This bouquet is dying and can’t be restored

AFTER all the drama created by some in the ANC, the water has turned into a slimy, dark greenish colour. All the flowers have been affected in one way or another. Some have fallen out of the vase, others have lost their petals and the leaves are brownish-yellowish with the odd black spot.

Against all odds, one or two tainted ones are standing firm and now freshly cut ones have been added. Some that have already fallen out of the vase are being resurrected. The shape is totally out of proportion. How do you restore the bouquet into a work of art to be admired? You cannot, and never will.

Could it be the vase which must be replaced? Should it in fact be a vase of flowers and not rather a pot plant or even a flower bed of Afrikanertjies as a border, some redhot pokers, African daisies, Hottentot fig, sour fig, false buchu and of course Mandela’s gold strelitzia?

So the Cape would be the sour fig or ghoena? KENNETH M ALEXANDER | Athlone