Win with Botanical Society

WITH Arbor Week upon us, this week’s focus is on indigenous versus exotic trees and plants and where one can buy indigenous plants.

Indigenous trees and plants are native to an area and provide the right kind of food and habitat for local wildlife. Exotic trees and plants may appeal aesthetically to some, but they do nothing for local wildlife and they displace indigenous plants by taking over land and using precious water.

Suggestions on what to plant

The decision on which tree to plant depends on a number of factors including the available sunlight, soil condition, surrounding area, root development and so on. The best approach is to visit a local nursery and get personalised advice.

These are some of the preferred indigenous trees on the Berea:

Indigofera jucunda – River Indigo

Calpurnia aurea – Natal (or Wild) laburnum

Polygala myrtifolia – September Bush

Grewia occidentalis – Crossberry

Ochna natalitia – Natal (or Showy) Plane

Allophylus natalensis – Dune False-currant

Bauhinia tomentosa – Yellow Bell Bauhinia

Psychotria capensis – Black Birdberry

Erythrina humeana – Dwarf Coral Tree

Dovyalis caffra – Kei-apple

Where can one buy indigenous plants locally?

The BotSoc Coastal Branch Indigenous Plant Fair is a great opportunity to choose from a wide selection on indigenous plants. The fair is at Beachwood Mangroves Nature Reserve on 7 and 8 September from 9am to 4pm.

Enjoy Mangroves and beach nature walks, browse wildlife exhibitors and NGO info tables and buy a wide variety of plants from local nurseries, 2019 Trees of the Year and other ‘specials’ and food, snacks, and hot and cold drinks.

There are also a number of nurseries that you can visit locally including:

God’s Green Gifts, Northdene – Amalia Maunier – 082 443 9343 – godsgreengifts@saol.com

Grasslands Indigenous Nursery, Westville – Rob Jamieson – 031 267 0872, 083 777 0872 – rjamieson@absamail.co.za

Januk’s Nursery, Glenmore – Januk – 074 426 5252

Tropical Nursery, Sherwood – Frank Edwards – 031 201 4126 – info@tropicalnursery.co.za

Arbor Week activities

Guided walk at Pigeon Valley

Crispin Hemson will lead a walk with a special focus on the trees in the reserve, although you are guaranteed to be entertained with many humorous stories and various bird sightings. The walk is a gentle pace and all are welcome. Join Crispin at Pigeon Valley Nature Reserve on Saturday, 7 September at 7.30am.

Stella Trail Run

Stella Athletics Club will host a trail run through some of Glenwood’s finest green spaces including Bulwer Park, Pigeon Valley, Msinsi Reserve, Umbilo Park and Kenneth Gardens starting from the club on Saturday, 7 September at 3pm. There will be groups of varying paces, and plenty of turn around points if you don’t feel like taking on the full course. The full route is approximately 15km.

Birdlife Port Natal – Celebrate Seabirds

Birdlife Port Natal will be hosting a talk by David Allan to Celebrate Seabirds at Point Yacht Club on Friday, 6 September at 6.30pm. The talk will be accompanied by a light finger supper catered by Eat Greek. Tickets are R80 per person. Book by emailing: blpn.members@gmail.com.

WIN!

WIN with the Botanical Society and the Berea Mail. The first 50 people on Saturday and Sunday to hand in this page of the Berea Mail at the Indigenous Plant Fair will each receive a pack of three Gardening Handbooks courtesy of the Botanical Society. The offer is limited to one pack per family.

Continue to share your personal Arbor Week stories along with before and after photos on Berea Mail’s Facebook Page and Twitter (@bereamail) using the hashtag #BereaArborWeek and stand a chance to win a copy of the Durban Forest Book.

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