Page 5 - Issue 2 2019 Cornwall Hill

Garden maTTers

By Michele Burger Photography by Ivan Muller 082 454 8487

hen I started working on announcement regarding the closures of
this article over a month schools and borders, I was busy scrolling
ago, the Coronavirus (or through my Facebook feed in order to come
WCovid-19) and its collateral to terms with what is happening and trying to
damage was not yet the reality that we as connect to my friends and family all over the
South Africans are currently facing. In my world (from Europe, the US, China, and Brazil)
happily-oblivious ignorance of what was who are all experiencing this together, albeit
to come, I wanted to write to the residents in different stages. I stopped when I stumbled

of Cornwall Hill about this miraculous across a beautiful post by ‘Aunty Anne’s Corner
indigenous plant, affectionately known as of Life’ titled 'Clever ideas with succulents,

the ‘spekboom’, and amaze our readers with creating living artworks in pots'. Looking at the
all its environmentally-friendly properties, beautiful pictures had such a calming effect on

in addition to the other versatile qualities it me; it was so refreshing and provided a much-
possesses. This article would be accompanied needed positive distraction from the constant
with little spekboom plants that we are negativity and the fear-mongering that we as
handing out as gifts to all residents of the an entire planet have fallen into. I immediately
estate this month. As I re-looked at my article hit the “like” and “share” buttons.

for finishing touches, it just seemed so…well,
so #PRE-CORONA. As I sat down in front of my computer
to finish my article on the spekboom,

With increasing news about ‘the virus’ completely un-motivated, concerned that
running rampant on social media, my initial anything I write will just be dwarfed by this
feeling was that no one will care about a monstrous issue that has captivated the
plant with environmental benefits now, entire world’s attention, I remembered how

because the world’s focus has completely that post on the succulent art distracted me
been hijacked and environmental concerns in such a good way and how a little positivity
just don’t seem that important anymore. made me feel less anxious and overwhelmed,
and so I decided to proceed with my article as
On the Monday morning after our President’s I initially intended to do.

Cornwall View • Issue 2 2020 5