Semi-arid gardening in Namibia

8 Aug '06 2:08 am

This coming week is only two days long, followed by an early half-term due to Wednesday being Women’s Day. What is more my grade tens are away on tour for the next ten days, so I feel I can afford to forget about teaching and The Canterbury Tales for the next few hours. Here is the long promised post on arid-climate gardening.

Windhoek, the capital of Namibia, receives on average about 370mm (14+ inches) of rain a year. Summers are extremely hot; winters often bring heavy frosts at night, due to the altitude (1650m) and the semi-desert climate. As in most of Namibia, gardening is a challenge. Many people simply don’t try, and their yards are sandy wastes containing an occasional tree or shrub. Often a small area is planted to lawn and the rest barely gardened at all. Yet there are some amazingly beautiful and innovative gardens.

On arrival we did a quick tour of the city. It is clean and brisk, an odd mixture of German Colonial and modern. The Tintenpalast (House of Parliament) stands on a rise above a large level lawn flanked by huge stone-pillared pergolas. Near the far side of the lawn is the Christuskirche, and the sandy-soiled terraces between it and the lawn are planted with a mixture of cosmos and marigolds: hardly an impressive planting scheme, but practical in this exposed climate, and still attractive in mid-winter. Below the Tintenpalast are lovely Arts & Crafts terraces, built of stone off the site, and a welcome fountain shoots up on the central axis. Other planting in the city is less structured, and picture 3 captures the mix of modern and old in an arid setting rather well. Odd beds are planted with godetia (Clarkia amoena), startlingly bright and so successful that everyone is now searching out ‘municipality flowers’ at the local nurseries!
I spend the night with my sister’s stepdaughter and her husband, Heidi and Wynand. As we approach the house I ask Heidi to stop so that I can photograph a garden. I had planned to try to capture the way in which people make the most of their situation and here, in a modern suburb with tiny gardens, was a perfect example: carefully chosen architectural plants and an avoidance of lawn. Where there was bare soil, it was raked with a zen-like simplicity. The large succulent, now bare of leaves, is known as a ‘lady’s thigh’ Not very complimentary, I agree. Behind the palisade the garden is paved, and small ‘holes’ allow for individual plants or groupings. The neighbours offer a different solution – less neat but possibly more natural. Heidi smiles to herself and soon I find out why. I knew Wynand was a keen gardener (he plans to start landscaping professionally as a side-line). But I was not prepared for the real beauty of their garden. This was not making the most of the situation – this was turning it into a design asset! What is more we arrived in the golden light of late afternoon… I was so busy snapping away that my hostess carried in my luggage from the car without my noticing it!

Near the house there is a small lawn, with lush planting which even includes a collection of ferns. A small koi pond lies on the boundery between the lawn and the pebbled front garden. Carefully composed vignettes consisting of plants, ornaments and found textured objects direct one’s attention in such a way that there is always something of interest, just as there would be in a garden filled with beautiful plants. Many of the plants have wonderfully subtle colours, and all beyond the lawn area are chosen for their minimal water requirements.

I didn’t expect to – but I found myself envious of the conditions in which they garden; is that not the ultimate gardening compliment! In September I hope to welcome the whole clan from Namibia to my garden… I had better start getting things ready – these will be no ordinary visitors!

8 Aug '06 5:30 am

It`s gorgeous ,Jack ! Texture ,Light ,Subtle colours .It is truly an example of creating something beautiful by working with the conditions you have ...Do tell Heidi and Wynand how much your forum friends from the other side of the world enjoyed looking around their garden !
Dixie

11 Aug '06 5:10 am

Interesting narration with captivating and magnificent shots to complement your lovely garden tour in Namibia, including those beautiful gardens of Heidi & Wynand. Enjoyed them all, thanks!! Very Happy

11 Aug '06 12:25 pm

I am so jealous of gardens that are as neat as that. What a wonderful garden. I really like the gnome and thanks for thinking of me. I've never seen a reading gnome, now I think I want to make one. (eventually Wink

)

Christopher

Semi-arid gardening in Namibia

Semi-arid gardening in Namibia

Beautiful

Jack, you did it again!

Terrific!