Random Harvest Newsletter Archive

Our regular coffee morning slot on the first Wednesday of each month will be on the 5th of July, 10h30 to 12h00.

This month we talk about Trees. I’ve been called many things… but ”Linda De Luca – Tree Woman of Africa” has to be my favourite title!

If the truth be told, I am completely in love with my trees, so this will be as much a treat for me to talk about them as I hope it will be informative for my customers.

We invite you to our first ever “sleepover” event.

We start with welcome refreshments at 2:30pm on Wednesday followed by an afternoon tree walk, and then supper together over a slide show featuring some of South Africa’s most beautiful indigenous plants.

After a night in our comfy accommodation, early rusks and coffee will precede a Bird Walk (normally booked out before you can blink) followed by a hearty breakfast.

July sees the start of our annual tree promotion.

We have been working hard to bring you some great choices for all sizes of gardens.

If you are short of space, we have many species that make excellent container plants.

Special on Flowering size Orange Clivias - R48.50

I have recently sourced some beautiful Clivias. They are magnificent flowering size plants, in 15L bags.

The regular price for this size plant is R98.50, but these are on sale for only R48.50 each, while stocks last.

Please see our Plant Catalogue for a full description and planting instructions.

Highveld Garden

Jeffrey has cut back the grasses in this display. It is amazing how the whole atmosphere changes with the seasons in this display.

The Melinus repens grasses were particularly beautiful with the sun setting the pink seeds aglow. They were so beautiful I had to leave them intact and only cut the other grasses back.

Aloe cryptopoda [=wickensii] - Geelaalwyn (A)
This hardy Aloe has a single, large stemless, densely leaved rosette of grey-green succulent leaves.

The flowers are variable and may be red, yellow or bi-coloured with yellow and red flowers. Depending on conditions flowering time can vary between May and July.

This popular, easy garden plant provides a spectacular display when in full flower. An added attraction is the many Sunbirds that visit to feed on the nectar. It also attracts insects to the garden.

Makes an attractive form plant and also looks good planted in containers. Plant in well-drained soil in sun or semi-shade. It will flower best in full sun.
Size 50 to 75cm

Leonotis leonurus - Wild Dagga (E); Wildedagga (A)

Very hardy, drought and frost resistant, evergreen perennial shrub.

This well-loved, decorative shrub has masses of showy, compact clusters of orange or white velvety flowers repeated in circles up the length of every long stalk from Feb. to July.

An important food and nectar plant for sunbirds, bees and butterflies during autumn and winter.

It has been grown as a garden plant in Europe since the 1600’s.

It is extensively used as a traditional medicinal plant and as a magical herb. Use the dried flowers in potpourri.

Plant in sun or semi-shade and cut back severely after flowering, for denser growth and mass flowering the next season.

Size Up to 2m

Jamesbrittenia grandiflora - Wild phlox (E)
Hardy, evergreen, fast-growing small shrub with multiple stems.

Its aromatic, grey-green, quilted leaves are dense and completely cover the waving stems.

At the tips of the many stems clusters of beautiful, quite large (dia. 2.5cm), light purple flowers create a wondrous, long- flowering show in spring and early summer.

They attract insects and butterflies to the garden. Prune severely after flowering to ensure mass flowering again next season.

Create an amazing display by planting Wild Phlox in groups. It also makes a great border and container plant. Plant in light, well-drained soil. Size 1 to 1.2m

Petalidium oblongifolium - Bloubos (A)
Very hardy, evergreen, drought resistant small shrub with pretty silver-grey leaves.

It bears attractive blue flowers on and off all year round.

This plant tolerates a range of quite harsh conditions. Plant in sun or half day shade.

Attractive in a mixed border, planted in groups or in containers. Attracts insects to the garden. Size 40 to 60cm

Cyrtanthus mackenii - Ifafa Lily (E); Ifafalelie (A)

This hardy, evergreen, clump-forming bulbous plant has attractive glossy, dark green, narrow, strap-like leaves.

From July to Feb. it bears umbels of narrow tubular flowers, in profusion.

It is a beautiful addition to any garden, and makes a wonderful container subject.

It prefers semi-shade and moist, compost-rich soil. Size 20cm

Aloe marlothii- Mopane Aloe (E); Bergaalwyn (A)
Very hardy, large, upright, single-stemmed Aloe with a rosette of large, fleshy, thorny leaves. The beard of dried leaves is an attractive feature of this plant.

The horizontally branched spikes of tubular orange, red or bicoloured flowers with protruding dark stamens are borne from May to Aug.

The flowers attract many species of birds and butterflies to the garden. Excellent accent plant. This is the typical, tall, standard Aloe seen on rocky ridges on the Highveld.

Used medicinally. Plant in well-drained soil in a rockery, succulent bed or as a feature of a grassland garden. Size 2 to 5m S.A. No. 29.5.

Kirkia wilmsii - Mountain Seringa (E); Bergsering (A)
Fairly hardy, deciduous, often multi-stemmed tree with beautiful, fine, feathery foliage.

It has smooth grey bark with scars where the leaves were attached and is most attractive. The autumn colours are brilliant ant pinks and reds that set the tree alight.

The spring colours are almost as beautiful making this a great foliage and texture plant. From Oct. to Dec. it has masses of small yellow flowers clustered at the ends of the branches.

It makes a lovely specimen plant but has a swollen root system full off water which is used in times of drought. This swollen root system can cause damage to paving, pools and walls.

It grows naturally in the Steelpoort valley and turns the hillsides aflame with its fabulously coloured leaves. Plant in sun or semi-shade and protect from frost when young. Size Up to 8m S.A. No. 269

Ruttya fruticosa - Jammy Mouth (E); Jêmbekkie (A)
Fairly hardy, evergreen, beautifully rounded shrub with glossy, dark green foliage.

It bears unusual, exceptionally attractive two-lipped tubular orange or yellow flowers that have a shiny black throat.

It blooms from spring to late summer and attracts bees, birds and butterflies. Prune back after flowering to keep in shape and encourage flowering.

Plant in a mixed border, as a beautiful screening or container plant. It requires compost-rich soil and also tolerates slightly acidic soil. Size 1 to 2m.

You are probably surprised to see an exotic bird in the newsletter.

This budgie decided to visit the bird feeder.

This, as you can probably understand, conflicted me.

Firstly, I thought if he found a mate they could become a pest.

And now for something really exciting. A pair of Hamerkop have decided to nest in my mother’s garden.

How amazing is this?

We hardly ever see them at Random Harvest and now they come and nest here.

One of my favourite features of deciduous trees are their beautiful architecture.

Seeing the branching patterns and the enchanting shadows they cast in the low light of winter days is something I will never tire of.

Other creatures have also been enjoying the winter sun on the farm.

This skink was sunning himself on the beautiful bark of the Aloe barberae (Tree Aloe).