African Wildlife and Environment Issue 64

FAUNA , FLORA & WILDLIFE

FAUNA, FLORA & WILDLIFE

WHY PLANT INDIGENOUS?

regardless of where they come from in the country. It is, however, important to bear in mind weather conditions the plants come from and whether they will be able to survive severe cold or rainfall in a different season to which they are adapted. On the other hand if you live in an undisturbed area, conservancy or nature reserve it would be a shame to introduce to those areas plants that do no occur there naturally and disturb the balance of nature. I strongly recommend that only plants that occur naturally in these areas should be used. The S.A. Biodiversity Institute will provide a list (on request) of plants that occur naturally in your specific area. What is natural gardening? Natural gardening is gardening with rather than against nature. It is making the effort to restore the soil and natural processes in your garden and providing habitat for birds and other wildlife. This does not mean to say it should be scruffy and unkept as the garden should be for our own enjoyment and use as well. It means not using harmful pesticides in the garden, which do not only poison the wildlife but our own environment as well. It means protecting the soil and preventing erosion. It means not wasting our natural resources, such as water. Many people overwater their garden which is both expensive and wasteful. It means providing habitat and refuge for all the creatures that are displaced by rampant development. It means recycling and re-using, including recycling all our organic waste into compost for use in our gardens to enrich the soil. It means mulching the soil to prevent water loss and covering the soil with a “blanket” of organic matter to encourage soil organisms that keep our soils healthy and productive. It means respect for our environment and taking decisions not only for ourselves but for the entire planet. This sounds daunting, but if we all did little things such as switching off lights and plugs when not in use, we could significantly reduce excess energy consumption. We should think before driving our cars unnecessarily. Save and recycle household water too – in fact we should recycle everything we can. Cumulatively, this would make a huge difference to our planet. Natural gardening does not mean any particular style of garden. Birds and wildlife do not mind if the indigenous plants are laid out in a formal way or left to grow wild, just as long as the plants are there for them to use. They are happy provided we care enough to make space for them in our garden.

you are not alone and that the web of life around you is working together. That is when the true value of an indigenous garden andwhy you should plant indigenous, becomes apparent. It makes you more observant and you begin to see magical things happening in the garden. See the flowers of the grass-like Anthericum dip and rise with the weight of the Carpenter bees visiting them. Watch the dainty flowers of the Angels Fishing Rod (Dierama sp.) waving gently in the breeze, adding movement to the garden. Count the species of butterflies visiting the Scabiosa flowers or have a snack of Crossberry ( Grewia occidentalis ) or the Natal Apricot ( Dovyalis longispina ) fruit. It is then that you appreciate the depth and beauty of an indigenous garden and will never go back to planting an exotic garden. What is an indigenous plant? An indigenous plant is a plant that occurs naturally in a country that is neither intentionally nor accidentally introduced there. Endemic plants are plants that occur only in a specific area and nowhere else either in the country of origin or anywhere else on earth. I am often asked the question – Is a plant considered

Linda De Luca

The creation of an indigenous garden is about gardening with rather than against nature.

African monarch on Nuxia congesta

is taking place across our land. Where yesterday one saw beautiful Proteas and natural ecosystems, today there is only bare earth that has been stripped of plant growth and with it the support system for our birds, insects and other wildlife. One could think of an indigenous garden in or near these developments as a last refuge for displaced plants, birds and wildlife. It is my firm belief that indigenous gardeners are bona fide conservationists and, in urban areas especially, the last hope for the many plants and creatures that share our space. The creation of an indigenous garden is about gardening with, rather than against, nature. It is about creating an indigenous garden full of life and birdsong with flitting butterflies, the hum of insects, the song of frogs and glistening dragonflies, rather than an exotic garden of blowsy blooms, well manicured lawn and clipped, tortured trees essentially devoid of any biodiversity. Indigenous gardens are about creating areas in which wildlife will reside and feel safe instead of opportunistically visiting and then leaving. It is about creating areas in your garden for the basic necessities of life on earth, a place to feed, breed, rest and live in safety. Once you start gardening with indigenous plants and are woken up each morning by the dawn chorus instead of the shrill ring of your alarm clock you start to appreciate its value. When the peace of an indigenous garden begins to seep into your soul you realise that

We create gardens in order to beautify our immediate environment and create a tranquil space around our homes. We also then create an artificial environment, which, by taking a step further, can create micro ecosystems in our gardens, and take them beyond just pretty plants and encourage nature into the garden. Why plant indigenous plants? A simple answer would be that they are gorgeous but there is so much more to indigenous plants than simple visual gratification. We live in a relatively small but diverse country with many habitats and niches for plants to colonise. From arid semi desert to temperate and sub tropical forest, grasslands, savannah, wetlands and everything in between. Our climate and geology are just as diverse and this is also a great contributor to the fact that we are blessed with almost 25 000 species of plants - with new discoveries happening on an almost daily basis. In these times of climatic uncertainty, what better way to teach our children about love and respect and the wonder of nature than just outside our doors? Indigenous gardens bring the fascination of the intricacies of nature right into our living space and help us to treasure what we have in this beautiful country we live in. Think about just how much each of us can do for conservation by planting an indigenous garden. I believe the cumulative effect of indigenous gardens is huge, especially now when unbridled development

Succulent garden

indigenous if it does not occur naturally in the area in which you are gardening but does occur naturally elsewhere in the country? My answer to this is that gardens and urban areas are artificially constructed by us and therefore create an artificial environment. We plant trees in grassland areas or chop down trees in forest areas to make way for our homes and infrastructure. This changes the environment and therefore attracts different birds and other wildlife to the areas where they would normally not be able to thrive and survive. External factors such as severe drought or agriculture also contribute to wildlife moving into urban areas where they are likely to find the wherewithal for survival. Therefore in disturbed and artificial areas, I feel, we are providing for the wildlife by planting indigenous plants

Linda Da Luca Random Harverst www.rhn.co.za

30 | African Wildlife & Environment | 64 (2017)

31 | African Wildlife & Environment | 64 (2017)