Embrace D’MOSS, live with nature at Open Gardens
There are 12 stunning indigenous gardens on show this year.
KLOOF Conservancy’s Indigenous Open Gardens is themed ‘Embrace D’MOSS, Live with Nature’ and takes place this weekend, Saturday, 11 and Sunday, 12 June from 9am to 4pm.
Kloof Conservancy’s Indigenous Open Gardens was first held in 1999 at a time when indigenous gardening and its advantages were poorly understood and supported. The event has run annually since then (with a gap in 2011) and has been instrumental in influencing the trend toward indigenous gardening, not only at private gardens in KwaZulu-Natal but at the institutional/corporate level as well. The stunning range of gardens that have been featured over the years have inspired many home-owners throughout the province to convert to indigenous gardening and this year’s event will be no exception. It is now considered the premier indigenous gardening event in KZN.
The event has also made a significant contribution to the protection of KZN’s biodiversity by educating the broader public about our floral diversity and the merits of indigenous water-wise gardening, and by raising significant sums of money for local conservation projects, including the removal of invasive alien plants in Krantzkloof Nature Reserve and public spaces, including the street verges of Kloof.
The Upper Highway is situated within the Maputaland-Pondoland-Albany Biodiversity Hotspot, which is known for the wealth of flora and fauna that is found in the area. The protection of this flora and fauna through indigenous gardens has been the theme of all the past events and this year it is extended to showcase the benefits that can be derived by embracing the Durban Metro Open Space System (D’MOSS).
The gardens on show this year all include D’MOSS sections and showcase the integration of formal gardens with the natural surrounds and the consequent improvement in habitat and quality of life experienced by the residents. There are 12 stunning indigenous gardens on show this year.
Garden 1 at 45 Alamein Avenue in Kloof is a well-established indigenous garden which attracts a wide variety of birds and with stunning views of Kloof Gorge. Garden 2 at 47 Alamein Road in Kloof is an amazing indigenous garden with many interesting species and stunning gorge views. Due to the steep terrain, parts of this garden are not recommended for people with walking difficulties.
Garden 3 is at Cascades, 38 Buckingham Road, Kloof, which has seven gardens on show. They are number 8, 7, 6, 5, 3, 9, and 2 of the Cascades complex.
Garden 4 is at 8 Ipivi Road, situated on the edge of Krantzkloof Nature Reserve, and on the Uve stream this garden has blended a formal section into the natural forest area with great effect and attracts an unusually high number of bird species.
Garden 5 is at 4a Uve Road in Kloof and blends formal and informal gardening as well as some non-indigenous species in an effective and interesting way to create a kaleidoscope of colours and patterns which extend into the riverine forest.
Garden 6 at 8 Uve Road, Kloof is famous for its tree collection with more than 300 species and won the Pam Golding award for best large KZN garden in 2007. The garden blends into the riverine forest.
Additional activities include a children’s competition involving a hunt for information in each garden; plant experts at gardens to provide advice on indigenous gardening at all gardens; raffle with great prizes (tickets available at all gardens at garden 3); botanical authors retailing their books; guided and self-guided walks; special fern sales; a static raptor display by the KZN Falconry Club and more.
l Entry is R60, which gives access to all the gardens and a cup of tea/coffee and a slice of cake at the Tetley Tea Garden located at Kloof Junior Primary School. Children under 12 years enter free. Tickets are available at gardens 1, 2, 3 and 5 and at the Tetley Tea Garden.
