Random Harvest Newsletter Archive

Plant display beds - For more than 20 years I have displayed my retail plants in the same way – behind a short edging border to make them look as if they are in a garden bed. 

I decided to listen to a long-time customer’s advice, and raised my plants a bit so that they are not so far down to pick up when browsing and buying.  

I think it has made a world of difference and when I asked Jeff what he thought, he simply said “the best!”

It’s going to be a fairly lengthy process, so over the next month or so that we are busy, please pop your head in the office and let us know what you think.

It’s been so cold lately in the early mornings that we see the Doves “defrosting” themselves in the sun when it’s still about 5 or 6⁰C although the days are amazing.

We recently had a baby Go-Away-Bird (Grey Loerie) happily hopping around in the retail section.

The attentive parents sat on a nearby tree calling, and most probably guiding it to a safer place.

I am always amazed at how the internet has changed our lives and access to information.

Pinterest is inspiring us at Random Harvest with some amazing ideas.

Look what Solomon managed to do with a few pieces of bamboo and some garden string.

We have planted it up with succulents and it looks gorgeous. 

We hope to be selling these in the near future. 

Keep an eye on our Facebook page to see when they are in stock.

Discover how to use succulents for their form, colour and texture, and as container plants. 

Jonathan will also talk about their care and some of the diseases and pests they get and how to treat them.

Selago galpinii
– This pretty mauve flowered plant is a great addition to a rock garden or grassland garden. 

It needs plenty of sun and is sure to attract a whole host of interesting pollinating insects to the garden.  The butterflies seem to love it and can’t stay away.

Chlorophytum modestum- Small Chlorophytum (E); umathunga wehlathi omncane (Z)
A hardy, small, evergreen, tufted plant with short, strap-like leaves.  Spikes of shiny, white star-like flowers are borne from October to May.  Plant it in semi-shade or light shade, where it makes a useful groundcover. Ideal for under trees or between stepping stones.  It also makes a good container plant.

Mackaya bella - River Bells (E); Blouklokkiesbos (A); uzwathi (Z)
Hardy, evergreen shrub with dark green, glossy leaves.  It bears, magnificent bunches of lilac or white, trumpet-shaped flowers from early spring to November.  It grows in deep shade where the flowers seem to glow in the dark. It can tolerate a bit of morning sun provided it is watered well. Even though it gets frosted it will normally come back vigorously in spring. An excellent garden and container subject that needs regular pruning which also induces masses of flowers.

Chasmanthe floribunda – African Flag (E)

A hardy clump forming plant with lush green strap-shaped leaves and a long thin flowering stalk (up to almost a meter tall in perfect growing conditions).

The tubular flowers are orange with a tinge of yellow on the underside.

They prefer light shade to full sun, and well-drained soil.

Halleria elliptica (Robust form) - Rock Tree Fuchsia (E); Kinderbessie (A)
Hardy evergreen shrub, with very showy, orange-red, broadly tubular flowers in summer and winter.  The olive green foliage turns p urple in winter which contrasts beautifully with the orange-red flowers.  It then bears fleshy fruit.  The flowers and fruit attract birds and insects to the garden.  Makes a beautiful show when planted in groups in full sun or semi-shade.   Use this plant for a small but neat informal hedge or screen that should be pruned lightly and regularly.   It is also very showy planted in containers.  It is fairly drought resistant and should be planted in compost rich soil.

Sutera cordata - Trailing Phlox (E)
Hardy, evergreen, flat, creeping groundcover with attractive, round, bright little leaves.  It bears masses of small, starry white flowers that have an unmistakable yellows centre almost all year round.  A useful garden plant as it grows in sun or shade.  Use it as a groundcover or between stepping stones.  It also makes a stunning hanging basket and container plant but does need regular watering especially when growing in full sun.

Thunbergia alata (Pink) Black-eyed-Susan (E)
As it naturally grows on forest margins, this creeper enjoys semi-shade conditions. This beautiful pink form is not always readily available, but it is in stock at the moment and looking great.  How about growing this creeper over a frame as a little girl’s living tepee?

Cineraria saxifraga - Wild Cineraria (E)
A hardy, fast growing, evergreen groundcover with a rounded shape that roots as it goes.  It has pretty bright green almost round leaves with scalloped edges.  This pretty, delicate looking groundcover bears masses of small, yellow, daisy-like flowers from spring to autumn that attract tiny insects.  These tiny insects help feed lizards and frogs.  Ideal for hanging baskets and borders.  Grows well in semi-shade and sun.  Plant in well-drained soil.

Hermannia pinnata - Orange Hermannia (E); Poproos (A)
A Hardy, evergreen, drought resistant-flat growing groundcover with finely textured, light green foliage. It bears masses of wonderfully fragrant apricot coloured flowers in early summer.  Grows best in full sun or light shade.  Plant in well-drained soil in rockeries, herbaceous borders or tumbling over the edges of containers and retaining walls.  It also makes a gorgeous hanging basket.

Our Father’s Day gifts were a real hit. 

Ashley and Adele did an amazing job of the packaging, as I’m sure you will agree.

We were delighted to receive a lovely review on Facebook by one of the ladies attending the Dieticians Conference a few weeks back.

Thank you Kailey van Heerden for this great compliment:

“I went for a conference at RHN last week and was very well looked after. The staff are friendly and helpful, and the food is divine. Even though it gets quite cold, there are fireplaces and heaters to sit around with a cup of coffee. Thank you for the lovely service”

Cottages Gardens - Lavender Tree cottage garden is almost finished and this is the beginning of our garden revamps for all our cottages.  We have focused on the aesthetics of each garden, in an effort to make your stay as beautiful as possible.

With all the gardening I have been doing I had to hire a chipper to turn the huge load of branches and garden clippings into mulch.

We include this in the compost that we sell, and it makes me feel really good that nothing goes to waste. Almost no organic waste leaves Random Harvest as we recycle wherever we can!

Whilst still talking about my beloved plants, doesn’t this picture of the Euphorbia ingens and windmill against the sun evoke a true feeling of Africa?

Just be aware that if you plant this in your own garden it needs plenty of space as it gets rather large!

Our succulents planted in the open ground are looking spectacular. They are full of flowers, and I’m sure you’ll agree that the Aloe arborescens is magnificent. Just a little water is always appreciated by these drought hardy plants to make them look their best through winter.

Mike found this big black Rhino beetle in his cuttings section. Such a pity there were no kids around to see it.

The highlight of any of the workshops / events we do with kids is for them to dig in a pile of compost and find the great big, rather terrifying looking larvae of these beetles.