, some fat-tailed sheep and a fire hearth area with artefacts such as bones, ostrich shells and shells.


That same area - a few months before. Drainage required in fire hearth area.

The Khoikhoi made domed huts using local materials: wood for the frame, reeds to make mats and animal gut to tie it all together. The huts were cool inside, lightweight, and easy to put up and take down - well-suited to their nomadic lifestyle, in search of grazing for their livestock.

So who would be able to do a modern interpretation of this concept, using today's local materials? Enter Stephen Lamb (of Touching this earth lightly). He rose to the challenge and made these beautiful structures from invasive alien myrtle wood. They are modelled on the traditional matjieshuis, using modern materials and techniques to make them more durable. The wood was harvested at new moon, so that it would require no chemical preservative.

Here is the first hut, shown as if still under construction.


And a few months later, after the planting and interpretive signage is in place...

For one of the huts Stephen used animal hide ties - just like the riempies and bokderms of old...

The canvas is a modern touch, providing some welcome shade.



I just love the juxtaposition of the huts and the Stadium.


Andrew - seen here stitching canvas onto the hut.

The domed Khoikhoi huts served as inspiration for the Shade Dome - more about that in the next post.

The Amazing race?

Centrally situated in the Biodiversity Garden is a large dome covered with mesh. The plan is that it will be grown with climbers, so that it becomes a fuzzy green dome peeping out above the thicket. It will provide shade for visitors and serves as a focal point for the demonstration gardens.


A variety of hardy climbers have been planted on both sides where the mesh reaches the ground. Four different species, planted at the same time. Which will get to the top first?


Well... the current leader is Dipogon lignosus, the Bosklimop. It has pretty pink flowers, typical of the Pea family (Fabaceae), with trifoliate leaves. It is fast-growing indeed: once it has its tendrils on the mesh it can grow a few centimeters per day!


Next up the mesh is Thunbergia alata, the Black-eyed Susan. A pretty thing.


But looking long term I would place my bet on these two coastal species:
The Wild Grape (Rhoicissus digitata, below left) is a woody climber with glossy green leathery leaves. The tiny flowers are followed by black berries which attract birds. I've noticed Rhoicissus usually takes some time to get established - but once it gets going, it's a winner.

Cynanchum obtusifolium (below right) has smaller leaves, and produces dull white flowers which have a wonderful sweet scent. It has white sap typical of the family to which it belongs - the Apocynaceae.

Although slower-growing, my guess is that these two species will be longer-lived and handle the extreme conditions here in the Park.


When you come to visit, don't forget to see for yourself who is winning in the amazing race!