Meet garden guru Surprise Komana

There is nothing more rewarding than seeing plants or seeds you’ve planted grow and blossom into something beautiful.

Cherishing the process of nature is Surprise Komana (39), who works as a gardener in Farrarmere.

He breathes in soil and exhales stunning plants and flowers, which have turned his employer’s property into an oasis of tranquility.

The garden boasts nearly 100 plants, including succulents, begonias, bromeliads, impatiens and coleus varieties.

Healthy herbs such as parsley, chives, coriander, basil and rosemary also abound.

With no prior knowledge of or skills in horticulture, Surprise was exposed to the beauty of gardening by Jay Kunvar, who taught him the basics of gardening and how to nurture the growth of a plant.

Jay is one of the founding members of the Benoni Horticultural Society, which was established in the 1950s.

“I have been working for the Kunvar family for the past 18 years and I must say, working here has empowered me. When I started I had no knowledge of how plants are bred and trialed before being released to the garden,” Surprise said.

“I didn’t know that gardening has so many wonderful facets. Working in the garden is calming and therapeutic.”

His boundless passion has also taught him to “speak nicely” to plants, which he says helps support their growth.

The Daveyton resident said there is satisfaction in creating your own landscaped garden.

His newfound love for gardening has also evolved into profit for him through a vegetable garden he made at home from where his neighbours buy fresh produce.

Jay believes the key to a lifelong garden is constant diligence.

“When we bought the house in 2004, the property had no flowerbeds; it looked like a field. When we visited friends and family, I would break a slip of a plant and bring it home to plant in my garden.

“The ground was very poor though. I continuously had to use a fertiliser and topsoil to rehabilitate the ground. It was a very expensive exercise.”

Her love for gardening stems from her grandparents, who were very keen gardeners.

“I never thought I was capable of nurturing a garden but over the years I’ve learned that when it comes to gardening there’s no such thing as ‘you can’t’. A garden is a man’s best friend. It gives you confidence and it builds you up,” said Jay.

Also Read: Teens to create garden for hope

Also Read: Haleta Labuschagne enlightens garden enthusiasts about gardening with worms