Page 23 - Landscape-Issue124

PROJECT

A decomposed granite sand pathway Bristle-leafed red-top grass in front of the Branded ferns unfurl their fronds
leads from the patio of the main bedroom building
towards the Sabie River

Planted grasses and existing trees reflect Snowflake grass catches the evening sunlight Money Plant and Wild Iris flowering alongside a
in the swimming pool sand pathway

to the Sabie River was also important, and paths and vistas were resemble game pathways and these can be used by staff to move
created. A few large 1000L Heteropyxis trees were planted in decks between units. The paths were made from G5 compacted material
for shade. to enable the client to move around the garden and to the river
Different grasses were used for various effects, some near area.
the swimming pool and others in drier parts. Species included A fully automated irrigation system has been installed, but as
Andropogon eucomis, Cenchrus ciliaris, Chloris Gayana, Eragrostis the flow rate was too low from the supply line, an elaborate tank
superba and Mellinis. Several geophytes were also used in selected and booster pump system had to be added and installed. The tanks
areas, such as Asparagus plumosa, Aloe chabaudii, Crinum macrowani, and booster pumps had to be hidden away in a facilities room; this
Eucomis autumnalis, Plectranthus verticiliatis and Gerbera jamesonii. proved challenging as special steel frames had to be built to hold
Morse Landscaping was commissioned to build a natural looking the 5000L tank.
soil mound between the client’s lodge and the neighbouring As water is often scarce and expensive, it is imperative to manage
property. This was done prior to Tembo Tembo’s garden, as the the irrigation efficiently.
neighbour’s house was built first. The mound, after first being Morse says that a major challenge of the installation was working
pushed straight, was then re-shaped and bushed up to resemble at temperatures of 40 degrees C and above. Plants needed to be
a natural termite mound. Paths were made between them to treated carefully, as they were not acclimatised to such heat. After
planting, they also needed special care
until they had become established.
A further challenge was that the lodge is
far from any cities or suppliers, making time
a factor in getting things done promptly.
Animals and snakes were also bothersome
– Morse says a mamba nest was found
near the front door and elephants came
through to ‘rearrange the planting’.
Maintenance is undertaken by the
Elephant Point Estate staff and Morse
Landscaping handed over to them, having
provided some training. Morse himself is
continuously busy with the landscaping of
other units, however, and is often on site to
assist with further training and problem-
solving.

Information supplied by Stuart Glen of
GREENinc Landscape Architects and Raymond
Morse of Morse Landscaping. Photos courtesy
Silver Clusterleaf trees and wild grasses soften the rammed earth walls of the lodge of Stuart Glen. n

Landscape SA • Issue 124 2023 21