Random Harvest Newsletter Archive

Dear Indigenous Enthusiast,

What a relief to get some reasonable rain instead of one or two millimetres.  The plants seem to be breathing easier.  After the terrible heatwave I am also breathing easier as I am sure you are as well.

I thought I would share pictures with you of what the grassland looks like now after the heat and lack of rain and what it looked like last year.

After these rains it will come back quickly as the grassland plants are very resilient and amazingly drought resistant.  

IN THE NURSERY

It has been so hot that the plants have been suffering from the heat and the extremely high UV index. We have sprayed the nursery with an experimental, environmentally friendly product.  I will keep you posted on how the plants have done.

This time of year, is always busy, particularly as we have to collect seeds.  This is a job that needs to be done daily especially for the seeds that have juicy fruits.  We need to get out onto the farm early so we can beat the birds, or they will eat all the seeds and leave nothing for us to grow.  I love sharing with the birds, but I am not sure how they feel about sharing with me.

Once the seeds have germinated we have to painstakingly replant each seedling into a seedling tray.  Sometimes the job can be overwhelming with the mass germinating of seeds at this time of year.

Every year we host the horticultural students from UNISA.  Jeffrey and I use this opportunity to convince them to plant only indigenous plants.   If they will do this not only will they be providing beautiful gardens for their clients or employer, but they will also make a positive contribution to the environment.

We laid the foundation for our new tank stand which I hope is going to give us enough pressure to run the irrigation system.  This will cut our electricity usage down as we will only have to pump once to fill the tank and not pump again into the irrigation system.  We placed the tank at the highest point on the farm to increase the pressure.

FOOD PARCELS

Our goal for 2025 is to help 20 people in informal settlements start their own businesses, empowering them to build sustainable futures.  With your support, we believe we can make this vision a reality and create lasting change in our community. Together, we can make a significant impact and improve the lives of many.

We were so excited to be able to hand out 250 Food Parcels just before Christmas.  That means 250 families who will not have to wonder if they will have a meal or not.

We couldn’t have done this without your kind, generous and thoughtful donations.  Not only have you fed all these people, but you have also brought me so much joy.  The food parcels we provide make me feel totally happy that at least someone is not going hungry.   My family think I am crazy as nothing makes me happier that either non-perishable foods or a donation to this cause.

So, thank you once again - your support means a huge amount to me.

This year I personally bought 300 lucky dips to give to the children in the informal settlements.  It is touching to see how much joy a small present like this brings to those children.  Some of whom have never had a gift in their lives.

We are always happy to receive donations of nonperishable food stuff.  Please put us on your shopping list if it is your intention to come along for a visit and drop your donations off.

Alternately our banking details are:

Random Harvest Nursery, FNB 51441129818 Cheque account: code 25 07 41, Reference: Food Parcels

KIDS EVENT

The children are having a huge amount of fun doing the pollinator trail which emphasizes the importance of insects in our lives. 

They are learning how to build an insect house in a pot, thereby creating habitat, as well as learning how to preserve these fascinating creatures. They then take their insects hotel home where they can continuously observe the life cycles.   

When they are finished with the trail and their task there will be a few sweets as Christmas treats for them to collect at reception.  There is no cost for this event.  It will take place for the whole of January.

CHILDREN’S BIRD WALK

Jeffrey will take the children on a walk through the nursery and grassland with a particular view to teaching them how to find birds in their habitat and how to identify them.

He will take them to see the Paradise Flycatchers nest.  The babies have just hatched in this nest so should be juveniles and easy to see at this time.

To see a short video on the hatchlings click here https://youtube.com/shorts/LRbBF8xhe0I

Date:     10th January 2025
Time:    07h00 for 07h30
Cost:     R150.00
This includes juice on arrival followed by a breakfast of French Toast, Bacon, a Chocolate Chip muffin and juice after the walk.

Booking is essential - please contact Ronald on [email protected] or Tel. No. 066-587-3077

BIRD WALKS

The baby owls have all grown up now, their soft feathers replaced by more mature plumage, and they’ve become increasingly shy. Where once they would eagerly perch close by, now they tend to hide in the shadows of the trees.  It’s bittersweet to see them retreat and a sign of their independence, yet it feels like a quiet farewell to the days when they were so curious and unafraid.

This walk will be a bonus as I am sure the owls will still be in the garden, and you will also be able to see the nesting Paradise Flycatchers.

This is a link to show the miniscule owl babies in their nest.

Date:     18th January 2025 with Chris Hines 
Time:     06h30 for 07h00

Date:     8th February 2025 with Lance Robinson
Time:     06h30 for 07h00 
Cost:    R195.00 per person, this includes a delicious breakfast buffet 
Booking is essential - please contact Ronald on [email protected] or Tel. No. 066-587-3077

COFFEE MORNING 

Thank goodness we have had some reasonable rain, and the grassland is starting to look amazing again.  Jeffrey will take you for a walk and hopefully convince you of just how diverse and resilient our grasslands are.

Date:  Wednesday 8TH January at 10h30 (as the first Wed. in January is New Year’s Day)
Topic: Walk in the grassland with Jeffrey

Coffee Morning Cost: R25.00 per person towards our food parcel drive.  

Please remember to bring along some non-perishable food for our food parcels.

Date:  Wednesday 5th February at 10h30
Topic: Talk on Dragonflies 

Lappies Labuschgne dragonfly enthusiast will share his passion and love for the over 162 species of these unique creatures with us. Explaining their role as indicators of eco system health, their ecology and how they benefit humans.

PRACTICAL GARDENER TRAINING 

Lindsay Gray’s Gardener’s course will resume in February, offering a great opportunity for gardeners to expand their skills and knowledge. With expert guidance and practical lessons, this course is perfect for anyone looking to improve their gardening techniques. Enrol your gardener today to take advantage of this hands-on learning experience and set them up for success

WhatsApp Lindsay on 082449 9237 or email [email protected] to book your gardeners’ place. Celebrating 30 years of inspiring gardeners worldwide!

HOLISTIC WELLNESS RETREATS & WORKSHOPS

Jana ended the year hosting the “Retreat into Nature Mini Wellness Experiences” which included nature-immersion activities to restore mind, body, and soul well-being. The participants loved the experiences, and we loved sharing our beautiful farm with them!

If you missed the December programme, don’t stress – Jana is facilitating daily wellness experiences until Friday 10 January 2025 (excluding 1 & 2 January). 

Contact her directly for more information or to make a booking – email her at [email protected] or WhatsApp at 076 329 8692.

Jana invites you to spend the day with her on Saturday, 25 January 2025 and discover how to “Ignite Your Life Blueprint in 2025.” This workshop empowers you to kickstart your journey.

TEA GARDEN

After Christmas which is always hectic, why not spend some time relaxing under the giant Acacias in the tea garden.  Make some time to regroup and think about 2025 and what you hope to achieve in a serene and peaceful space.

Enjoy a homemade meal or coffee and cake while contemplating your goals for the new year.

Catch up with family and friends as you just sit and enjoy each other’s company before life catches up with you and the busyness starts all over again.

COTTAGES

We are excited to announce that some of our cottages are undergoing renovations!

We are upgrading in the hopes of enhancing the comfort and charm as well as adding comfortable spaces so that our guests can use the cottages as a peaceful workspace where inspiration can flow.

Each cottage will now feature work desks and reading lights.  Wi-Fi is available in the cottages and covers the top area of the farm including the gardens and tea garden.  We hope these changes can create a peaceful and productive environment. 

We look forward to welcoming you to our upgraded cottages and would love to have your feedback.

RETAIL

Finally! We decided to waterproof our water plant area in the nursery properly and install a proper filter of pumping through biobags.  We hope this will greatly enhance the area.

The waterlilies are in full bloom with their beautiful blue flowers attracting a whole host of pollinators especially bees.  It’s a delight to watch the insects flitting from flower-to-flower dipping into each bloom to collect the life sustaining pollen.

The pollinator garden we installed in the retail nursery is thriving! On the very first day, we were delighted to spot pollinators enjoying the new blooms, a testament to how quickly  an indigenous garden can make an impact on the environment and just how quickly a flourishing ecosystem can be created.

SHOP

After the extremely high temperatures and now the humidity some garden pests seem to be thriving in these conditions.

To help keep your garden pest free while not harming yourselves or other creatures in the garden, we keep a range of environmentally friendly pesticides to assist and also to keep the ecosystem intact. 

Neem oil  R75.00
Ferramol  R160.00
Diatomaceous earth  R30.00
Bioneem  R175.00
Neudosan  R165.00
Pyrol  R225.00
Phyta  R175.00
Magaret Roberts biological caterpillar insecticide  R381.00
Magaret Roberts Organic insecticide  R171.00
Magaret Roberts Organic fungicide  R145.00

PLANTS LOOKING GOOD

Dracaena aletriformis - Large-leaved Dragon Tree 
Fairly hardy, evergreen, shade-loving, Yucca-like accent plant.  The cylindrical stems are covered in smooth white bark.  It has large, elongated, leathery strap-like, wavy-margined leaves that are carried in a rosette at the tips of the branches.  It forms dense stands in the undergrowth where it normally grows.   From Nov. to Feb. spikes of creamy-white, sweet-smelling flowers in long, robust sprays are carried above the leaves.   Moths are attracted to the flowers, which are particularly strongly scented when they open at night.  The large, sticky, orange-yellow fruits attract birds.  It grows in deep shade and makes a good indoor and container plant.  Best planted in deep shade or semi-shade, in well-drained, compost-rich soil. Size: 1 to 4m

Dichrostachys cinerea – Sickle Bush 
Hardy, deciduous multi-stemmed shrub or small tree with fine feathery Acacia-like leaves and rough fissured bark.  The small tough branchlets end in sharp points.  It bears beautiful, elongated, puffball, bi-coloured, pink and yellow pendulous flowers from Sept. to Feb.  It then produces distinctive sickle shaped pods that are coiled into each other.  This plant will quickly grow into dense stands in disturbed areas where its nitrogen fixing ability will help restore the soil.   Use as a small specimen tree where its shape and flowers will delight you or create a beautiful bonsai with this plant.  It also makes a great addition to a barrier planting.  Plant this drought-resistant plant in full sun or partial shade and prune regularly to keep in shape. Size: 3 to 7m

Eugenia natalitia - Forest Myrtle 
This fairly hardy, evergreen, small, slender tree is a member of the Myrtle family. It grows naturally along riverbanks and forested kloofs along the Escarpment from the Eastern Cape to Mpumalanga. The leaves are thinly leathery and glossy dark- green above.  During Jun. through Dec., white flowers with a mass of stamens appear, followed by the ornamental, edible, red to purple-black fruit that resembles miniature guavas.  They attract birds to the garden.  It is also a butterfly larval host plant.  Eugenia grows well in containers and makes an ideal pot plant.  It is fairly thirsty, so water regularly. Plant in shade or semi-shade. Size up to 4m

Thunbergia atriplicifolia - Natal primrose
Hardy, deciduous softly hairy shrublet that arises from a tuberous underground root. The stems and clusters of soft, stalkless, grey green leaves are held upright although the stems grow along the ground.  In summer it bears beautiful large, creamy yellow flowers that attract pollinating insects.  It grows wild in the grasslands where it helps to break the force of rain on exposed ground  therefore reducing soil erosion.  Makes a rewarding garden plant.  Beautiful to add colour, texture and species diversity to a grassland.  Plant in full sun in well-drained soil in a grassland garden, rockery or even create beautiful containers with this plant. Size up to 40cm

Alloteropsis semialata - Broad-leaved Black-seed grass 
Very hardy, evergreen clump-forming, fast growing grass with quite a broad leaf blade covered with short white hairs.  It bears dark grey to almost black flowers in summer. Use as an element of a grassland garden or in a mixed border as it is not very aggressive.  This is a grass that looks good all year round but should still be pruned back at the end of winter to allow for fresh new growth.  Plant in sun or semi-shade and water regularly. Size .3 to 1.3m

PLANTS ON SPECIAL – Less 15%

Melinus repens - Natal Red Top
Very hardy, semi-deciduous, perennial grass with beautiful plumes of pink and white, fluffy seeds from Sep. to Jun.  This is the grass you see along the roadsides shining in the sun.  The seeds attract seed-eating birds.  It is a good soil stabiliser interplanted with other perennial grasses or groundcovers.  Use this as a lovely addition to a grassland garden or mass-plant for a beautiful show.  Plant in sun or semi-shade.  Prune back to about 5cm above ground level each winter. Size: up to 40cm

Gladiolus ochroleucus - Triangular Gladiolus 
Hardy, evergreen, bulbous plant with attractive, upright, strap-like, grey-green leaves.   It bears spikes of magnificent, funnel-shaped, pink flowers almost all year round.  The flower colour can vary from almost white to cerise.  They attract pollinating insects.  Use as a particularly attractive cut flower as well.  It is a lovely addition to a short grassland garden or planted in clumps in a rockery and it makes a truly beautiful container plant.  It requires well-drained, compost-rich soil.  Plant in full sun or semi-shade. Size: 30 to 50cm

Rotheca [=Clerodendrum] myricoides - Blue Cat’s Whiskers
Fairly hardy, evergreen, very decorative, medium-sized shrub with variable, fairly large, slightly serrated leaves.  In spring and summer, it has many spikes of purple flowers which attract the beautiful Carpenter Bees. The edible fruit attracts birds to the garden. A beautiful shrub for small gardens and containers. Prune regularly to encourage it to bush out and keep producing flowers. Plant in sun or semi-shade in well-composted soil. Size: 2 to 3m S.A. No. 667.1

Hoslundia opposita  - Orange Bird Berry
Hardy, evergreen small, sometimes spreading soft shrub. From Oct. to Feb., it bears creamy-green flowers that are irresistible to butterflies and other pollinating insects. These are followed by bright orange-red, tasty edible fruit that are much sought after by birds hence the common name. Plant in well-drained soil in full sun where they create attractive borders.  They make great container plants. Prune once or twice times a year to keep in shape. An absolute must for a wildlife garden. Size up to 1.2m

Terminalia phanerophlebia - Lebombo Clusterleaf
A hardy, deciduous, small-to medium-sized, upright tree that is fast-growing.  It has rough, blackish, ridged bark.  The interesting  branching patterns give it a pagoda-like shape.  An added feature is the shiny purplish branchlets.  As its common name suggests, the leaves are attractively clustered in a spiral at the tips of the branchlets. They have a soft, velvety feel and are an unusual olive-green colour.  The upright candle-like spikes of clear white flowers rise in clusters above the spirals of leaves from Oct. to Feb. The two-winged fruits are attractive and turn a pale, brownish-pink when they dry and, once again, hang in clusters on the tree from Jan. to Jun.  This tree looks mystical in the dusk, especially in winter when the leaves become a dark Khaki-green colour.  A decorative tree that is also suitable for street planting. Plant in sun or semi-shade. Size: 3 to 6m

GARDENING TIP

Even if your garden is tiny, you can create a shady refuge for you and the wildlife to escape the heat and bustle of the day. Trees are a great solution to screening out surrounding buildings, so a shady forest garden is ideal for a small area.  Forests provide multiple levels at which to garden. In a few square meters, one can plant small trees to make up the canopy, add some shrubs as a middle storey, and the forest floor can be a lovely mix of groundcovers, small perennials and small shrubs. 

Include wood, rock and water to add interest, charm and lots more habitat for garden creatures. Sitting quietly in such a landscape will leave one enchanted by the many creatures that will welcome not only the coolness, but also the many opportunities to feed, breed, nest and rest. Birds, insects, small reptiles, amphibians, millipedes, spiders and other invertebrates will all readily live in or visit this shady retreat. Here are some pointers to help you create a tiny and beautiful, wildlife friendly forest garden:

Trees – Use small trees or large, pruned up shrubs that support the wildlife. Butterfly larval host plants, trees with fruit for birds, or flowers for bees and other insects all help to bring these creatures to our gardens. Larger trees can be used but should be slow growing and planted in pots to restrict their size.  In fact, one can also use containers to restrict the spread and size of fast-growing shade shrubs and groundcovers in a tiny garden.

Pruning lower branches inside your forest will not only create space for understorey shrubs and give a more spacious feel to a seating area but will also reveal the beautiful and varied bark of the tree stems. One way to give small trees added height is to either raise the area they are planted in or sink the seating area. It will also help to give the area a more secluded and sheltered feel.

On this note, one can raise the level of the forest floor by using wooden edging or small, rock retaining walls to retain soil.  Place a bench here so that, when seated, the forest floor and plants are closer to eye level.  Without having to crouch down, one is enveloped in a viewpoint seldom experienced as an adult.  Nature is incredibly busy on the forest floor, which makes for fascinating observations!

The small forest garden should be a refuge for both garden wildlife and people.  Provide places for shy creatures to hide (covered burrows, holes in logs, crevices in rocks etc.). Angling or curving a pathway to the seating area will keep it hidden, creating a private, calming space. 

Include logs and dead branches as habitat and to retain moisture in the garden.  Plant up cracks and crevices in the dead wood.  In a tiny forest garden this is a great way to increase the number of plants that can be included, as well as providing additional refuge for insects and decomposers.  Use wood chip mulch or leaf litter on pathways. As it breaks down, it will make the garden more fertile, and the soft walkway will add to the quiet calm of the forest garden.

Remember to include water, particularly at ground level, where it is accessible to all wildlife.

ON THE FARM

The only thing I can say is ‘Thank Goodness for the rain” and what a difference it has made to the whole farm.  The trees in the garden were actually dropping their leaves from the heat and drought.

What is amazing is that nature doesn’t give up.  Life carries on, just maybe a little later than normal.  The lapwings usually breed in Late July or August, but this year had babies in  November

The grassland has literally thousands of the tiny Hypoxis argentea blooming as well as the Hypoxis hemerocallidea (African potato) which are blooming at their best.  These are both plants called pre rain flowers which mean they usually bloom early in the season.  This season is really weird.

The Egyptian Geese hatched their babies on top of the Hamerkop’s nest.  I don’t know how the babies survive that drop.

It is one thing to survive the drop but another to survive their parents.  Egyptian Geese have to be the worst parents ever.  They kept on leaving babies behind and we had to run after them to reunite the family.  One of the babies even landed up in my mother’s house.

The Moorhens have two babies, but they are keeping them well hidden from view.  Luckily Jeffrey managed to get this picture.

So many creatures are stirring after the rain.  We found this Terrapin had left the dam.  I am not sure if it was on its way to excavate a nest or just looking for another pool.

Now that the dam has more water in it the ducks are returning, and we have seen Yellow-billed ducks and White-Faced Whistling Ducks.

Some Herons have returned, and it is exciting to see the Purple Heron as well.   It is wonderful to visit the dam and bird watch to look for new residents.

I was so concerned that there were only a few Red Bishops breeding.  But was I wrong!  Come the rain and the Bullrushes are teeming with these beautiful birds.  They are also taking advantage of the food offered at the Christmas tree for the birds in the retail nursery.  There are 30 of them feeding at times.  They look like beautiful Christmas decorations in the tree.

They are only a few of the amazing variety of birds that take advantage of the food.

I hope the rains were not too late for the Bullfrogs to breed.  The habitat around the dam is perfect for them.  Here’s holding thumbs they make it this season.

It is amazing how quickly and in large numbers the mushrooms appear.  One day nothing, the next day the veld is full of them.

It is such a privilege to have these moments in the grassland with new surprises appearing each day. Jeff and I go down there daily for a short quiet time in the frantic pace of our lives. 

The insects are buzzing around in the revitalised grassland and gardens.  There are butterflies, bees, locusts and a whole host of other insects flying and crawling around.  What joy it gives to be able to share our world with these tiny creatures that are so vital to the health of the planet.

The beautiful Tabernaemontana elegans (Toad Tree) is in full bloom at the entrance of the nursery.

When you see the empty seed pods you can see how appropriate the common name is as they look just like an open-mouthed Toad.

It is worth a visit to see all the trees budding and blooming, celebrating the rain.

There are so many more beautiful moments and plants to see on the farm, but I have run out of space to share them with you.  

We will add a few to our Facebook page for you to enjoy.

Hope to see you soon in the nursery.

Sincerely
Linda