BEYOND BOUNDARIES

An award-winning garden in Robertson is lauded for the rehabilitation of one of the most threatened habitats on earth

an award-winning robertson garden preserves one of the most threatened habitats on earth

‘During summer, in the evenings, the kudus get so close to the house you can hear them munching on the acacia tree pods in the garden,’ say the homeowners of their robertson garden – so tucked away one would be hard-pressed to know it even existed. The vegetation of the area, traditionally called renosterveld, is one of the most threatened habitats on earth and known for its extraordinary diversity of bulbs which bring a glistening profusion of colour to the Klein Karoo landscape in spring. The name is derived from the afrikaans word renoster, meaning rhinoceros, which is thought to refer to either the black rhino that roamed the area in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries or the predominately silver-grey colour of the vegetation similar to that of rhino hide.

Previously a game farm with no dwellings, the land was completely uninhabited save for sporadic grazing buck and wildebeest. The homeowners chose

the farm because of its spectacular natural beauty – the vegetation, water, game and breathtaking views of the surrounding Langeberg Mountains. conservationists by nature, the only change the couple made to the fauna was to safely relocate the black wildebeest. ‘They have a tendency to become aggressive,’ says the homeowner, who enjoys jogging on the property. ‘I’m fast, although I’m not sure I could outrun a wildebeest if he was up for the chase,’ she laughs, ‘but the

rooihartebees, springbok, zebra, eland and kudu remain – and we’ve built a dam to provide year-round drinking water for them.’

under the experienced guidance of designer/landscaper danie steenkamp, the garden became a project informed by similar conservationist attitudes – with the focus on rehabilitating the surrounding renosterveld disturbed whilst building the home. environmental and planting specialists were consulted and great lengths taken to source plants typical to the area, with the primary objective to restore the vegetation and reinstate functioning ecosystems. To increase the diversity of planting, seed was procured from small, independent producers specialising in endemic vegetation such as Rosenia oppositifolia, Dicerothamnus rhinocertis

‘renosterbos’ and ruschia species. The unique plant palette positively impacted on the design of the garden as well as the mandate to integrate house and garden with the surrounding landscape.

danie designed large planting beds of naturally occurring indigenous grasses such as aristida, themedia (rooigras) and melinis species. The grasses were used as a protective web into which indigenous bulbs such as Ornithogalum sp., Boophone disticha

‘Veld Fan’ and Drimia capensis ‘Brandui’ were planted, as well as a natural carpet in which to seed and reinstate the original natural renosterveld over time.

The result is a composition of simple, bold shapes and forms. Visually strong, yet with a fluidity that allows one to experience the magnitude of the landscape without interruption. For the owners, the garden allows for the experience of nature, slightly tamed and refined, but retaining all the essential elements of a natural african landscape. The sounds of the birds and animals, the smell of the acacia trees, the rustle of wild grasses in the early evening breeze and a peace that comes from knowing the surrounding vegetation is protected for years to come. Danie n Steenkamp 8 ddsprojects.co.za

opposite page a Plant selection of grasses and indigenous species integrates the house and garden with the surrounding landscape Pathways through the garden were kept to a minimum and designed to hug the landscaping rather than bisect it. the owners...

opposite page water Softens the garden and provides a Soothing respite from the harsh midday Sun. low Slung architectural water rills are a responsible way to add water as it is continually recirculating Simplicity and repetition are effective design...