Random Harvest Newsletter Archive

Dear Indigenous enthusiast

Thank goodness the Paradise Flycatchers are flitting around the garden and filling the garden with their happy calls.  I was beginning to get worried that they would not return as I had not heard them by the 15th of October.  To my absolute joy I awoke to their wonderful calls on the 17th and am enjoying hearing them every day.

Everyone on the farm is buzzing with excitement to see these beautiful birds back in their natural habitat, flitting through the trees and adding a splash of colour to our landscape.

To add to this the Red-chested Cuckoo has arrived early and is calling regularly in the garden.

IN THE NURSERY

This is a wonderful time of year when all the seeds have been planted and are beginning to pop their heads above the soil.  Even after 34 years this sprouting of new life fills me with wonder and joy.  

Our new row of solar panels is almost ready to be commissioned.  I am hoping this frees us of the burden of having to pay huge amounts of money to Eskom.  These panels are specifically to charge the batteries which we hope will carry our electricity use through the night.

We hosted students from TUT at the nursery. Jeffrey gave them a guided tour, explaining how everything operates—from plant care to sustainable farming practices. It’s important for us to invest in the next generation of plant growers, sharing knowledge and hands-on experience to inspire future leaders in our industry.

I am so pleased that with the help of Jason we have cracked how to reproduce beautiful Streptocarpus species in big numbers.  I am really proud of Jason, who has been so dedicated to this task.

Later in the season we will have these beautiful plants ready for sale.

FOOD PARCEL DONATIONS

I want to thank you once again for your generous donations to the food parcel drive.

The social workers help us identify needy people in the informal settlements.  The heartbreaking part is when people who are not on the list come looking for food and have not had a meal in days.  We felt the need to do something, so  our solution is to make 200 ‘Meal in a Bag’ to hand out to them.  This provides eight tasty meals if used correctly.

If anyone has a contact on where I can buy baby formula for a reasonable price please let me know as some of the people are so desperate that they are giving their babies water to drink in the hopes of stopping them crying.  Please call me on 079-872-8975 if you are able to point me in the right direction.

We are always happy to receive donations of non-perishable 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

This December we hope to educate children on the importance of insects in our lives. 

They will learn 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.  

There is no cost for this event.  It will take place for the whole of December and January.

BIRD WALKS

I hope the grassland will have recovered by the date of the next bird walk, although with very little plant cover it is easy to see birds such as Pipits, Guinea Fowl and  Cape Longclaw.

The migrants will be back, adding to the interesting species you will be able to see.

Date:     16th November with Chris Hines
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

Date:  Wednesday 6th November at 10h30 
Topic: Indigenous Indoor Plants
There are many indigenous plants that are suitable to grow indoors.  We will show you a variety of these plants and give some tips on how to look after them.

Date:  Wednesday 4th December at 10h30 
Topic: Workshop on how to create beautiful Christmas Decorations from natural materials.
 We will display some of the Christmas decorations we have created using natural materials.  We will share with you how to do them and for those of you who enjoy crafting, there will be materials available for you to take home and create your own.
Coffee Morning Cost: R25.00 per person towards our food parcel drive and includes a cup of coffee.  No booking

HOLISTIC WELLNESS RETREATS & WORKSHOPS

The Journey Tree’s first women’s wellness retreat, Blooming Marvellous, was a blooming success!  It was wonderful hosting the participants for the day and we look forward to many more similar events taking place.  Jana and her wellness team are excited to launch the first Reboot & Rejuvenate Wellness Retreat in November. 

If you are looking for a mini getaway to rest, relax, and renew before the December craziness starts, spend a weekend on our farm. The retreat includes accommodation, freshly prepared wholesome meals from our kitchen, nature walks and wellness activities to restore balance mind, body, and soul balance. Book before 1 November 2024 and get R800 discount! 

Contact Jana at [email protected] or WhatsApp her on 076 329 8692 for more information. 

PRACTICAL GARDENER TRAINING

The last gardener’s course for this year is on the 15th of November. They resumes in February 2025.

Give your gardener the gift of knowledge! This full-day workshop is perfect for gardeners working in the residential, corporate, hospitality and school environment. 

The knowledge imparted plus the practical component will help gardeners at all levels to reach their full potential and understand the importance of their work. 

Cost includes course material, beautiful certificate of attendance, and tea/coffee on arrival, breakfast and a cooked lunch! An enjoyable, inspirational day for these invaluable men and women.

WhatsApp Lindsay on 0824499237 or email [email protected] to book your gardeners’ place
Celebrating 30 years of inspiring gardeners worldwide!

TEA GARDEN

Our mulberry trees have produced an abundant crop this season, and we are excited to offer our famous homemade mulberry cordial and delicious mulberry tart once again! Be sure to treat yourself while they’re available, and don’t forget to grab a bottle of our freshly made mulberry jam to take home.

We recently discovered that a dove has made her nest in our thatch gazebo, right on top of the projector stand. It’s been lovely to watch her settle in, and we’re excited to see her little family grow. We kindly ask that when you visit, you keep her in mind and try not to disturb her. She’s become a part of our farm’s charm, and with your help, we can ensure she stays safe and comfortable in her chosen spot.

COTTAGES

Discover the charm of farm life at our country cottages, where unforgettable memories are made!  Recently, we had the pleasure of hosting three wonderful ladies who grew up in the lush landscapes of KwaZulu-Natal but now call Johannesburg home. Their smiles lit up the farm as they shared how our tranquil surroundings reminded them of their childhood.

As they explored our fields and interacted with our farm animals, they were filled with joy and nostalgia. Sitting by the dam, they reminisced about their past while enjoying the serene beauty around them.

If you’re looking to reconnect with nature and create lasting memories, our farm is the perfect getaway. Come experience the warmth and charm of country living, just like those three ladies did, and let the beauty of our surroundings remind you of home. Book your stay today and embrace the tranquility of farm life!

RETAIL

We’ve been hard at work in the retail nursery, creating a dedicated pots section to offer ease of access and a wider selection of pots for you. 

The water plant area has always bugged me, so I decided to sort it out properly.  We’ve rebuilt the ponds to improve the layout and most importantly keep the water clean.  My nephew will be lining it with the same material he used on the pond.  Hopefully this will make it easier for you to choose the plants for your own pond.  The sound of water in a garden is very soothing and creating habitat for wildlife just enhances the experience.

SHOP

Our quirky little shop is brimming with a delightful variety of Christmas gifts, perfect for everyone on your list! From handmade crafts and cozy home decor to homemade treats and locally sourced products, we’ve curated a selection that captures the warmth and joy of the season. There’s something special waiting for you here!

Wildlife notebook R295.00
Zip Pouch R295.00
Flower bracelets R250.00
Flower pendants R225.00
Mulberry cordial R58.50
Bug gel R85.00
Sea Mag magnesium spray R195.00
Fridge flower magnets R9.50
Beeswax  products - lip balm, lotion, insect repellent.

3 DAY BASIC LANDSCAPE DESIGN AND HORTICULTURE PROGRAMME

Judy Panton-Jones has booked to hold a landscaping course at Random Harvest
This intensive 3-day course will equip you with essential skills to create breath-taking landscapes.
Dates: 6, 7,8th November 2024
Venue: Random Harvest Indigenous Nursery, Johannesburg, Muldersdrift.
Cost: R4000, 00 & includes:
A comprehensive manual, light lunch with refreshments, attendance certificate, valuation Certificate
Trainer: Judy Panton-Jones who is a qualified Horticulturalist of 35 years and is fully invested in the green industry.
To register please contact Judy on: 084 518 7589 / [email protected]

PLANTS LOOKING GOOD

Lydenburgia abbottii - Pondo Bushmen’s Tea 
Hardy, evergreen, newly described, rare tree.  It has beautiful glossy leaves that are bright red when young which is its most striking feature.  It has attractive smooth bark that has irregular flakes.  Although this tree grows big in its natural forest conditions it seems to be a lot smaller when in sun and in cultivation.  It bears small sweetly scented white flowers in large sprays in winter and spring.  As it is newly discovered, little is known about it in cultivation, but in my limited experience it grows in sun or shade and makes a beautiful container plant although quite slow growing.  S.A. No. 407  Size 4 to 13m

Anacampseros rufescens - Sand Rose 
Very hardy dwarf succulent plant with tiny, spirally arranged olive green leaves that have red undersides.  In very dry or hot conditions they turn dark reddish brown to purple.  The rosettes spread outwards to form a small mat.  It bears masses of gorgeous pink flowers, about 1cm across, on relatively long stems in summer.  The Sand Rose self-seeds abundantly, dropping white flake-like seeds that germinate easily.  They are tiny but showy plants that are best planted in containers or in small pockets in a rockery in full sun or dappled shade in well-drained soil.  Size up to 8cm

Crassula swaziensis 
Hardy, semi-prostrate, succulent, perennial plant with attractive grey-green, round leaves that are arranged in rosettes.  The dense flat-topped inflorescences bear masses of small white flowers (tinged with pink) from Jan. to April.  They attract a whole host of tiny insects.  Plant in well-drained soil in a rockery in the shade of other plants and grasses.  It makes a lovely container plant. Size 10 to 15cm

Trichilia dregeana - Forest Mahogany 
Fairly hardy, evergreen, magnificent, large tree with chocolate-brown to grey smooth bark and a rounded crown of very dark-green, glossy leaves.  It has large creamy-white, velvety, sweetly scented flowers in Oct. and Nov. Pale, pinkish-green fruit capsules split to reveal large, black and scarlet seeds.  The flowers attract bees and butterflies, and the seeds are edible and much loved by birds. The timber is pink.  Makes an excellent indoor container plant and is a useful addition to a forest garden.   Protect from frost when young and plant in sun, semi-shade or shade.   S.A. No. 300   Size:10 to 30m 

Commiphora mollis - Velvet Corkwood 
This deciduous, small tree is surprisingly frost hardy for a Commiphora.  The truly beautiful feature of this tree is its gorgeous grey to brown peeling bark that flakes off in thick discs, revealing greenish underbark.  The compound leaves are pale green to grey-green, yellowing in autumn.  The insignificant yellowish to pinkish flowers are borne in clusters from Sept. to Jan.  The flowers are followed by round, dull-red fruits with red pseudarils and, although they can persist on the tree until May, they seldom do as they are much sought after by birds.  They grow in the very hot parts of our country, are very drought resistant and live up to their name ‘Kanniedood’.  This tough-looking tree makes an interesting form and container plant and is beautiful planted in groups.  Plant in well-drained soil in sun or semi-shade.  Protect from frost when young. S.A. No. 280 Size: 3 to 5m

Pelargonium papilionaceum - Butterfly Pelargonium
Hardy, evergreen, fast growing, drought resistant shrub. The attractive heart-shaped leaves have a strong smell when crushed.  The striking flowers are borne from Aug. to Jan. They are light pink to carmine with two large upper petals marked with a dark purple blotch next to a white blotch and three very narrow lower petals.  The flowers resemble delicate butterflies.  The flowers attract sunbirds and many insects to the garden.  It grows in shade where it makes a beautiful backdrop to a bed.  Size: up to 2m

PLANTS ON SPECIAL – LESS 15%

Searsia chirindensis - Red Currant 
This hardy, deciduous, fast-growing tree is sometimes multi-stemmed -the young stems can have woody spines.  It has a spreading rounded crown of large glossy, dark green trifoliate leaves that are reddish when young and develop beautiful red autumn colours.    Sprays of small flowers are borne from Aug. to Mar.  Male and female flowers are on separate plants, therefore only female plants bear fruit.  These are followed by heavy bunches of round fleshy, pink to red-brown fruit that attracts birds.  Plant in full sun or semi-shade for a lovely spreading shade tree.  It needs regular pruning to maintain its beautiful mushroom shape S.A. No. 380  Size: 3 to 20m

Celtis africana - White-stinkwood 
Very hardy, deciduous, graceful, drought resistant, large tree.  The bark of this fast-growing tree is smooth, silvery grey and develops streaks of bright lichen in damper conditions.  The new foliage in spring is the palest green and absolutely amazing.  The leaves turn yellow on the edges in the run up to autumn, becoming completely yellow and then drop off. The inconspicuous flowers appear from Aug. to Oct.  It is a host plant to butterflies and moths and many birds are attracted to its small yellow berries that are produced prolifically in summer.  It is an excellent garden and wildlife tree.  Celtis is a beautifully shaped tree, that when leafless, makes a wonderful sculptural feature in the garden, especially when the sun shines on it.  Plant in sun or semi-shade in well-composted soil.     S.A. No. 39 Size: 10 to 30m

Crinum moorei - Moore’s Crinum 
Hardy, evergreen or semi-deciduous, very fast-growing bulb with beautiful broad, flat, bright-green leaves in a rosette on the end of a short stalk.  The long flowering stalk carries a head of large, tubular, pink to almost white flowers that form a beautiful umbel from Oct. to Jan.  The flowers are scented in the evening, indicating that they are moth pollinated. It is an important medicinal plant.  Moore’s Crinum looks lovely planted in amongst Plectranthus species as well as Weeping Anthericum or Variegated Hen and Chicks. It also makes an attractive container plant. Plant in compost-rich soil in shade or semi-shade and water well in summer.  Protect from Amaryllis caterpillar by hand removal of worms.  Size: up to 1m

Delosperma lavisiae - Mountain Vygie 
Extremely hardy, mat forming succulent plant from high altitude areas of the Drakensburg.  The small succulent leaves range from grey-green with brown tips in dry conditions to deep green when watered regularly.  Purple-pink flowers that glisten in the sunlight are borne from Nov. to Mar. and attract a whole host of insects to the garden.  It makes a good spreading groundcover and should be planted in well-drained soil in a garden bed or rockery, where it will thrive under the harshest of conditions.  It has many interesting medicinal and traditional uses.  An interesting snippet is that the high salt content of the leaves is said to reduce frost damage even in the coldest of conditions. Size: 5 to 10cm

Chlorophytum comosum - Hen-and-chickens  
Fairly hardy, evergreen, tufted perennial with swollen roots and strap-like, bright-green leaves arranged in a basal rosette.  White starry flowers adorn an arching flowering stem throughout the year.  The tuft of leaves at the tip of each flowering stem roots where it touches the ground.  The ‘Kuikens’ are gorgeous in flower arrangements.   An ideal plant for dry shade areas under trees, in a mixed bed or in hanging baskets.  They thrive in dark areas under trees although they tolerate some sun as well.   Water regularly and prune back quite severely when it looks scruffy, and it will come back beautifully.   Size: up to 40cm

GARDENING TIP

Drought proofing your garden. It has been concerningly dry this spring, and so I thought it would be good to talk about drought proofing your garden.   

There is a lot that we can do to help our gardens hang on to every drop of moisture that they possibly can, so that our plants thrive, even in hot, dry conditions.   Using these tips will also save a lot on your water bills over time, both in the good times and in winter.

Water in the late afternoon / early evening – in late spring and summer it is best to water your garden as it cools down in the early evening or late afternoon, so that the heat of the sun does not dry up all the moisture. This way, plants can benefit from soil that is moist throughout the night and will fare much better from the start on a hot day. The presence of soil moisture is essential for plants to be able to take up nutrients from the soil while in winter it is best to water in the mornings to prevent nighttime freezing. 
 
Deep watering - A good, deep watering less often (once or twice a week) rather than frequent, short sprinkles of water is best.  This gives the water time to penetrate deeply into the soil. 

Check soil moisture – Before watering, check the soil moisture a few inches below the surface to avoid overwatering. If the soil is still moist, it’s better to wait a day or two.

Focus water on the roots – Water directly at the base of plants to ensure the roots get sufficient water, rather than wasting it on leaves or surface soil that does not have any plants growing in it.

Water for Wildlife – It is not only our plants that suffer when conditions are dry. Birds, lizards, frogs and toads as well as insects all need water to survive.  Place bird baths or dishes of water for the garden wildlife at different levels in the garden. Stones, pebbles and rocks placed only semi-submerged in the water will help small creatures such as insects to access the water or climb out if they fall in. Even if it is a tiny townhouse or balcony garden, the birds, insects and other creatures will readily use this water. Include a floating platform in your pool for thirsty insects that fall in and cannot get out.

Mulch – By covering bare, exposed soil with a decent layer of mulch (5 cm thick), moisture can be trapped in the soil for longer, it helps to cool soil temperatures down and organic mulch also provides valuable habitat for organisms that live in the surface litter and topsoil zones of the soil. These organisms need some moisture, even if it is microscopic, to survive. One can use leaves and twigs from the garden as mulch or buy mulch (wood chip mulch is available at Random Harvest Nursery).

Additives to help soil retain water - In many cases, the soil needs some extra help to hang on to moisture so that plants are not damaged by drought stress. We use a product called EXLGel. It comes in a crystalline powder form in a 5g sachet. Mix this in a litre of water, and after 15 minutes it will change consistency to a transparent gel. This can be mixed into the soil, thereby increasing the soil’s moisture content. It will slowly release its moisture to the plants in the soil, as required. When watered or the area receives rain, it will absorb this moisture and then release it slowly again. It is particularly useful for circumstances where the soil needs to hold on to water for a bit longer, such as planting where there is no access to water, or where soil is at risk of drying out too quickly, such as in hanging baskets and terracotta pots.

ON THE FARM

It has been so unbelievably dry and looking so sad that Jeff and I have avoided driving in the grassland.  Even so, there are brave plants popping their heads up in the desolate grassland.

In the 25 years Jeffrey and I have been working on the grassland we have never seen it so bad.

Luckily we had a little shower of rain and at last the little green shoots are appearing.

The birds are getting busier by the day and the dawn chorus is getting louder each morning.

The Orange-breasted Bush Shrike has been in the garden all winter but is now very vocal with his wonderful calls.  Not only that, but with breeding season coming on, he is also much more visible than normal.

Ronald managed to get this video of him bouncing around in the trees.

With the grassland being so dry there have been fewer Lapwings demarcating their territories.

Jeff found the nest of one of the breeding pairs of Wattled Lapwing.  The eggs are so camouflaged … I challenge you to spot them in this picture.

The babies have since hatched but only my mom has seen them.  Jeff and I have not been so lucky.

The Sausage Tree (Kigelia africana) is in full flower.  These flowers are pollinated by bats in their natural habitat and don’t occur naturally here in Johannesburg, but they did bear beautiful sausages on the trees in the past season.

As you can see from the picture it seems as if the Sunbirds are doing the job of pollinating these beautiful huge flowers.  Here’s hoping for more Sausages this season.

When you have rare and beautiful plants you will go to any lengths to propagate them.  Paul sat with an artist’s paintbrush and laboriously pollinated the flowers one by one to ensure a good harvest of seed for us to grow.

The Merwillea plumbes (Scilla natalensis) with their beautiful sky-blue flowers have been a sight to behold this season.

I couldn’t believe how tall the flowers of this specimen grew this year.  I wonder if it had to do with the fact that we burned the grass around them this season.

We have been working in KwaNdebele and, while visiting there, saw this beautiful Heteropyxis natalensis (Lavender Tree) in the parking area of the municipal offices.  

It was one of the natural trees that had been protected while the building was done.

I had to share this picture of the Erythrina latissma (Broad leaved Coral Tree) in full flower with the beautiful new spring leaves of the Ficus ingens (Red-leaved Rock Fig) in the foreground.  Indigenous plants are really beautiful.

It is always great to see the creatures that inhabit an indigenous garden.

The frogs are certainly enjoying the new pond and voicing their pleasure.

 I am always happy when I see a spider (especially a rain spider which is a harbinger of rain).  It usually means the habitat is healthy.

There are quite a lot of butterflies visiting the plants looking for nectar.  These beautiful insects are always a joy to behold.

One of our aims is to preserve as much life as possible here at Random Harvest and are dedicated to working with nature and avoiding any harmful chemicals.

I had to share this serene picture of petals floating on the natural pond with you.  I loved it.

As you know the owls have been breeding in the garden.

How many people are lucky enough to look out of their bathroom window and see a perfectly beautiful owlet lurking there.  Aren’t I the lucky one.

Here’s hoping for lots and lots of rain.

Sincerely

Linda