I will take you on a walk through a unique garden at Glenmore Sands, on the South Coast of Kwazulu Natal where we took a small breakaway recently from all the hustle and bustle.
We strolled among the gardens, enjoyed invigorating walks on the beach, and climbed on some rocks, but as some of us wore a silver-crown, we avoided the massive rocks that fishermen love and which I SHARED with the Pinmapple Community recently.
My focus was more on the beach and a little of the history in that post, so today I will share the special plants in this garden which is a stone's throw from the ocean.
Many of these plants are used in natural medicine, and some are used for making nifty items.
Features such as massive boulders, succulents, and some indigenous plants add to the beauty of these gardens.
I will share the image below, that I showed to the Pinmapple Community, just to give you an idea of how cleverly the landscaping was done to maintain the natural ecology of the environment.
All the plants, except for the Foxtail Agave and Nasturtiums, are indigenous to South Africa, as far as I could learn.
The White Paint Brush grows well in shady spots and this one looks like a wreath on the rocks; I took a closer look to see if someone had picked it and arranged it there, but was wrong as it actually is growing there on the boulder. Apparently, traditional healers use it to treat coughs.
All the plants growing here are hardy and do not require any nurturing once they've grown strong enough. They all thrive in our subtropical climate and love the sun. Many of the plants grow on the boulders, such as this Foxtail Agave, and you will see why they're called by that name when you see the graceful arching flower stalks.
A close-up look reveals many flowers with seed pods that will produce more plants. This plant is closely related to the Blue Agave that grows in the arid Karoo and is used to make tequila.
The Wild Banana or Strelitzia Nicolai is a tall evergreen plant, a close relation to the Crane Flower which I will show you a little later. It grows prolifically along the south coast and makes an effective wind barrier as it withstands the salty coastal winds.
Locals dry out the leaf stalks and use them to make rope for building huts. The young seeds can be eaten and apparently are very tasty, something I only learned recently, so I will try them next time we're at the coast.
They make a beautiful subtropical curtain for the glorious sunrises on the east coast of Africa.
As it is winter, the sun only rises around 6:45, quite a decent time to get up and wait for the spectacle; unlike summertime when the sun rises way too early for me!
Next to the swimming pool, we find the beautiful Strelitzia, also known as a Crane Flower or Bird of Paradise; its orange flowers tell you where the name comes from. These flowers and leaves are perfect for flower arrangements, as they last a long time in water - this one is looking a bit battered from the strong coastal winds.
The image below was taken in our garden here at home, with the leaves more elongated and the flower really looking like a bird with its long beak - it even has eyes ;)
Plants which are vital in dune rehabilitation can be seen all along the coastline. These are Sour figs and their sap often is used medicinally for sore throats, skin conditions, and for cuts and burns.
One sees lush clumps of Nasturtiums growing wildly, mine never grow as well as these.
The edible flowers and leaves are great in salads and on sandwiches as well, have a nice bite to them, and tastes similar to watercress. It often is called nature's antibiotic and is said to relieve and heal sore throats, something I can attest to. I picked a small posy for a salad.
I'll end off with the Aloe Arborescens which grows all over South Africa. A fully-grown plant can reach a height of around three meters, its spiky leaves are razor-sharp but it produces the most beautiful reddish-orange flowers.
The gel from the leaves has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory benefits and is used for treating skin irritations, cuts, burns, and healing of wounds.
Saying goodnight to the gardens at Glenmore Sands with a massive Aloe right outside our patio, all lit, up and the lights from the neighbouring Munster glittering in the distance.
Afterthought - To all those still working in the corporate world, don't think that retirement and being a Silver Blogger means you'll have all the time in the world to sit and blog to your heart's content! Being semi-retired and running a BnB from home has many perks, but also means that people think you're on duty 24/7, so with all the interruptions, I'm a day late for #wednesdaywalk, therefore I'm sharing my walk here with my fellow #silverbloggers who will understand the pros and cons of retirement!
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